A wood floor seems to be deceptively easy to install. Many home improvement enthusiasts, inspired by experts like Bob Vila who make the job look simple, run to the hardware store for a table saw and some lengths of lumber, figuring that the perfect floor they saw on TV can be in their home with the right tools and a little elbow grease.
And as many have discovered, to their dismay, that it’s often not as simple as professional contractors make it look. The plain fact is that installing a wood floor is a very easy job…to do the wrong way.
Engineered flooring has been obtainable for over four decades, but has been utilized primarily by larger contractors until recently, when the do-it-yourself crowd discovered the advantages. Among these is a 15-20% improvement in load bearing strength, a machined fit that matches planks perfectly, and a lower overall cost in terms of error avoidance and time. Today, nearly half of all wooden floors are built using computer-generated design specs provided by the lumber suppliers to fit your custom needs.
The principle technology behind the most popular form of engineered wooden flooring depends on the “I-joist,” which is a standard sized plank bored with interlocking notches, or flanges. These are used to support the floor with a geometrically solid foundation frame which lacks the squeaking associated with unsupported spots in the floor.
The primary applications of engineered flooring are floating installation, in which a pad is placed between the frame and boards, and glue-down, where the wood is directly applied to the concrete foundation with adhesive. This type of application can be particularly tricky, since the thickness of the glue must be evenly applied throughout.
Engineered flooring, manufactured from composite lumber and plywood, makes use of smaller pieces of wood, making it a greener and overall more inexpensive choice. Using pre-fab lumber helps take the guesswork out of planning the optimum depth and distances of the flanges, leaving you to do what you do best…admire your handiwork and enjoy the beauty you’ve added to your home.