Professional Hardwood Installation

Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Professional engineered hardwood flooring installation using the appropriate installation method for the flooring product, substrate, and project conditions — including Full Glue-Down installations over concrete.

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Engineered Hardwood

Real Hardwood Designed for Greater Dimensional Stability

Engineered hardwood flooring is constructed with a real hardwood wear layer over a multi-layer engineered core. This construction provides greater dimensional stability than traditional solid hardwood in certain applications while maintaining the appearance and character of genuine wood flooring.

Depending on the flooring manufacturer, substrate, board construction, and project conditions, engineered hardwood may allow installation methods that are not appropriate for every solid hardwood floor.

Prefinished & Unfinished Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood is available in different constructions and finishing systems. Understanding the product is an important part of determining the correct installation process.

Prefinished Engineered Hardwood

Prefinished engineered flooring arrives from the manufacturer with the color and protective finish already applied. Proper installation is especially important because the finished surface must be protected throughout the project.

Unfinished Engineered Hardwood

Unfinished engineered hardwood is installed before receiving its final finishing system. After installation and the appropriate curing period, the floor can be professionally sanded and finished similarly to a site-finished hardwood floor, subject to the flooring manufacturer's specifications.

Installation Method

Full Glue-Down Engineered Hardwood Installation

Full Glue-Down is an installation method in which the approved hardwood flooring adhesive is spread across the substrate using the appropriate trowel, and the engineered hardwood is installed directly into the adhesive bed.

This method is commonly used for engineered hardwood installations over properly prepared concrete when the flooring and adhesive manufacturers approve the system.

Correct adhesive selection, trowel size, substrate preparation, working time, adhesive transfer, and flooring manufacturer requirements are all important parts of a professional Full Glue-Down installation.

Engineered hardwood flooring full glue-down installation with light matte finish

Professional Installation

Full Glue-Down Is a Complete Installation System

The adhesive is only one component. The flooring, substrate, environmental conditions, preparation, and installation method must work together as a complete system.

01

Evaluate the Substrate

Concrete condition, flatness, moisture requirements, cleanliness, and overall suitability must be evaluated before installation.

02

Prepare the Surface

The substrate must be properly prepared so the adhesive system can perform as intended. Surface contaminants and conditions that interfere with adhesion must be addressed.

03

Apply the Adhesive

Approved adhesive is applied with the specified trowel while maintaining the required coverage and working within the adhesive manufacturer's installation parameters.

04

Install & Verify

Flooring is installed into the adhesive while maintaining layout and board placement. Adhesive transfer and coverage should be verified during installation.

Engineered hardwood flooring full glue-down installation with dark matte wood

Direct Bond Installation

Why Use Full Glue-Down?

When appropriate for the flooring product and substrate, Full Glue-Down creates direct contact between the engineered hardwood and the prepared substrate through the adhesive system.

It is particularly valuable in applications where traditional nail-down installation is not appropriate, including many engineered hardwood installations over concrete.

Real RZR Project

Unfinished Engineered Hardwood Over Concrete

This RZR Hardwood Flooring project involved unfinished engineered hardwood installed over a concrete substrate using a Full Glue-Down system. Bona products were incorporated into the installation system based on the project requirements.

Unfinished engineered hardwood flooring and Bona products for full glue-down installation

01 — Flooring & Installation System

Unfinished engineered hardwood full glue-down installation over concrete

02 — Full Glue-Down Over Concrete

Unfinished engineered hardwood full glue-down installation with Bona adhesive

03 — Engineered Hardwood Installation

Bona Installation Systems

Professional Adhesive Systems Matter

RZR Hardwood Flooring uses professional Bona installation products when appropriate for the flooring system and project. In the project shown above, the installation included Bona products designed for professional hardwood flooring applications.

Product selection is based on the flooring manufacturer's requirements, substrate conditions, moisture considerations, and the specifications of the selected Bona installation system.

Installation Requires More Than Adhesive

✓ Appropriate engineered hardwood product
✓ Proper substrate preparation
✓ Moisture evaluation when required
✓ Correct adhesive and trowel selection
✓ Proper adhesive coverage and transfer
✓ Manufacturer installation requirements

Site-Finished Engineered Hardwood

What Happens After Unfinished Engineered Hardwood Is Installed?

Unlike prefinished flooring, unfinished engineered hardwood still requires its final surface finishing process after installation. When the flooring manufacturer permits site finishing, the floor can be professionally sanded and completed with the selected finishing system.

01

Installation

The engineered hardwood is professionally installed using the approved installation method.

02

Sanding

After the required installation and adhesive curing conditions are satisfied, the unfinished surface is prepared for finishing.

03

Color

Depending on the project, the hardwood may remain natural or receive an appropriate stain or color system.

04

Protective Finish

The selected professional finish system is applied to protect the hardwood and complete the floor.

Engineered Hardwood or Solid Hardwood?

One is not automatically better than the other. The correct choice depends on the construction of the home, substrate, flooring location, product specifications, design goals, and installation requirements.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered construction can provide additional dimensional stability and may offer installation options for applications such as properly prepared concrete substrates, depending on the flooring manufacturer's specifications.

Solid Hardwood

Traditional solid hardwood remains an excellent flooring system when the construction, substrate, and installation conditions are appropriate for the selected product.

Professional Credentials

Why Choose RZR for Engineered Hardwood Flooring?

