I've got some 80mm x 18mm solid oak flooring that I want to fit in my
living room. The house is around 8 years old and the floor is
presumably concrete with some 'black' stuff over the top.

Browsing around the net and groups for the past few hours has left me
more confused than ever, hopefully someone here knows enough to answer
a few questions....

The instructions say I can glue it directly to the concrete floor. Is
this true? If so how does the glue allow the flooring to move enough to
prevent it buckling or opening up?

If I can glue it - B&Q sell 'parquet' glue, is this what I use?

Would I be better putting some sort of underlay down and floating the
floor - perhaps glueing the t&g? (Someone mentioned an underlay that
was 'sticky' - although I've been unable to find anything like it
since).

As always, any advice, links etc gratefully received.

wrote:
I've got some 80mm x 18mm solid oak flooring that I want to fit in my
living room. The house is around 8 years old and the floor is
presumably concrete with some 'black' stuff over the top.

Browsing around the net and groups for the past few hours has left me
more confused than ever, hopefully someone here knows enough to answer
a few questions....

The instructions say I can glue it directly to the concrete floor. Is
this true? If so how does the glue allow the flooring to move enough to
prevent it buckling or opening up?

If I can glue it - B&Q sell 'parquet' glue, is this what I use?

Would I be better putting some sort of underlay down and floating the
floor - perhaps glueing the t&g? (Someone mentioned an underlay that
was 'sticky' - although I've been unable to find anything like it
since).

As always, any advice, links etc gratefully received.


I would be inclined to screw battens down on the concrete and secret
nail the wood down (assuming it is T&G).


--
Grunff

wrote:
I've got some 80mm x 18mm solid oak flooring that I want to fit in my
living room. The house is around 8 years old and the floor is
presumably concrete with some 'black' stuff over the top.

Browsing around the net and groups for the past few hours has left me
more confused than ever, hopefully someone here knows enough to
answer
a few questions....

The instructions say I can glue it directly to the concrete floor. Is
this true?

yes, you can, but its really not advised.


If so how does the glue allow the flooring to move enough to
prevent it buckling or opening up?

it doesnt. Also expect cupping, which ruins the finish, and in some
cases condensation and rot.


If I can glue it - B&Q sell 'parquet' glue, is this what I use?

Would I be better putting some sort of underlay down and floating the
floor

much better option. It is essential to leave enough gap round the edges
though, failure to leave sufficient gap can cause structural damage.


- perhaps glueing the t&g?

the oak will all need to be glued to its neighbouring oak strips if you
do a floating floor. And clamped together while it dries.


(Someone mentioned an underlay that
was 'sticky' - although I've been unable to find anything like it
since).

never heard of such a thing, and cant think of any reason to want it
either.


As always, any advice, links etc gratefully received.

The 3rd option is to put 2x2 battens down and screw the oak to those. A
floating floor is much better though, as it has the advantages of crack
resistance, additional soundproofing, and doesnt add as much height as
screwing to 2x2s.


NT

wrote in message roups.com...
wrote:
I've got some 80mm x 18mm solid oak flooring that I want to fit in my
living room. The house is around 8 years old and the floor is
presumably concrete with some 'black' stuff over the top.

Browsing around the net and groups for the past few hours has left me
more confused than ever, hopefully someone here knows enough to
answer
a few questions....

The instructions say I can glue it directly to the concrete floor. Is
this true?

yes, you can, but its really not advised.


If so how does the glue allow the flooring to move enough to
prevent it buckling or opening up?

it doesnt. Also expect cupping, which ruins the finish, and in some
cases condensation and rot.


If I can glue it - B&Q sell 'parquet' glue, is this what I use?

Would I be better putting some sort of underlay down and floating the
floor

much better option. It is essential to leave enough gap round the edges
though, failure to leave sufficient gap can cause structural damage.


- perhaps glueing the t&g?

the oak will all need to be glued to its neighbouring oak strips if you
do a floating floor. And clamped together while it dries.


(Someone mentioned an underlay that
was 'sticky' - although I've been unable to find anything like it
since).

never heard of such a thing, and cant think of any reason to want it
either.


As always, any advice, links etc gratefully received.

The 3rd option is to put 2x2 battens down and screw the oak to those. A
floating floor is much better though, as it has the advantages of crack
resistance, additional soundproofing, and doesnt add as much height as
screwing to 2x2s.


NT

You can glue it using the correct glu. I've just seen a builder do it
(someone I trust who builds hi spec homes). He used the correct glue
(black stuff applied with a notched spreader) and left the expansion
gap. He also used a wood glue for the tongue and grove. For those
interested he bought the wood from ebay at £22/m2, beech effect. It
looks great and I'll be buying some for my house.
Neil