Not so long ago, the range of finishing materials for the floor was replenished with an engineering board. It belongs to the group of natural coatings and combines the positive qualities of a plank floor and parquet. The low cost of such finishes attracts many homeowners, so the question of how to lay engineering boards is very relevant. This is the topic we will pay attention to in our article.
Brief description of the material
When proceeding with the installation of an unfamiliar coating, it is advisable to study it in advance and consider the features of this variety. This will help determine the basic requirements for installation.
Laying the engineering board is carried out taking into account the rules for working with natural materials, since the basis of the panels is wood. The front layer of the product is made of valuable breeds, which are distinguished by increased strength and beauty. Plywood is used as the wrong material.
The connection of all flooring elements is carried out with the help of thorn-groove locks located along each panel. They allow you to create a durable, one-piece coating, resistant to temperature extremes and abrasion.
Panel layout methods
The method of laying the engineering board is determined based on the taste preferences of the owner and the characteristics of the room. The panels can be placed directly (deck method), diagonally or with a herringbone. The deck option is simpler and suitable for both large and small rooms. In narrow rooms, transverse assembly is preferred.
If you need to emphasize the beautiful texture of natural material, the panels are located along the longest wall.
Fir-tree laying of an engineering board is more complicated and time-consuming. Most often, this method is used in spacious rooms. Giving preference to this option, it should be borne in mind that the material will need 10-15% more than in the first and second case.
Methods for fixing the flooring at the base
Most often, the engineering board is laid on a screed, a wooden base or a substrate of OSB plates. It is not recommended to place the material on gypsum compositions, cork flooring and on underfloor heating systems. As for the method of fixing panels, there are three of them:
- Glue . This is the classic way to fix the flooring, used for all types of engineering boards. In this case, one-component and two-component polyurethane-based formulations are used. The glue technique is suitable for both direct and curved layout of panels.
- Floating . This method is used for coatings that are equipped with Click locks. With their help, the boards are securely fastened to each other, while at the base they are not fixed. The floating laying procedure is not applied to tongue-and-groove boards and when assembling the flooring in the form of a herringbone.
- Combined. This technique allows for the most reliable and durable material fixation. However, it requires considerable effort and time. Its essence lies in the fact that, in addition to fixing to glue, a stud is driven into the groove of each flooring element or a self-tapping screw is screwed (at an angle of 45 degrees).
The listed methods for laying an engineering board are quite simple and do not require special skills. However, the reliability and durability of the coating depends not only on them. Due attention must be paid to the preparation of the foundation.
Surface requirements
All wood materials are quite unstable and react negatively to a sharp change in air temperature and humidity. Therefore, to finish quickly did not fail, you should check the rough floor for compliance with a number of criteria. Namely:
- The moisture level of the base. For wood floors, it should not exceed 8%, and for concrete - 2%.
- Flatness of the surface. Allowed floor level differences of not more than 2 cm for every 2 m².
- Lack of moisture. The room in which the engineering board will be laid should be above ground level so that the bottom of the panels does not come in contact with moisture.
The optimum temperature for laying materials from wood is considered an indicator of + 18-25 degrees. Humidity in such a room should not exceed 55%. The surface being trimmed is cleaned of mounds and dirt.
Depressions and cracks are embroidered and sealed with the corresponding compounds. If there are a lot of defects at the concrete base (more than 15% of the total volume), then a new screed should be poured. Board surfaces are leveled with plywood and OSB boards. It is possible to lay an engineering board on a bulk floor (except gypsum varieties!).
Getting started: preparing tools and materials
Starting to finish the floor, you should check the availability of all necessary tools. The most important is the presence of electric hand-held devices, since without them the installation of panels will be much more difficult.
In the process of work, the following tools and materials will be needed:
- face or circular saw (can be replaced with a hacksaw on a tree);
- grinding machine (or sandpaper);
- hammer drill with mixer nozzle (for mixing glue);
- mallet;
- painting tools (spatula, rollers);
- self-tapping screws or studs (for fixing by the combined method);
- measuring tool;
- construction pencil;
- expansion wedges;
- gon.
This list can be supplemented with materials for leveling the base and fasteners for fixing the substrate. Also, it will be useful to have a construction vacuum cleaner. With its help, it will be easier to clean the base of debris and remove sawdust after completion of work.
Surface leveling with plywood
Laying an engineering board on plywood is a classic option used for all types of panels. To perform the work, choose a sheet material (OSB-plate or plywood) with a thickness of 1 to 2 cm. It is laid on a plank or concrete base and fixed with glue or self-tapping screws. Installation should begin from the far corner of the room, stepping 10-15 mm from the edge of the wall.
