| The glue down method of laying hardwood floors is | | | | Walk On method because of the better finished |
| one of the original methods of installing hardwood | | | | results it can provide. Since you are reading |
| flooring. If you want to learn the basics of how to | | | | instructions about how to install hardwood floors, we'll |
| install hardwood flooring using the glue down method, | | | | assume you're using the Wet Lay method. |
| you've come to the right place. | | | | - Instructions for Installing Hardwood Flooring |
| Among do it yourself hardwood floors, those done | | | | 1. Place your substrate sheets, stretched across the |
| with the glue down method can be the most stable | | | | foundation. Make sure that the surface is level, clean, |
| and enduring. When you are installing hardwood | | | | and free of debris. |
| flooring using the glue down method, you can rest | | | | 2. Get your glue warm. It should be slightly above |
| assured that you are using a technique that has been | | | | room temperature or it will be very difficult to work |
| time-tested. | | | | with. If it's below room temperature, you'll find it |
| - Tools Needed When Installing Hardwood Flooring | | | | impossible to work with your glue. |
| Square Notched Trowel - This trowel should have | | | | 3. Use your square notched trowel to put glue in the |
| one quarter inch sides for the application of the glue. | | | | starting corner of the room. Put enough to securely |
| Broom and Dust Pan - You'll want to constantly be | | | | fasten the board, but ration your glue so that it'll be |
| cleaning up any saw dust that could get stuck under | | | | able to complete the entire hardwood flooring |
| your floor panels or get stuck in your connecting | | | | process. |
| joints. The last thing you need is a lumpy hardwood | | | | If you had any doubt about whether you have |
| floor when you're done installing hardwood flooring. | | | | enough glue, it would have been a good idea to buy |
| Carpenter's Crayon - This is what you use to mark | | | | more before you started gluing. You'll typically find |
| where you'll make your cuts on your panels. You'll | | | | that it takes an extra day to do the flooring when |
| also use this to mark up the surface where you'll be | | | | you run out of glue before you've finished. |
| laying your panels. You'll want to keep this handy at | | | | 4. Try to place your first wood panel straight down |
| all times because it is particularly important with the | | | | on the glue, secured into the corner. Since you are |
| glue down method that everything be done very | | | | working with wet glue, place the panel as best you |
| precisely. | | | | can at first so that you'll not be smearing the glue |
| Circular Saw - You'll use your circular saw to cut up | | | | around as you adjust the panel's placement. If you |
| panels as necessary. Additionally, you'll use your | | | | had used the Walk On method, you wouldn't be able |
| circular saw to score your substrate sheets every | | | | to move the panel at all only a few seconds after |
| eight inches. This is important for the prevention of | | | | placement. |
| curling panels. | | | | 5. You can continue on as in the above steps with |
| Glue - Many hardwood panel kits come with their | | | | adding more panels until you reach the last panel, |
| own glue. If you need to buy glue for your | | | | which shouldn't completely fit. Use your crayon to |
| hardwood panels, I highly recommend Bostik's Best | | | | mark where to cut the board and your saw to make |
| Adhesive. | | | | the cut. |
| Lace Nails - You'll use these nails when connecting the | | | | 6. Get your first row wedged in really tight so that it |
| panels to walls and wall strips. | | | | will provide a solid basis for your entire floor. |
| Plywood Substrate Sheets - These are placed on top | | | | 7. Before any of the glue dries, use a soft cloth to |
| of the concrete and go underneath your hardwood | | | | clean up any glue that may be sitting on the surface |
| floor. | | | | of your first row. The longer you wait to clean up |
| Soft Cloths - You'll need these to clean up excess | | | | the glue, the more difficult it will get to clean up the |
| glue throughout the process of installing hardwood | | | | glue. |
| flooring. If the glue is allowed to set, it'll take extra | | | | 8. Hopefully you didn't mutilate the excess piece of |
| measure to remove it. In some cases, it requires | | | | panel you cut off to end the first row. That's going |
