Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Preparation for oak hardwood floor to be installed
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allen11
08-12-07, 09:53 AM
We are having 3/4" oak hardwood flooring installed this week and my question relates to what's needed to ensure a good surface for the installers to lay the floor.
The entire kitchen has already been cleared of cupboards and the old vinyl sheet flooring, including rip up of the 1/4" underlayment, and removal of all baseboards. What remains is the 5/8" sub-floor.
I've been told by the kitchen people to have everything clear. So it is now clear, but want to be sure of a professional end result. Is there anything else I need to do? Or is the rest in the hands of the professionals?
There are some imperfections in the sub-floor, but I dont know if it will matter or not for hardwood. Should minor cracks between sheets of plywood be filled in, for example? Should any roughness in the sub-floor surface be sanded? Etc etc.
BTW, I will be screwing down the plywood before they come to eliminate squeaks.
Given the above current state, what more if anything should I do, or should I simply depend upon the installers prep tasks?
Thanks in advance.
Allen
The entire kitchen has already been cleared of cupboards and the old vinyl sheet flooring, including rip up of the 1/4" underlayment, and removal of all baseboards. What remains is the 5/8" sub-floor.
I've been told by the kitchen people to have everything clear. So it is now clear, but want to be sure of a professional end result. Is there anything else I need to do? Or is the rest in the hands of the professionals?
There are some imperfections in the sub-floor, but I dont know if it will matter or not for hardwood. Should minor cracks between sheets of plywood be filled in, for example? Should any roughness in the sub-floor surface be sanded? Etc etc.
BTW, I will be screwing down the plywood before they come to eliminate squeaks.
Given the above current state, what more if anything should I do, or should I simply depend upon the installers prep tasks?
Thanks in advance.
Allen
twelvepole
08-22-07, 02:55 PM
Your floor has already been installed by now. Sorry, but I have not been on the forums.
The subfloor should have been smooth, flat, and clean, and everything done to achieve that. Wood flooring should have been delivered to the home and placed in the rooms where it was to be installed for several days to allow to adjust to temperature and humidity of rooms with windows and doors closed and HVAC system at occupancy levels. Installer should have done moisture test of subfloor and hardwood flooring. If 2 1/4" strip flooring, there should have been no greater than 4% difference in moisture levels, and 2% if plank. If difference was greater, then more time should have been allowed for acclimation. Basement or crawl space should be dry and no moisture issues. Vapor retarder should be over soil in crawl space. 15# minimum roofing felt should have been installed over subfloor and wood installed perpendicular to floor joists with the 3/4" recommended expansion gap around perimeter of room along baseboards.
For solid hardwood floor install instructions, go to www.nofma.org and click publications and download for free the National Oak Flooring Manufacturer's technical manual on installing wood floors.
The subfloor should have been smooth, flat, and clean, and everything done to achieve that. Wood flooring should have been delivered to the home and placed in the rooms where it was to be installed for several days to allow to adjust to temperature and humidity of rooms with windows and doors closed and HVAC system at occupancy levels. Installer should have done moisture test of subfloor and hardwood flooring. If 2 1/4" strip flooring, there should have been no greater than 4% difference in moisture levels, and 2% if plank. If difference was greater, then more time should have been allowed for acclimation. Basement or crawl space should be dry and no moisture issues. Vapor retarder should be over soil in crawl space. 15# minimum roofing felt should have been installed over subfloor and wood installed perpendicular to floor joists with the 3/4" recommended expansion gap around perimeter of room along baseboards.
For solid hardwood floor install instructions, go to www.nofma.org and click publications and download for free the National Oak Flooring Manufacturer's technical manual on installing wood floors.