The sheets are staggered. A deformation gap of 5 mm is left between the plates.
If the substrate is fixed with self-tapping screws, then they are screwed along the perimeter of the sheet at a distance of 30 cm from each other. If there is a difference in height between adjacent sheets, the seams must be smoothed using a grinding machine. You can also lay the substrate in places with recesses.
Screed Leveling
If the concrete base is characterized by the presence of a large number of defects, it is dismantled and refilled. Work is performed in the following order:
- Using a punch, the old screed is removed.
- The base is cleaned of debris and dust.
- The building level repels the desired height of the new foundation.
- Beacons are installed, a reinforcing mesh is laid.
- A damper tape is fastened around the perimeter of the room. It is designed to absorb floor vibrations. The height of the tape should be 2 cm greater than the width of the layer of the future screed.
- The cement mixture is diluted with water (according to the manufacturer's instructions) and poured onto the prepared surface.
Laying the engineering board on the screed is done only after the solution has completely dried. This takes about three weeks. To control the humidity of the base, the floor surface is covered with a film. If condensation forms on its inside, the screed is still not dry enough. In this case, do not stack the board.
When the cement floor is completely dry, it is treated twice with primers and vapor barrier compounds. After that, you can proceed with the installation of the finish coating.
Preparation of the board for laying and selection of glue
Wood materials do not like a sharp change in microclimate and can respond to such changes by swelling and curvature. To avoid trouble, you need to give the material the opportunity to "get used" to the temperature inside the room. To do this, the boards need to be freed from packaging and left in the room for 72 hours. In the winter season, this period should be extended to 144 hours. After that, the likelihood of curving and swelling of the flooring will be minimal.
If the installation of the coating will be carried out using glue, then its choice depends on the type of surface being trimmed. For laying an engineering board on a wooden or plywood base, compositions with a moderate degree of fixation can be used. For concrete work, preference should be given to strong adhesive. The composition is kneaded immediately before starting work and left in a plastic container for the time specified in the instructions.
The location of the boards, depending on the type of layout
Before starting work, you must choose the style of arrangement of the slats: diagonal, herringbone or deck. Work begins from one of the far corners of the room. If the slats are located diagonally, then the first board is placed in a corner (in the corresponding direction), and all subsequent ones are located below it.
Herringbone styling starts from the same section of the room, only the first bar is installed at an angle of 45 degrees. To the lower edge of the board (at right angles) the second cladding element is joined. The next board is stacked in the opposite direction. Thus, laying an engineering board on a substrate or concrete will be in the form of a zigzag.
With a deck arrangement, the first plank is laid along one of the walls. The next boards are joined to it until the end of the row. The second row begins with half the bar. This is necessary to offset the seam docking boards.
Glue mounting
The laying of an engineering board on glue is performed equally on all types of surfaces. The technology of the work is as follows:
- The required amount of glue is applied to the base, which is smeared on the surface with a notched trowel.
- The bar is pressed to the floor and knocked down with a mallet. This method fits the first row of coverage. If the combined method is used for installation, then fixing studs (at an angle of 45 degrees) are driven into the groove of the board.
- Spacer wedges are installed between the slats and walls to guarantee the presence of a compensation gap.
- The panels of the second row are inserted into the lock connection of the elements of the first row. They are also glued. The second row begins with half of the board, so that the styling is performed in a checkerboard pattern.
So the entire flooring is mounted. If glue got on the front surface of the board during work, it must be quickly wiped with a solvent, otherwise a stain will remain.
When the floor is fully lined, it is crushed with heavy objects. In this state, the flooring is left for 12-24 hours. After the glue dries, skirting boards are installed.
Floating installation
Laying the engineering board in a floating manner is largely similar to the previous version. For its application, a thorn is cut from the bar of the first row. The board is laid under the wall, after which spacer wedges are inserted. Finishing material is not attached to the base.
Installation of the second row of planks begins with half the board. The spike of the panel is inserted at an angle into the groove of the previously installed element; the lock snaps neatly. So lay all subsequent rows. The last bar is cut along the width of the free space between the wall and the laid flooring, after which it is inserted into its place.
A plinth is mounted around the perimeter of the room with a screwdriver and self-tapping screws, which presses the flooring to the floor. On this installation of the board in a floating manner can be considered completed.
Conclusion
As you can see, the technology for laying the engineering board is quite simple, which allows you to perform the necessary work with your own hands. Particular emphasis should be placed on preparing the base on which the panels will be mounted. The coating service life, its appearance and integrity depend on its quality. Do not forget that this is a natural material that does not like dry air and frequent contact with water. If you create optimal conditions for the operation of the engineering board and strictly follow the recommendations for its installation, then it will last for decades without requiring repair.