Parquet boards are considered a durable coating that is widely used in modern construction. Such a wooden covering can have a long service life if it is laid correctly. Today, there are several technologies for laying parquet, among which floating is considered the simplest and most popular.
The “floating” method of installing boards means installation using locking joints (without the use of glue). The process takes place in several stages. An important point in obtaining a good result is the preparation of the floor, as well as the conditions in the room. So, the floor should first be leveled and dried. Laying on a dry floor can only be carried out when there are optimal humidity levels in the room. Violation of these recommendations may result in the parquet board becoming deformed over time.
Floating installation details
Experts recommend using the common “floating” method in small rooms. The quality of the flooring (and especially the locks) affects the final result, so it is better to purchase parquet boards in reliable stores, giving preference to well-known manufacturers.
You can lay parquet boards using the “floating” method on various surfaces:
- concrete screed;
- wooden floor;
- plywood;
- drywall, etc.
In any case, the surface must be perfectly flat and smooth.
Preparatory stage
First, you should put a special underlay on the floor, made of polystyrene foam up to 3 mm thick. In some cases, you need to lay a plastic film in front of the substrate and be sure to make an overlap of 10 mm on the walls (when laying on plasterboard and plywood, you do not need to use the film).
The backing, as a rule, is small in width, so in a particular room its strips will need to be fastened together, avoiding gaps. This material needs to be laid end to end and secured with tape.
The use of a substrate is a must, as it provides heat, water, and sound insulation, as well as smoothing out small irregularities. Wood is a living material, so packages with parquet boards must remain for 48 hours at the temperature of the room where the installation will take place.
Laying process
There are several methods for starting the board installation process: from the center or corner. The most popular installation option is the checkerboard method, which provides a beautiful pattern. Observe the following recommendations when installing:
- For shrinkage of the material, it is necessary to leave a gap from each wall (the gap should be 8-10 mm in size). To measure, you need to use special wedges.
- To lay the board you will need a jigsaw (to adjust the edges and width of the last row of covering).
- The sawn side of the material is always laid against the wall.
- After joining a row of boards, it is necessary to tap with a block to ensure maximum density (for this you can use a hammer (up to 1 kg in weight) and a wooden or plastic block. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the locking connection. At the edges it is also necessary to do this process, using a finishing crutch.
- Using special knee pads will help relieve stress on your knees during the installation process.
- The parquet flooring can be additionally coated with varnish, which will help extend its service life.
- After successful completion of the installation work, it is necessary to install the plinth.
