I’ve been within the flooring trade for greater than 50 years. In that point, each hardwood flooring and their adhesives have developed. Through the years, conventional narrow-width, 3/4″ thick, long-strip oak flooring has given method to wide-width planks, engineered hardwood, tropical wooden species, and bamboo. Cutback and chlorinated solvent adhesives have given method to decrease VOC and more healthy adhesive options.
NEEDS WILL VARY
The wants of those new hardwood flooring merchandise can differ relying on the width, species, substrate, and atmosphere that the flooring will dwell in. Broad-width and lengthy planks are less-forgiving to substrate irregularities. These giant format planks will are inclined to bridge substrate irregularities, leading to hole spots and even deflection. Flattening the substrate per trade tips and utilizing the advisable trowel for vast and lengthy planks will go a good distance in stopping hole spots and deflection. Some adhesive producers won’t assure a few of their adhesives with tropical wooden species or sure kinds of bamboo. Reviewing the technical knowledge sheets for the flooring and adhesive earlier than beginning a mission is at all times a good suggestion. You at all times ought to contact technical companies you probably have questions when working with a product for the primary time.
Earlier than you decide to a glue-down utility, guarantee the chosen flooring could be put in as a glue-down. I’ve spoken to many installers who’ve been put in a no-win scenario with a nail-down-only product offered as glue down over concrete.
KNOW YOUR MARKET
It is advisable know what environmental challenges the flooring will expertise. Some markets can expertise important swings in humidity from summer season to winter. Utilizing an elastomeric adhesive is crucial since it will permit the flooring to increase or contract with seasonal humidity fluctuations. The most typical elastomeric adhesives are modified silane and urethane adhesives. A significant benefit of those adhesives is that they don’t include moisture. I choose modified silane adhesives since they offer the advantages of a urethane adhesive with out the troublesome cleanup. That’s as a result of modified silane adhesives don’t include isocyanates like conventional urethanes.
TYPES OF ADHESIVES
Urethane adhesives usually are advisable when gluing down stable tropical hardwood species and stable bamboo, together with vertical, horizontal, and strand since they often are moisture-sensitive. Water-based acrylic and solvent-based adhesives additionally can be found in the marketplace. Water-based adhesives needs to be used solely with engineered hardwood flooring that isn’t moisture-sensitive in areas the place moisture is just not a priority. Earlier than you decide to a glue-down utility, guarantee the chosen flooring could be put in as a glue-down. I’ve spoken to many installers who’ve been put in a no-win scenario with a nail-down-only product offered as glue down over concrete.
For added details about adhesives, try the NWFA’s Set up Tips at nwfa.org/technical-guidelines/.
MOISTURE ISSUES
In case your space is liable to substrate moisture points or you might be doing new development, utilizing a moisture management adhesive is at all times an excellent protocol. You at all times ought to do a moisture take a look at earlier than beginning a mission to make sure that the moisture management adhesive chosen can deal with the problems that the slab has. All the time contemplate the grade of the slab. On-grade or below-grade slabs are extra liable to moisture points. I at all times suggest contemplating the age of the slab once you moisture take a look at. You probably have excessive moisture emitting from a brand new slab, it’s affordable to imagine it’ll diminish over time.
You additionally ought to know the constructing code in your space concerning under-slab vapor limitations. Most adhesive producers require a slab poured straight on an under-slab vapor barrier per ASTM E1745. There are some areas the place the constructing code doesn’t require an under-slab vapor barrier and others that also permit for a granular (blotter) layer between the slab and the vapor barrier. Additional precautions needs to be taken in areas with these outdated constructing codes when choosing a moisture management adhesive or one other moisture management system.
USING GLUE WITH NAIL-DOWN
In case your market primarily is nailed down, you could not assume a lot about adhesives. As client tastes have developed to wider and longer planks, adhesives have turn out to be more and more essential, even for nail-down functions. Utilizing a glue-assist when nailing down vast and lengthy planks can prevent money and time by decreasing callbacks. NWFA Tips now recommend glue-assist on any plank wider than 5”. The first objective of glue-assist merchandise is to scale back or forestall friction squeaks between the flooring and the substrate. I do know many installers who’ve gone to full-spread installations for vast and lengthy planks over plywood substrates to scale back squeak complaints.
Gary Scheidker is director of technical companies for Taylor Adhesives, Meridian Adhesives Group. He has been within the flooring trade since 1970. In that point, Scheidker has been a flooring installer, estimator, retail salesperson, retailer proprietor, distributor territory supervisor, regional supervisor, and now director of technical companies. He could also be reached at gscheidker@tayloradhesives.com.
