Comprehensive solutions with MAPEI’s 3-in-1 wood-flooring adhesives

MAPEI’s 3-in-1 wood-flooring adhesives have three functions. They serve:

• As a wood-flooring adhesive.
• As a moisture vapor barrier.
• As a sound-reduction barrier.

Before choosing a 3-in-1 wood-flooring adhesive, you must first find out what type of wood flooring that you have. Not all wood floors are designed to be glued down. Certain types of wood flooring may be more difficult to bond to and all wood flooring is sensitive to moisture.

MAPEI offers the following 3-in-1 wood-flooring adhesives:

• Ultrabond ECO 985 (hybrid-polymer-based)
• Ultrabond ECO 995 (moisture-cured and urethane-based)

Ultrabond ECO 985 and Ultrabond ECO 995 can be used to install most types of wood flooring while functioning as moisture and sound-reduction barriers when used properly.

These adhesives can also be used in a “traditional” glue-down method with any appropriate notched wood-adhesive trowel. Always check with the wood-flooring manufacturer about which adhesive and trowel size are suitable for your wood flooring.

All substrate preparation must be per National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) standards.

• Must be flat – the required flatness is 3/16" in 10' (4.5 mm in 3.05 m) (ASTM F710).
• Must be dry – the substrate must be dry (ASTM 1869 or ASTM 2170 per NWFA guidelines for measuring moisture content).
• Must be structurally sound – before you get started, make certain that there are no low spots or high spots that may need to be addressed beforehand. MAPEI has the surface-preparation products to handle those issues.

What you need to get started

Once you have completed all surface/substrate preparations, determine the layout and a starting point. Here is a list of items that you will need before you get started:

• Moisture meter (wood/concrete)
• Tape measure
• Chalk line and chalk
• Safety equipment (goggles and mask)
• Broom
• Utility knife
• Circular or hand saw
• Miter or table saw
• Either Ultrabond ECO 985 or Ultrabond ECO 995 3-in-1 MAPEI wood-flooring adhesive (read the Technical Data Sheet that is provided for each adhesive)
• Clip-on trowel attachment that is provided inside each bucket of Ultrabond ECO 985 or Ultrabond ECO 995
• MAPEI’s Ultrabond Urethane Cleaner or mineral spirits with a white cloth (clean up wet adhesive quickly)
• 3/8" or 1/2" (10 or 12 mm) spacers
• Mallet (light-colored)
• Tapping block
• Pry bar
• Hammer
• Blue painters tape – if the floor is a pre-finished wood floor, always check with the finish of the wood flooring; some finishes may be affected by the adhesive on the tape

You will then decide which clip-on trowel attachment you will need for the best coverage, depending on the thickness of the wood flooring being installed. For wood flooring that is less than 3/8" (10 mm) thick, use the clip-on trowel measuring 1/8" x 1/8" x 1/8" x 1/16" (3 x 3 x 3 x 1.5 mm). For wood flooring that is between 3/8" and 3/4" (10 and 19 mm) in thickness, use the clip-on trowel measuring 3/8" x 3/16" x 3/8" x 1/16" (10 x 4.5 x 10 x 1.5 mm).

Applying 3-in-1 wood-flooring adhesive

Once you have opened the container of adhesive for wood floors, choose the trowel attachment that is required for the flooring being installed – it attaches to any 12" (30-cm) adhesive trowel. Remove the plastic film (if any) and pour a generous amount on the substrate. You do not want to spread any more adhesive than you can get covered within 45 to 60 minutes.

Using the flat side of the trowel, you are going to “key in” (press flat) the adhesive, evenly coating the entire surface. What you are doing is applying a thin layer of the adhesive, filling in all the possible passageways for moisture to travel up. Once the adhesive starts to cure, it will block off those passageways and function as a barrier, which is why it is important to cover the entire surface.

Once you have spread a monolithic even layer with the flat side of the trowel, you will then immediately pour out more adhesive. This time, using the clip-on trowel attachment, you are going to spread the adhesive perpendicular to the wood flooring, making sure that the ridges are all going in the same direction.

Hold the trowel at a 60- to 90-degree angle to the subfloor, making sure that the subfloor is covered 100% with adhesive and that no void spots appear other than the “valley bottoms” created by the trowel. These areas will fill in as the wood is installed; when using the clip-on trowel, you will see how the trowel ridges do not leave any exposed substrate (visible concrete) in between each ridge.

The thin layer that was applied before using the notched trowel is now a vapor barrier. If any of the concrete is left exposed, moisture will rise up – it is extremely critical that the adhesive is used properly.

If you are installing a glue-down wood floor and you are stopping for the day, the adhesive should be applied in a way that new adhesive can join on at the stopping point, leaving no gaps between the existing adhesive and the new adhesive. If there is no adhesive where the install was continued, the moisture will find that area and possibly cause a failure.

An important tip: Use a new clip-on trowel attachment for each pail of 3-in-1 wood-flooring adhesive if the adhesive is being used for moisture prevention. Do not reuse clip-on trowel attachments. In addition, proper coverage is paramount for warranty coverage.

3-in-1 wood-flooring adhesive products save time and money

In conclusion, MAPEI's 3-in-1 wood-flooring adhesive products offer a cost-effective and time-saving solution by functioning as a wood-flooring adhesive, a moisture vapor barrier and a sound-reduction barrier. Understanding your wood-flooring type is crucial, as not all types are suitable for glue-down applications.

MAPEI’s 3-in-1 options ensure tailored solutions for different needs. Proper substrate preparation per the NWFA and the correct application when using the wood-flooring adhesive are essential for a successful and durable installation. MAPEI’s comprehensive range of products and detailed guidelines support you throughout the process.