Due to this forum and website, I have gone from Bellawood 3/4" x 5" solid to 5" wide WFI engineered santos mahogany. I can confidently say I have made the right choice for me. But.......

Should I pay an installer to glue it down or should I tackle the job myself and float the floor? I'd like to save the money but I want a quality finished floor and I don't want any regrets. I want a solid feeling floor.

subfloor is concrete in tucson, az.


thx in advance

If you want a solid feeling floor, glue it.

I'm doing a glue down on my house house. Believe me, it's a lot of work, glue everywhere, but it's a solid feeling for sure.

More concerns with subfloor problems preventing a quality finished job with the glue down vs. a floating...but if you feel confident in your abilities then the glue down will be a more solid feeling floor.

??? The subfloor flatness requirements are identical, for floating or gluedown or nail down

3/16" in 10 feet 1/8" in 6 feet

I really think a good straight edge is key. I got rather ticked off using a 10' "straight" board, no board is really very flat (IMO). I found it better to use a 6' level and using 1/8".

I have a few areas that slightly exceed 1/8", unfortunately.