Laying and upkeep
Technical data sheet for wood floors
The products comply with standard UNI EN 13226-13227-13489
- Products must be stored in a dry place with their packaging intact. Packaging must be only removed at the time of laying, which must be carried out after door and window frames have been installed and wall plaster is completely dry.
- At the time of laying, environmental humidity must be between 45% and 60% and the temperature no lower than 10°C.
- The moisture content of the concrete must not exceed 2% in weight for normal or quick-drying cement foundations, 1,7% in case of underfloor heating systems and 0,5% for anhydrite foundations. The humidity must be checked using a carbide hygrometer immediately prior to laying.
- When laying on foundations with underfloor heating systems, make sure that the system complies with regulations, that the elements are covered by at least 3 cm of concrete, that the maximum temperature of the surface on which the product is laid is 26°-27° and that the heating is started up gradually according to the indications foreseen for laying parquet.
In any case, not all the timbers are suggested for this kind of heating system, for example the timbers with a medium or low stability. - If the floor is installed floating instead of glued, some space has to be let around the walls for wood dilatation.
Information on wood types
- As wood is a natural material, colour and grain differences mean that no two elements are identical: in contact with sunlight natural wood species usually tend to get darker and more uniform.
- Wood is furthermore a product that changes according to the visual angle.
- At the time of laying, teak has natural colour differences and marks that tend to disappear on exposure to the light.
- In the case of doussie, when the wood comes into contact with the light, considerable colour differences may appear in elements that were originally identical.
- Certain types of wood, mainly iroko, doussie, wengè, merbau and panga-panga may contain mineral concretions with shades that range from white to lemon-yellow that tend to become more evident during oxidation of the wood.
- For oak, some elements may have shinier streaks known as “mirroring”.
- The floor can be marked by blows or falling objects, the application of loads concentrated on small surfaces, such as stiletto heels, ladders, chairs with unsuitable castors, etc… or small objects such as tacks or stones embedded in the soles of shoes. The surface varnish has protective properties but is unable to prevent the above mentioned damage.
Information on care and maintenance
- After laying, suitable climatic conditions must be maintened. Air humidity out of 45% – 60% range, may lead to the appearance of cracks between the strips, micro-fractures, separation of the natural wood layer from the multilayer support.
- Damp rising from the flooring foundation or flooding can cause irreversible damages to wooden flooring.
- Colour differences caused by the presence of rugs or other objects tend to disappear when the flooring is exposed to the light.
- The use of spirits, solvents, acid or bleach can cause irreparable damages to the finishings; clean the floor with a well wrung outdamp cloth, using just water or water and neutral detergent. (Don’t use vapor steam cleaners).
Sub-floor features and laying advices for solid and engineered wood floors
Starting from the best sub-floor means achieving the best results in creating a timber floor.
The screed is always laid on a vapour barrier, gapped and separated from the perimeter wall by suitable strips of compressible material. The screed must have the following characteristics:
– compactness in its thickness,
– constant thickness, (5-7 cm for cement screed or 3-5 cm for anhydrite screed),
– planarity and absence of wawes,
– absence ok cracks and fissures,
– cleanness,
The moisture content:
- 1,7% by weight for cement screed
- 0,3% by weight for anhydrite screed
These rules have to be followed even if a wood panel is installed over the screed
To lay the wood floor on a heated screed the following guidelines are to be followed :
- the minimum thickness of the screed must be 5 cm.
- before putting the heating system into action the screed must have a minimum curing time: 21 days for cement screeds, 7 days for anhydrite screeds and 4 days for fast-drying screeds.
- to gradually acclimatise the wood floor the heating temperature must be gradually increased by 5°C per day until the operating temperature is reached.
- this temperature is maintened fo 10 days ( the temperature of the heating system has to be lower than 26-27°C).
- the temperature has then to be reduced by 5°C per day down to the minimum temperature.
- during all this period it is very important to aerate the rooms.
- before installation it is always advisable to apply a primer to improve bonding of adhesives used.
- glue must be a bi-component one or simlar.
- to start laying the heating system must be off, but the inside temperature must be 15°C to 20°C, with a relative air moisture content between 45% an 65%.
- Seven days after the floor has been glued to the screed the heating temperature has to be gradually increased by 5°C per day until the operating temperature is reached.
This temperature has to be maintened for 10 days and then reduced by 5°C per day.
During this period it is very important to aerate the rooms. - The finishing of the wood floor can be done 5 days after the heating system has been turned off.