The shopping list for a wooden flooring building project includes a great deal of “hardware”: lumber, fittings, screws, bolts, and nails, tools for cutting and measuring, pads for floating panel floors, and other various objects of blunt description and solid composition.
After filling several pallets with these items, it’s no wonder that many first-time floor layers neglect the “software” which holds the whole assembly together. Oftentimes, these smaller items are left as an afterthought, but this can be a serious mistake. Your choice in liquid carpentry products will determine the long-term success of your wooden floor installation, so consider your needs in this regard carefully before you set the first board.
The glues and sealants used in woodcraft have a common foe: moisture. Therefore, it is critical to examine the water-resistance properties of the products you plan to use on your floor. Construction in humid climates requires a higher grade of mold resistance properties as well to prevent rot.
As with all building materials, the industry is gradually awakening to the dangers associated with synthetic polymer chemicals, and is beginning to provide alternatives which avoid using them in favor of natural ingredients, such as soy.
One common error is not immediately applying sealant directly following installation. After all, the freshly installed floor looks great; surely the finish can wait. While there is nothing wrong with a brief delay in principle, each day that passes on an untreated floor exposes the wood to damage, staining, and even buckling, especially in the event of a sudden three-day downpour.
One alternative for indoor applications is to choose laminate veneer lumber, commercially known as Glulam, which is delivered pre-sealed. These products can save time and money by cutting out the guesswork and inconsistency of a manual sealing job. Engineered lumber products often include an option for lamination.
No matter whether you are building a small addition or a large auditorium, making the right choices in adhesives and sealant products is critical to ensuring the lasting integrity of your wooden flooring. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.