Should you glue down tongue and groove flooring?

Author: Jamir Macejkovic  |  Last update: Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Glue down installation should not be confused with tongue and groove gluing, which is often found in wood flooring. While you can glue tongue and groove together, it is not recommended to glue the wood under the floor as well. This is because wood floors need room to move when they expand.

Should tongue and groove flooring be glued?

When it comes to learning how to lay Tongue & Groove flooring, there are a few different techniques. It can either be floated, nailed or glued down. The floating method makes the most of this style of installation, as it doesn't require nails or adhesives.

Should wood flooring be glued down?

In high humidity areas, it is always better to glue down the floor since gluing down reduces the movement of the wooden floor when there is a change in the moisture level of wood due to change in humidity. Gluing down also helps in laying wooden floors over a large area without expansion joints in the center.

Do you glue tongue and groove doors?

Wood expands and contracts. The T&G allows that to happen. No glue.

Do you glue a tongue and groove joint?

You don't need to do a tongue and groove joint prior to gluing. You can joint and then glue the boards together directly.

Should I Glue Inside of The Tongue and Groove Flooring?

What is the best glue for tongue and groove wood flooring?

Impero. Adhesive Glue. Impero Adhesive Glue is a specialist D3 rated high quality resin based wood adhesive for use when fixing engineered flooring panels with a tongue & grooved system that creates a transparent film once set.

How do you secure tongue and groove wood?

Insert the nails into the tongue at an angle and use enough force to have the nail flush with the surface of the tongue. If done properly, the groove of the next board should slide easily over the nails on the tongue of your previous plank.

How do you join tongue and groove flooring?

Use a flooring nailer to secure boards through the tongue at a 45-degree angle. Nailing at this angle ensures that the nails are hidden and the boards are tightly connected. Tap boards into place with a rubber mallet before nailing. This ensures a snug fit between the boards.

What are the disadvantages of tongue and groove wood joints?

However, there are also some disadvantages to using tongue and groove wood. One disadvantage is that it can be more expensive than other materials, such as drywall. In addition, tongue and groove wood can be prone to shrinking or expanding with changes in humidity, which can cause gaps to appear between the pieces.

Do you glue tongue and groove plywood?

The tongue or the groove does not need to be glued, although there is no reason not to. Some engineers require it in certain applications, but for standard subfloor applications none will be needed.

What are the disadvantages of glue down flooring?

Challenging installation

The biggest drawback to glue-down vinyl flooring is the complexity of the installation process. This method requires more skill, precision, and time compared to floating vinyl flooring. Most homeowners choose to hire a professional for glue-down installation, which increases labor costs.

What type of flooring needs to be glued down?

Glue-down installation

Parquet flooring, Laminate, Luxury vinyl tiles, Engineered wood flooring are are available in glue-down method.

Is it better to glue down or float floors?

If you are trying to decide between the two, then for engineered wood flooring floating is usually the best option as you can install it quickly and don't have to worry about which glue to use and how long to wait for it to dry. If you are installing hardwood flooring then using glue may give you a more stable result.

What do you put under tongue and groove flooring?

An underlayment adds a cushioning to keep this from happening. The underlayment can also protect against water damage. If you're installing your tongue and groove flooring onto a concrete floor, an underlayment is necessary to prevent moisture from accumulating between the concrete and the flooring.

Should a hardwood floor be glued?

If you have a concrete subfloor, then you should glue your hardwood down, if you have a wooden subfloor then you can choose either method of installation. However, if you are planning on fitting your hardwood floor to joists, then you will need to secret nail them into place.

Is tongue and groove glue the same as wood glue?

Titebond Tongue & Groove Flooring Glue is a premium wood glue that passes the stringent ANSI Type II water resistance test. In addition, it offers a lower chalk temperature and a two-year shelf life, both of which make it unique to the industry.

What are the negatives of tongue and groove?

It can easily come apart after a considerable amount of time when installation is done poorly. Its installation can take more time, especially when compared to click and lock flooring, which can also affect the installation costs if you're hiring a professional to do the job.

Is tongue and groove outdated?

For many uses, tongue and groove boards have been rendered obsolete by the introduction of plywood and later composite wood boards, but the method is still used in higher-quality boards.

Can tongue and groove flooring be floating?

The “floating” installation method can be done with either click-lock or tongue-and-groove wood flooring.

Should you glue tongue and groove wood flooring?

Whether you prefer the floating method, nail-down, staple-down or glue-down, tongue and groove wood flooring accommodates them all. For those fitting tongue and groove DIY, this combination with glue-down is the easiest to undertake.

Can you glue tongue and groove together?

After verifying that all of the tongue and groove joints fit to your satisfaction, it's time for some assembly. Apply a thin layer of glue to all edges of the first groove before sliding the tongue into place. Immediately clean off any glue that squeezes out of the joint, to prevent any finishing issues later on.

What is the best fastener for tongue and groove?

We recommend using 16- or 18-gauge finish or brad nails. 1-½” to 2” in length should be sufficient. Both gauges are strong enough to hold the lumber securely, but small enough to not leave a large hole on the face of the board.

Should tongue and groove be tight?

Correctly made the joint, the tongue and groove, will handle this movement as long as the groove is not too tight or loose, there is a gap between the end of the tongue and the back of the groove.

Can you get waterproof tongue and groove?

Peace of mind. Our waterproof tongue and groove panels are also an eco-friendly choice for redecorating your bathroom.

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