| special chemicals and glue to remove glue once it has | | | | to be the panel you use to start the next row. This |
| set. You'll also need your soft cloths to clean up after | | | | helps make sure your hardwood floor looks nice by |
| you've installed your hardwood floors. | | | | having all of the panels offset. |
| Rubber Gloves - It's much better to glue the fingers | | | | 9. If you're seeing any bubbles, hills, or slopes on the |
| of your gloves together than your own fingers | | | | panels you've been laying, put a heavy, flat object on |
| together! Besides, many people don't like having dried | | | | top of these sections to hold them down until the |
| glue on their hands for weeks after they finish | | | | glue attaches them to the substrate. |
| installing hardwood flooring. | | | | 10. Clean up again. Get all of that sawdust and glue |
| - Final Preparation for Installing Hardwood Flooring | | | | out of there. A soft cloth with mineral spirits on it |
| When using the glue down method for installing | | | | can be used to get glue you've missed that may be |
| hardwood flooring, it is absolutely essential that the | | | | hardening. Clean the mineral spirits off quickly to avoid |
| surface where you will be placing your flooring panels | | | | having them damage the floor. You should have a |
| is properly prepared. | | | | nice, new hardwood floor. |
| You'll be attaching your flooring panels to this surface, | | | | Hindsight Tips for Installing Hardwood Flooring: |
| so the floor must be smooth, dry, and as clean as | | | | - For best results, use plywood sheets to form your |
| possible to give your hardwood floor a solid support | | | | substrate. |
| base. Be particularly careful to clean up anything that | | | | - The thicker your substrate sheets are, the easier it |
| looks like it may be grease or oil, as your glue may | | | | is to compensate for leveling differences at the |
| not properly bond. | | | | surface. But you should still try to get the surface as |
| It's also very important that your sub floor be | | | | level as possible before laying your substrate sheets. |
| completely level and flat. If you notice any | | | | - If you have enough flat, heavy objects, place them |
| unevenness, get some patching cement from the | | | | on each new panel as you place the panel on the |
| hardware store to even the sub floor. | | | | floor to help it get the best possible attachment to |
| You also need to choose between one of the two | | | | the substrate. Don't use anything that can damage |
| methods of laying hardwood panels down with the | | | | the surface of your panels. If you have nothing else, |
| glue down method. Your choices for installing | | | | you can always lay on the panels. Be careful not to |
| hardwood flooring are the Walk On method or the | | | | get glue on top of them though. |
| Wet Lay method. | | | | Rest Assured That You Made a Good Choice |
| If you choose the Wet Lay method for installing | | | | Installing Hardwood Flooring |
| hardwood flooring, you'll be putting glue across the | | | | When you have your hardwood floor glued down, |
| substrate followed by placing the hardwood panel on | | | | you are ready to experience a great sense of |
| top of the glue. After the glue starts to become | | | | accomplishment. If you did a really good job of |
| tacky, you proceed to the next panel. | | | | installing your hardwood flooring using the glue down |
| However, sometimes it is recommended for first | | | | method, you will not experience nearly as much |
| time installers using the glue down method to place | | | | creaky floor syndrome as you would with other |
| the next panels before the glue becomes tacky so | | | | methods of installation. |
| that you can adjust your panels a few minutes later | | | | And for your sake, I really hope you followed the |
| if they are not lined up properly. | | | | instructions carefully and picking out high quality |
| The Walk On method of installing hardwood flooring | | | | flooring. This is because replacing a glued down |
| requires precise panel laying. This process of installing | | | | hardwood floor is no task for amateurs. That is |
| hardwood flooring waits until the glue is very tacky | | | | unless you've got destructive pleasure tendencies. |
| and then lays the panel in the glue. This keeps you | | | | You'll need some serious sledgehammer, crow bar, |
| from getting glue smudges all over your panels as | | | | and circular saw work if you ever want to replace |
| you go. | | | | that glued down hardwood floor. |
| Experienced hardwood installers typically use the | | | | |