Can You Fit Engineered Flooring Directly Over Floorboards?

You can fit hardwood floor boards onto the existing wood floorboards. Whether you prefer engineered or solid wood, it can work very well. To make it stable and strong, the hardwood must run perpendicular to the floorboards. So, before you install engineered hardwood, make sure that the floorboards are dry and flat.

Tips to Fit Engineered Hardwood Flooring Over Floorboards

If you want to fit engineered hardwood flooring over floorboards directly, make sure that you consider the following tips.

1. Ensure the Floorboards Are Dry & Flat

You can check it with a spirit level or straight edge. If the existing floorboards are not level, you can line them with plywood to make them smooth. Besides that, you can use fiberboards to even out any undulations. Here, you don’t need to use underlay to level your floor.

Then, make sure that the existing floorboards are dry by checking the moisture content with a moisture meter. 16% MC or below must be given before you install any flooring.

2. Use Solid Wood Floor

When you install solid wood flooring, you need to fix each plank onto the existing floorboards. Here, you can consider either secret screwing or nailing. The screws/nails must be around 300 mm apart for maximal stability. If you prefer secret nailing, you should use a toothed nail to fix the plank to the existing floor board sheets. But if you consider secret screwing, you must use screws specially designed to secure flooring, like Tongue Tite.

3. Use Engineered Wood Floor

You can secret nail or screw engineered wood floor planks that are 18 mm (or more) thick onto the existing floorboards directly. You have to use screws/nails specially designed for this purpose. They must be around 300 mm apart for strength and firmness.

With a subfloor from wooden boards, you can float engineered wood or lose lay it over an underlay. Here, you just need to glue or click the engineered wood floor planks together.

When you secret screw or nail down hardwood floor, make sure that there’s no water, electricity, and gas underneath.

Read More : Top 9 Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Wood Parquet Flooring

Fitting Hardwood Oak Floor onto Floorboards

You can fit engineered or hardwood oak floor anywhere over the years. If you want to have engineered or solid wood floor and then lay them down onto joints, we suggest you to use a board with 20 mm (or more) thick. In fact, regular solid oak flooring doesn’t suit this because the thickness is only appropriate for rooms with an existing subfloor.

If you are confused in choosing engineered or hardwood oak floor, make sure that you consider some aspects. If you want an underfloor heating system or the humidity of your room varies, engineered floor a good choice. In fact, engineered floor can withstand better in a room with changeable humidity because of its construction. If you install it over flooring joists, we will certainly recommend fitting solid wood floor.

When you fit hardwood oak floor to joists, it is a good idea to consider a hidden screw method for fixing the floor boards. Here, you must use the proper tool, including screw.

Besides that, you can fix the floorboards with a screw & plug method, too. Here, you fix the screw into the boards’ face. Then, use an oak plug to hide the head of the screw. You have to complete this process on every joist for ensuring a solid and secure floor.

Step by Step to Tile on Floor Boards?

The good news is that you can tile over floorboards. However, make sure that you follow these steps rightly.

1. Secure Loose Floor Boards

Firstly, you have to secure creaking floorboards. This is an important step if you want your tiles have an even surface. You should also be careful with hidden wires & pipes when you nail down loose floorboards. To reduce the risk, you can use shorter screws and look for where the current screws. Usually, joists run in the opposite direction to the boards.

2. Choose the Overboard

For the overboard, you can choose the material carefully. Engineered wood, backer board, and plywood are available at most stores.

After you decide the overboard, you will need to determine the thickness because it can affect the rigidness of the tile’s surface. Along with the tiles, it will raise your flooring level.

3. Lay the Overboard

Adhesive and screws will ensure the secure overboard. To avoid cracks or breakages, you should keep movement to as minimum as possible.

You can lay the overboard from an open corner. If you have no experience at all, the process will be complex. So, you may need to hire a professional for the replacement floorboards.

4. Use a Tile Primer

Before start laying the floor, you should prime the new flat surface. It doesn’t only promote better waterproofing but also flexibility and adhesion. Furthermore, it results in a better experience of tile laying.

5. Lay the Tiles

Finally, it is time to lay the tiles. Whether you want to lay engineered wood or other tiles, you can use a flexible grout & adhesive.

Why Do You Fit Engineered Wood Flooring over Floor Boards?

Why should you tile over floorboards with engineered wood? If you like the appearance of wood flooring but you don’t like its care, you can consider tiles with wood effect. In fact, it offers some advantages. Besides more durable, it is easy to clean and care for. Besides regular care, it also requires annual sanding. Sometimes, it also needs re-sealing to keep its quality.

Then, a proper floor will also last longer and more stable. In addition, you don’t need to worry about creaky boards. Anyway, fitting engineered wood over floor boards provides you with the more durable floor. Moreover, it is better for a high footfall area or a moisture-prone room. So, if you are interested in this idea, where can you purchase engineered wood? Jati Luhur Agung provides everything you need about wood flooring.

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