Face
Fixing
This is when boards are fixed through their face into the sub-floor below.
It can be used when fitting to chipboard / plywood, battons & joists and
must be used if you are fitting traditional boards wider than 150mm to stop them
cupping
and curling in response to changes in temperature and humidity..
It can also be used on narrower boards if you like the look of it, or if you
have a mixed width floor and wish to fix all the boards consistently.
There are a number of methods of face fixing, but the most effective and common
are:
Screwing and plugging - this involves drilling a
countersunk hole in the top face of the boards and then screwing through it into
the baton / joist or wooden sub-floor below. A wooden plug is then cut from waste
pieces using a plug cutter and glued into the hole. Once the glue is dry, the
to of the plug is cut flush with the top of the board prior to sanding. When
the floor is finished this fixing remains slightly visible although it becomes
less dintinguishable
over time.
Cut / Forged Nails - this involves pilot
drilling a small hole through the floorbpard and then using a the nail to fix to the joist / baton or wooden sub-floor below. (These
will need to be at least 50mm (2") long in order to provide sufficient key).The
heads of the nails are then hammered until flush with the surface of the board.
these remain visible and leave a minimal bump to the touch. Please note that
this method should only be used in combination with screws & plugs, with each fixing being used on a 'hit & miss' basis. Also, if you wish to use this method you will need to ensure that any batons or wooden
sub-floor is at least 50mm deep in.
The heads of the nails will be hammered until
flush with the surface of the floor but will still be visible and leave a minimal
bump to the touch
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