I have recently purchased 500 sq feet of engineered hardwood to have installed on a concrete slab. It is a Bruce Harborlight e1601 5" wide 3/8" plank that I am having to put down to match existing wood the previous homeowner installed. The hardwood installer has given me a quote, but said I need to purchase the adhesive. Since I have absolutely no knowledge of what is best, I am hoping you can help.

I have looked up the warranty info for my hardwood and it says these are the recommended adhesives: Armstrong ProConnect Professional Hardwood Flooring Adhesive, Bruce® Equalizer™ Urethane Adhesive or Armstrong EverLAST Premium Urethane Adhesive, but I am not sure if these are the best? A little research shows that a lot of people use Bostik or Mapei, but it seems like there are good and bad for both.

So does anyone have a recommendation for the one I should choose and does not using one of the ones suggested by the manuf void the warranty? Thanks for you help and info!

proconnect would be my prefrence. I wouldnt go the urathane adhesive route for a 3/8 eng floor.

Sorry Kevin, personally I won't install plank using an acrylic adhesive,( even engineered 5/16 or 3/8), I won't get into all the negatives. 90% of what I install is gluedown over concrete. Partial to Bostik EFA, it's a urethane, affordable, cleans easily, holds a good ridge, excellent green grab. IMO a better all around adhesive than Bostiks Best or Mapei 990.

Yes, You need to use suggested adhesive to keep warranties in effect.

Like floorologist said, if you use anything but bruce slash Armstrong good luck ever getting any warranty, they won't even look at it if something should go wrong.

Ill have to say the proconnect is a pretty nice adhesive for a non-urathane. You guys definatly have the experence with the glue downs so I will take that to heart. I was under the impression its not a true acylic but more of a hybrid resin like taylor 2071. I know it still has some water but have you had issues with those types on 3/8 eng. floors?

Have tried a few of the "cross linked resin" adhesives at distributors, ( you know barbeque, sales pitch). When Armstrong was demonstrating proconnect,the guy opened the bucket and there sat about 1" of water on top, installers were freaking out, the guy said no big deal just mix it in . I guess just got a bad taste after that. Plus the stuff has 15 minute open time, ( LV is very dry). Another distributor gave me a partial bucket of the Taylor 2071, but it's been sitting in my warehouse, he keeps asking me about it . Just dont see the point of these adhesives, the dollar savings doesnt seam like it's worth it. I'm sure there's other reasons, if I was better informed on cross linked resin. But why do you say " I wouldnt go the urethane adhesive route for a 3/8 engineered floor" ?

Cost, clean up, removal on finshed surface, trowelability and overkill. Not as dry here plenty of open time to work a managable spread. The thing is I Glued a solid 1/2" 31/4" red oak floor down in the showroom with 2071 and four years later there is no pops or squueks. the ends diddnt lift and the slab had a few low spots in the corners but it's working well. We sell 2071 here and stauff 930. Some guys like the stauff and some like the 2071 but its just kinda rare that I get asked for urathane, usually a stupid bamboo floor or some cheap thin solid. Most have been scarred by bostics best and just hate the thought of useing something that messy and hard to trowel.

Bostik's Best is a royal pain and priced like gold. IMO it's obsolete. (If you've had some that's hard to trowell, it's too old). It was one of the first adhesives out to combat the chlorinated solvent delemna. It's a complete mess to work with, doesnt hold a ridge great,it's green grab is so so. Out here Bostik has pushed EFA,( all Iv'e used for 6 months now), can't say enough good about it. On top of everything else..the clean up is about non existant,( It will clean right off the finish rubbing your finger on it ) You should give it a shot next time someone has to have that beloved Bamboo, or the thin stuff, your guys will love it.

Be sure to check the moisture/relative humidity in the slab against the different adhesive’s rh specs before you choose one so you don’t inadvertently void the warranty. There are a few to choose from but my suggestion for ease of use and speed would be the Wagner Rapid RH system.

Here's their website www.rapidrh.com

Thanks for the input, I am so lost when it comes to this. I did email Bruce and they said I could use another adhesive other than their brand and they would still warranty the wood, just not guarantee the actual adhesion of the wood.

So, it sounds like Bostik Best is a no and maybe the EFA?

I live in GA, does that make any difference in choosing a glue?

Thanks again!
Jessica

Bostik's Best and EFA are both urethane adhesives , as per your warranty info. I would suggest EFA, for reasons previously mentioned.

I'm not familiar with Georgia, other than Ken lives there and Jimmy Carter, and ofcoarse Jessica Just kidding...I cant imagine Georgia an issue on choosing adhesive, am I in line Ken?

^^Thanks. Wasn't sure if our high humidity makes any difference.

Your actually in good shape in that respect. What can be a challenge with some adhesives is the dryness of NV. There can be considerably less open time, or working time, before the adhesive starts setting up. Ofcoarse this being said...whether GA or NV , the RH should be within specified range , in your home, at either location.

Has the installer mentioned some adhesive names? It's those guys that should make the recommendation. After all, it's their job and they'll be using it. They should have some products they've felt most comfortable working with. Unless they have little experience with gluedown installations. I'm in Georgia, but don't do any installations. Or let me put this another way. I'm retired from the installation end...but I wouldn't mind getting out of the house from time to time

Btw, I second the Bostiks EFA. The premium stuff is too annoying to work with.