Hardwood Floors February/March 2026

By Don Jewell

ADOBESTOCK ©

1 NOT CLEAN ENOUGH This category needed to be number one as the greatest number of issues and failures happen here. Just because it looks clean doesn’t mean it actually is. Every mitigation, adhesive, and glue-down flooring manufacturer will reference NWFA Guidelines and/or ASTM test methods for how clean your concrete needs to be. There may be a greater requirement specified by the manufacturers. While the surface profile and absorbency may vary depending on product being used, ALL manufacturers require the substrate to be clean and free of bond breakers. Become educated on how to determine if there are contaminates/bond breakers on your substrate. Reach out to technical departments, manufacturer reps, and attend trainings focusing on concrete prep.

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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