Information for the installation of solid wooden floors onto joists or battens

These instructions are to be used as a guide only and should there be any doubt please contact info@merciaflooring.co.uk where you can obtain more detailed information.

Prior to installation the flooring should be stored in a clean and perfectly dry environment and there should be no direct contact with the ground. It is recommended that the floor is laid onto bearers spaced evenly to avoid contact with the ground. The flooring should NOT be exposed to the weather or stored outside and should not be stored in an upright position i.e. leaning against a wall.

Before the flooring is to be laid the moisture content of the wood flooring should be checked to ensure its suitability for the environment in which it is going to be laid. The environment it is going to be laid in should be at a temperature and humidity level that is going to persist following the installation.

Nailing to Plywood fixed to a concrete base

18mm plywood can be laid over 1000 gauge polythene and screw fixed to the concrete sub-floor. The plywood should be laid in an offset pattern to avoid having all of the joints lining up together. The flooring can then be secret nailed onto the plywood ensuring that nails are fixed at a maximum of 300mm centres. The preferred method for nailing is the use of a portanailer and portanails. Use of this equipment will ensure that the nails are fixed at the correct angle and the portanails are designed to remain fixed. Eliminating squeaking of the floor attributable to loose nails.

Nailing to existing wooden floor

Ensure that the existing floor is structurally sound and with a moisture content not exceeding 14%. Proceed by nailing the new floor (maximum of 300mm centres) with the boards running at right angles to the existing floor to prevent undue gapping and movement.

Nailing to existing joists (minimum 20mm thick wood)

Ensure that the joists contain no more than 14% moisture and also ensure that there is an unrestricted air flow below the floor to prevent any areas of dead air that can encourage damp and dry rot. Building paper should be fixed to the joists to provide protection from moisture ingress that may cause the wood to move and possibly show signs of cupping. When nailing to joists it is important to ensure the integrity of the floor by not allowing too many header joints to be too close to each other between the joists. If too many joints are too close the strength of the floor is compromised and may lead to failure under load conditions.

Nailing to battens (minimum 20mm thick wood)

The process is similar to above only the battens are laid onto 1000 gauge polythene and can be either fixed to the concrete base or left floating on the concrete base. The battens should be 50mm wide but can vary in depth upwards from 22mm. It is possible to achieve reasonably high build heights by use of cradles if there is a large void to fill or if the sub-floor is particularly uneven. When nailing to battens it is important to ensure the integrity of the floor by not allowing too many header joints to be too close to each other between the joists. If too many joints are too close the strength of the floor is compromised and may lead to failure under load conditions. Always ensure that the batten spacing is in accordance with the flooring manufacturers recommendations.

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