Direct stick, Nail Down Or Floating? Options For Installing Engineered Flooring
By Zephyr and Stone
Nothing compares to the warmth and beauty of timber flooring underfoot. It’s the natural, hard-wearing finish that works seamlessly in almost any style home, for a timeless appeal that outlasts passing design trends. In recent years, Engineered timber flooring has rapidly grown in popularity to become the preferred choice for homes, surpassing the use of traditional solid hardwood timber flooring by leaps and bounds. This is due to features, including its pre-finished surface, cost-effectiveness, quicker and easier installation and increased stability, compared to hardwood flooring. But there are several different options when it comes to Engineered timber flooring installation. Let’s take a look…
Zephyr and Stone Studio • GAT Flooring Engineered European Oak 220mm wide planks in colour Siestriere.
Direct Stick Installation
As you might have already guessed from the name, direct stick installation refers to glueing engineered timber flooring directly to a subfloor. Engineered flooring can be glued to a variety of substrates including concrete and yellow tongue, using an adhesive based on the flooring manufacturer’s recommendations. Direct Stick is our preferred installation method, as it results in flooring that feels firmer and more stable underfoot and is generally quieter compared to a floating installation. The downsides? The glue makes it messier and takes longer to install, meaning it will cost more compared to floating your floor… But we think the end result is worth it!
Zephyr and Stone Studio • GAT Flooring Engineered European Oak 220mm wide planks in colour Siestriere.
Nail Down
Nailing down engineered timber flooring is another effective installation option that results in a generally stable and firm installation. Flooring can be nailed down to a subfloor like a particle board, plywood or similar, using nails or staples as recommended by the flooring manufacturer. Only a few speciality tools are required for a nail down installation, making it quicker, cleaner and more cost-effective compared to direct-stick installation. Depending on your substrate and flooring, an underlay may also be required or recommended.
Zephyr and Stone Studio • GAT Flooring Engineered European Oak 220mm wide planks in colour Siestriere.
Floating
Engineered flooring generally has a tongue and groove finish which is designed to click and lock together, keeping the flooring in place. When flooring is glued or nailed into place, these tongue and grooves lock together and flooring is additionally secured with glue or nails. However, when the flooring is installed floating, the tongue and grooves are generally the only fixing mechanism, with tongue and groove glue depending on your flooring. Floating your floors is the fastest of all installations making it the most cost-effective, and is usually installed on an underlay depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations. The downside of floating a floor is that it can be noisier underfoot, as boards are not secured to the substrate and as a result can squeak or creak underfoot as they move up and down. Boards can also occasionally pull apart slightly over time.
When choosing an installation method for your new flooring, check any manufacturer’s recommendations and discuss the viability of each installation with your installer, based on your subfloor and needs.