Installing hardwood : glue + nails vs membrane + nails?
Mike
7 years ago
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Comments (9)
Cancork Floor Inc.
7 years agoTech First
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Glue or Nail down Hardwood floors
Comments (7)And just to be helpful (probably not...but here we go), a 5" wide hardwood needs "glue assist" with a nail in place install. So there must be some gluing going on. The extra cost of the sound reducing membrane isn't what is driving the cost up. It is the two layers of glue (yes the acoustic underlay must be glued and then the hardwood glued over top = double stick) and the extra labor to do everything "twice". Twice the labour, twice the glue = twice the budget. A glue down hardwood is the most expensive form of hardwood install we have. Nailing is the cheapest. A floating method is between the two. A glue assist for a wide plank (ahem...5" ranks as wide plank = needs glue assist) is more expensive than a float...but not as expensive as a full spread glue down install. Check to ensure the quote for the nail down includes the glue assist. If it doesn't, then they could be missing a step. The 1/4" cork underlay (from iCork Floor) = $0.66/sf. Some shipping costs (maybe $0.45/sf) brings it to about $1.10/sf for the cork. The other $5/sf is the glue (assume $1/sf per layer = $2/sf) and the extra labor to do all this gluing. The material only adds $3/sf. The labor is the other $3/sf. $3+$3 = $6/sf for this install. If you MUST HAVE acoustic insulation + solid hardwood, then you must have the extra $6/sf. There is a possible solution: floating hardwood. Yep. Float the hardwood (very few solid hardwoods are allowed to float...so you need to look at engineered for this) and you FLOAT the cork underlay. No glue = reduce the material costs by $2/sf. Since floating a hardwood is just SLIGHTLY cheaper than a "nail + glue assist" install, the cost of labor for the floor itself won't change. Switch to an engineered hardwood that can float and then add the 6mm cork underlay. It will add $1 - $2/sf to your current quote. My calculations indicate you have 2500sf of flooring. The cork underlay will only add $2500 to your material costs. Compare that to $15K for the double stick total. The solution = floating engineered hardwood. You can have your cake and eat it to....See MoreNail and glue 1/2" engineered 7" wide hardwood planks
Comments (7)Traditionally a nail-down "wide plank" hardwood receives "glue assist". That is to say glue is applied to the back of the planks and then nailed into place. Your problems will be SHRINKAGE due to VERY DRY conditions. A wide plank is VERY tricky to install in DRY climates such as yours. And to be clear, "wide" is anything 5" or wider. Your 7" wide planks are VERY wide. The wider the plank, the MORE it will shrink. The more it shrinks the bigger the gaps (where water and urine can fall into). The more it shrinks the unhappier you will be. A solid, narrow strip hardwood (such as 3" wide planks) would be the best option if you want wood. Some of the worst shrinkage/splitting/checking occurs in DRY climates. Humidity is SUCKED OUT of the wood so quickly it starts looking like 20 year old cedar shakes. Please check to see if you can ADD humidity to your entire home at the touch of a button (whole home humidifier). If you do not have this device, I highly recommend you purchase one. I would suspect $6K should get you what you need - but that number is highly dependent on size of your home and the type/size of your furnace/duct work....See MoreNail vs. Glue down for engineered hardwood installation
Comments (7)As above. The wide plank (anything 5" or wider is considered 'wide' by the industry) must have a 'glue assist' if you use nails/cleats/staples. That is an added expense...that's why wide plank wood floors are a serious upgrade. If you are going to use a glue-assist, then a full spread glue WITHOUT the nails is just the next step. And as G & S points out, the nailing down of thin planks (3/4" is the industry 'gold standard') could lead to more problems. And of course, being in SC you will want to make sure you have the HVAC system updated (it it needs it) to include a whole home humidistat (includes humidifier or dehumidifier or both depending on your local year round climate). Before you do anything, make sure your HVAC system has the RIGHT attachments to handle a home full of wood flooring. Traditionally that requires an upgrade....but not always (we've seen some homes that already come with the top of the line HVAC systems that have all the bells and whistles already attached)....See MoreHow to install hardwood over ripped up hardwood subflooring?
Comments (2)Traditionally (ie. by a pro who is paid to do things well/properly) the damaged substrate is removed and replaced. Patching is possible if there are minor spots that just need 1-3mm of fill. If the whole thing has a shredded surface then it is probably easier/faster to remove and replace with the same thickness. As G&S suggests: photos please....See MoreMike
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