Reclaimed Floor

[JordanFineWoodworking]

We started installing reclaimed flooring today. After sanding drywall mud and primer off of the subfloor we applied full spread glue to help secure the flooring. We cut down on cleanup time by using dust extractors.

 

[wow]

That really looks nice!

I've not seen nor heard of flooring being glued down like that. Do you worry about the wood shrinking or swelling in relation to the subfloor, or am I over-thinking the whole thing?

 

[rizzoa13]

When I think reclaimed wood i think old wood. Old wood is likely more stable but i dont think id glue that down either wow. I like stapling hardwood floor but to each their own.

 

[Sparktrician]

I would not object to gluing down sleepers, then nailing the flooring to the sleepers, but I sure don't think I'd glue it down to subflooring.  The most recent issue of Fine Homebuilding has an article on glued-down floors, but they are to a concrete base, not subflooring.  I'd be most concerned with moisture wicking up into the finish flooring. 

 

[jmarkflesher]

My house was built in 1978. It has oak t&g with a vee joint,4-6 and 8" widths. It was all glued down to the sub floor, cdx fir plywood, which was screwed to the joists on 4"o.c. 1/2" space left at perimeter. Never buckled. MARK

 

[dltflt]

I am in the process of installing bamboo flooring that has to be glued into my son's home.  What a PIA!!  It is on concrete.  I have installed floating floors in 2 of our homes, that is an easy job.

 

[gkaiseril]

I've not seen nor heard of flooring being glued down like that. Do you worry about the wood shrinking or swelling in relation to the subfloor, or am I over-thinking the whole thing?

Gluing down solid wood tiles has been a standard for several decades. The tongue and grove of the tiles edges help space out the bulk of the wood for individual tile expansion and contraction.

If the wood is properly stored and maintained in a climate controlled space should work but if the living space loses A/C during the summer for an extended period time, I would expect to see some issues.

 

[JordanFineWoodworking]

Wood definitely expands and contracts with the change of humidity in the air. With that in mind there are some areas in the world that I wouldn't recommend full spread glue. So, I wouldn't install this floor in those areas. With installation of reclaimed materials you deal with other issues not common with conventional wood floors. I would not want to sand and finish this floor if it wasn't glued because of the added Character (splits cracks and voids in T&G). 

WOW Rizzoa13
This flooring is milled from reclaimed barn beams. I am sure this wood has expanded and contracted a many times due to the effects of humidity. I would think that this would break down or minimize the expansion pressure.

Sparktrician
It is my understanding that the adhesive we use acts as a vapor barrior.

Gkaiseril
The adhesive that we use has some flexibility after it is cured.

Great questions!

here is a resource    http://www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com

These other pictures are from the same house two years ago. We are currently installing flooring in the new mother in-law sweet added to the home. These floors were glued as well.

 

[rizzoa13]

The flooring is really beautiful. Are there little squares of different colored wood i cant really tell from the pictures? Does that come from the joinery of the old beams?

 

[jmarkflesher]

77 Hudson Jersey City,NJ. During the four days off for Christmas they had a sprinkler pipe burst on floor 14. They lost the bamboo floors on 14,13,12,11,10,9 .........................and so no. They bowed in the center 3 feet high. We couldn't even open the doors. Leave a disclaimed. Not responsible for big spills. MARK

 

[JordanFineWoodworking]

The flooring is really beautiful. Are there little squares of different colored wood i cant really tell from the pictures? Does that come from the joinery of the old beams?

We installed two square pegs at the ends of each board. There were 1200 pegs all together and we sanded each one of them in the words of the home owner "consistently inconsistent". She wanted them to look similar to each other but worn inconsistently.

 

[JordanFineWoodworking]

77 Hudson Jersey City,NJ. During the four days off for Christmas they had a sprinkler pipe burst on floor 14. They lost the bamboo floors on 14,13,12,11,10,9 .........................and so no. They bowed in the center 3 feet high. We couldn't even open the doors. Leave a disclaimed. Not responsible for big spills. MARK

That happened to us once. The homeowner bought his appliances from a large box store and they forgot to hook up the waterline to the under cabinet icemaker.

 

[Jasonj888]

Looks great.

 

[WoodWhisperer]

Awesome looking floor!! What species is the wood?