Being a DIYer shouldn’t mean that you learn everything the hard way. So, we’ll be the first to tell you that picking out your dream floors is only half the battle. If you are planning to install them yourself, you’ll need to think long and hard about the right glue for your installation.
But luckily, Hardwood Bargains has all of the information you need right here to pick out the best glue for your floors, so they look sleek and professional.
Traits to Consider
When it comes to finding the right glue for your flooring, there are a few key factors to keep in mind. In addition to measuring the room or area you plan to lay the floor, letting the flooring become acclimated to the environment, and ensuring proper ventilation, you need to think about the following aspects when purchasing adhesive.
As a side note, some types of flooring come with adhesive backing. Floating floors and certain engineered hardwood may come with an adhesive backing that you can use to secure the individual planks to your subfloor.
However, this adhesive will not include the edges of the planks or tiles, and it might not be strong enough for the area, depending on your expected amount of foot traffic.
Subflooring
Depending on where you plan to install your new flooring, you might need a different type of glue. Installing flooring directly over concrete, for example, requires a stronger adhesive that can stand up to the damp moisture that concrete substrates are so well-known for producing. This is especially true in basements or below-ground areas.
Similarly, suppose you are installing your floors over a heating element for comfy warm floors all year round. In that case, you’ll need to talk to the flooring manufacturer, as well as the contractor installing the radiant heating, to determine the best adhesive to use without damaging the heating elements.
Plywood subflooring may also require a particular type of adhesive to adequately bond hardwood flooring on top. Always check what adhesive is recommended for your flooring material and is guaranteed by the manufacturer.
Flooring Type
A few of the most popular types of flooring like solid vinyl sheets and tile might work best with high-tack universal flooring adhesive. The adhesive is simple and easy to apply to the underside of your flooring tiles or vinyl sheet and starts holding down your floor as soon as it makes contact with the subfloor.
Ventilation
Don’t be alarmed, but the majority of glues list their toxicity on the label as a warning for people who want to install their own flooring. You should always ensure that your room has proper ventilation when using possible dangerous chemicals and glue. Unfortunately, flooring adhesive counts as one of those.
Depending on how well the ventilation works and how many windows you can open, you can decide which adhesive will be safe for your house. Many experts recommend wearing a mask of some kind to protect your nose and mouth from flying wood chips and sawdust if you make any last-minute adjustments to your hardwood floors, but that mask can also help you breathe easier with glue.
Even when the adhesive isn’t as toxic, it will likely smell very bad, so we recommend telling anyone currently living in the house to take a little trip for the day. This is especially true for young children, the elderly, and people who have asthma or other breathing disorders.
Amount Needed
If the adhesive requires you to mix it before application, you’ll want to determine how much of it you need each day to ensure that the glue doesn’t dry up before you have a chance to apply it. Similarly, you will want to buy enough adhesive to account for all of your floorings.
Always assume that some of the glue will go to waste, and take that into account. Give yourself an extra 15% of wiggle room when purchasing adhesive, so if you didn’t look carefully enough at the mixing instructions and some of the glue accidentally dried, you won’t have to make an emergency run out for more.
Time to Dry
This factor is more about convenience than anything else, but it’s essential to know how long it will take for the glue to dry. Most adhesives require you to stay off the flooring while it’s drying, so if you are currently living in the home, knowing the time to dry may impact how you schedule your flooring installation.
If you’re planning to lay new floors throughout your entire house, you’ll likely need to move out or reorganize where you spend time for the days it takes to complete installation and allow the adhesive to dry properly.
There’s nothing worse than spending all your time and energy to lay down the floors of your dreams, only to have your dog mess things up by running on the floors before they’re completely glued down.
Outdoor Exposure
For enterprising DIYers who want to install flooring outside on a deck, patio, or another area that will regularly be exposed to the elements, you will need to find a glue that can stand up to everything Mother Nature has to throw at you.
Adhesives must be much stronger and waterproof to withstand rain, sleet, snow, and other types of moisture damage that might occur. You will have to research the glue’s attributes and whether it can endure below-freezing temperatures if you live somewhere with frequent snow.
In Summary
Now that you know more about the different aspects to consider when picking out glue, you can find the right adhesive for your flooring. It won’t take nearly as long to pick out your adhesive as it did to find your dream floors, and before you know it, your house will look like the home you’ve always wanted. Cheers to choosing the perfect flooring glue that will stand up to all of life’s surprises!
Sources:
Learn How to Choose the Right Flooring Adhesive for Any Project | The Spruce
What Is the Best Hardwood Floor Glue or Adhesive for Your Money? | Den Garden
