| Expansion & Contraction of Hardwood Flooring | | | | but do not use solvent-based strippers under any |
| "The flooring shop said to leave 10mm for solid wood | | | | circumstances. The use of residual solvents can |
| floor expansion at the walls...now the boards are | | | | create problems with the bonding of flooring |
| lifting off the floor." Ill informed advice like this often | | | | adhesives. It is important to ensure a proper bond |
| leads to floor problems. Many flooring sales people | | | | between the adhesives and concrete and wood |
| unfamiliar with solid wood flooring assume expansion | | | | panels. |
| is the same as laminate flooring. In reality that 10mm | | | | If you have a wooden subfloor you will need to lay a |
| is not enough for solid wood flooring. | | | | plywood base over the existing floor boards (we |
| What Is An Expansion Area? Why Do We Need It? | | | | recommend using 4mm -6mm exterior grade |
| Expansion areas are spaces left around the perimeter | | | | plywood and screw down every 15cm along the |
| of rooms, against fixed objects such as columns, | | | | edges and at 20cm intervals throughout the rest of |
| thresholds, hearths, skirting boards, and other | | | | the board using the 1 inch deck screws) before |
| stationary items built or secured into the framing | | | | installation, this will then give you a smooth and level |
| structure of the home. Even though Hardwood | | | | surface for you to install you hardwood flooring onto. |
| flooring used is no longer living and breathing it still | | | | You will need to leave a 15mm expansion gap around |
| reacts to moisture changes in the environment. The | | | | the perimeter of the room for large areas over 6 |
| cells in the solid wood will take on or absorb moisture | | | | meters in length we recommend 18mm expansion |
| when the relative humidity is high, or when exposed | | | | gap. To maintain this gap during installation spacers |
| to water. Expansion takes place, and the hardwood | | | | are provided in the kits. After you have installed the |
| grows, for lack of a clearer term, across the grain | | | | hardwood floor you can cover this expansion gap |
| (width) of the plank (see below, not all will react this | | | | with scotia or new skirting boards The 15mm |
| way). Conversely when air moisture levels decrease, | | | | expansion gap also needs to be left in doorways |
| moisture content evaporates, shrinking of the solid | | | | where the hardwood floor follows through from one |
| wood will occur. | | | | room to another we sell on this website a full range |
| When we say spaces, they are defined as installing | | | | of door profiles available to match your floor. |
| the hardwood flooring up to and away from the | | | | Nailed Down Installations |
| fixed objects. For example; "we recommend at least | | | | Nailed down installation is the traditional way to install |
| 15mm small to medium area-18mm expansion on | | | | hardwood floors and can be done either directly onto |
| larger areas at the skirting board or wall if new | | | | wooden subfloor or on a concrete subfloor with the |
| skirting to be fitted." | | | | use of battens. When fixing battens onto concrete |
| Hardwood flooring can react to the presence of | | | | you will need a power-actuated nailer to drive |
| moisture. In the dry winter heating months, moisture | | | | through the battens and fix directly into the |
| can leave the wood flooring causing the floor to | | | | concrete, firstly lay out polyethylene moisture sheet |
| contract slightly in size, which can leave slight gaps | | | | then plywood over the battens to create a new sub |
| between each floor board. In the summer months | | | | floor. We recommend 12mm exterior grade plywood |
| when the humidity is higher, the hardwood flooring | | | | and 2inch x 4inch battens. Lay battens around |
| will expand and the gaps will disappear. If there is too | | | | perimeter at ½ inch from the wall, leave |
| much moisture in the subfloor it will cause the wood | | | | ¼ inch gap at each end. Position the first |
| planks to cup, or buckle. Nearly all problems related to | | | | batten so its centre is 16 inches from the outside |
| hardwood flooring are due to improper installation and | | | | edge of the perimeter batten. Lay out the remaining |
| sub floor preparation. This is why it is important when | | | | battens across the area 16 inch intervals. Always |
| installing hardwood flooring that you follow the | | | | check you battens are level using a level gauge you |
| correct recommended installation methods by the | | | | may need to use cedar shims to level out dips in the |
| manufacturer. | | | | concrete, slide the shims under the battens until level. |
| Direct Glue Installations | | | | (If in doubt we recommend consulting a professional |
| A direct glue installation requires the use of a flooring | | | | fitter for this method). |
| adhesive applied directly onto the subfloor (never | | | | Wooden Subfloor |
| directly apply to the boards). This method can be | | | | Hardwood floors can be nailed into existing wooden |
| used on concrete and wooden subfloors. When done | | | | subfloors such as floorboards or plywood but not into |
| correctly this is the most stable method for fitting | | | | chipboard floors as these are not strong enough to |
| solid wood flooring as the elastic flooring adhesive | | | | hold the nails. The floorboards must be in good |
| allows the floor to expand and contract with no | | | | condition and level if not it is advisable to lay 6mm |
| problems. | | | | exterior grade plywood down first. |
| If you are laying over a concrete subfloor you will | | | | To avoid creaking, check over the subfloor and |
| first need checked the concrete moisture, if the floor | | | | securely fasten any loose floorboards. For added |
| has a moisture content of over 4% then either wait | | | | soundproofing it is also advisable to use a standard |
| until the sub floor dries to meet this level or use an | | | | foam underlay. |
| appropriate moisture barrier, we recommend Sika Mb | | | | When you nail down a solid wood floor you use a |
| Primer to ensure no damp rises up into your new | | | | Porta Nailer to drive a nail at a 30 degree angle |
| floor. | | | | through the tongue and into the subfloor. Porta |
| Also note that new concrete slabs require a minimum | | | | Nailers can be hired from any good hire shop but are |
| of 60 days drying time before covering them with a | | | | expensive to buy. |
| wood floor. | | | | Again you will need to leave a 15mm expansion gap |
| All Concrete sub-floors must be dry, smooth, level | | | | around the perimeter of the room. To maintain this |
| and free of structural defects. If the concrete sub | | | | gap during installation spacers are provided in the |
| floor is uneven we recommend using sika latex self | | | | installation kits. |
| leveling compound to level the subfloor. The concrete | | | | After you have installed the floor you can cover this |
| must also be free of contaminants i.e. paint, oil, wax | | | | expansion gap with scotia or new skirting boards.The |
| grease, dirt and curing compounds (the reason for | | | | 15mm expansion gap also needs to be left in |
| this is that you need the self leveling compound to | | | | doorways where the floor follows through from one |
| bond to the sub floor).These may be removed | | | | room to another; we sell full range of door profiles |
| chemically or mechanically as your local hardware | | | | available to match your floor on this website. |
| store and they will sell you the correct floor cleaner, | | | | |