Took me 10 years to realize I was using way too much glue on hardwood

I was at a job site last Tuesday and an older installer watched me lay down a full bead of glue on the subfloor. He laughed and said I was wasting half my bucket. He told me to run a thinner bead and spread it with a trowel instead. I tried it on the next row and the board locked in just as tight with zero squeeze out. Saved me maybe 30 bucks on glue for that room alone. Has anyone else found that less glue actually gives you a better bond?

2 comments

2 Comments

oscar_ellis25d ago

Got a buddy named Kyle who does flooring on the side. He called me once all frustrated cause his last three jobs had glue bleed through the boards and looked like crap. Turns out he was using a full tube per row like the post says. His dad came over, watched him work, and literally took the gun out of his hand. Showed him to lay a thin squiggly line and spread it flat with a notched trowel. Kyle said the next room he did saved him almost half a case of glue and the floor hasn't budged in two years. He still brags about that lesson every time we grab a beer.

simon_coleman25d ago

Man that's such a classic case of "more isn't better" with tools and materials. I feel like people think if a little glue is good, a lot must be amazing, same with caulk or even paint sometimes. Crazy how one simple trick from his dad saved him all that trouble and money.