Interviews / 6/12/2024

A complete offer, from installation to maintenance

Comprehensive solutions for wood flooring installation and maintenance by Mapei

Interviewee

Angelo Giangiulio

Corporate Product Manager, Wooden Flooring Line, Mapei Group (Italy)

The demand for wood flooring in the residential sector has surged due to its sustainability and aesthetic appeal. Oak is the most popular choice, often installed using Mapei’s silylated polymer-based adhesives. Mapei also provides maintenance solutions like ULTRACOAT CLEANER and ULTRACOAT POLISH for long-lasting beauty and comfort of parquet.

In recent decades there has been a sharp rise in demand in the residential sector for wood flooring. Why? What advantages does this type of flooring have with respect to other materials?

Firstly, I would like to point out that the use of wood helps maintain a certain environmental balance, because wood is a natural reservoir for CO₂ which is absorbed and held “prisoner” without any emissions.

In general, a wood floor completes and enhances a room, it improves overall living comfort, is long-lasting and can be restored. It also helps reduce energy consumption, especially when used in combination with underfloor heating.

Which are the most popular species and types of wood in Italy and abroad and which Mapei products can you use to ensure they are installed correctly in our homes?

In recent years the species of wood most widely used is oak in its various formats. Herringbone patterns have made quite a strong comeback, which undoubtedly enhances the beauty of wood flooring.

Mapei silylated polymer-based adhesives are the products most recommended for installing wood flooring, because they guarantee the durability of the surfaces installed. They also have a low impact on the environment and, more importantly, guarantee safer conditions for floor installers.

The adhesives ULTRABOND ECO S 948 1K, ULTRABOND ECO S958 1K, ULTRABOND ECO 968 1K and ULTRABOND S LITE offer different application solutions and have in common their very low emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and, therefore, have a low impact on the environment.

Wood floors were installed in a herringbone pattern in several environments of an Australian private residenca with ULTRABOND ECO S955 1K adhesive after preparing the substrates with ECO PRIM T PLUS and ULTRAPLAN ECO. (c) Jules Ingall

To guarantee the beauty, comfort and resistance of wood floors in our homes we need to carry out regular maintenance and adopt particular care regimes. Which Mapei solutions can help with this?

Normal and regular maintenance and a good environmental balance guarantee that wood floors last a very long time. In fact, wood flooring has very simple requirements: a temperature of around 20°C and a humidity level of around 50%. Basically, what is good for people is also good for wood flooring.

Routine maintenance of wood floors is not complicated, but you need to use products specifically developed for this type of surface. Mapei offers a complete range of specific products: ULTRACOAT CLEANER for routine cleaning, even on a daily basis, and ULTRACOAT REMOVER PLUS for more deep-down cleaning or non-scheduled maintenance. We also offer polishing products to protect surfaces: ULTRACOAT POLISH MATT for rooms with a lot of traffic, ULTRACOAT POLISH ANTI SLIP for rooms where you want to ensure a high anti-slip finish and, lastly, ULTRACOAT OIL CARE PLUS, which is suitable for floors with an oil or varnished finish.

Nowadays it is possible to install wood flooring on existing floors in ceramic or other material. What precautions do you need to take in such cases?

That is correct and it is highlighted in national standards. For example, in the recent Italian standard UNI 11935, which I helped draft by being part of the relative workgroup, section 4.2 talks about installation surfaces “made up of existing flooring, stone, ceramic, wood, carpet, etc.”.

For all these cases where wood flooring is installed over old flooring, Mapei is in a position to offer different solutions and products. Prior to installation, the old flooring needs to be assessed and the most appropriate products need to be identified.

Wood planks were also installed on the staircase in an Australian private residence with ULTRABOND ECO S955 1K. (c) Jules Ingall

Which Mapei systems are the most suitable for this type of application?

Thanks to the expertise of our technicians, we are able to single out the most suitable products for each application, which range from primers to cementitious products to level off installation surfaces, up to adhesives: for instance, I would like to draw your attention to the range of ULTRAPLAN levelling mortars and the range of ULTRABOND adhesives.