How to lay elastilon

[lotstolearndiy]

So, as I understand it, Elastilon has elastic properties and pulls the wooden planks together, even as the wood expands and contracts. If that is the idea, when I am laying it, am I meant to stretch the elastilon as I pull out the plastic cover sheet so that the sticky surface, then exposed, is under tension as it sticks to the underside of the wooden plank?

Thank you

 

[WoodYouLike]

Have you watched Elasilons video on their own site?

 

[lotstolearndiy]

Yes I have. Of course, from that I can't tell whether or not the person pulling out the plastic covering can feel tension in the underlay as they do it or whether it is necessary to get the wood down before the tension, caused by removing the plastic covering, is released. So, I was wondering if someone on the forum has actually used it and has a feeling for how much tension is imparted while laying, if any.

 

[mattysupra]

no tension on underlay. Just pull back the plastic and press the boards into the pressure sensitive glue.

 

[lotstolearndiy]

Thanks.
Actually I called Elastilon (Netherlands) this morning and spoke to a chap who spoke rather good English. He reckoned that pulling off the plastic cover provided enough tension.
He also told me that Elastilon Strong is what you need for solid wood and that the basic is for engineered flooring. I didn't know that.
...and he reckoned that it is a good idea for the wood to have 48 hours to acclimatise before laying. I think that their video gives the impression that this is not necessary.

 

[mattysupra]

yes strong for a solid. Plus i would say a week or 2 for acclimatise for a solid unless you have a wood moister meter which i guess you do not!

 

[lotstolearndiy]

You would be right there.
I have a pine door at the entrance to my living room (where I am laying the wooden floor). The pine door swells and contracts through the year, so I guess that shows that the atmosphere becomes more and less humid in this room.
So what I don't understand is this: What is the point of letting the wood acclimatise if the humidity is going to change anyway? I can see that if the humidity was going to remain reasonably constant, then allowing the wood to adopt that humidty would mean that the floor would always remain similar to how it was laid.

 

[WoodYouLike]

Suppose your wood is too wet to begin with and you don't let it acclimatise before you start installing.
The wood will acclimatise once it is installed and shrink. Not even the strongest Elastilon can stop this.

Suppose your wood it too dry to begin with and you don't let it acclimatise before you start installing.
The wood will acclimatise once it is installed and expands. Not even the strongest Elastilon can stop this.

Acclimatised wood has adapted (in width etc) to the normal climate in your home and will only shrink/expand slightly during the changes of the seasons.

 

[lotstolearndiy]

So, I think that what you are saying is that although I see my internal door stick and contract back, your opinion is that the humidity in my home will only change within a narrow band, which may be vastly different from the the water content of the wood when it is delivered to me.

When I let the wood acclimatise, is it OK to just open the plastic covering on the wood or do I need to seperate each piece of wood from every other? Is it OK to let it lean against a wall or does it need to lie flat on the floor. If it leans against a wall can it bow?

Thanks

 

[WoodYouLike]

Most suppliers write on the packaging how to acclimatise their product, with or without unwrapping.

NEVER EVER lean them against a wall!

 

[lotstolearndiy]

Thank you for your help. I have some further questions but I think that it ought to be under a different topic heading so I'll start a new post.
Thanks again to the pair of you.