[luckychingi]

Hello all,

Been a long time since I visited DIYc. I hope everyone is well and safe.

After a lot of thought, I finally decided to redo the flooring in my 2 storey home.
The bedrooms on the second floor has parquet flooring, 2 bedroom has fairly new parquet floor (I am assuming based on the color)

The third bedroom flooring seemed pretty old and the floor creaked a lot, the flooring was also a few cms higher than the other rooms. So I decided to deal with this room first.
Took me almost 14 hours to rip off the parquet floor which were glued to a sheet of plywood. found each and every screw and removed the plywood too.

Drilled 2" screws into the sub-floor and the creaking has stopped.

Purchased Laminate flooring from Home depot today.

Now comes the part where I need your advice.
Some boxes had the plastic cover ripped so I ripped off the plastics from about 12 boxes, exposing the laminate floor. Only after I read the instructions on the paper under the plastic, I realised that the mfg recommends that boxes should be unopened. Will this cause any issues with the flooring?

The mfg also states that the floors should acclimate for 48 hours before installation. I was hoping to get the top floor done by Monday. will 24 hours be enough?

The mfg also states that once the boxes are opened, installation should be done immediately. I am confused here, wait 48 hours, 24 hours or start the installation

I've read that once the flooring is completed, give it 24 hours to cure. does that mean, I cannot move the furniture back into the room and start with the next room?

Please let me know of any other pro tip that might help me with this project

Stay safe and stay healthy


Cheers

 

[dj3]

Look, let's face it: We don't know when these boards were manufactured, how long they traveled across oceans, how long they sat in warehouses piled up to the ceiling in conditions which made them bow and how long they sat at the store.
And the manufacture is telling you to let them acclimate?
For me, 24 hrs would be enough to let then sit on your floor, after what they've been through.
Did you get boards which are 8mm thick or 1/2" thick?

 

[carpdad]

I never sat them for aclimating. Engineered floorings, I think most important is their tongues and grooves fit. Especially homedepot, it is always conditioned, not that different from your home. Any regular size space, I give them at least 3/8" gaps around everything for expansion. If they need tapping, watch that tapping and stop as soon as the edges meet. I usually put a spacer at the walls so the panels don't slide to the wall.

 

[luckychingi]

Thanks DJ3,

The boards are 12 mm thick.

Can I use the room right after installation or wait another 24 hours?

Look, let's face it: We don't know when these boards were manufactured, how long they traveled across oceans, how long they sat in warehouses piled up to the ceiling in conditions which made them bow and how long they sat at the store.
And the manufacture is telling you to let them acclimate?
For me, 24 hrs would be enough to let then sit on your floor, after what they've been through.
Did you get boards which are 8mm thick or 1/2" thick?

 

[luckychingi]

Thanks Carpdad,

Is it ok to start using the room after installation or avoid it for 24 hours?

I never sat them for aclimating. Engineered floorings, I think most important is their tongues and grooves fit. Especially homedepot, it is always conditioned, not that different from your home. Any regular size space, I give them at least 3/8" gaps around everything for expansion. If they need tapping, watch that tapping and stop as soon as the edges meet. I usually put a spacer at the walls so the panels don't slide to the wall.

 

[dj3]

I walk on them even before the entire floor is covered, in fact walking over them makes sense to make the T&G tighter.

 

[carpdad]

Sometimes furniture would be piled on one side then moved on top of the finished side. I haven't seen any problem from it. Just don't roll over unfinished t&g. Is this plastic surface laminate or some other kind? Maybe the wait time is for the installed flooring to naturally settle but (guessing here) I can't think of any reason why engineered flooring would need the time? I did some small bedrooms for people where beds and dressers were moved back in the same day. No problem complaints. They were a mix of plastic and wood engineer floors - not same room.:smile:

 

[luckychingi]

Nice, thanks for the advice. I completed the flooring for this bedroom, learnt a few things but quite happy with the end result.

Today is baseboard day

I walk on them even before the entire floor is covered, in fact walking over them makes sense to make the T&G tighter.

 

[luckychingi]

Thanks.

I dont know what type it is.

The product description said

"The product features a commercial grade AC4 melamine wear layer impregnated with Aluminum Oxide for added resistance against wear, scratches, and stains. "

Sometimes furniture would be piled on one side then moved on top of the finished side. I haven't seen any problem from it. Just don't roll over unfinished t&g. Is this plastic surface laminate or some other kind? Maybe the wait time is for the installed flooring to naturally settle but (guessing here) I can't think of any reason why engineered flooring would need the time? I did some small bedrooms for people where beds and dressers were moved back in the same day. No problem complaints. They were a mix of plastic and wood engineer floors - not same room.:smile:

 

[luckychingi]

Started the second bedroom today and was quite easy to remove the parquet flooring. I was done in 30 mins.

The subfloor has pale colored adhesive on the floor.

Can I install laminate over it?
If not, what will be the quickest way to clean the adhesive?