Wood floors are beautiful and durable, and installing one in your home helps increase its value. When you decide you want wood floors, you can choose from a variety of installation methods. One method is to glue the wood boards directly to the subfloor using a strong adhesive that's designed for wood flooring. This provides a very secure bond that keeps the boards in place. To learn the three advantages of choosing to install your new wood floor by gluing it to the subfloor, read on.
1. Stops Your Floor from Squeaking
One of the biggest advantages of gluing wood boards directly to the floor is that you can prevent your new wood floor from ever squeaking. If you've ever walked on an old wood floor and heard it squeak beneath your feet, it's because the nails or staples used to secure it to the floor have been pulled up slightly. You press the board down when you walk on it, which causes a squeaking noise.
When you nail or staple wood boards to the floor, they can become loose over time due to the wood boards expanding and contracting in response to humidity changes. When you glue the boards to the floor instead, they'll remain securely attached to the subfloor. This prevents them from shifting out of position and squeaking when you walk on them.
2. Allows You to Save Money on Installation Costs When Installing Over Concrete
If you plan to install your new wood floor over a concrete slab, you can save time and money during installation by gluing the boards directly to the slab. You can't nail or staple wood boards to concrete, so you need to install a plywood subfloor over the concrete first to give the nails or staples something to anchor to. You also need to install a vapor barrier underneath the plywood subfloor to prevent the moisture rising from the concrete from causing it to warp.
You can glue wood boards directly to concrete because the adhesive used for wood floor installation bonds very well to bare concrete, and it also acts as a vapor barrier that blocks moisture from reaching the boards. You won't have to purchase a plywood subfloor or a vapor barrier for your new wood floor, making it less expensive to install.
3. Provides Extra Resistance Against Warping
Gluing your new wood floor directly to the subfloor also gives it additional protection from moisture. Wood expands when it gets wet, whether it picks up humidity from the air or has water spilled on it. The expanding wood boards can start to warp and pull upwards from the floor.
When you glue the boards directly to the floor, there's a stronger bond between the boards and the subfloor than there would be if you nailed or stapled them to the floor. This helps keep the wood boards in place, preventing them from pulling away from the floor and warping when they get wet. You'll still need to mop up spills quickly when they happen, but you'll have extra protection against your floor warping when they do.
Overall, gluing the wood boards to the subfloor provides a strong bond that provides extra moisture resistance and can prevent your floor from squeaking. If you've decided that gluing your new wood floor down is the right fit for your home, call a wood floor installation service in your area, such as Temple Johnson Flooring Co. Gluing wood boards to the floor is a messy job best handled by professionals, as the adhesive needs to be applied correctly to make sure the bond is strong.
