We're going to be using Shaw 4-in-1 adhesive to glue down 3/8" 2-1/4" T&G hardwood. I see we will need their adhesive remover while we're working to remove it before it dries.

How bad a situation is this? If it dries and we don't get it off, say. Does the glue usually ooze to the surface much?

It looks like I'll have to special order the product but my workmen are here.

Even using Shaw's recommended trowel...With that product, there's a chance of oozing.

If you don't clean up all excesss adhesive on the surface of the floor....there's a chance the dried adhesive can damage the finish,( this is on any hardwood).

What do you mean 'with that product'?

Do you mean their 4-in-1 in particular or the urethane adhesives generally?

What do you recommend to avoid the oozing?

They did a test board on the floor. It probably wasn't intended to be neat but there is oozing and thickness that I can't imagine won't be a problem when trying to fit boards together.

Urethane glue in general.

By "that product'..I was referring to the narrower widths. Doesn't go down as easy/clean, as say a 5" board. That said...you shouldn't have oozing all over the place.

Your installers had to do a test board ?

I guess the 3/8" height doesn't help either. We should expect oozing into the T&G area then? Or put it on thin enough that that doesn't happen? I thought the trowel would handle most of that issue. I doubt he was real careful with a test board though. They haven't glued a hardwood before so I am worried. When they tiled the kitchen, careful attention was not paid to the thinset oozing into the joints and it was left to dry. Shows in a few spots, not chipped out deep enough.

Test board because there is still 20yo old adhesive on the floor from the last wood install. It didn't all come off with scarifying. Patches remain and around the room edges in particular. So we are testing adhesion to the existing glue.

What do you think about using the urethane over the old glue? I know they say get it off but have you ever glued over or know anyone who has? Initially, they just wanted to knock off the high spots and go over it. The glue was Bruce and is brittle. Seems well adhered but can chip at it.

I'd never glue over old adhesive, or anything for that matter.We scrape, scar,sand or whatever it takes to get to bare subfloor. Who knows whether it'll bond or not? You're guessing. And if the glue is left heavy you get more seeping. Those trowels, assuming they're using the right notch depth, leave the glue thin enough that you should be able to pull the floor tight with minimal seeping. It does require that you trowel the floor clean, can't spread the glue too thick.

Your guys have never glued wood before? Well, thats a mistake, you may have a huge mess on your hands. Glueing is actually harder than nailing IMO. YOu need straps and a roller and don't work on top of the wood with the 2 n 1 or 4 n 1.

I agree, if given a choice, I'd take nail down over gluing any day. Fortunately 90% of installations we do are solid wood applications. We did tons of glue down when town homes started popping up around here back in 06-07. Can't say I miss them though, although business was booming back then.