A beautiful floor starts with a good installation. This guide covers the essentials: preparing the subfloor, acclimatising the boards, choosing the laying method and pattern, underfloor heating and care. For a new build or a large surface we always recommend a qualified fitter: professional installation follows the French standards DTU 51.2 (glued floors) and DTU 51.11 (floating floors), which are the reference in case of warranty or insurance claims.
1. Prepare the subfloor
Eighty percent of a successful floor is the quality of the subfloor. It must be clean, dry, sound and flat.
Flatness and cleanliness
Check the floor with a 2-metre straightedge: the accepted tolerance is 5 mm under a 2 m rule and 1 mm under a 20 cm rule. Grind high spots and level any hollows with a suitable compound, then vacuum thoroughly.
Screed moisture
- Cement screed: moisture below 3% (2% over underfloor heating).
- Anhydrite screed (calcium sulphate): below 0.5% (0.3% over underfloor heating).
A traditional cement screed dries roughly 1 cm per week for the first centimetres — and slower after that. Allow several weeks for a new screed and always measure before laying.
2. Acclimatise the boards
Before installation, leave the packs unopened and flat in the destination room for 48 to 72 hours so the wood stabilises in its future environment:
- Room temperature: between 18 and 22 °C.
- Air humidity: between 45 and 60%.
3. Choose the laying method
Full glue-down (recommended)
The boards are glued over the whole surface with a suitable flexible adhesive. Best acoustic comfort, best heat transfer over underfloor heating, and no floating feel — our recommendation for engineered oak.
Floating installation
Boards are laid over an underlay and connected together. Faster and reversible. Leave an 8 to 10 mm expansion gap along walls and at every threshold, hidden afterwards by the skirting. Beyond 8 m in one direction (or between rooms), an expansion profile is required.
4. Laying direction and light
As a rule, lay the boards in the direction of the main light source, or along the longest wall in narrow rooms — this stretches the perspective and flatters the grain. In doubt, dry-lay a few boards and look at them at different times of the day.
5. Pattern layout
The four patterns at a glance
Straight planks
The timeless layout — quick to lay, generous widths, suits every interior.
Chevron
Boards cut at 45° or 90° form regular V shapes. Plan the layout from the centre line of the room for perfect symmetry.
Herringbone
Rectangular blocks laid in a broken-stick pattern, at 45° or parallel to the walls. A classic of Parisian apartments.
Hungarian herringbone
Close to chevron, with boards cut on the bias (45°, 50° or 60°) meeting end-to-end along a single line. The most graphic of the classic patterns.
Versailles panels
Pre-assembled square panels, laid like large tiles. The floor of châteaux, ready to lay.
6. Underfloor heating
Engineered oak suits low-temperature water-based underfloor heating with a full glue-down installation. Heat the screed progressively before and after laying, and remember: the surface temperature of the floor must never exceed 28 °C.
7. Finishes and care
Oiled floors: vacuum, clean with natural wood-floor soap, and apply maintenance oil once or twice a year in busy areas. Lacquered floors: vacuum and damp-mop with a suitable cleaner — never excess water. Felt pads under furniture and a doormat at the entrance will keep the floor beautiful for decades.
8. Tools and supplies
Straightedge and level, moisture meter, suitable adhesive or underlay, spacers, saw with a fine blade, tapping block and pull bar, plus the finishing profiles. We can advise the right adhesive and underlay for your reference — just ask.
One last tip
Always order 5 to 10% extra surface for cuts, waste and a reserve for any future repair. And before anything else, order up to three samples (free — you only pay 3.90 EUR shipping) and look at them at home, at different times of the day.