THE GOOD WOOD GUIDE
Stephen Boulton, Technical Service Manager at F. Ball and Co. Ltd., advises on the appropriate steps to take when installing wooden floorcoverings.
A traditional favourite that has stood the test of time, wood continues to be a popular choice of flooring. However, installation requires special consideration to ensure a high quality, long lasting finish.
Wood’s natural characteristics render it particularly susceptible to moisture, especially solid wood. If unmanaged, excess subfloor moisture will rise up to the level of floorcoverings as it attempts to escape, causing wood to warp and adhesives to fail. This can result in floorcoverings lifting, and, ultimately, complete floor failure.
Additionally, wood floors are also vulnerable to fluctuations in room temperature. During humid conditions, wood swells as moisture is absorbed, and shrinks in cold conditions as it dries and the moisture is released. Due to its construction, engineered wood flooring is less susceptible to expansion and contraction but will also be affected by atmospheric conditions.
MOISTURE MANAGEMENT Having ensured the subfloor is suitably sound, smooth and free of any contaminant, including any old adhesive residues, it is essential to determine if it is dry enough to receive floorcoverings by undertaking a moisture test. F. Ball recommends this as a routine procedure as part of any flooring installation. To comply with British Standards, subfloor relative humidity (RH) levels should be measured using a calibrated digital hygrometer.
Normally, a waterproof surface membrane will be required to supress excess subfloor moisture when subfloor RH levels are above 75%. However, F. Ball recommends that a waterproof surface membrane is applied when subfloor RH levels are above 65% where wood will be installed, due to the sensitivity of this type of flooring to moisture. Waterproof surface membranes create a barrier between floorcoverings and the subfloor, protecting them from the adverse effects of excess subfloor moisture. The best products protect against RH levels of up to 98%.
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Once a moisture management solution is in place, contractors can proceed to apply a levelling compound to ensure a perfectly smooth base for the receipt of floorcoverings, remembering to prime the subfloor beforehand. F. Ball recommends using a heavy-duty levelling compound, such as Stopgap 300 HD, prior to the installation of wood floors because they are better able to withstand the added strain exerted by the natural movement of the wood.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT ADHESIVE Finally, contractors must select a specialist wood adhesive to install wood blocks or planks. Utilising the latest technology, flexible wood floor adhesives provide an elastic but strong bond, which will accommodate natural movement of wood flooring over its lifetime, ensuring a long lasting, visually attractive floor finish.
F. Ball’s Styccobond B95 is a high performance, flexible wood flooring adhesive that provides good initial tack whilst also allowing for repositioning of floorcoverings during the initial stage of drying, an advantage when installing wooden blocks. F. Ball also recommends Stycco Flex, its rapid-curing flexible cartridge adhesive, as an alternative for securing header rows. Its rapid strength build-up aids installations where subsequent rows are butted up to the head row using a mallet and a tapping block. Stycco Flex can also be used to install skirting boards and trims.
To ensure the correct choice of adhesive for the floorcovering, F. Ball recommends checking the compatibility using its industry-leading recommended adhesives guide (RAG), which lists adhesives recommended for use with over 6,000 floorcoverings, produced by over 200 flooring manufacturers. The RAG is available on the F. Ball website, downloadable as a free app, as well as a printed booklet. Alternatively, see floorcovering manufacturers instructions for advice.
www.f-ball.com TIP OF THE MONTH | 13
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