Ratgeber Untergrundvoraussetzungen
The base has to be right
- Levelling
You can first check that the screed or other subfloor is level using a spirit level or a straight edge. If you find that the subfloor deviates from the standard, you urgently need to level the floor to achieve an optimal result when subsequently laying the engineered hardwood flooring.
- Strength
The subfloor must not only be level, but also exceptionally stable. Otherwise the engineered hardwood flooring cannot be installed properly. The stability of the floor is particularly important if you want to fully bond (glue down) the floor. Check the subfloor beforehand using the so-called ‘grid scratch test’. There should no chalking or sanding off on the screed, i.e. no particles should come loose from the screed.
- Moisture
The third important criterion to check before you install your engineered hardwood flooring is the moisture content of the subfloor. No moisture must penetrate the newly laid engineered hardwood flooring from below as this can trigger subsequent damage. Whether a screed is dry enough to receive a floor covering depends on the residual moisture content of the subfloor. Testing and assessing this is the responsibility of the person laying the screed. This involves checking the humidity in the room and measuring the moisture in the floor.
Hint: You can find all the important details in our technical datasheets and installation manuals.
Die Vorteile der schwimmenden Verlegung
Die Vorteile der schwimmenden Verlegung
In a floating installation, the individual planks of engineered hardwood flooring are not fixed to the subfloor
as is the case with a glue down installation. Instead, they are simply connected to each other as a flat construction. So the engineered hardwood flooring is loosely laid on the substrate and ‘floats’ on it.
The connection between the individual planks of engineered hardwood flooring is usually by means of simple click systems. You don't need any great DIY skills for this installation method, so it is quick to install even for the amateur.
Once installation is completed, you can walk on the engineered hardwood flooring immediately and the room can be furnished.
Another advantage of the floating installation is that, if necessary, you can take it up again or just change it – if you have decided on another floor finish or if you have decided to install the engineered hardwood flooring somewhere else. This is especially important if you want to install engineered hardwood flooring in rented accommodation. When you move out, you can simply take your floor with you.
### Klebende Verlegung – eine dauerhafte Verbindung
### Klebende Verlegung – eine dauerhafte Verbindung
When your floor is glued down, there is much less impact sound than with a floating installation. You can directly place heavy furniture on it, you also don’t have to allow for as much play in the event of fluctuations in the room climate. In addition, underfloor heating can have an unrestricted effect with the glued version. Glued engineered hardwood flooring is easy to work with and can even be sanded, lastly it rests directly on the subfloor. It is more pleasant to walk on a glued-down floor because vibrations are completely eliminated with this installation technique.
But beware! You need specialist knowledge to install engineered hardwood flooring correctly and professionally.
First of all, it is important that the substrate is correctly prepared. The floor screed must be professionally sanded and filled, the adhesive must be properly applied and the floor laid, after which it is important to correctly estimate the drying time.
- in the case of heated cement screeds
- if you have large, asymmetrical, angled room situations or narrow, long corridors
- when installing herringbone and system components
- when you want to minimise impact sound
- when your floor has to take the weight of heavy furniture
- in commercial premises such as fitness studios, retail spaces and/or showrooms etc.
Our floors are suitable for heated subfloors.
- Depending on the material and thickness, our floors provide a pleasant walking sensation.
- Due to the low thermal resistance of our products, the effectiveness of an underfloor heating system is increased, thereby lowering costs, especially with a glue down installation.