Moisture Content
Flooring for Concrete Slabs
Flooring for Wood Subfloors
Flooring Maintenance - The "Dos"
Flooring Maintenance - The "Don'ts"
  1. Can solid oak plank flooring be installed directly on a concrete slab?

    • No, you can not install solid oak flooring directly on a concrete slab. A 3/4" plywood subfloor with recommended moisture preventive must first be attached to the concrete before you can begin installation of the wood. This process usually raises the floor approximately 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" high when the finished floor is installed.

  2. What type of flooring can be installed directly on a concrete slab?

    • You can install either laminated plank or a parquet.

  3. What is a "parquet"?

    • The term "parquet" means flooring made into a square or a custom pattern and the term "laminated plank" means layers or plies of wood glued together to simulate a solid plank floor.

  4. What is the difference between "strip flooring" and "plank flooring"?

    • "Strip flooring" is strips of hardwood flooring with a face less than 3" wide. "Plank flooring" is strips of hardwood flooring with a face equal to or greater than 3" wide. These hardwood floors are made to nail into a wood subfloor.

  5. The The "Dos" of hardwood flooring maintenance.

    • Wipe up spills immediately.
    • Use door mats outside room entrances and in front of kitchen sink and refrigerator to help keep dirt and grit off your floor, and to prevent damage and excessive wear.
    • Place runners and area rugs (with slip-resistant backings) along high-traffic areas.
    • Move heavy appliances and furniture by sliding them on a piece of thick carpet placed face-down.
    • Use furniture leg protector pads under all furniture legs.
    • Replace hard, narrow furniture rollers with wide rubber rollers.
    • Keep the relative humidity in your home between 45% and 55%.
    • Protect your floor from direct sunlight.

  6. The The "Don'ts" of hardwood flooring maintenance.

    • Don't use any of the following products (or products similar in nature) on your floor: ammonia, Fantastik, Formula 409, dishwashing detergent, powdered all-purpose cleaner, Endust, Pledge, Future, Mop 'n Glo, or other polishes.
    • Don't allow water to stand on your floor for any length of time.
    • Don't walk across your floor in spike heels or with any sharp object protruding from your shoe.
    • Don't allow furniture to rest on the floor on small metal tips or hard domes.

      (Dos and Don'ts from the Robbins "Easy Care Guide")
      (Fantastik, Formula 409, Endust, Pledge, Future, Mop 'n Glo are manufacturers' registered names)

  7. What is the normal moisture content of 1/2" or 3/4" solid hardwood flooring?

    • NOFMA members' oak flooring is usually manufactured at 6% - 9% moisture content with a 5% allowance for pieces outside that range, up to 12%, and to fit a "GO NO-GO" NOFMA flooring gauge.
    • Flooring should not be unloaded or transported in rain, snow, or excessively humid conditions. If the atmosphere is foggy or damp, cover with a tarpaulin.
    • Before delivery, check the job site. The flooring should not be exposed to high humidity or moisture. See that surface drainage is directed away from the building. Basements and crawl spaces must be dry and well- ventilated. In joist construction, outside cross ventilation through vents or other openings in the foundation wall must be provided, with no dead-air areas. A ground cover of 6 mil polyethylene film is essential as a moisture retarder.
    • Before flooring is delivered to the job site the building should be closed in, with outside windows and doors in place. All concrete, masonry, sheet rock, and framing members should be thoroughly dry. In warm months the building must be well ventilated; during winter months heating near occupancy levels should be maintained at least five days before flooring is delivered and should remain on after the installation, sanding, and finishing are completed.

      (This information was provided by the NOFMA.)
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