Acclimatising Parquet and Overlay Solid Hardwood Strip Flooring
Parquet flooring and overlay solid strip floor material need to be acclimatised after installation. Leave these flooring materials for 14 days, unsanded, before any sanding and/or coating.
In more dry environments, this can lead to gaps forming between boards. Any of these gaps can be filed with timber flooring putty if deemed necessary. More humid environments, meanwhile, necessitate the use of extra expansion gaps to take swelling into account. Exercise caution under these conditions.
Inspection and Preparation of Site and Subfloor Surface
1. Visually inspect surroundings for moisture caused by rising damp, leaky ceilings, laundry or bathroom overflow problems, window seal leaks, or pipe leaks. Evidence of moisture ingress needs to be investigated and remedied.
2. Subfloor areas must be dry and clear of all debris and contaminants. This includes sawdust or metal shavings, oil, grease, paint, and anything else.
3. Subfloor must be fully scraped using a wide blade scraper. This will remove all mortar excess, residues from plasterboard setting, or cement render spoil.
4. Ensure concrete slabs are flat. Australian Standard AS3600 – 2001: Concrete structures requires a maximum deviation of +/- 3mm over a 3m radius. Any deviations in excess need to be filled with self-levelling compounds or ground down to the appropriate level. If timber flooring is being installed over battens, you have the option of planing these battens down or using packers to remedy any unevenness in concrete subfloors.
5. AS1884 – 1985 requires concrete subfloors to have less than a 5.5% moisture content. In instances where moisture content is higher, vapour barriers need to be applied. Additionally, the use of builders plastic (200-micron membrane) is recommended before installing plywood substrate or battens. This reduces the risk of timber flooring absorbing moisture from the concrete slab. This plastic barrier should reach 75mm up the walls of the subfloor and should have 200mm of overlap. Duct tape should be used to seal joins. Follow manufacturer instructions when installing vapour barriers. Use compatible adhesives.
6. Plywood or particleboard substrates or existing timber floors need to be both clean and flat, sanded where necessary. Any plywood used needs to be in compliance with AS/NZS 2269 Part 0.
7. Installation over a platform floor or joists and bearers requires high levels of subfloor ventilation. High humidity areas underneath timber flooring can lead to high levels of swelling, cupping, and expansion. Minimum ventilation levels should meet Building Code of Australia standards, though high humidity areas may need more robust ventilation to increase subfloor ventilation. Vents need to provide opportunities for subfloor cross ventilation and should never be placed on just one side of a structure.