Hello everyone,
Yesterday, we had an appointment at our hardwood flooring studio. We were recommended a solid hardwood floor from the company ALI Parquets. It is supposed to be fully glued down.
Another supplier recommended a two-layer engineered wood floor from Bauwerk.
Online, you often read that solid hardwood flooring is generally not suitable for underfloor heating. Is that true?
Unfortunately, I can’t find many reliable reviews about either manufacturer. Does anyone happen to have one of these installed in their home?
Best regards
Yesterday, we had an appointment at our hardwood flooring studio. We were recommended a solid hardwood floor from the company ALI Parquets. It is supposed to be fully glued down.
Another supplier recommended a two-layer engineered wood floor from Bauwerk.
Online, you often read that solid hardwood flooring is generally not suitable for underfloor heating. Is that true?
Unfortunately, I can’t find many reliable reviews about either manufacturer. Does anyone happen to have one of these installed in their home?
Best regards
P
pagoni202024 Jan 2022 09:57@HubiTrubi40
I can only agree with @i_b_n_a_n and strongly advise you to take a close look at both options yourselves.
All the opinions you hear are true from the perspective of those who express them, but since you are an individual with your own preferences, these comments will only have limited relevance.
The fact is, both methods are possible and each has its advantages. Ultimately, your personal preference will be the deciding factor.
The term "floating" might also be a bit misleading. Even if you lay the flooring on a screed, the screed itself is usually installed as a "floating" layer.
As I mentioned before, I had exactly that engineered wood floor installed floating over 200sqm (2,150 sq ft), and there was no sensation of movement or vibration—the floor simply lay flat and firm. So the word "floating" likely causes more concern than necessary. Currently, we have installed our plank floor screwed down on a floating substructure, and there is absolutely no movement.
To challenge the craftsman who compared laminate to a stone floor, I would say that glued hardwood feels more like a stone floor, at least in my experience, and since I have seen this directly at my son’s house, I don’t see any clear visual advantage either.
In general, I would be cautious about such blanket statements—it’s always best to try it out yourself.
You would notice the difference if, for example, you dropped something in the kitchen. On the glued floor, it will definitely break because it’s "hard."
For children, I would personally prefer floating installation as well, not only because it avoids the large amount of adhesive but also because many years ago, I slipped on a wooden floor, and I believe a hard glued floor would have been much more dangerous.
Again: nothing moves or vibrates, and why should anyone see a visual difference? If you want perfection down to the last detail, then you should go for solid hardwood—but you must also accept its "drawbacks."
So: look at it, walk on it, decide, and don’t let yourself be unnecessarily unsettled by supposed right or wrong.
I can only agree with @i_b_n_a_n and strongly advise you to take a close look at both options yourselves.
All the opinions you hear are true from the perspective of those who express them, but since you are an individual with your own preferences, these comments will only have limited relevance.
The fact is, both methods are possible and each has its advantages. Ultimately, your personal preference will be the deciding factor.
The term "floating" might also be a bit misleading. Even if you lay the flooring on a screed, the screed itself is usually installed as a "floating" layer.
As I mentioned before, I had exactly that engineered wood floor installed floating over 200sqm (2,150 sq ft), and there was no sensation of movement or vibration—the floor simply lay flat and firm. So the word "floating" likely causes more concern than necessary. Currently, we have installed our plank floor screwed down on a floating substructure, and there is absolutely no movement.
To challenge the craftsman who compared laminate to a stone floor, I would say that glued hardwood feels more like a stone floor, at least in my experience, and since I have seen this directly at my son’s house, I don’t see any clear visual advantage either.
In general, I would be cautious about such blanket statements—it’s always best to try it out yourself.
You would notice the difference if, for example, you dropped something in the kitchen. On the glued floor, it will definitely break because it’s "hard."
For children, I would personally prefer floating installation as well, not only because it avoids the large amount of adhesive but also because many years ago, I slipped on a wooden floor, and I believe a hard glued floor would have been much more dangerous.
Again: nothing moves or vibrates, and why should anyone see a visual difference? If you want perfection down to the last detail, then you should go for solid hardwood—but you must also accept its "drawbacks."
