How to Fit Solid Wooden Flooring Step by Step

Installation preparations: 1.1 Acclimatization of the panels; before starting the installation the flooring has to be brought into the room where it will be installed or in a room with the same climate condition. The acclimatisation will be carried out as following: in sealed unopened boxes for a time period of at least 7 days flat lying with at least 50 cm distance to the walls at a room temperature of at least 18°C at a floor surface temperature of a minimum of 15°C at a relative humidity between 40% and 65%

1.2 Installation direction; Solid flooring looks its best when the solid wood flooring panels are installed parallel to the light coming in through the windows. The only required installation direction is if you install solid flooring over hardwood flooring boards. In this case you have to install the solid flooring at a 90degree angle to the existing hardwood flooring boards or apply a hard board or ply board sub floor.

1.3 Planning the first row; after determining the best layout of the flooring and the starting wall, measure the width of the room and divide it by the width of the solid flooring panels to determine the number of rows and the width of the last row. If the last row is determined to be less than 60mm wide, it should be adjusted by cutting the first row lengthwise.

1.4 Planning of expansion gaps; since solid wood flooring is made of organic materials, it is subject to certain movement behaviours (shrinkage/expansion) due to changes in climate conditions. It is necessary to leave gaps of 15mm for the expansion in all parts of the structure i.e. walls, doorframes, stairs, around pipes.

1.5 Planning of transition mouldings; through the shrinkage and expansion behaviour of solid flooring you have to install transition mouldings in the following areas: at all door throughways at all passageways single room length and/or with more than 10 m (33 ft)

The Installation

Check all panels for possible damages/defects. Ensure you understand the difference between the tongue and the groove on the panel. Begin installing the first row from the left-hand corner of the room with both tongue sides of the panels pointing towards the wall. Place spacers between the flooring and the wall to provide the correct space for expansion.

1.1. Glue down – recommendation

1.1.2 Nail down – recommendation

Timber battens, ply board, particleboard sub floor constructions, any wooden surface should be kiln dried at the maximum moisture content of 12-14%. They should be placed at 400mm intervals. Heavy loads such as pianos are place in areas where this is reducing to 300mm. Lay the first row of boards 15mm from the longest, straightest wall. The boards must follow the contours of the wall. It the wall is not straight you must scribe in the first and last row. Place spacers between the edge of the flooring panels and the wall to provide the correct space for expansion. Face nail the first and last row nearest the wall 15mm into the board at 200mm intervals. Secret nail every board (including first row) with a portonailer at 45degrees through the tongue 200mm – 400mm intervals. Start all subsequent rows with the off cut piece from the previous row. Always make sure the off cut to start a new row is at least 400mm long, if not then cut another piece which is