Every timber floor is unique. That being said every timber floor usually follows a standard installation process. This information is designed to help you to understand the process of having a solid timber floor supplied and installed.
Once timber has been acclimatized [in order to allow for any dimensional movement prior to installation and to maintain your warranty] it is time to install your solid timber floor Always order your solid timber a minimum of 4 weeks ahead of the installation.
When the time comes to install your floor there are three distinct processes. These are preparation, installation & sanding and finishing.
STAGE ONE: PREPARATION
Stage one, the preparation stage involves checking the slab to ensure that it is ready to accept the timber floor. It needs to be clean, dry & sound. Unless the floor is clean it will not accept the moisture barrier/primer and adhesive properly. This is an essential stage of the process. Rushing to install the floor without doing appropriate site preparation can result in serious problems. Only after determining that the concrete slab is clean, dry & sound and therefore ready to accept the moisture barrier/primer should a timber floor be installed. If anything needs attention there may be additional costs, especially if grinding is required in order to have a suitable surface. Usually this is determined early if there is good site access prior to the quotation.
The final step in preparation that occurs before the installation begins is the application of a moisture barrier (or primer), which is designed to reduce the flow of moisture through the concrete into the timber flooring. A primer is always recommended because it will both restrict the flow of moisture which can adversely affect the timber & it will also improve the adhesion of the adhesive used to install the timber. There are many different forms of moisture barrier/primer but it is extremely important that the one used is of the same brand as the adhesive that is to be used on the floor. Be especially concerned if the primer that is used is not from the same manufacturer as the adhesive as this will cause a problem with warranties. It will effectively negate any manufacturer’s warranty on your job.
STAGE TWO: TIMBER INSTALLATION
Once the moisture barrier is dry the installer will use glue and some mechanical fixings to adhere the timber boards to the concrete. The timber boards will already have been acclimatized to site in accordance with industry milling standards. The installer will already have discussed with you the appropriate timber directions so that you know which way the floor is going to flow through the rooms. Installation rates vary from installer to installer but you should anticipate an average installation rate of 20-25 m² per day. Your installer will use a flexible adhesive that allows for timber movement and it will be of the same brand as the primer. As a general rule of thumb he will use 1kg of adhesive for each m2 of floor.
Once the moisture barrier is dry the installer will use glue and some mechanical fixings to adhere the timber boards to the concrete. The timber boards will already have been acclimatized to site in accordance with industry milling standards. The installer will already have discussed with you the appropriate timber directions so that you know which way the floor is going to flow through the rooms. Installation rates vary from installer to installer but you should anticipate an average installation rate of 20-25 m² per day. Your installer will use a flexible adhesive that allows for timber movement and it will be of the same brand as the primer. As a general rule of thumb he will use 1kg of adhesive for each m2 of floor.
When both preparation and installation are complete you are now ready to move to the sanding and finishing stage.
STAGE THREE: SANDING & FINISHING
Because you have followed mill guidelines in order to maintain your warranty you do not leave the floor for any length of time following installation. Usually a floor should be sanded and finished after a period of between 24 hours and 48 hours after installation. [If a flexible flooring adhesive has been used.] Remember acclimatization as established by the timber milling industry occurs prior to installation. It is well understood that allowing a long period of time to elapse following installation and prior to sanding and finishing only invites contamination into the floor. Once contamination occurs it is almost impossible to sand and finish a floor effectively. [When dirt gets between the boards because the new floor hasn’t been kept clean it can be impossible to fix. A floor needs to be sanded and sealed promptly.]
Because you have followed mill guidelines in order to maintain your warranty you do not leave the floor for any length of time following installation. Usually a floor should be sanded and finished after a period of between 24 hours and 48 hours after installation. [If a flexible flooring adhesive has been used.] Remember acclimatization as established by the timber milling industry occurs prior to installation. It is well understood that allowing a long period of time to elapse following installation and prior to sanding and finishing only invites contamination into the floor. Once contamination occurs it is almost impossible to sand and finish a floor effectively. [When dirt gets between the boards because the new floor hasn’t been kept clean it can be impossible to fix. A floor needs to be sanded and sealed promptly.]
During the 24 to 48 hour period it is important that people are not on site and therefore cannot cause problems. The site must be kept clean.
Good floor sanders follow a four stage sanding and finishing program which includes coarse sanding, medium sanding & fine sanding. But before they start they will proceed with what is called a level sand. This level sanding process brings the board level to one another. Following the level & coarse sanding stages the floor will be filled to ensure that any defects in the face of the timber have been appropriately treated. Nail holes will be filled to a colour slightly darker than the average colour of the floor. They will then move to the medium and fine sanding stages. This is a process that should not be rushed. When the sanding process is complete to the level required by the coating the floor sander will apply your chosen finish to the floor.
Your sander will use a commercial grade coating on your floor. Discuss the options as to gloss level, clarity, colour development and a coatings wear & maintenance characteristics. Be sure that you do your research.
On each of the points covered above you should bear in mind the issues of warranties. With every floor there are important consistent steps that must occur in the right order.
These are
1 Acclimatization
2 Preparation & sealing the slab
3 Installation using a flexible adhesive
4 Four levels of sanding shortly after installation
5 Application of a commercial grade finish of either 2 or 3 coats depending on the system
We hope that this information will assist you to obtain a good quality timber floor.