Whether you’re adding on to a client’s home or renovating an office, engineered hardwood is an excellent choice. It looks great and is versatile and easy to install. When it comes to installation, you may be wondering whether to nail or glue down engineered hardwood. Landmark Interiors examines how to make that determination in this blog.
What’s the Substrate?
When deciding whether to glue or nail engineered hardwood into place, the first thing you’ll have to consider is the substrate. The type of substrate can dictate the entire installation process when setting the flooring down and attaching the planks.
If the substrate is concrete, cement, or another impenetrable substance, you likely won’t be able to nail the flooring down, nor should you. However, if the substrate is a material that you can easily drive a nail into, such as hardwood, you’ll have to weigh your options.
Where is the Flooring Going?
Once you know the kind of substrate you’ll be attaching the engineered hardwood to, consider where the flooring is going. Engineered hardwood is versatile and can be used in every level of a home. This makes it more convenient than natural hardwood, but the installation process will vary depending on which floor of the home you’re working on.
For example, if you’re installing engineered hardwood on upper levels, you might have to account for more than if you were working in a basement. Sound might penetrate through the floor into the rooms below and foot traffic might be greater than in a basement. When dealing with areas of high foot traffic, gluing the flooring down is the smarter option.
An adhesive like Mapei Eco-985 offers both moisture control and sound deadening, providing the comfort of a quiet home and standing up to wear and tear. Plus, installing engineered hardwood with an adhesive is fast and easy.
What Do You Have the Budget For?
After working through where the floor is going and the type of substrate it’ll be attached to, the decision between nailing and gluing down becomes a budget question. Nails are relatively cheap and easy to find, while a bucket of adhesive is an additional expense. If you’re doing a large job and need ten or more buckets, you’ll need to account for the added expense
What Are You Comfortable With?
Finally, the last and perhaps most important thing to consider is which installation method you’re more comfortable with. If you’re installing engineered hardwood on a substrate that can handle both glue and nails, and you have the budget to accommodate both options, go with what you’re more confident and comfortable with. Choosing what you know and have experience in should result in a more efficient installation and a better-finished product.
Contact Landmark Interiors to Learn More
To learn more about engineered hardwood installation, contact us anytime. Landmark Interiors is here to offer insights on whether you should nail or glue down our engineered hardwood flooring products.