Wooden floors - do they require underlay?

ahfh1

Hi,

I would like to fit wooden flooring in the hall way. I understand that 'engineered' floors require some sort of underlay. Do 'solid' floors also require underlay? Is there any good brands of underlay that I should be aware of, preferably with sound deadening qualities (so I don't hear high heels clattering everywhere!)

Thanks

keystone

ahfh1 wrote: »

Hi,

I would like to fit wooden flooring in the hall way. I understand that 'engineered' floors require some sort of underlay. Do 'solid' floors also require underlay? Is there any good brands of underlay that I should be aware of, preferably with sound deadening qualities (so I don't hear high heels clattering everywhere!)

No - solid wood should be glued or nailed down - no underlay. I have seen it put down as floating and its a disaster. Solid also prone to warp. Engineered will not warp.

Cheers

flooring-craft

keystone wrote: »

No - solid wood should be glued or nailed down - no underlay. I have seen it put down as floating and its a disaster

I totally agree, solid flooring must not put down as floating, therefore no underlay wood be needed. I would also suggest that you leave at least a couple of centimetres between the flooring and the edges to allow for expansions of the floor.

latecomer

I'm considering doing the same but I dont see how solid flooring which is nailed/glued down can need a large expansion gap? Surely as its nailed/glued down, it cant move. A floating floor of course could.....

Cpt_Greenbeard

latecomer wrote: »

I'm considering doing the same but I dont see how solid flooring which is nailed/glued down can need a large expansion gap? Surely as its nailed/glued down, it cant move. A floating floor of course could.....

wood naturally expands & contracts with changes In heat. It will also move over time as you are walking over it (pushing & pulling it. You wont see the gap anyway, just use a trim all the way around the room & use a filler anywhere where you cant put trim.

latecomer

I understand that wood naturally expands and contracts but if its nailed to the floor how can it move enough to require the same amount of gaps as a floating floor?

Cpt_Greenbeard

It probably wouldnt move much if nailed, but personally I wouldnt ruin a nice wood floor by nailing it down!

latecomer

I was presuming anyone nailing down a real wood floor would be doing it at 45 degrees using hidden nails etc.

regardless of how it is nailed - I still dont see the need for the same expansion gap as a floating floor as it cant have the same mobility or am I missing something?

Cpt_Greenbeard

I would presume though that even nailed it will still warp & twist. My in-laws house has wood floor (floating) which is glued down. They've had to have the joiner back to take out pieces & cut them down where the wood has buckled & pushed up creating a nice ramped effect! Wood has a mind of its own, I've recently put up a shed & it was all fine, the next week I could barely open the door as the wood has swelled.

latecomer

Surely if its floating, it cant be glued down.

And anything thats fixed down (glued or nailed) which tries to expand is going to push upwards as thats the only direction possible?

Grz.26

Is this the same with old wooden floorboards that have been in the house for decades?
With regards to expanding? Have they not expanded as much as they already have>?