This week we are focusing on wood floors and how they fit into your deadline dilemmas.
CLIENT: I have been told by my contractor that I have to make a wood floor selection for our remodel and that there are differences between nail down and glue down. Which one do we want?
ME: WOW, that’s a loaded question. In a nutshell here is how I differentiate.
Nail down has a layer of plywood below it and it is “nailed down” to the plywood. It arrives in a state where it needs to be acclimated to the climate of your home, meaning it needs to sit at least a week or more so it will be assured not to shrink or buckle once it has been finished. Then you should allow at least another week or more for finishing and multiple coats of laquer to finish them. You can apply oils for a more natural look as well. (More on that later).
Glue down wood is engineered so that the the top wood layer is glued to several other “engineered” layers of wood to create a stable base. Because this wood doesn’t require a plywood base, it is often able to be installed without raising doors, or removing baseboards. This means that it can be pre-finished before arriving to your home and can be glued down to your concrete slab and installed in two days flat. With no wait time. It also has unfinished options so you can custom stain it to fit your needs. Variety at its best.
Basically, it comes down to time and budget. Which do you have more of?