Engineered hardwood flooring installation requires understanding both the flooring product and the substrate beneath it. RZR evaluates the project conditions before determining the appropriate installation system, adhesive and preparation requirements.

RZR Hardwood Flooring Bona Certified Craftsman

Bona Certified Craftsman

RZR Hardwood Flooring combines professional hardwood flooring experience with specialized Bona training and professional installation and finishing systems.

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RZR Hardwood Flooring Bona Five-Star Advantage

Bona Five-Star Advantage

Professional Bona installation and finishing systems support RZR's approach to engineered hardwood flooring, from substrate preparation through the completed floor.

View Bona Credentials →
RZR Hardwood Flooring BBB Accredited Business

BBB Accredited Business

RZR Hardwood Flooring is a BBB Accredited Business providing professional hardwood flooring installation, refinishing and repair services throughout Chicagoland.

View BBB Profile →

RZR Hardwood Flooring

Planning an Engineered Hardwood Flooring Project?

Tell us about your flooring product, substrate and project. RZR can evaluate the installation requirements and help determine the appropriate next step.

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Andi Bogot profile picture
Andi Bogot
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My experience with Raul was great! His work is excellent and our floors, which he refinished, look amazing. His work is of the highest quality. He is an expert and it shows in his work. He was detail oriented, very clean, punctual and always responded quickly whenever we emailed or texted him. He always listened to us and took our questions seriously. Very respectful. And when I say there was almost no dust, I mean it!! He uses special equipment that really does the job. I 100% recommend Raul!
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Joe Coan profile picture
Joe Coan
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RZR Hardwood Flooring did a fantastic job refinishing the hardwood floors in my home in Glenview. Raul gave the floors a beautiful natural finish using Bona products, and the results speak for themselves. From start to finish, the process was professional, tidy, and clearly communicated. Raul’s attention to detail really shows in the final result. Midway through the job, I also asked Raul to swap out the vents. Even though it fell outside the original scope, he took the extra time to walk me through the process and get it done right. I’d highly recommend RZR Hardwood Flooring to anyone in Glenview or nearby looking for quality hardwood floor refinishing.
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Oscar Salazar profile picture
Oscar Salazar
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We truly appreciated the honesty, professionalism, and expertise displayed. The floors turned out beautiful, and the entire process was clean and very easy. It's so hard to find contractors who genuinely recommend what is best for the customer instead of simply trying to sell a more expensive service. We highly recommend RZR Hardwood Flooring.
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Juana Maita profile picture
Juana Maita
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Excellent work from start to finish. The team was highly professional, punctual, and attentive to detail throughout every stage of the installation. The hardwood floors turned out incredibly and completely transformed the look of the house. The quality of the materials and the finish exceeded our expectations. Furthermore, they kept everything clean and completed the work within the promised timeframe. I definitely recommend this company to anyone looking for quality, reliability, and luxury results.
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CARLOS SALAZAR profile picture
CARLOS SALAZAR
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After purchasing our home, we originally hired RZR Hardwood Flooring to install new solid hardwood floors only on the first floor. However, after seeing the quality of the installation, craftsmanship, and professionalism throughout the project, we decided to continue with the stairs and the entire second floor as well. Raul helped us choose the right wood and guided us through the color selection process to achieve the exact look we wanted. The final stain color and finish turned out absolutely beautiful and completely transformed our home. The entire hardwood floor installation and refinishing process was clean, organized, and professionally managed from start to finish. We highly recommend RZR Hardwood Flooring for anyone looking for high-quality solid hardwood floor installation, custom stain colors, and exceptional craftsmanship.
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Marianny A Tocuyo M profile picture
Marianny A Tocuyo M
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They completely transformed my home. The flooring turned out spectacular, and the quality of the work is evident. Plus, the team was very friendly and attentive throughout the entire process.
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Arnnie Chamochumbi profile picture
Arnnie Chamochumbi
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Excelente trabajo. Los pisos quedaron perfectamente instalados, con muy buenos acabados y atención al detalle. Fueron puntuales, responsables y dejaron todo limpio al terminar. Muy recomendados.
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Aracely Salazar profile picture
Aracely Salazar
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We had a wonderful experience with RZR Hardwood Flooring. Raul was very professional, punctual, and explained the entire process clearly. Our hardwood floors look brand new, and the quality of the finish exceeded our expectations. We also loved how clean the dustless sanding process was. Highly recommended !
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Renato M profile picture
Renato M
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RZR Hardwood Flooring did an excellent job on our hardwood floors. Raul was very professional, detail-oriented, and easy to work with throughout the entire process. The quality of the work and final finish exceeded our expectations. The floors look beautiful and the whole process was very clean and organized. I highly recommend RZR Hardwood Flooring for anyone looking for high-quality hardwood floor work.
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Douglas Mauger profile picture
Douglas Mauger
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Raul and the RZR Hardwood Flooring team did an outstanding job refinishing our hardwood floors. The process was professional, clean, and detail-oriented from start to finish. The dustless sanding system made a huge difference, and the final Bona finish looks amazing. I highly recommend RZR Hardwood Flooring for anyone looking for high-quality hardwood floor refinishing.
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RZR Hardwood Flooring

Planning an Engineered Hardwood Flooring Project?

Tell us about your project, flooring product, and existing substrate. RZR Hardwood Flooring can evaluate the installation conditions and determine the appropriate approach for your engineered hardwood floor.

Request an Estimate

Serving homeowners and contractors throughout Chicagoland.