Article Number : 5032 |
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| Date | 11/3/2009 8:59:12 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=5032 |
| Abstract | By Emily Hooper Great things come in threes. Our everyday lives are filled with triplets: morning, noon, night; fork, knife, spoon; hot, medium, mild; executive, legislative, judiciary; quarterback, halfback, fullback; the trifecta in... |
| Article | By Emily Hooper Great things come in threes. Our everyday lives are filled with triplets: morning, noon, night; fork, knife, spoon; hot, medium, mild; executive, legislative, judiciary; quarterback, halfback, fullback; the trifecta in horse racing; a waltz. It is seen in flooring paradigms, too, especially when it comes to hardwood. Nail down, glue down or floating installations vary in method but achieve the same end—a beautiful floor that brings beauty and value to the property. These installation options let the end user create a floor that is unique for her home. Hardwood provides some of the broadest applications of any flooring option, from species of the wood to the pattern in which it is laid down. Add stain as another variable and visual options grow exponentially. With regard to installation methods, experts agree nail or glue down methods provide added opportunity for variation— think parquet. Typically a nail down application, diverse and intricate patterns can also be the most difficult and time consuming. Doug Mannell, a flooring instructor of 31 years from INSTALL Kansas City, mentioned the herringbone pattern as an example of a nail down floor that requires a highly skilled technician. Steve Seabaugh, technical director at the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA), agreed that a nail down floor required the greatest time and skill, regardless of pattern. “Nail down tends to go more in the custom column. You don’t usually find a floating floor in a $1 million home.” Both agreed that professional installation by a seasoned expert produces the best results. However, experts at Mirage stated its products are relatively easy to install. According to Luc Robitaille, vice president of marketing, the mill makes products that cover all three methods: Mirage Classic is designed for nail or staple down, Mirage Engineered is best when glued or stapled and Mirage Lock is a glueless floor with a locking joint system. “They can all be done by anyone who is a bit of a handyman.” If nail down floors are among the most difficult, floating floor installation would be the easiest, said Gary Keeble, marketing manager at USFloors. Mannell agreed, and elaborated that any kind of do-it-yourself floor would have the easiest installation. “The DIY products, commonly found at home improvement stores, require the least skill.” Taking care Maintenance is an important part of flooring and there are differences in opinion as to whether installation methods have an effect. Seabaugh stated it has no impact on maintaining the floor. “Installation method— glue down, nail down, floating—does not affect maintenance. Repairs are not more prevalent with one installation method over another if the original job was done properly.” Conversely, Mannell stated that the nail down method is most conducive to maintenance, especially with a 3/4–inch product. “Because of its weight, it won’t move as much under the nails and it is able to withstand finishing for a longer period of time.” Robitaille said the important thing is not the method that matters. “Regardless of the installation type, recommended maintenance is the same.” Repair guidelines should be followed to keep floors beautiful. With hardwood, maintenance is easier than most other options. “Hardwood floors are generally considered a floor for your lifetime and the beauty is that it doesn’t have to be replaced periodically when wear occurs,” said Mihir Gandhi, marketing coordinator and creative graphic designer at W.F. Taylor. “Most premium hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished a minimum of two times and can be screened and recoated with urethane an infinite number of times.” Perhaps your customer is more finicky, fair-weathered or wants to keep up with the latest trends. Providing a hardwood that can easily be replaced could be a great option with floating floors. “There are no fasteners to remove and there is no glue adhering to the subfloor,” said Seabaugh. Mannell agreed. “To reduce the amount of debris, the free floating floor is best because it comes up easier.” An added bonus is that the floor can still be used in another part of the house. The only cost for a new floor in a different space is for the labor. Floating floors seem to have several advantages, but Gandhi noted a disadvantage. “Although there is far less skill involved in glueless installation over glue down, the penalty is a hollow sounding floor. Glue down wood flooring installations produce a much more solid sounding floor.” There are added benefits of glue as well. “Taylor MS Plus Advance offers excellent concrete moisture inhibition and sound-deadening properties in a single one- coat application,” he said. USFloors also advocates glue, noting that it recently changed its standard bamboo and hardwood adhesives to a GreenGuard certified, low emitting adhesive that also acts as a moisture barrier with one-step application, said Keeble. “This offers great protection against subfloor moisture and does so in a fraction of the time that would be required using a separate moisture barrier solvent.” Floating ahead Hardwood associations and installers noted the growing popularity of glueless flooring. FCNews research estimated click systems accounted for nearly 15% of wood floors sold in 2008 (FCNews June 29). “Engineered click systems will gain momentum, but offer less customization,” said Seabaugh. Robitaille concurred that floating floors are the future of hardwood, but didn’t see a preference with or without locking systems. “They are easy to install by do-it- yourselfers— above, on or below grade and in a condominium or house.” Above all methods, INSTALL maintained the importance of professional installation. “The economy and what the consumer can afford will forever dictate flooring choices, but to ensure their return on their investment, the smart consumer will make sure the floor is installed by someone who understands that particular product,” concluded Mannell. |