How To Prepare the Floor For Laying Parquet Boards?

Having confidently won the trust of Ukrainian consumers, parquet boards are becoming increasingly popular today. Buyers choose this wear-resistant and environmentally friendly coating due to the stability of the structure, which is achieved due to the mutually perpendicular orientation of the material layers. It is valued for its aesthetic, warm-to-touch surface, and convenient locking connection, which ensures inexpensive and quick installation. The multilayer construction – its width is usually 180-200 mm, and its length is 2100-2250 mm – protects the product from warping due to changes in humidity and temperature.

The top layer, the thickness of which does not exceed 6 mm, is made of valuable rocks. More affordable coniferous wood is usually used to create the next two layers. However, consumers should be aware that most manufacturers’ warranty on parquet boards does not cover floors in homes (for example, in country cottages for seasonal residences) in which it is impossible to maintain an optimal microclimate for natural flooring.

Installation of parquet boards: preparation of the base

Experts are confident that the durability of the coating is influenced by proper installation, as well as high-quality preparation and repair of the base. Before you start work, take care of the tools and additional materials. Prepare:

• serrated and regular spatulas;
• roller;
• vacuum cleaner for cleaning the surface;
• usually building level;
• roulette;
• knife;
• screwdriver;
• countersink drill;
• self-tapping screws, plastic dowels;
• sheets of plywood, primer, glue, and backing.

The natural material can be laid on almost any base: plywood or plank floors, concrete floors, and even on an old surface lined with ceramic tiles. The base must be smooth, and even, without protrusions, potholes, differences (you can verify their absence using a spirit level or the 2-meter rule), and other flaws.

If depressions and cracks are identified, they are sealed with a composite repair compound. If unevenness exceeds 2.5 mm per linear meter, experts recommend using self-leveling mixtures or placing the floor in a horizontal plane by installing joists and attaching boards or sheets of plywood to them. Regardless of what exactly you plan to lay on the concrete base (decorative coating or plywood), it must be carefully treated with a deep penetration compound.

If you decide to mount the board on a concrete base, you should purchase an elastic backing in advance. Cork material in rolls and slabs, sheets of extruded polystyrene, and foamed polyethylene are suitable for this purpose. When glued to the base, the material can level out minor errors in the base. The substrate serves not only as a shock-absorbing and leveling layer. This is an excellent thermal insulation for the floor. Work on preparing the base should be preceded by thorough cleaning with a vacuum cleaner since even small particles of dirt and dust can cause a decrease in the quality of work.

Adhesive and floating installation methods. What to give preference?

“Floating” without rigid fastening of segments is the fastest and simplest technology. The maximum installation area using this method (without the use of transition thresholds) is up to 240 meters. The adhesive is a more expensive and time-consuming method, which is used when installing boards in large areas (more than 12 x 20 m), as well as if it is necessary to extend the service life of the coating. It is possible to install parquet planks on a heated base (water or infrared elements are most often used for this purpose).