Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - glue down floor
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rescraft
09-12-05, 03:30 PM
I am getting ready to install a glue down floor and was wondering if there are any tips/suggestions before I start. I have installed floating as well as a nail down floor, but this is the first glue down.
The layout is basically a big rectangle (28 x 16) with an "L" coming off one corner that forms a small hallway to three bedrooms.
The flooring sales rep came over and tested for moisture (slab) and got a reading below 3% and gave the go ahead. Using Bostick glue.
Thanks in advance.
The layout is basically a big rectangle (28 x 16) with an "L" coming off one corner that forms a small hallway to three bedrooms.
The flooring sales rep came over and tested for moisture (slab) and got a reading below 3% and gave the go ahead. Using Bostick glue.
Thanks in advance.
rev3lati0n
09-12-05, 05:56 PM
good glue! bostiks best is awesome for glue down. you know its odd but i was just working on a glue down floor today with bostiks!!!
anyway,
1. make sure you also have bostiks best cleaner! it comes in a white bottle and its oil based so it wont harm your finish. dont use laquer thinner! ;)
2. make sure you use the cleaner ALOT as you go. when you put two boards in and the glue squirts up in between (which does happen sometimes no matter how good you are) make sure you throw some cleaner and clean it up right away!!! dont let any of that glue sit on the floor anywhere or it will be an absolute pain to clean up. TRUST ME. i HAVE spent an entire day cleaning that stuff off of a floor (more like scraping!) i had no nails at the end of the day! and spacers put little divots in the wood. so be careful.
3. make sure you have a very solid base with spacers. you do not want that floor to move at all. throw spacers anywhere you can it makes it much easier.
4. one more thing with cleaning, we like to get that brown paper in a big roll from home depot and when we finish a section put the paper down because if you step in the glue at all you track it around. in other words, it can get really messy on your first glue down floor. its worth it to spend time putting paper down and cleaning as you go because in the end you will actually save time.
5. tapping blocks. :\ now the normal laminate tapping blocks dont work with a glue down floor. AND you cant use tapping blocks because you have to put it in the glue. so everything has to get kicked or hand put in. EXCEPT, if you make a tapping block :) now... take a piece of your wood. and cut it in a shape like this.....
_______
| |
\ /
/ \
|______|
i think you get the general idea.... the top and bottom are the beveled ends (what you should tap) and the in-cut sides help with picking up the tapping block out of the glue. a little less messy. now when the block gets too gluey just make a new one. but you shouldnt have to use it that much. really on pieces that are giving you trouble.
ok i think im done with my encyclopedia. if i think of anything else ill throw it in :)
anyway,
1. make sure you also have bostiks best cleaner! it comes in a white bottle and its oil based so it wont harm your finish. dont use laquer thinner! ;)
2. make sure you use the cleaner ALOT as you go. when you put two boards in and the glue squirts up in between (which does happen sometimes no matter how good you are) make sure you throw some cleaner and clean it up right away!!! dont let any of that glue sit on the floor anywhere or it will be an absolute pain to clean up. TRUST ME. i HAVE spent an entire day cleaning that stuff off of a floor (more like scraping!) i had no nails at the end of the day! and spacers put little divots in the wood. so be careful.
3. make sure you have a very solid base with spacers. you do not want that floor to move at all. throw spacers anywhere you can it makes it much easier.
4. one more thing with cleaning, we like to get that brown paper in a big roll from home depot and when we finish a section put the paper down because if you step in the glue at all you track it around. in other words, it can get really messy on your first glue down floor. its worth it to spend time putting paper down and cleaning as you go because in the end you will actually save time.
5. tapping blocks. :\ now the normal laminate tapping blocks dont work with a glue down floor. AND you cant use tapping blocks because you have to put it in the glue. so everything has to get kicked or hand put in. EXCEPT, if you make a tapping block :) now... take a piece of your wood. and cut it in a shape like this.....
_______
| |
\ /
/ \
|______|
i think you get the general idea.... the top and bottom are the beveled ends (what you should tap) and the in-cut sides help with picking up the tapping block out of the glue. a little less messy. now when the block gets too gluey just make a new one. but you shouldnt have to use it that much. really on pieces that are giving you trouble.
ok i think im done with my encyclopedia. if i think of anything else ill throw it in :)
rev3lati0n
09-12-05, 05:58 PM
well my picture of a tapping block didnt work so ill do it again....
______________
|.....................|
.\.................../
./...................\
|_____________|
there. (ignore the 2 periods to the left)
______________
|.....................|
.\.................../
./...................\
|_____________|
there. (ignore the 2 periods to the left)
Jerry T
09-13-05, 03:48 AM
Use purple or blue painters tape to keep the joints tight as you go. Pull it off the next day.
Tape a piece of cardboard to the bottom of the glue bucket to catch drips and lay your trowel on.
Use layers of duct tape on the soles of you shoes. Peel it off when needed, keeps your shoes nice and clean.
Lay the flooring with the groove "out" on glue downs. Lessens joint ooze when you tighten it up.
Make sure you have the correct trowel.
Those Bostik's wipes are handy to have on hand.
Tape a piece of cardboard to the bottom of the glue bucket to catch drips and lay your trowel on.
Use layers of duct tape on the soles of you shoes. Peel it off when needed, keeps your shoes nice and clean.
Lay the flooring with the groove "out" on glue downs. Lessens joint ooze when you tighten it up.
Make sure you have the correct trowel.
Those Bostik's wipes are handy to have on hand.