Install method for 7" wide engineered wood flooring
gra8fulgal
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (16)
gra8fulgal
3 years agogra8fulgal
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Looking for Palladio Wide Plank Engineered Wood Flooring Review
Comments (32)All wood flooring (and your cabinets, doors, frames, paint, drywall, etc) have these types of requirements. The "range" is up to the individual manufacturer to specify. I've seen bamboo that has the narrowest requirement of 45%-60%....for good reason. The GLUE that holds bamboo together is RIGID whereas the grass (bamboo is grass) is ABSORPTIVE so it MOVES. Engineered hardwoods are more specific because the layers create layers of glue...and glue acts and reacts DIFFERENTLY from the wood layers. If one expands but the other does not, you get DELAMINATION. The companies have tested their specifications under laboratory conditions and have found the BIGGEST window for "success" with their floors. They have then written those down. As for solid wood floors in old homes, remember this: the wood floors CUPPED and/or CROWNED and/or SEPARATED early on in the life of the floor. It could have taken more than a DECADE for the home to find it's equilibrium. The original owners SIMPLY PUT UP WITH IT (imagine having to 'put up' with crowned floors for 10 years...today's consumer REFUSES to accept this....so we have warranty requirements now that SPECIFY the 'happy place' for each wood product). Once the first sand/refinish occured (25 years later) the "problem" (the visual issues) with the wood were sanded away. One generation later, it looks GREAT. But no one took selfies of the floors in the '60's. And the cuts and widths were different (there is a BIG reason why 2" strip hardwood was sooooooo popular....and it wasn't because it looked good). And the wood was often sourced (and dried/racked) from local mills. And it sat longer on site before it was installed, and, and, and, and....you get the idea....See MoreDirection of 7" wide engineered maple floor
Comments (8)qam999, we do have wood in living room that runs in the direction of hallway (direction of front door to back door, vertically if you will, in the sketch above). g&s, when you say length of room do you mean perpendicular to the direction of hallway? This means putting the wood parallel to the exterior wall by the front door and not the hallway?...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 Morelooking for rustic wide planked engineered wood floor (lighter color)
Comments (7)The "white/gray" is in a wide plank is going to be what kills your budget. There are DOZENS of them out there...for $15/sf. If you must have the wide plank in silverish colour, you will want to look at European Oak. It's tones are NATURALLY silver. Yes. As it ages it turns SILVER. Which is why it is SOOOO popular right now. And popular means high demand. And just like in economics class, the rule of supply and demand is what drives the price. If you want to get AWAY from the SILVER, you can start dropping the price. There are TONS of the wide plank (anything over 5" is considered wide plank = MUCH MORE expensive to INSTALL = higher labour costs = more out of the budget). White Oak in a wide plank presentation in a NATURAL tone will offer plenty of rustic style. And for a much better price than silver/gray or European Oak (which can be VERY pricey). How wide is wide? And do you have the correct humidity control for your home heating/cooling system for wide plank wood? Ask to see if your HVAC has a humidifier/dehumidifier as part of the package. Make sure you can control your indoor humidity at the touch of a button. If you do not, you might wake up to a nasty surprise. The wider a piece of wood, the more movement it can have. Engineered planks reduce this concern but they NEVER remove it completely. There will always be a concern with humidity. Why? Because it's wood. With a budget of $9/sf (or so) you will need to know the "extras" this will cost to install wide plank (can add another $2/sf for labour simply because of the "glue assist" that is needed)....See Morejysoccer
2 years agowjtnej
2 years agojysoccer
2 years agowjtnej
2 years agojysoccer
2 years agojysoccer
2 years agowjtnej
2 years agoKristina Longo
2 years agoKristina Longo
2 years ago
Related Stories
FLOORSWhat's the Right Wood Floor Installation for You?
Straight, diagonal, chevron, parquet and more. See which floor design is best for your space
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESWhen to Use Engineered Wood Floors
See why an engineered wood floor could be your best choice (and no one will know but you)
Full StoryFLOORSHow to Care for Engineered Wood Flooring
Keep your wood floor looking its best with these tips and tricks from the experts
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESWhat to Know About Engineered Wood Floors
Engineered wood flooring offers classic looks and durability. It can work with a range of subfloors, including concrete
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESYour Floor: An Introduction to Solid-Plank Wood Floors
Get the Pros and Cons of Oak, Ash, Pine, Maple and Solid Bamboo
Full StoryFLOORSHow to Get a Tile Floor Installed
Inventive options and durability make tile a good choice for floors. Here’s what to expect
Full StoryMATERIALSThe Most Popular Roofing Material is Affordable and Easy to Install
Asphalt shingles, the most widely used roof material in the U.S. are reliable and efficient, and may be right for you
Full StoryPATIOSSpring Patio Fix-Ups: Install an Outdoor Fireplace or Fire Pit
Make your yard the place to be by adding a fire feature that draws a crowd
Full StoryKITCHEN BACKSPLASHESHow to Install a Tile Backsplash
If you've got a steady hand, a few easy-to-find supplies and patience, you can install a tile backsplash in a kitchen or bathroom
Full StoryEARTH DAYHow to Install a Green Roof
Covering a roof with low-maintenance plants has benefits beyond just beauty. Get the details here
Full Story
wjtnej