The installation
The encounter between a good product and a good technician is the perfect combination for a professional installation.
Although the current panorama is very varied in terms of laying techniques, we recommend the floating system for our floors, which is the only one in line with our philosophy of healthiness and the dictates of green building, thanks to the exclusive Triplostrato® structure.
The Triplostrato®Floating laying according to Fiemme Tremila
Floating laying
In addition to simply laying the boards on the surface, without the use of glues and other potentially harmful materials, each board binds to the others with a tongue-groove interlocking mechanism, secured by the use of a certified vinyl adhesive that does not emit harmful VOCs or formaldehyde. Between the boards and the screed, which is perfectly dry and even, a thin layer of insulating material, called the underlay is applied, limiting the rise of humidity, reducing noise and minimizing installation defects.
Thanks to their structure and considerable dimensions, Fiemme Tremila planks are very stable and particularly suitable for this system, which guarantees a series of important advantages.
For a job done to perfection
Laying is one of the most delicate steps in our work. For this reason the role of the laying technicians is fundamental and all our specialists are trained with periodic updating courses.
The advantages of floating laying
Other types of laying
Although we recommend floating installation for our floors, however on request we can also provide, glued or nailed to the screed laying. For the latter type of laying we offer boards that are 21 mm thick.
Glued laying
It is still the most widespread laying method today, although it is certainly not the most accurate choice for the healthiness of the domestic environment. In fact, in this case the boards are glued both to each other and to the substrate - generally in cement - which must be particularly dry and well levelled.
The main disadvantage of this system is that it requires the use of large quantities of glues (on average from 1.2 to 1.5 kg/m2) that, are not totally free of emissions harmful to health.
Nailed laying
Nailing is undoubtedly the oldest system for laying wooden floors. You need a subfloor on which the nails can hold, for example a layer of wood applied to the screed, or strips spaced and arranged transversely (joists) fixed or drowned in concrete. Trampling produces a soundproofing effect accompanied by creaks that evoke historical flooring, a detail that can be fascinating, but also very annoying.
It is certainly a healthy type of laying, but it has its disadvantages: mainly the fact that the thickness required by the joists plus the floor is of a few centimetres, often not available, especially in case of renovations.
Underfloor heating
Installation on heated screeds
Modern underfloor heating technologies make wood flooring an increasingly suitable choice.
The results of a recent research and testing project carried out by Fiemme Tremila in collaboration with leading companies in the sector, including Eurotherm, demonstrate the perfect compatibility between underfloor heating systems and Fiemme Tremila wood floors. It is essential to carefully assess both the heating system and the most suitable wood flooring solution according to the specific installation conditions. Naturally, the more efficient and well-designed the building solutions are, the better the results will be in terms of energy savings.
Sistema Zeromax di Eurotherm
Switch on the heating system at least 14 days before installation of Fiemme Tremila flooring. Gradually increase the system temperature, reaching the maximum level 5 days before installation. During the 2 days prior to installation, maintain a normal room temperature (min. 15°C / 59°F)..
It must not exceed 29°C, as specified by UNI EN 1264. This is the most important limit for wood stability and living comfort.
The floating installation, combined with a certified underlay suitable for underfloor heating systems with low thermal resistance (R ≤ 0.15 m²K/W), is generally the preferred solution because:
• It optimises system efficiency by ensuring high heat transmission and a uniform floor build-up;
• It more effectively compensates thermo-hygrometric variations, reducing stress on the wood and, consequently, the risk of micro-gaps between boards;
• It avoids the use of chemical adhesives, contributing to a healthier indoor environment and fully reflecting the Fiemme Tremila philosophy of wellbeing.
During the winter season, when the radiant heating system is operating, indoor air tends to become drier and the wood may shrink, resulting in small, natural gaps if relative humidity levels are very low. To maintain the dimensional stability of the flooring, it is recommended to stabilise indoor relative humidity between 35% and 65%. These values contribute not only to the correct behaviour of the wood, but also to overall indoor comfort and wellbeing.
As a general indication, in order to achieve better thermal uniformity and a faster response of the radiant system, it is recommended to adopt reduced spacing, typically around 10 cm
The permitted residual moisture value depends on the type of screed and must always be verified in the technical data sheet provided by the screed manufacturer. As a general indication, for traditional cement-based screeds produced using conventional methods, the following residual moisture values are considered suitable for parquet installation:
• ≤ 2,0% without an activated heating cycle
• ≤ 1,7% after completion of the underfloor heating start-up cycle.
• For other types of screed (self-levelling, anhydrite, fast-drying screeds, etc.), only the limits declared by the manufacturer apply
Values higher than those permitted may compromise floor stability and lead to swelling, detachment or deformation of the wood.
Pre-laying warnings
For an optimal installation, the room must be prepared appropriately and start with an excellent screed.
Before the technicians start laying your floor, check the following:
- that the rooms have been cleared and cleaned of all site residue;
- that the windows and external doors are all installed and the building is insulated from external agents;
- that the painting works have been completed, so that the released humidity cannot ruin the floor;
- the general condition of the building site and that all systems (electrical, plumbing, etc.) are installed and complete;
- the state of the screed.
The cement screed can be made of different materials. Depending on the type of material and its thickness, the time required for proper hardening and drying varies. In fact, the screed must reach the hygrometric balance, which corresponds to a certain percentage of residual moisture in relation to environmental conditions. Before laying, therefore, it is necessary for the screed to “season” and lose the important initial water content that causes a certain shrinkage: if these movements occur after laying, they could cause damage to the floor. Installation is permitted even when the screed has not reached the perfect equilibrium point only if the residual moisture content is less than or equal to 2% - the moisture content of the screed is measured as a percentage and represents the amount of water present by weight compared to the weight of the perfectly dried screed - and if there is no risk of moisture condensation, infiltration or rising damp due to capillarity.
The moisture content of the screed is measured using hygrometers. Electric or capacitive hygrometers can be used for a preliminary, by and large measurement, but to obtain a truly correct measurement, check that a carbide hygrometer is used, the use of which requires greater attention.
The laying surface of a floor, whether cement screed or other solution (such as pre-existing floors), must be geometrically accurate and dry. The below must therefore be checked:
Planarity: the uniformity and regularity of the surface (must be measured with a 2 m straightedge, with a tolerance of ±3 mm).
Horizontality: slopes that deviate from the design slope by more than 2% are not allowed;
Quota: the congruence of the level of the laying surface with the level of any adjacent floors, taking into account the finished thickness of the floor to be laid. In some cases any defects can be corrected using levelling or skimming products.
Humidity: to be measured with an appropriate instrument, must be below 2% or the value indicated in the technical sheet of the screed.
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