In the recent past, the market has witnessed a rise in demand for engineered wood flooring, especially in India. Compared to solid wood flooring, engineered wood flooring is more eco-friendly, durable, and easy to maintain. Having said that, if you are planning to get engineered wood flooring for your home or your next construction project, it helps to know the basics of wood floor installation and maintenance. To help, we have put together a beginner’s guide to engineered wood floor installation and maintenance.
Installation
The Right Time for Installation – The right time to install engineered wood floors is after the drywall, plumbing, painting, and electric work has been completed. If you plan to install a wood floor over a concrete subfloor, the concrete must be completely cured for at least 60 days before proceeding with the wood flooring installation.
Humidity level – Before getting the engineered wood floor installed, the wood must be allowed to acclimatize to room temperature for at least 72 hours. The humidity level in the room, where you are planning to install the hardwood floor, should range between 35 to 55%. You can make use of a humidifier or dehumidifier to maintain the correct humidity level.
Subfloor Preparation – Subfloor preparation plays an important role in engineered wood floor installation. The subfloor must be structurally sound and level as per the manufacturer’s guidelines. In the case of a timber-based subfloor, the floor moisture should be 12% or less. If you are using a concrete subfloor, the floor moisture should be 12% or less on a prong tested below 3% on a concrete moisture meter. As some moisture meters have different scales, make sure you read the manufacturer’s guidelines before the flooring installation.
Expansion Gap – When getting the wooden flooring installed, you must leave some gaps around the edges of the room, including doorways, fireplaces, and pipework. The expansion gap should be at least 10 mm so that the wood floor gets enough space to expand and contract with changing temperature and humidity levels. There is, however, no need to worry about how the gap would look on the floor as it can be covered with various flooring accessories, such as beading, skirting, and door strips.
Wood Floor Maintenance
Cleaning and maintaining engineered wood floors is of utmost importance if you want your floor to look its best for years. For starters, you should sweep the floor on a daily basis. Clean the floor with a wooden floor cleaner, at least once a week, and all liquid spills should be immediately wiped off. This will not only keep the floor looking shiny and new, but will also help enhance its lifespan. If you have any furniture or heavy item on the floor, it is advisable to use furniture protector pads.
About Mikasa Floors
Mikasa Floors gives you easy access to some of the best-engineered wood floor designs in the world. We have a wide selection of easy-to-install engineered wood floors for every need and preference. While there are many online tutorials available for hardwood floor installation, it is advisable to hire a professional to do the job or talk to our team of experts about wood floor installation. When looking for the best-engineered wood flooring designs, Mikasa Floors has got you covered. For more information about Mikasa engineered flooring options as well as wood floor installation and maintenance, simply call 1800 833 0004 or email info@mikasafloors.com. You can also fill out our contact form, and we will get back to you at the earliest.