Engineered Wood Flooring Installation Methods

Learning how to lay engineered wood flooring will vary depending on the type of engineered flooring installation you are doing. Some will have click systems which can vary while others will have tongue and groove profiles which require gluing or nailing down. Despite this all of the other installation requirements are identical and it is important to ensure they are correct. By following this guide on laying engineered wood flooring you will avoid all of the common mistakes that we have seen many flooring installers make.

Essential Items

  • Hand Saw
  • Pencil
  • Underlay (Floating installation only)
  • PVA Glue ( Floating Installation only)
  • Flooring Nailer with Nails (Nail Installation only)
  • FLexible Wood Flooring Glue (Stick down installation only)
  • Measuring tape

Recommended Items

  • Knee Pads
  • Moisture Metre
  • spacers
  • Pull Bar
  • Electric Chop Saw (to replace the hand saw)
  • Jig-saw
  • 2m Long Spirit Level

Site Requirements for Installing Engineered Wood Flooring

Before learning how to lay engineered wood flooring, it is important to learn about site conditions. I am sure you have heard some of the horror stories about wood flooring lifting, creaking, splits or large gaps appearing. These problems are caused by site conditions reacting with the flooring and causing unwanted pressure and movement. Before delivering your engineered flooring to the site it is essential to check that your site is suitable, by carrying out a number of important tests. NB. If you are employing a professional wood floor installer, these tests can be carried out by your installers. If any of the tests fail, the cause must be investigated and a solution found to eradicate the problem so that the wood flooring can then be delivered to a site that is safe. The important checks are as follows :

  • Air humidity must be 45-65% tested using a hygrometer. This humidity is considered normal for UK homes and should be maintained after the installation to avoid problems with your floor lifting.
  • Timber based sub-floors must be moisture tested and have a MC% (Moisture content) of 12% or less
  • Concrete sub-floors must also be tested for moisture. A MC% (Moisture content) of 12% or less on a prong test, or below 3% using a concrete moisture metre. NB Some metres have different scales so it is very important to read the manufacturers documentation.
  • The sub-floor must be level. Check this placing a long straight edge on the sub-floor and use a ruler to identify height variance. There should be no more than 3mm in height variation over a 1m length. Repair uneven subfloors with a self-leveling compound or plywood.

How To Check Your Engineered Floor

Once you have received your floor, it is important to check one box before acclimatisation. Carefully open one pack and check the colour and finish of the boards is as expected. Rustic grade wood flooring especially can vary greatly depending on the batch and will often look different to pictures online and even individual samples. Ensure that the floor correct before installation as most suppliers will not replace a wood floor once it has been installed. Different batches will often vary in colour and form. Because wood is a natural product with natural colour variations, and different production lines can be used for each batch. If you are satisfied with the engineered wood, carefully put it back in the box and seal the box up again to acclimatise.

Acclimatising an Engineered Wood Floor Before Installation

Only when the site conditions are correct and you are satisfied with your flooring,  should you then acclimate wood flooring. This is a very important stage in the installation process as it will have an effect on how well the flooring performs after installation. Acclimatisation enables the moisture levels in the engineered wood flooring to become balanced with the moisture levels in the room. The individual boards will often change shape during this process, expanding or shrinking and often even developing a slight bow along the length of planks.  It is important to create this balance prior to installation so that there are no extreme movements once the floor has been installed.

To acclimatise engineered flooring, leave the boxes closed and flat in the room of installation in piles of 3. Leave at least 4cm between all the piles to ensure that the air can circulate around each box.

It takes 5-7 days to acclimate an engineered wood floor to a room.

If you are acclimatising engineered wood flooring for under-floor heating, we recommend laying each box individually on the ground. Start the heating system at a low but comfortable heat setting and increase it by 2 deg every 2 days working it gradually up to the highest setting that you are likely to require. Once reached, reduce the heating by 2 deg every 2 days down to the lowest level of heat that is comfortable. Maintain this process for a minimum of 2 weeks to acclimate an engineered floor correctly for under-floor heating.

How to Lay Engineered Wood Flooring

All existing floor covering must first be removed. Check your sub-floor is structurally sound and level as per the instructions in our site conditions guidelines. An expansion gap for engineered wood flooring is essential. We recommend 10-12mm around the perimeter of your installation. This is inclusive of all obstacles which may prevent your floor from expanding such as walls, door frames, fireplaces and importantly radiator pipes.

The maximum length that we recommend engineered wood flooring can be installed is 7m in any direction. If you do intend to install engineered wood flooring in a longer run, look for areas where you can add expansion gaps such as doorways.

Engineered floors are common in 3 types of construction. Wood fiber-based, multiply and 2 ply construction. Wood fiber or HDF based is often manufactured with a click system. 2-ply and multi-ply **engineered wood flooring** can have a click system or a tongue and groove end. If you engineered floor has a click system, then it must be installed onto an underlay. A T&G (tongue and groove) engineered floor can be installed by nailing it to a timber sub-floor using a flooring nailer, sticking it to a concrete floor using wood to concrete glue, or installed on an underlay and the edges glued using a quality wood PVA wood glue. The most common method is gluing. We recommend putting the glue into the groove and not the tongue. This will give a better spread and a stronger hold. Each manufacturer will have specific requirements, and it is important to read and adhere to their instructions.

Installations on underlay are called floating floors. All of our wood and laminate flooring underlay is suitable for timber sub-floor underlay,  but ensure that you are using a concrete underlay if installing onto concrete.

Heavy Furniture or Units on Wood Flooring

If you plan to use a floating installation, heavy fitted units or furniture (in excess of 200kg when loaded) should not be installed on top of or fixed to Engineered flooring. This can restrict movement causing the floor to peak. It will also void most manufacturers' warranties. Instead, a seamless installation can be created using plinths, rebates and if necessary, edging strips.

Oiled Wood Flooring

Oiled wood floors can often require a fresh coat of oil after installation. Natural oils will be absorbed into the wood, even before installation and for the best finish, a fresh coat of wood flooring oil after installation is recommended.

Helpful Tips

  • Use 2-3 open boxes at the same time so to spread the full natural range of colours found in real wood
  • Check each individual board before installing it. Naturally imperfect boards are not uncommon, especially in rustic floors.
  • Place joints randomly as it often looks better and produces less wastage.
  • Don't obstruct the perimeter of your floor. Check our wood floor accessories page for products to conceal expansion gaps such as door bars, scotia (beading), and radiator collars.
  • Never use underlay when nailing or gluing down an engineered wood floor.

We hope that our information on how to lay engineered wood flooring has been helpful. You can check out our other guides and common wood floor FAQ's on our website.

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