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Timber flooring (engineered or solid, laid as a floating click-lock floor) is often used in directors' offices, meeting rooms and reception areas of factory office blocks. It is the last finishing trade and starts only when the screed has been accepted and the ceilings, wall painting and doors are complete.
Before starting
- Bring all the boards into the room at least 24 hours in advance so they acclimatise.
- Room temperature at least 19 °C, substrate temperature at least 16 °C, relative humidity 50–75%.
- The floor must be flat, dry, hard and even; walls flat with the base square to the floor; doors set higher than the finished timber floor.
- Lay the boards parallel to the main light direction to bring out colour and grain.
- Work out the width of the last row in advance: at least 7 mm from the wall or obstacle.
- Never fix the floor to the substrate in any way; skirtings are fixed to the wall only. Never strike the boards directly with a hammer; always use a tapping block.
- Tools: drill, laser, screw gun, tape measure, brad nailer, saw, compressor.
Work sequence
| Step | Work | Control |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Substrate check | Make the surface flat, clean, dry and hard; remove bumps so the floor does not sink or rock. | Accept the substrate with the supervising consultant. |
| 2. Underlay | Lay a moisture barrier film and PE foam (about 2 mm for engineered floors, 3 mm for solid) against moisture, for noise reduction and comfort underfoot. Film or foil side down, turned about 40 mm up the walls; tape the joints. | Continuous underlay with no overlapping edges that create ridges. |
| 3. Laying boards | Start in a corner and work outwards; stagger the end joints. The first row is the reference, so it must be straight and firm. Each board clicks into the previous one, pressed home or tapped through a block. | 10 mm expansion gap between the floor edge and the wall. |
| 4. Edges | Cover wall edges with skirting or end profiles; use end profiles at door edges; use T-profiles between rooms, at colour changes or against other materials. | Profiles straight and tight. |
| 5. Skirting | The skirting (usually wood-grain MDF) is fixed to the wall base with special nails, covering the expansion gap and holding the board edges. | Tight joints between skirting and door trims; mitred corners close. |
| 6. Sealant, cleaning | Run silicone along the top of the skirting and at gaps against walls and door frames; clean with a brush and soft cloth. | Final acceptance, then cover to protect the surface. |
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Cause | Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| Open click joints | The floor shrinks with sudden weather changes | Take up and relay tightly |
| Floor bulging and pushing against the walls | Long exposure to water, no expansion gap | Take up the bulging area, replace damaged boards, trim boards at the wall to widen the gap and relay |
| Chipped boards | Struck directly with a steel hammer | Always use a tapping block |
| Gaps between skirting and door trims, mitres not tight | Cut to the wrong size | Replace the piece; fill small gaps with silicone |
| Door trims sitting proud | Skirting fitted over the trim position | Replace the wrong piece and fit the floor profile after the door trim |
| Adjacent skirting pieces at different heights or with mismatched grain | Grain not selected when fitting | Replace and select matching grain |
Reference standards
The edition in force when the contract is signed applies.
- TCVN 9377-1:2012 Finishing works in construction – Part 1: Flooring and screeding works (substrate requirements)
- The approved installation instructions of the flooring manufacturer
