What surfaces can parquet be installed on?

Just as mastering the basics is essential for any job, starting with the fundamentals—the subfloor—is crucial for a successful installation. We'll now explore what to check for in different types of subfloors, without going into excessive detail.

We will discuss only glued installation, as we've already mentioned here, the requirements for floating installation are completely different.‍

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Cement Screed‍

If you're gluing over a cement screed, there are a few factors to pay attention to:

• that the screed's moisture content is less than 2% when measured with a calcium carbide hygrometer
• that the subfloor is compact, as determined by the hammer test (strike with a cutting hammer and check if it crumbles)
• that it has a minimum thickness of 4 cm
• that there are no cracks or fissures, and if present, they should be filled
• that the screed is level (even)
• that it is completely clean, meaning no dirt or dust residue, as this could lead to a difficult installation.

Anhydrite Screed

However, if our subfloor is an anhydrite screed, you must:

• ensure that the screed's moisture content is below 0.2%, if measured with a carbide hygrometer
• confirm that the subfloor is compact by performing the hammer test (strike with a chisel hammer and check if it crumbles)
• that the screed is level
• that it is completely clean, meaning no dirt or dust residue, as this could lead to a difficult installation.

Existing Installation Surfaces

What if we want to glue over an existing floor? Again, no problem; you can glue over almost all types of flooring, although it's often necessary to properly prepare the subfloor. What exactly does that mean?

In most cases, it's necessary to use a single-disc machine on the floor where we will be installing, to roughen the surface and create the necessary grip for the adhesive to bond well. If this step is not performed, after some time the adhesive could start to detach from the subfloor, completely ruining the parquet.

In conclusion: knowing how to perform a good installation is an art acquired through years of experience, so rely on experts!