One of the biggest complaints with a wood floor is squeaks, creaks, and noise. We compiled these resources for how to fix a creaky floor problem (see them all here). But, why not act to prevent wood floor squeaks in the first place.

The key fact to understand: movement causes squeaks. If you stop wood floor from moving, you will stop noise problems.

When flooring is nailed down, normal seasonal expansion and contraction of the boards can loosen the fasteners over time. Loose staples or cleats means loose boards which can produce noise. These problems, though not uncommon can mostly be avoided with adding a glue assist method.

While wide plank floors are incredibly popular in today’s homes, the reality is that these floors can be more prone to gaps. The wider the board, the more potential movement per board there could be across the floor. And as we’ve talked about, the more movement you see, the more squeaks you’ll hear.

Widths exceeding 4-inches have a greater distance between the tongue and groove across each individual board. The tongue-side of the board is held in place by staples or cleats. But, the groove-side is typically only held by the tongue of the adjacent board that fits inside of it.

By adding glue in addition to staples or cleats creates more holding power across the full width of each board to help secure wide plank floors to the subfloor.

There are several acceptable methods to use a glue assist, but it is very important to evaluate all site conditions in order to choose the best method.

When air conditions can be properly maintained both above and below the floor, a glue assist can be used without a vapor retarder (underlayment). This is important because the adhesive will need to be in direct contact with the flooring and subfloor.

According to the NWFA, humidity levels above and below unfinished solid wide plank flooring should be kept between 30-50%. Additionally, the moisture content of wide plank flooring should be within 2% of the sub-flooring before installation.

If these conditions cannot be maintained (or if you are installing a floor over an unconditioned basement or crawl space) you need to take extra steps to address moisture issues. We recommend rolling on a moisture barrier prior to installing wood floor with a glue-assist method.

One method to glue and nail wide plank flooring is to use glue in a serpentine pattern before nailing down the floor. For best results, keep 10″-12″ between peaks of the adhesive. Watch the steps for this method in the above video.

Use tubes of Urethane, modified Silane, or other recommended wood flooring adhesive. Apply a 1/8″ or greater bead of glue in a serpentine pattern on the back of the boards or on subfloor where the board will be placed.

The serpentine pattern should have approximately 10″-12″ between the peaks of the adhesive.

Trowel adhesive before nailing down the floor to keep it from squeaking. For best results, keep a 12″ gap between each section. Use a urethane, modified silane, or other recommended wood flooring adhesive bucket and the correct trowel. Pull straight glue lines on the subfloor that are perpendicular to the flooring boards.

Leave no more than a 12″ gap between each section of troweled out adhesive.

Use a urethane, modified silane, or other recommended wood flooring adhesive bucket and the correct trowel. Spread glue over the entire subfloor in accordance with the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions. Follow the NWFA or Manufacturer’s recommended nailing schedule.

While some consider this an extreme option, it is reasonable to use when moisture conditions around the floor have greater changes. It also is a great way to glue and nail wide plank flooring, especially when the boards are over 5″ wide.

By far the majority of complaints we address are related to moisture and movement.

Using a proper glue assist method, along with maintaining appropriate conditions in the home, greatly reduces the chance of these issues calling you back for costly repairs. By using the best installation practices and educating your customers, you can set your business apart, get meaningful referrals, and reduce your time fixing problems.

Using a glue assist will add to the material cost and installation time for your jobs. However, the added peace of mind is more than worth it for you and your customer. We recommend building the material cost into your bid and using a glue assist on every job.

We can help! From the flooring to the glue and nailer, we are your go-to supplier with everything you need for a glue assist. Call any of our RW Supply+Design locations to get a quote today!