Page 13 - Provenza Floors Hardwood Guidelines Consumer Flipbook 2023

SPECIAL GUIDELINES FOR WIDE PLANK FLOORS
GLUE-ASSIST IS REQUIRED FOR PROVENZA HARDWOOD FLOORING GREATER THAN
5" WIDE OR IF STAPLING TO A WOOD SUBFLOOR.
GLUE-ASSISTED STAPLE/STAPLE DOWN
Where the flooring manufacturer suggests glue-assisted installation or where the glue-
assisted installation method is required, some key factors must be addressed:
Moisture
• When using the glue-assist method, you will no longer be able to install a traditional
sheet-good vapor retarder. When stapling down wood flooring over a conditioned
space that is maintained at the same conditions as the living/interior space, no vapor
retarder is necessary. Wood floors installed in these conditions may be nailed with a
glue-assist directly to the subfloor without use of a vapor retarder.
• Where wood flooring is being installed over unconditioned space, use of a liquid-applied,
or similar Class II vapor retarder that is compatible with the flooring adhesive may be
used to allow for a glue-assist directly to the subfloor.
IMPORTANT! Never install a wood floor over a known moisture condition. A known
moisture condition is one that you are aware of, and could pose future damage to the
flooring, the building, or the occupants. It is best practice to always test for moisture
regardless of conditions so that any unknown conditions can become known condi-
tions, which then can be handled appropriately.
Glue-Assisted Staple/Staple Down Installation Method
• Where mechanical fasteners on a staple-down installation are the primary installa-
tion method, the stapling schedule should remain the same as normal installation for
the flooring being installed. The addition of adhesive is not intended as a replacement
fastener mechanism, but rather supplemental to the mechanical fastener. Where the
adhesive is applied using a full-spread application, the fastener schedule is not to be
considered the primary fastening method.
• Due to the reduction in the amount of fasteners used per square foot of flooring width,
wide plank (>5" or over widths) solid or engineered wood flooring should be installed us-
ing the glue-assisted installation method, when site conditions allow, unless otherwise
recommended by the flooring manufacturer.
• The adhesive used should be a wood flooring adhesive with elastomeric qualities to al-
low for normal movement within the flooring system. The adhesive must also be com-
patible with the subflooring and any liquid-applied vapor retarder system used.
• The wood subfloor must be thoroughly vacuumed, and free of any debris to ensure
adhesion between the subfloor and the wood floor.
• Test the adhesive to determine the most effective application method, and for compat-
ibility with the subfloor. The adhesive application method should add supplemental
holding power to the installation.
• The wood flooring adhesive may be applied to the subfloor or the backside of the board
itself in a variety of methods to supplement the mechanical fastener:
• With any of the following application methods, use a notch trowel, or apply a continu-
ous, minimum ¼" wide, uniform bead of adhesive directly to the subfloor, or to the
back of the board using a glue gun to dispense the adhesive.
• The adhesive should be applied in a manner that covers the entire width and length
of each plank, to within a minimum of 1" from the edges and ends of each board.

11