How to prepare the concrete base?

The concrete base must be flat, sufficiently dry, and free of dust. Before laying the boards, the base must be primed with a primer suitable for glue. Depending on whether waterproofing is required (if there is a risk that moisture can enter the concrete floor) or whether waterproofing is not required, we offer two types of primers from the German manufacturer STAUF:
1) waterproofing primer STAUF VPU 155S -
suitable for creating a vapor barrier for concrete subfloors with moisture up to 3.5% before gluing the parquet with STAUF SMP 930 parquet glue. Suitable for concrete, dry concrete, wooden subfloor, chipboard subfloor, uncoated plasterboard subfloor.

VPU 155S primer is ready to use, it does not contain solvents and creates a dust-free surface under the adhesive layer. Applied in two layers, a waterproofing layer is created - a vapor barrier. When applying with a roller, the consumption for the 1st layer is 150 g/m2, for the second layer (moisture barrier) 250 g/m2. Drying time for the first layer 30 to 45 minutes, for the second layer 2 hours at a temperature of 20 degrees C.

2) dispersion primers STAUF VPD 130 -
suitable for surface fixation of concrete, dry concrete, wooden subfloor, chipboard subfloor, uncoated plasterboard subfloor.

The consumption of VPD 130 is 120 g/m2 when applied with a roller. When using, before applying the glue, the primer is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:1. Drying time depends on the substrate. The use of a primer under STAUF SMP 930 adhesive does not improve the adhesive bond, however, it provides fixation of the surface and is desirable in cases where the surface is fragile and dust may form on the surface before laying.

The price of STAUF VPD 130 is significantly cheaper, but does not provide moisture insulation.

What is the maximum allowable concrete moisture?

The moisture content of cement concrete before laying the floor boards should not exceed 1.5%.

What should be the humidity of the room during the laying of floorboards?

The air humidity in the room should be between 40% and 50%. Often, the floor is laid immediately after finishing the walls and ceiling. When finishing materials dry, a large amount of moisture is released. Floorboards can swell, resulting in gaps between the boards as they dry out after installation. In order to prevent this, before laying the floor in such cases, air drying equipment should be used to reduce the humidity in the room.

Is it possible to lay the floor without gluing to the base?

Yes, it can be done. Then a shock-absorbing material should be laid under the floor and it is preferable to glue the boards together. However, such a floor has its drawbacks - it is impossible to restore it qualitatively by sanding. Such a floor will also conduct heat worse if the boards are placed on the heated floor.

What glue to choose for gluing boards to the base?

One-component and two-component adhesives are available. Two-component adhesives are cheaper, but they react faster, so the installation time is limited. When laying the floor yourself, it is recommended to use one-component adhesives. Depending on the added components, the properties of the adhesives change. It is important for parquet glue to be flexible and at the same time resistant to tearing. Depending on the expected operating conditions, the subfloor and the type of material to be laid, adhesives are available for different situations in different price categories. When choosing glue, it is important to observe the ecological aspect, so that the glue does not contain harmful substances.

How big is the glue consumption?

About 0.6 kg/m² to 1.5 kg/m² floor . Consumption will be higher on uneven surfaces.

Is it possible to lay the floorboards on a heated base?

Yes, double-layer solid wood floorboards are suitable for laying on heated floors.

What is the maximum permissible temperature of the heated floor during operation?

If the boards are laid on heated floor bases, the temperature of the heated floor surface must not exceed 27°C .

Is it possible to lay "floating" floorboards on heated floors?

If the width of the floorboards does not exceed 240mm, they can be laid as a "floating" floor on a special underlayment by gluing them together in a purlin. However, heat transfer will be weaker than if the floorboards were glued to the subfloor.

How long is the acclimatization process of the floorboards/parquet after they are delivered to the facility?

For floorboards and parquet, the acclimatization process is not necessary, it is even undesirable. Laying should begin immediately. All products are stored in the factory under controlled humidity and temperature conditions. Such conditions (air humidity from 40% to 50%) cannot always be ensured in the construction site.

Is it possible to store floorboards and parquet in the construction site?

If possible. The air humidity in the room should be between 40% and 50%. The air temperature should be above 5°C.

Is it possible to treat floorboards or parquet with natural oil after laying them?

Yes. Untreated boards or boards oiled with oxidative oil can always be treated with an additional layer of oil. Consult with the laying master about the possibilities.

Is it possible to treat floorboards or parquet with hard wax after laying them?

Yes. Consult with the laying master about the possibilities. In this case, a thicker layer of hard wax will form on the surface. In addition to improving wear resistance, it is recommended to use hard wax together with a hardener.

Is it possible to treat floorboards or parquet with varnish after laying them?

Yes, if previously finished at the factory with hard wax with added hardener. Consult the factory for options.

If the finish is made with oxidative curing natural oil without hardener or UV curing material, further treatment with varnish or other finishing materials after laying is not possible.

Is it necessary to create an expansion joint in the floor covering?

If the floorboards are glued to the subfloor in the entire plane, then the compensation seam is not necessary.