Installation:
a lifetime investment
Hardwood floors are an investment that can last up to 50 years or more. But, to ensure your investment, proper installation is vital, and our installation technicians are the best in the business.
There are three primary installation methods for the three main types of wood floors: engineered wood strips, solid wood strips, and parquet.
With all modes of installation however, moisture testing is imperative, and we use the latest technology in moisture testing equipment. Our expert technicians have seen every imaginable situation and challenge, and they are proficient in all three types of installation for hardwood flooring:
Nail Down/Staple Installation
In this method we nail down or staple solid or engineered wood strips to the subflooring (usually either plywood or plank wood).
The floor is laid with random-length strips, beginning with preliminary placement of a few strips prior to fastening to ensure proper placement and tautness.
Glue Down Installation
With this technique, we glue engineered wood strips or parquet directly to the subfloor.
This is most commonly done when the subfloor is concrete, so we pay extra attention to moisture. With glue-down installations it is important to consider possible allergies to the glue or sensitivities to the smell of glue fumes. We use an acrylic-based glue that is milder than many other options.
With glue-down installations, furniture can be moved in and floors can be walked on the next day.
Floating Installation
In this method we glue together the tongue and groove of every plank, and the floor "floats" over a foam cushioned padding.
If the flooring you've selected has a locking system, we can lock the pieces together without glue. This technique can be used with either laminate or engineered wood flooring, and in both cases the flooring is pre-finished. Not all engineered surfaces can be floated.
One advantage to floating installation is that it can be placed over lower-quality subflooring, unlike the other two modes. Also, floating floors are a great option if you have multiple layers of flooring and do not want to remove them all.
Generally, laminate flooring gives a hollow feeling underfoot with this mode of installation, and floating floors expand and contract as a unit because the pieces are fused together.
Our comprehensive service ensures that no detail will be overlooked in your installation. We determine the temperature, moisture content, level of the subfloor and quality of the sound barrier before making recommendations concerning the type of installation that will be best suited for your home.
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