Pay attention to these details before installing wood flooring

Wooden flooring is aesthetically pleasing, durable, comfortable, warm, has good thermal conductivity, is noise-reducing, slip-resistant, and easy to install. In terms of health and aesthetics, it can well reflect a person's lifestyle. However, if problems such as wear, cracking, or warping occur after installation, consumers generally believe it's a quality issue with the wooden flooring itself...

Actually, that's not entirely true! It's closely related to the installation and maintenance of the flooring. There's a saying in the industry: "30% flooring, 70% installation," which means the quality of the flooring installation is crucial for its long-term use. And the quality of the installation largely depends on the installer's skill, and only secondarily on the quality of the flooring materials.

A thorough inspection and treatment of the installation environment before installation is crucial for ensuring installation quality. If flooring is installed in an unsuitable environment, various problems are likely to arise after a period of use. Haste makes waste! Today, let's look at the details to pay attention to before flooring installation.

01. Measure the ground moisture content

Check the waterproofing measures and whether there are any leaks in the house. If so, they should be repaired before laying the floor. Use a moisture meter to measure the moisture content of the ground. The standard requirement for ordinary ground is <20%, and the standard requirement for underfloor heating flooring is <10%. If the moisture content is too high, dehumidification treatment should be carried out first, otherwise the floor will easily absorb water and expand, causing problems such as arching, bulging, and noise.

02. Check the flatness of the ground.

Place a 2-meter straightedge flat on the ground and use a 3mm thick feeler gauge to check the gap between the straightedge and the ground. If the gauge cannot pass through, the ground is acceptable. If the ground is uneven, it needs to be leveled with a scraper. If the problem is serious, it needs to be leveled again or self-leveling compound should be applied. If the flatness does not meet the standards, it will cause problems such as chipped edges, warping, buckling, and abnormal noises in the floor. Tap the ground with the handle of a screwdriver or a hammer to check for holes or peeling. If any are found, the ground needs to be re-treated.

03. Check the environment for termites.

This is often overlooked because termites are difficult to detect. Therefore, it is essential to conduct termite inspections and preventative measures before flooring installation; otherwise, the entire flooring and even all wooden furniture in the house will be severely damaged.

04. Avoid cross-operation and mixed operations

Flooring installation should only proceed after all concealed ground works, ceiling works, wall works, and plumbing and electrical works have been completed and properly inspected. Working on the same floor simultaneously can easily damage the flooring. For example, if the wall work is not yet finished, falling gravel can cause dust and scratches on the floor; spilled paint or coatings can damage the floor's appearance; furthermore, unclear responsibility can hinder the ability to seek redress if problems arise from overlapping work.

05. Consulting and labeling of concealed works

Before construction begins, the homeowner should be asked to indicate the location of concealed works and make a clear mark to avoid damage to pre-buried water pipes, gas pipes, power lines and communication lines during construction, and to avoid secondary damage during renovation.