I can see what caused the first installation failure... Waterbased adhesive used under solid wood.

The second failure, indicates movement up and down, which says the substrate was not flat withing specifications, or the wood was trying to gain moisture and buckle. If the substrate is 1/8" in 6' like the specifications require, your not going to get up and down movement, unless something is trying to heave upwards.

To me it all sounds like the installation "professionals" your picking, are really clueless about what they are doing!!!


Was the second crew the same as the first failure, crew???

No, a friend of ours who installs floors (I think mostly engineered) did the first 2 applications. He is the one who didn't want to use urethane...and then "someone" on this message board told us to use the Stauf 930. After the failure of the Stauf 930, Stauf's technical director came out and told us to use the 960.

We hired a professional installer to do the 960 install. He told us from the get-go that we should use Bostik's Best but he said he would use whatever we wanted him to. We told him that Stauf's assured us the 960 would work and that Stauf had already shipped the 960 to us. I was very apprehensive about using the 960 but we did as Stauf recommended.

We are going to do this last successful install using Bostik's Best. Our installer told us he uses it all the time and has never had a problem. We are just trying to decide what flooring to use....a 5/16", 3/8" or an engineered. Our installer says he installs Hartco's Kingston Strip a lot and it's great. I would like a higher end product but there isn't much out there in the way of 5/16" or 3/8" solids from the high end brands. BR111 has a 7/16" that I was interested in but it's an exotic and their rep said it was photosensitive. We get a lot of light in the room it's going to be installed in. So, as of right now it looks like we will be using Hartco's 5/16x2.1/4 or the 3/8x3.

If you had squeaks using the 960, which holds it's trowel ridges pretty well, your really going to have more squeaks and hollow spots using slumpy Bostiks Best. Bostiks BST is a much better choice.

What is Bostik's BST?? I thought they were one and the same?? What if we use Bostik's MVP and then Best or BST...

BST, is not BEST. Check Bostiks website for the difference.

I know it's confusing, BEST & BST are not one and the same. I believe that Bostik recommends the BEST for solids but forget that.

I tell you what I would do here... if you got a fella that has been gluing down solids with success and it's always worked for him, that means he has no complaints therefore no problems. I'd put a high value on his advice because... well ..it works for him.

I'm not really losing my mind but after fighting with this for over a year, 3 failures--maybe I am.

I've flip-flopped on this and that's why I question my mind....our last attempt to put the floors down was with Stauf 940. I found the receipt today while cleaning. I'm still trying to figure our what to use this time a solid or engineered. Hopefully, I'll get to take a look at an install that used Hartco Kingston Strip and then I'll decide.

Hartco makes "Kinsford Strip", not Kingston. It USED to be 5/16 T&G ENGINEERED floor. Since Hartco and Bruce were bought by Armstrong, now Kingsford Strip is quite similar to Bruce's "Natural Choice", which used to be called "Natural Reflections" prior to being bought by Armstrong. The only difference I can tell between the two is color selection and price, with the Bruce flooring costing slightly less. If you are intent on gluing a solid down, Kingsford and Natural Choice are good selections as glue down is one of the accepted manufacturer's installation techniques.
http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwo ... choice.htm
http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwo ... -strip.htm

I believe its called "analysis paralysis" Cappy. You got some something occurring that causes the wood to cup. Thats where i would be focusing all my attention right now.

Paralysis....you are correct there! It's not so much that we're determined to do a glue down...not much of a choice there. We have a terrazzo floor and can't have a huge transition between it and carpet, ceramic.

As far as the Hartco or Bruce....can anyone compare it to the Lumber Liquidator product we used prior? Any better milling? That was my biggest complaint with the LL product.

Oh, and it's "Kingsford"....I'm having trouble keeping all these names/numers straight!

Everything is better then LL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is the junkiest wood I've ever touched. It is a failure inspectors dream, for job security.

Bruce ain't much better, as far as installer swearing, but it is better.

I hear ya....but then tell me who makes the BEST 3/8" or 5/16" strip?? cause I can't find it. Not a whole lot to chose from. So, you're saying that if I want a smooth floor, good milling, uniformity I have to go to an engineered?? Who would that be in the $5-6 range with the best wear layer?

I've been looking at Mohawk with their scotchgard and 30 yr. How's it stack up?

BR-111 5/16" solid is successfully glued down all the time. But I think the same as Jerry. You have a moisture problem. You'll need to discover the source before installing anymore flooring.

Will putting down MVP in addition solve the moisture problem? We have an irrigation system would that have anything to do with the problem?

Ya, if it is spraying on the slab. And if the slab foundation is not 3" above the soil.