"In-use" Moisture Content: Differences of more than 4%
between the expected in-use average moisture content of
flooring and the in-use average moisture content of
underfloor construction are likely to cause problems such as
cupping. The greater the difference the more severe the
problems. A significant difference of 8% or more may result
in buckling of the floor when the underfloor is the higher
moisture content.
Finishing should proceed 1-3 weeks after installation is
completed. Longer periods of exposure to job site conditions
can result in future problems. Finishing immediately after
installation does not allow the flooring adequate time to
acclimate to its new environment.
Work from left to right. In laying strip flooring you'll
find it easier to work from your left to your right. Left is
determined by having your back to the wall where the
starting course is laid. When necessary to cut a strip to fit to
the right wall, use a strip long enough so the cut-off piece is
8" or longer and start the next course on the left wall with
this piece.
Short pieces. For best appearance always use long
flooring strips at entrances and doorways. Incorporate as
many short pieces as possible at random in the floor. Do not
group them in one area.
Put a "frame" around obstructions. You can give a
much more professional and finished look to a strip flooring
installation if you "frame" hearths and other obstructions,
using mitered joints at the corners.
Reversing direction of strip flooring. Sometimes it's
necessary to reverse the direction of the flooring to extend it
into a closet or hallway. To do this, join groove edge to
groove edge, using a slip tongue available from flooring
distributors. Glue slip tongue in place and blind nail that
edge. Proceed in the opposite direction nailing in the
conventional manner.
Use only sound, straight boards for subfloors. The
quality of the subflooring will affect the finished flooring. Use
only square edge 3/4" dressed boards no wider than 6". Boards
which have been used for concrete form work are often
warped and damp and should not be used.
Don't pour concrete after flooring is installed. Concrete basement floors are sometimes poured after hardwood flooring has been installed. However, many
gallons of water from drying concrete are evaporated into the
house atmosphere where it may be absorbed by hardwood
flooring and other wood components. This is not a
recommended building practice since excessive moisture will
cause problems with wood floors and other woodwork.
Wood flooring should not be installed until after all concrete
and plaster work are completed and dry.
Doorways, Stair Treads, and High Traffic Areas. If flooring direction changes, always use slip tongues or engage the flooring end matching into groove side of
flooring to prevent movement and give a solid transition.
Put voids between screeds to good use. Masonry insulation
fill, normally used in hollow concrete blocks, can be poured
between the screeds of a slab installation to give additional
moisture protection and deaden the drumming sound that
sometimes occurs from foot traffic.
Sound deadening in multi-story building. Noise
transmission from an upper to a lower floor can be reduced.
Nail subfloor to the joists in the normal manner and cover
this with 1/2" or thicker cork or insulation board laid in
mastic. Cover this with another 3/4" plywood subfloor also laid
in mastic. Nail the finish strip or plank floor to the plywood,
or lay block or parquetry floors in mastic on the plywood. In
the case of parquet the second subfloor plywood can be 1/2"
tongue-and-groove type. Note that specifications for some
high-rise apartment buildings call for other types of sound-deadening construction.
Mastics and trowels. There are several types of mastics
available that are satisfactory for use in laying hardwood
floors. Hot asphalt* is generally used only for laying screeds
on concrete and the screeds must be positioned immediately
on pouring the mastic. Cutback asphalt, chlorinated solvent
and petroleum-based solvent mastics are all applied cold and
are used for laying tongue and grooved block and parquet
floors. Cut back asphalt mastic can be used to hold a
recommended vapor retarder and/or to glue a plywood
subfloor to the slab. Follow manufacturers' instructions on
coverage, drying time and ventilation.
Trowels usually have both straight and notched edges.
The notched edge is for use where a correct mastic thickness
is specified. Both mastic and trowels may be available from
flooring manufacturers and distributors.
Different Manufacturers Products. Do not randomly mix
different manufacturers' products. Use transition areas such
as doorways to separate the different manufacturers.
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