The recommended glue for floating installation is Tongue and Groove engineered flooring glue. Glue placement is very important. The glue must be placed along the topside of the groove the full length of the grooved side and end.
Glue-down floors are seen as a more permanent fixing method, and is preferred when you expect the flooring to stay there for decades. Wood that has been glued down allows for the necessary expansion and contraction, without risking too much growing or shrinking which could lead to cracks and more serious damages.
Lay a piece of flooring on the floor, so the outside of the tongue lines up with the chalk line. Use a finish nailer to nail through the face of the board along the groove side of the board. Place shims or spacers in the gap between the flooring and the walls to hold it firmly in place.
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.
Glue-down floors are better for rooms with heavy load and foot traffic because they're more stable. On the other hand, floating floors have more room for warping and buckling that are triggered by changing temperature and moisture levels in the room.
Solid hardwood floors must be fixed into position by either gluing or nailing down to the subfloor. Engineered hardwood floors can be glued or nailed into position, but they also have the option of being floated over an underlay.
Floating laminate floors are not intended to be glued down. Floating laminate floors can move with temperature, and gluing down the planks can damage them. If installing in a wet area, like a bathroom, you should glue the laminate planks to seal the tongue and groove seams from moisture.
All it takes is 1⁄8″. The joint should be a firm press fit: If you have to knock the pieces together, then struggle to pull them apart, the joint's too tight. A tongue that's a hair too fat for the groove may actually seat, but it will stress the groove sidewalls and may, in time, prompt them to split.
No, you should not glue your laminate to the subfloor. Most laminates are a floating floor, and should be able to expand and contract freely. Since it is a floating floor, it is meant to support itself via locking systems and have no connection to the subfloor. The sub-floor must be perfectly level and damp-proof.
The Glue-Down Option
If you want a permanent floor covering that won't lift and can withstand impacts, scratches and spills, you should glue down vinyl sheet or tile flooring. When glued vinyl wears out, you can usually lay a new floor directly over it.
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.
Tongue and groove paneling needs to be fitted together and secured through the tongue, which can be tricky if you are not experienced with it. Shiplap, on the other hand, just needs to be secured on the overlap and doesn't need to fit together perfectly. Just make sure each plank is level before nailing it to the wall.
Step 1: Generally speaking, it's easier to cut the groove of a T&G joint first, then mill the tongue to fit the groove. A 1/4-in. straight bit or spiral upcut bit makes an ideal groove-cutter into the edge of a workpiece.
While shiplap is the catchiest design term you'll hear and see most often, there are actually several additional types of wood paneling, from beadboard to board and batten to wainscoting. However, the closest style to shiplap is tongue and groove.
The two most common types of nails used for tongue and groove paneling projects are the brad nail or the finish nail. Brad nails are made of 18-gauge steel wire and because they are very thin nails, it makes them perfect for use with delicate material such as pine wood.
Floating. Many tongue and groove floors can be floated over premium underlayment with good success. This is done by gluing the tongues and grooves together with a T&G adhesive. Unlike click-lock floating floors, T&G floors are not designed to be floated.
Floating Floors: Cons
In environments where the temperature shifts frequently or moisture levels are high, floating flooring is not the best choice because it can develop warping, pitting, and mold. Another floating floor disadvantage is the fact that this flooring cannot be sanded. It is designed with a sealed finish.
Homes with a concrete subfloor should glue down hardwood floor, while a wooden subfloor allows for either option. Subfloor prep is especially critical for gluing hardwood floors. The glue down hardwood flooring method means that the flooring is glued directly to your subfloor.
You can tell if engineered hardwood is glued down by checking the thresholds or transition pieces. They may snap into a track, which makes them easy to remove. If your home has a concrete subfloor, the wood is most likely held with glue as well.