Flooring glue, should it be like taffy?

[JeremyH.]

Anyone have any experience with Taylor Ironwood floor glue? My floor is very slow going. Have to put in screws to hold the boards in place... it's a very slow process. Part of it might be because of the glue being so taffy like. It has to be making a suction the way it works.

In retrospect never ever do a glue down floor unless you're slab on grade, and it's done well.

 

[Ron B]

I don't remember what type of glue we used, but my wife and I glued a floor down for one of your kids.  I wanted to  use a floor nailer, but they liked the glue-down floor.  Our problem is the glue stuck to everything.  I remember picking up a hammer and could not let go of the hammer-it was glued to my rubber glove.  I tried to use paint thinner to clean it up, but it would not cut it.  We found out later the glue cleaned up with hot water and soap, but in the heat of the moment you do not read instructions.  I do not know what glue we used, just remember it was in a five gallon bucket.  Anyway, I would not do it again, or would at least make my son-in-law help me if there is a next time.

 

[JeremyH.]

Yes glue does seem to find it's way around. Luckily this stuff cleans up pretty easily because there will be some cleaning.

I work too much and needed to get the floor done quick so we had someone do the flooring. But now I have mixed feelings about it.

He should have done some leveling to the subfloor with the stuff they make for it. It wasn't bad, but anything should be worked over a bit. You really ought to walk about the room with a level and decide where to give or pull your punches. Also I think the glue could have gone on thicker and that would have cut the time down extensively. Per Taylor's website they recommend 1/2" troweling of the glue. I guess the glue pulls the boards down as it dries, and you can keep it all together with blue tape. You're even suppose to use a heavy roller over the top of it. None of that was done. But the 1/8th inch glue without a roller might be better than 1/2" without a roller.

I sincerely hope that the floor just works out well. It was not cheap at $7 sq/ft and the glue is not cheap either. It was not my decision to use the contractor that was chosen. Frankly he's not happy because it's taking forever, and I'm so-so about it all. He told me he researched how much glue to lay down but he obviously didn't go to the site for Taylor, and hasn't done this kind of floor before.

:-[