Understanding Tolerances for Timber Flooring in New Zealand

Understanding tolerances in engineered timber flooring is crucial for both quality results and adherence to New Zealand building standards. Tolerances refer to the allowable variations in measurements and alignments during construction and installation processes. These guidelines ensure that while perfection might not always be attainable, the quality and integrity of the construction are maintained.

The Building Code

In New Zealand, the standards for timber flooring tolerances are well-defined. For instance, the NZS 3604:2011, a key standard for timber-framed buildings, outlines specific tolerances relevant to various aspects of construction, including timber quality and framing. This standard ensures that timber used in buildings, including flooring, meets certain criteria for dimensions and alignment to maintain structural integrity and aesthetic quality.

The Measures for “Flatness” of Overlay Flooring

Specifically, for timber flooring, tolerances include allowances for variations in dimensions, straightness, and levelness. These tolerances are critical to ensure that the flooring not only looks good but also performs well over time. For instance, there are set limits for how much a floor can deviate from being level or how straight the timber must be. These limits are measured in millimeters and are based on the length of the timber used.  Often the tolernces related to “flatness” are expressed by manufacturers of timber flooring.  These are usually represented as a tolerance of devation of 2 or 3mm over 2 or 3 meters.  However standards and tolerances do differ.

Tolerance Tables for Timber Flooring

The Building CodeHub’s “Tolerances tables – Build 184 (2021)” also provides comprehensive information on construction tolerances. It includes details on the permitted variations from given dimensions, the range of variation in maintaining a specified dimension, and variations from location or alignment. Adhering to these tolerances ensures that subsequent trades can achieve quality results and that the final construction meets the desired standards.

Tolerance Tables NZBC Wood Flooring

These tolerances are not just about the technical aspects of construction; they are also about the end-user experience. Floors that are not level or have significant variations can lead to discomfort and even safety issues. Therefore, understanding and applying these tolerances is not just a matter of regulatory compliance but also about delivering a product that meets the highest standards of quality and comfort.

For more detailed and specific information regarding the tolerances in timber flooring, professionals in the industry often refer to the NZS 3604:2011 standard and resources provided by Building CodeHub and BRANZ.

When it comes to engineered timber flooring in New Zealand, adhering to the set tolerances is key. These guidelines ensure that the flooring is not only aesthetically pleasing but also structurally sound and safe for use. By following these standards, builders and installers can provide quality flooring solutions that stand the test of time.

You may also be interested in the impact of E3 on using wood flooring in kitchens (read more here).

Browse Timber Flooring

Floating v Glue Down Installation

THE INSTALLATION METHODS

There are two methods used to install wood flooring; you can ‘float’ the planks so they sit on top of an acoustic underlay, without any glue being used, or alternatively you can glue the wood flooring down to the existing sub-floor.

It is possible to either float or glue-down wood flooring to the following: existing wood flooring, particleboard, plywood, concrete, old ceramic tiles and old vinyl flooring. Laminate flooring must only be installed using the floating method.

Glue Down Installation

Main Advantages:
– Best for acoustic performance, especially for reducing ‘footfall sound’ in the actual room you are walking in.
– Deals with minor sub-floor unevenness better than a floating floor.
– Visually more appealing as smaller size trims can be used between the wood and other floor coverings, such as a tile angle.
– No trims are required against window or slider joinery.
– Best method for underfloor heating as it ensures better transfer of heat to the floor surface.
– ‘Solid’ feel underfoot.

Disadvantages
– Costs more than a floating installation due to higher labour costs and adhesive cost.
– More time-consuming compared to a floating installation.

Floating Installation

Main Advantages:
– Suitable for DIY installation.
– Quickest and most cost effective installation.
– Good at reducing sound transfer to rooms underneath.

Disadvantages:
– Many poor quality underlay’s do not address the typical ‘drummy’ sound of floating floors.
– Larger trims are required to finish between your wood floor and other floor coverings. These trims are designed to hold the floor down & allow expansion (trims are about 17mm wide).
– Aluminium trims are also required up against floor level window joinery & slider joinery; to hold the floor down in those areas.
– Poor quality wood flooring can squeak when installed floating – especially if the click-lock mechanism is not licensed. It should always be a genuine Uniclic or Valinge click-system.
– The sub-floor must be very level for a floating type of installation.

