Use this library to understand how products attach to the building, what substrate conditions matter, and which questions should be answered before installation begins.
Best for: Many LVP, laminate and selected engineered-wood systems when the manufacturer approves a floating installation.
Planks connect to one another rather than being mechanically fastened or fully bonded to the substrate. Subfloor flatness, expansion details, transitions and underlayment remain critical.
Key checks
Best for: Many commercial resilient floors and selected residential systems where direct bonding is specified.
The flooring is bonded to a properly prepared substrate using an approved adhesive. Surface condition, flatness, moisture limits, adhesive selection and rolling procedures are central to performance.
Key checks
Best for: Many solid and engineered hardwood products installed over approved wood subfloors.
Boards are mechanically fastened through the tongue or approved fastening zone. Product width, subfloor, moisture conditions, fastener schedule and expansion details affect the installation plan.
Key checks
Best for: Engineered hardwood and other manufacturer-approved wood floors over concrete or wood substrates.
Wood flooring is bonded to the substrate with a compatible adhesive. Moisture control, slab preparation, trowel specification and working time must follow the selected system.
Key checks
Best for: Certain wider plank nail-down hardwood installations when the product/manufacturer or accepted installation specification calls for supplemental adhesive.
A mechanical fastening system is supplemented with compatible adhesive. It is not a universal requirement for every hardwood floor; the exact product and installation specification determine when and how it is used.
Key checks
Best for: Many residential rooms and commercial spaces designed for carpet over cushion.
Broadloom is installed over approved cushion and tack strip, with seams and stretch planned around room geometry, doorways and traffic.
Key checks
Best for: Offices, corridors, classrooms and other spaces where modular replacement and phased work can be valuable.
Modular carpet is installed using a backing- and manufacturer-specific adhesive or attachment system. Layout pattern, substrate preparation and attic-stock planning affect long-term serviceability.
Key checks
Best for: Existing site-finished hardwood that has sufficient material and condition for refinishing.
A refinishing system mechanically sands the wood, addresses repairs as appropriate, and applies a compatible stain/sealer/finish system. Existing floor construction and prior sanding determine feasibility.
Key checks
Wide planks make installation details more consequential. Review the whole system before the first board is installed.
A residential basketball or multi-use court is different from a standard living-room floor. Ball response, traction, shock, flatness, moisture, fastening, markings and room clearances all affect the system—and true sports-floor performance should be verified with the selected system manufacturer.
Basement flooring starts below the finish surface. Investigate moisture history and slab conditions before shopping by appearance.