So: look at it, walk on it, decide, and don’t let yourself be unnecessarily unsettled by supposed right or wrong.
Maybe I should add: I have a “floating” wood floor installed (click parquet from Parador) that I deliberately made even “softer” by cushioning the joists with rubber padding. For this, I probably (just by chance) chose the joist spacing appropriately and used a “soft” 18mm (7 inch) OSB board as the subfloor on the joists. On top of that, I added a 1.5mm (0.06 inch) impact sound insulation mat (Wineo brand, made from castor oil = free of harmful substances).
My floor actually flexes a bit more than others I know, exactly as I intended. You can tell because you can make furniture on the edges move by jumping in the middle of the floor 😉 . That’s exactly what’s good for my (damaged) joints. However, my floor also creaks a little in some places. For me, that’s more positive than negative (fits well with the current Hornbach advertisement :p ).
My floor actually flexes a bit more than others I know, exactly as I intended. You can tell because you can make furniture on the edges move by jumping in the middle of the floor 😉 . That’s exactly what’s good for my (damaged) joints. However, my floor also creaks a little in some places. For me, that’s more positive than negative (fits well with the current Hornbach advertisement :p ).
P
pagoni202024 Jan 2022 10:42@i_b_n_a_n I am just imagining how you crawl through the apartment—I hope you have enough ceiling height.
If I hadn’t had personal experience with the different floor types, some of these statements would unsettle me as well. People often spread unnecessary fear or promote certain methods with exaggerated claims.
There are many ways to reach Rome; some floors are glued down, and others are installed as floating floors. In the end, they all get you there...
If I hadn’t had personal experience with the different floor types, some of these statements would unsettle me as well. People often spread unnecessary fear or promote certain methods with exaggerated claims.
There are many ways to reach Rome; some floors are glued down, and others are installed as floating floors. In the end, they all get you there...
HubiTrubi40 schrieb:
That may be true; I’m also currently facing the same decision. However, I have already consulted several flooring contractors.I believe I have already shown you how to tag @KlaRa to ask your questions 🙂https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
i_b_n_a_n schrieb:
I have already mentioned that a combination underfloor heating system works. There is someone in the forum who documented this with pictures, but unfortunately I don’t have @11ant’s memory to recall who that might have been. I seem to remember it was a timber house and possibly even with a wooden basement? That was me, solid wood floorboards screwed down over underfloor heating.
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/massivholzdielen-schwimmend-auf-estrich-verlegen-erfahrungen.36502/post-435322
H
HubiTrubi4026 Jan 2022 00:47@pagoni2020 thank you for the detailed explanation and @11ant yes, that’s correct... you already told me that I can involve the expert @KlaRa 🙂… thanks always for your help and tips.
I will review this again on Thursday with the floor installer. The one I’ve selected so far interestingly first recommended the floating installation method, but I was somewhat influenced by the advice of several other parquet installers who strongly recommended glueing.
What could still play a role in the installation method for me is that although we removed the tiles, we left the tile adhesive in place. That was too much effort for me with the demolition hammer. I wouldn’t have managed that with almost 100 square meters (1,076 square feet). However, the floor installer said he would simply use a milling machine to break off the high spots and level the floor. I’m curious to see how well that works.
@KlaRa in your opinion, is that enough or does the adhesive need to be completely milled off for a possible glued installation? Otherwise, I would have to go with floating installation. But I will also see what the floor installer says about it.
I will review this again on Thursday with the floor installer. The one I’ve selected so far interestingly first recommended the floating installation method, but I was somewhat influenced by the advice of several other parquet installers who strongly recommended glueing.
What could still play a role in the installation method for me is that although we removed the tiles, we left the tile adhesive in place. That was too much effort for me with the demolition hammer. I wouldn’t have managed that with almost 100 square meters (1,076 square feet). However, the floor installer said he would simply use a milling machine to break off the high spots and level the floor. I’m curious to see how well that works.
@KlaRa in your opinion, is that enough or does the adhesive need to be completely milled off for a possible glued installation? Otherwise, I would have to go with floating installation. But I will also see what the floor installer says about it.
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