CONCLUSION

If you can afford it then we recommend that you glue your timber flooring down for a premium result. If you decide to float your timber flooring then the quality of the underlay is paramount; we recommend European made underlay such as Selit Aquastop with a high impact sound reduction rating and good compressive strength.

Quiet Floors

CREATING FLOORING FOR LIVING

We’ve searched far and wide to source innovative, class-leading acoustic solutions for our customers. Solutions include advanced adhesive that provides superior acoustic performance over concrete and premium underlay from Germany.

Acoustic Adhesive

New generation MS hybrid polymer adhesives offer a superior acoustic performance.

Best results are achieved when using Parabond Parquet 480 as a combined moisture barrier & adhesive; the thicker layer of adhesive used to ensure moisture protection dries to a rubber-like consistency, providing excellent acoustic performance.

Parabond is made in Belgium and is imported exclusively by Vienna Woods.

Acoustic Underlay

For peak values in acoustic & load.

Thanks to the innovative TwinFoam™ technology, SELITPRO® 2.2 mm combines peak values in acoustic and loading capacity. This is reflected in an optimum walking noise and impact sound reduction as well as a reliable protection of the floor under load and in use, as well as falling objects.

The SELITPRO® 2.2 mm AquaStop is equipped with an AquaStop surface and optimally protects the floor against moisture with a sd-value ≥ 200 m.

We also stock 3mm Aquastop underlay.

SELITPRO® underlay is made in Germany and imported exclusively by Vienna Woods.

Mapecem CR

This 4mm thick cork/rubber underlay provides excellent acoustic performance and is an ideal solution when a high performing underlay is required.

We typically glue the underlay to the substrate and then glue the wood flooring directly to the underlay.

Perfect for apartments where a glued down wood floor is desired.

What Goes First – The Kitchen or the Flooring

Kitchen Or Flooring First?

This is a very common question that we’re asked time and again. It is actually possible to install the flooring both before or after the kitchen, depending on the intended installation method; floating or glued down.

Floating Installation

If you’re floating your timber or laminate flooring then you should always install the kitchen first and install the flooring around the kitchen units. This allows free movement of the floor boards as they expand and contract with humidity fluctuations. If the kitchen was sitting on top of the floating floor its weight may restrict the movement of the floorboards and potentially cause floor boards to start lifting. The end panels of the cabinets can be undercut so the flooring can slide underneath, for a clean finish. Flooring is installed just under the kick panels and all the way under any appliances (that are not built-in). The kick panels should be left off until after flooring is installed and then put in place last.

Glued Down Installation

For glued down wooden flooring you can either install around the kitchen cabinets or you can install the flooring first. We highly recommend installing the flooring first; this ensures a premium finish at the bottom of cabinet ‘end panels’ as your installer won’t have to cut into them on-site. It also ensures boards are installed all the way to the walls, so if you do happen to modify your kitchen in future for whatever reason, you won’t have to install any more flooring at a later date.  For more indepth information about installing engineered flooring, you might enjoy this article: The Technicalities of Timber Flooring Installation.

Extra Tip for Installing in a Kitchen; Understanding Tolerances

For either method, understanding the tolerances and standards for timber flooring is important.  A subfloor that is not within the standard tolerances is likely to cause performance issues.  For a floating floor this is particularly important.  The impact of flooring installed outside of tolerances or standards may present as:

  • Uneveness relative to kitchen joinery, skirting or doors
  • Hollow spots in the floor
  • Areas that creak
  • “Springyness” in some parts of the floor

As such, choosing the right professional flooring installer is critical to avoid these issues.  See more information about the tolerances of timber flooring here.

 

We have experience with both floating and glue-down wood flooring installation methods, so please feel free to contact us for obligation-free advice.

Spacious Open Plan Kitchen with European wood flooring

Product: Foundation Collection // Empire Oak

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Vienna Woods is a specialist natural timber flooring supplier in Auckland, NZ.  We love to see quality timber floors enhance the homes of New Zealanders.  For information about our products and services, you can contact us here.

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