All our timber floors have a moisture content of approximately 8-10%. It is important that the flooring is stored correctly after purchase and allowed to acclimatise before fitting. In all cases we would recommend that the flooring is acclimatised in the room that it is being laid for at least one week, but preferably two, at room temperature (18°C). To allow for seasonal variations in temperature and different levels of heating an expansion gap of at least 10-15 mm should be left all round the perimeter of the floor with the skirting laid on top or a beading strip fitted if existing skirtings are left in place.
For laying boards up to and including 150mm wide we would recommend secret nailing through the tongue of the board using a hardwood flooring nail gun and hardwood flooring nails which have a serrated edge. This ensures that the boards will not move or ‘squeak’. We recommend nailing at 400mm centres. This method can also be used when fitting over chipboard, plywood or MDF. For flooring greater than 150mm we would recommend face fixing with screws which can then either be plugged or filled.
When a concrete sub floor exists great care must be taken to check that it is completely dry before the floor is delivered. As a rule concrete will dry out at approximately 1 inch per month. This is only an indication and moisture content should be checked prior to installation A simple test would be to tape a piece of polythene to the floor and leave overnight, if there is moisture on the underside of the polythene the next day the floor is not dry. This test can be repeated until the floor is dry. If the floor is being laid on an existing concrete base it may be beneficial to use a self levelling compound e.g. Cempolay to correct any unevenness prior to laying the floor. This is mixed with water and can be bulked out with sawdust. It will, however, only level a few mm. This should then be allowed to dry as for concrete. If any walls have been plastered they should also be dry as any moisture in the room will be absorbed by the timber.
For laying boards up to and including 150mm wide the floor can be fixed in any of four ways. Firstly, if the opportunity arose, wooden batons could have been set in the concrete at the construction stage and the floor fixed to the batons as described previously for joists. Secondly, compression clips can be used at 400mm centres running parallel with floor. This allows for any movement there may be in the boards. Thirdly, the flooring can be glued to the concrete using Sikabond. This is applied with a 3mm square notched trowel.
Finally, Elastilon can be used and is designed for use on a concrete sub floor and allows the floor to “float”. Elastilon should be laid sticky side up. For the first row, paper should be pulled back for one board width only, after this the paper should be folded back on itself but left attached to the adhesive surface until the board has been fitted tightly in place, the paper can then be slid out and the process repeated. For flooring greater than 150mm we recommend any of the above except the compression clips.
PLEASE NOTE ALL CONCRETE SUB FLOORS MUST BE AT A MOISTURE CONTENT LOWER THAN YOUR FLOORING PRIOR TO LAYING
Once the flooring is in place, depending on the timber and grade chosen, you may decide that you wish to use our Filler and Dust prior to sealing. We recommend using Hardwax Oil to finish the floor. To ensure best protection three coats should be applied. After the first coat has been applied it should be left overnight to dry then lightly sanded with fine sandpaper or wire wool and all dust removed before applying second coat. Repeat the process for second and third coats but leave floor for 24 hours after final coat before using.
Floors should be kept clean using a brush or vacuum cleaner followed by mopping with a damp mop. In time some areas may require a further coat of Hardwax Oil which should be applied with a brush or a soft cloth after the area has been lightly sanded with fine grade sandpaper or wire wool.
A range of Russwood and Osmo floor cleaning products are available to buy from Russwood. We are more than happy for you to contact us for further advice.
Our flooring up to 150mm is suitable for underfloor heating; however special care must be taken in the preparation to ensure the best results. An additional one week acclimatisation should be allowed in the room with the underfloor heating turned on. With Sikabond it should then be turned off for at least two - three days before laying. If possible maintain room temperature when the heating is off using another heat source. If using Sikabond to glue the flooring a period of 24 hours must be allowed prior to re-starting the heating.
For starting the heating after installation it should be left on low temperature (16-20°C) for the first week. The following week it may be adjusted according to your suppliers recommendations however the maximum floor surface temperature should not exceed 28°C, there should not be hot and cold areas within the same floor, always remember that if rugs or loose carpets are used the temperature underneath may exceed the recommended maximum.