The process of laying wood flooring on chipboard depends primarily on the type of wood flooring you're using: solid wood or engineered wood.
Solid Wood Flooring on Chipboard
Solid wood flooring must be glued directly to the chipboard subfloor using a flexible flooring adhesive. This is crucial to accommodate the natural expansion and contraction of the wood.
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Preparation: Ensure the chipboard is clean, dry, and level. Any loose nails or screws should be countersunk or removed.
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Adhesive: Use a high-quality flexible flooring adhesive specifically designed for wood flooring. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.
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Application: Apply the adhesive evenly using a notched trowel.
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Laying: Carefully lay the solid wood planks onto the adhesive, ensuring proper alignment and spacing.
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Weighting: Weight down the flooring while the adhesive cures to ensure good contact.
Engineered Wood Flooring on Chipboard
Engineered wood flooring offers more flexibility in installation. You can float it (loose lay) over an underlayment without fixing it down to the chipboard.
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Underlayment: Use an appropriate underlayment designed for floating wood floors. This provides cushioning, sound insulation, and moisture protection.
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Click-Lock or Glue Together: The engineered wood planks are typically joined together either with a click-lock system or by gluing the tongues and grooves together.
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Floating Installation: The entire floor "floats" as a single unit on top of the underlayment.
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Expansion Gap: Leave an expansion gap around the perimeter of the room to allow for natural movement of the floor.
Key Differences Summarized:
| Feature | Solid Wood Flooring | Engineered Wood Flooring |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Glue-down direct to chipboard | Floating over underlayment (or glue-down option) |
| Attachment | Adhered directly | Click-lock or glued together; not fixed to subfloor (if floating) |
| Flexibility | Requires flexible adhesive | More flexible installation options |
| Subfloor Prep | Critical for levelness | Important, but underlayment can compensate for minor imperfections |
Important Considerations:
- Moisture: Ensure the chipboard is dry. Wood and moisture do not mix.
- Leveling: An uneven chipboard surface will cause problems regardless of the flooring type. Leveling compounds can be used to address unevenness.
- Acclimation: Allow the wood flooring to acclimate to the room's temperature and humidity for several days before installation.
- Manufacturer's Instructions: Always follow the flooring manufacturer's specific installation guidelines.
