Laying A Solid Wood Floor

Determining the sub-floor type will help you narrow down the options. The sub-floor is in most cases either plywood or concrete. While a plywood base floor allows any installation method, if you have a concrete sub-floor you cannot choose the "nail down" method.

For solid wood flooring, the "nail down" installation method is the most common, while "staple down" and "free-float" methods are more appropriate for engineering wood floor. The "glue down" installation method is used for both engineering and plank floor.

Nail Down installation

As solid wood floors are generally thicker, they need to be nailed to stay in place. The glue method is generally a failure, because wood tends to expand or contract over time. Thinner models, however, can be layed using the glue.

Before laying the floor, re-nail loose areas on the base floor, sand or plane high spots and fill low areas. After you clean the base floor, it's a good idea to cover it with 15 lbs higher. Put a mark of three-quarters of an inch plus the floor width in one corner, and another in the opposite corner, and insert nails into each of them.

Pull a string line between the two nails and then nail the first piece with the groove edge towards the wall. If the spacing between the wall and the first rows is too small to use a nail gun, use a hammer or a nail set. Lay the following rows using a nail or staple gun appropriate for the width of your floor. Nail each plank every six to ten inches and within two inches of each end. Don't forget to stagger end joints at every row and use cut ends when you begin and end a row.

Glue Down installation

This method is not appropriate for any solid wood floor, only for a plank floor, and is best to use over a concrete sub-floor. If you do it right, it is very stable and makes the floor quieter than other installation methods.

However, you have to be sure that the sub-floor is in perfect shape. If it's not perfectly flat, you will have many problems in the future. A common problem is popping, when glue breaks in a low spot of the floor and that spot is no longer attached to the base floor. Another problem is bonding, which usually occurs when the sub-floor is not clean and the glue is actually attached to the dirt. This causes the bond of the glue to break.

If you have some experience with floor laying and your sub-floor is almost flat, with only a little preparation necessary, then the Glue Down method is not too difficult.

Unlike the above methods, "Staple Down" and "Free-float" installation require some experience and do-it-yourself skills, and also a bit more effort. If you've never laid a floor before or you don't have much time or energy to put into the task, it's better to leave it to a professional.