Wood Advice

When installing wood floorcoverings, contractors should follow the same principles of floorcovering installation while bearing in mind a few unique considerations, chief of which should be wood’s natural susceptibility to moisture. If unmanaged, excess subfloor moisture will attack adhesives and cause wood to warp, potentially resulting in the floorcoverings cupping or buckling, and, ultimately, complete floor failure.

Wood can also expand and contract significantly as a result of changes in atmospheric conditions, including temperature and humidity, exerting strain on adhesives and the surface to which floorcoverings are bonded. Engineered wood is less prone to this but it will still be affected.

For these reasons, installing wood floorcoverings is a frequent topic of questions to F. Ball’s technical service department. Adhering to the following steps will ensure a long lasting, professional flooring finish throughout the lifetime of the floorcovering.

Moisture management

Having ensured the subfloor is suitably sound, smooth and free of any contaminant, including any old adhesive residues, it is essential to determine if it is dry enough to receive floorcoverings by undertaking a moisture test. F. Ball recommends this as a routine procedure as part of any flooring installation. To comply with British Standards, subfloor Relative Humidity (RH) levels should be measured using a calibrated digital hygrometer.

Normally, a waterproof surface membrane will be required to suppress excess subfloor moisture when subfloor RH levels are above 75%. However, the maximum permitted figure is 65% where wood floorcoverings will be installed because of the sensitivity of this type of floorcovering to moisture. Waterproof surface membranes create a barrier between floorcoverings and subfloor, protecting the floorcovering from the adverse effects of excess subfloor moisture.

Timesaving Solutions

F. Ball has two timesaving options for when a moisture management solution is required. Stopgap F77 waterproof surface membrane is two-part, epoxy resin system, which is applied in a single coat. It fully cures in as little as three hours and will isolate residual construction moisture or rising damp where relative humidity values are up to 98%.

For an even quicker way to create a barrier against residual construction moisture where RH values are up to 95%, there is Stopgap F78, a one-component system, which is applied in two coats, requiring 15-20 minutes curing time for the first and a further 30 minutes for the second.

Once a moisture management solution is in place, contractors can proceed to apply a smoothing compound to ensure a perfectly smooth base for the receipt of floorcoverings, remembering to prime the subfloor beforehand. F. Ball recommends using a heavy-duty smoothing compound, such as Stopgap 300, prior to the installation of wood floorcoverings because they are better able to withstand the added strain exerted by the natural movement of the wood.

Choosing the right adhesive

Finally, contractors must select a specialist wood adhesive to install wood blocks or planks. Utilising the latest technology, flexible wood floor adhesives provide an elastic but strong bond, which will accommodate natural movement of wood flooring over its lifetime, ensuring a long lasting, visually attractive floor finish.

Styccobond B95 is a high performance, flexible wood flooring adhesive that provides good initial tack whilst also allowing for repositioning of floorcoverings during the initial stage of drying, an advantage when installing wood blocks. F. Ball also recommends Stycco Flex, a rapid-curing flexible cartridge adhesive, as an alternative for securing header rows. Stycco Flex can also be used to install skirting boards and trims.

Instant advice
To ensure the correct choice of adhesive for the floorcovering, F. Ball recommends checking the compatibility using its industry-leading recommended adhesives guide (RAG^®), which lists adhesives recommended for use with over 6,000 floorcoverings, produced by over 200 flooring manufacturers. The RAG^® is available on the F. Ball website, downloadable as a free app, as well as a printed booklet. Alternatively, see floorcovering manufacturer’s instructions for advice.

F. Ball’s technical service department is also on hand Monday to Friday, 8.30am–5.00pm, to answer any questions you might have about installing wood floorcoverings or floorcovering adhesive compatibility.