Bostik Best Adhesive
Bostik Best Glue:most recommended Hardwood Flooring Adhesive on the market.

Bostik BEST GlueBostik is one of the few adhesive manufacturers that will warranty the installation of Mirage Engineered Wood Flooring with their moisture-cured urethane glues.

And why I use Mirage Engineered Hardwood, as the example is because it has one of the thickest real wood layers of all North American Engineered Flooring. The thicker the wood, the more likely it will want to cup, expand and contract with environmental changes in humidity .. and thus the greater the challenge to find a glue that is elastic enough to provide a tough and flexible bond, over the life of the floor.... AND to a variety of substrates. It must allow the wood to move and still stay stuck!

And yes I know it is expensive, but like good quality paint you get what you pay for..... if after 5 coats of paint and you still don't have coverage, its not a good buy... but when it comes to flooring you only get one kick at the can. If you don't use something like the Bostik Best™ glue, and use instead its cheaper cousin, when the floor lets go you really don't have too many option in fixing the installation.

It is particularly important when you have incompatible products like gluing a wood backed floor to concrete... they don't like sticking to each other in the first place so best not to take short cuts.....

Added Features of Bostik BEST:

  • not affected by moisture
  • contains no nasty solvents or volatile organic compounds.
  • mild smell
  • contains no water so will not affect dimensions of wood flooring during installation and dry time, nor will it be affected by water after drying
  • Freeze/Thaw Stable
  • contains Bostik's BLOCKADE™ antimicrobial protection, to inhibits bacteria, mold, or mildew growth on the surface of the dried adhesive

Good For....

  • Engineered hardwood flooring
  • ceramic tile & marble

Suitable Subfloors:

  • OSB
  • over radiant heat
  • traditional plywood subfloors
  • cement (as long as it is cured & clean)

Application:

  • typically installed with a V notched trowel but follow the instructions offered by the flooring manufacturer
  • must have a minimum of 80% coverage.
  • recommended that the floor be rolled to ensure proper contact between floor and substrate.
  • higher humidity will cause this glue to cure faster
  • under normal conditions light traffic is acceptable after 10 hours
  • many flooring products recommend rolling after installation to smooth out glue and guarantee good connection between floor and glue.

Clean UP:

Immediately clean any adhesive on pre-finished flooring with Bostik® Ultimate Adhesive Remover or a soft towel and mineral spirits. (Be careful not to harm finish.) Do not allow mineral spirits to sit on hardwood surface... likewise with your tools.

Once cured it is significantly harder to remove so best to watch as you go along.

Down Side:

  • Bostik BEST hardwood flooring adhesive does requires a strong arm for spreading, so the next evolution in urethane glues, to combat this complaint, is Bostik's newest: BOSTIK’S TKO™
  • Doesn't hold a ridge as high as some installers would like, to address greater unevenness in the subfloor and still make contact with the underside of the flooring being installed... again TKO is a technological improvement over Bostik Best

Bostik’s Technical Service Department
1-978-750-7356 or 1-800-523-6530

Further Information:
Installing Engineered Hardwood Flooring Over Concrete