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Carpets, Lino & Flooring

Can PVA glue be heated & soften in order to correct gaps in an engineered floor?

Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 2.40 PM

I recently had an engineer oak floor laid which hasn't gone very well. A number of gaps were evident as soon as the fitter had finished. More gaps are now evident and I'd like to know if it's possible to close them or if my only option is to use a filler? The fitter assured me that it was possible to heat the boards to soften the glue and knock the boards back together. Most of the gaps are in the thresholds by the doors and on the landing where he has struggled to work with the stairnose ect. Many of the boards in question are at the ends or near walls so hypothetically they can be accessed to knock them if the glue can be soften. Please can you advise what can be done and how? Many thanks, Anastasia

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3 Answers

Anonymous user

Hi He is correct that PVA white glue can be heated and softened... Normally it's used when repairing veneering or to take joints apart in joinery, it's a trick of the trade. But he is wrong when he says, just knock it back together again... It would have to be heated up, to take the length of flooring out...Then clean up the joint, re-glue and re-fit. It doesn't soften enough to be re-usable as a glue (just becomes rubbery). Try and avoid filling the floor, always cracks eventually. If the glue trick doesn't work...re-laying is the best bet. Hope this helps
Answered19 September 2011
4

Anonymous user

I havent heard of that happening, sounds like your fitter hasnt installed the floor properly. Best option to take it all up and have it fitted again, preferably by someone who knows what they are doing.
Answered18 September 2011
3

Anonymous user

Personally I've never seen wood glue/pva heated up on a floor, if it's so easy why hasn't he done it? If the boards are loose, number them and remove them, clean up the tongue/groves and re-glue in place. There are a number of acrylic floor sealant fillers on the market (Unika) however if the gaps are larger than 1mm I wouldn't use them as they will allow water and grit into the gaps and eventually push the gaps even further apart. At the end of the day if you are not happy, have it relaid !"!
Answered18 September 2011
3