A Dinesen floor is a unique piece of nature. It is a living material which must be treated with care. Our instructions explain in detail how you get the best result so the floor can last for centuries.
If you need any additional advice about Dinesen floors, you are very welcome to contact us. To order and purchase products in the maintenance series, please go to our webshop.
No. You can install our floors on most common subfloors, including joist constructions, wood-based structures and concrete floors. It is however essential to follow our technical instruction manuals carefully
No. Dinesen floors must always be fastened to the subfloor with screws or by full-surface gluing. Never apply glue to the long sides of floor planks.
The distance to walls, pipes etc. is there to allow for the expansions that occur in the summer when the planks absorb moisture and thus expand in width. Always leave a 10-15 mm gap between the floor and the wall when installing the floor.
No. You can simply use an elastic joint filler or another flexible material for a finished look. It is essential, however, that the filler does not restrict the floor’s ability to move.
Yes. Dinesen planks are individually attached to the subfloor, not to each other, and there is therefore no need for dilatation joints. That makes it possible, for example, to have an uninterrupted floor surface if the doors do not have doorsills.
Dinesen floor planks are dried to a moisture content of 8-10%, which matches a normal indoor climate. If the planks are stored for some time before they are installed, they may absorb or emit moisture, which will result in undesirable movements. In winter, however, the planks should be placed in the room in which they are going to be installed for 24-48 hours prior to the installation.
Yes. The floor planks are delivered with a controlled moisture content that matches a normal indoor climate. They do not require acclimatisation but should be installed immediately after delivery, and therefore, seasonal variations are irrelevant. In winter, however, the planks should be placed in the room in which they are going to be installed for 24-48 hours prior to the installation. The building must be sealed off, dry and warm and free of construction moisture, cf. Dinesen’s instructions.
The drying of a concrete layer is not an exact science but a process that depends on many different factors, including time, temperature and air humidity. This process can easily take 4-6 months, and it is therefore extremely important to allow enough time for the concrete layer to dry during the construction process. We strongly recommend that you measure the actual residual moisture before the floor is installed.
In constructions where moisture may be present due to construction humidity or general humidity conditions, we always recommend that you use a vapour barrier. Generally, a newly cast concrete floor always requires a vapour barrier. The positioning and the need for a vapour barrier, however, will depend on the given construction.
In principles, yes. However, we always recommend that you have the floor installed by an experienced specialist with the right expertise, as tiny details can have a major impact on the finished floor.
Installation
1.1 Building
1.2 Installation
1.3 Natural material
Wood is a natural material that expands and contracts continually, depending on the relative air humidity and temperature. If the indoor climate remains completely stable throughout the year, the planks will remain dimensionally stable, neither expanding nor contracting. That is, however, very difficult to achieve, even with expensive climate systems. Therefore, periodical contraction gaps should be accepted as the floor planks respond to the changing seasons. The movements of the planks will usually be most pronounced during the first year after installation. If the wood is unable to expand it will compress. The subsequent drying will then cause the plank to contract beyond the initial dimension. This may result in slightly larger contraction gaps between the planks than initially.
Below is an overview of the reaction of the floor planks to varying degrees of air humidity at a normal temperature of 18-25 °C. The recommended intervals and tolerances in air humidity are highlighted in grey.
The overview applies to a correctly installed floor, cf. the guidelines in this and the other instructions from Dinesen, and the information is only intended as a general guide.
2.1 Joist spacing
| Homes etc. | Small shops | Conference rooms etc. | ||
| Douglas | 28 mm | 86 cm | 70 cm | 60 cm |
| 35 mm | 120 cm | 100 cm | 80 cm | |
| Oak | 22 mm | 60 cm | 49 cm | 42 cm |
| 30 mm | 95 cm | 77 cm | 67 cm |
Table 1
Lay the first and the last row of joists 50-80 mm from the walls. Lay the second row of joists no more than 50 cm from the first/last row of joists.
2.2 Blocking up the joists
| Width x height (mm) | Homes etc. | Small shops | Conference rooms etc. |
| 40 x 39 laminated, L40 | 55 cm | 48 cm | 44 cm |
| 40 x 63 laminated, L40 | 89 cm | 78 cm | 70 cm |
| 45 x 45 sawed, K18 | 60 cm | 52 cm | 47 cm |
| 45 x 70 sawed, K18 | 93 cm | 81 cm | 74 cm |
| 45 x 95 sawed, K18 | 126 cm | 110 cm | 100 cm |
Table 2
2.3 Installation methods
| Joist/beams | Concrete |
Plywood/chipboard |
|
| Screwed from above | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hidden screws | Max. 300 mm | No | Max. 300 mm |
| Full-surface gluing | No | Yes | Yes |
Table 3
! When gluing on plywood/chipboard, glue directly on the board material. Do not glue on heat emission plates etc.
2.4 Screw sizes
Screwed from above
| Joist/beams | Concrete | Plywood/chipboard (min. 22 mm) |
||
| Douglas | 28 mm | 5 x 60 mm | 5 x 50 mm | 5 x 40 mm |
| 35 mm | 5 x 60 mm | 5 x 60 mm | 5 x 45 mm | |
| Oak | 22 mm | 5 x 50 mm | 5 x 50 mm | 5 x 40 mm |
| 30 mm | 5 x 60 mm | 5 x 60 mm | 5 x 40 mm |
Hidden screws
| Joist/beams | Concrete | Plywood/chipboard (min. 22 mm) |
||
| Douglas | 28 mm | 4,2 x 65 mm | N/A | 4,2 x 45 mm |
| 35 mm | 4,2 x 65 mm | N/A | 4,2 x 55 mm | |
| Oak | 22 mm | 4,2 x 55 mm | N/A | 4,2 x 45 mm |
| 30 mm | 4,2 x 65 mm | N/A | 4,2 x 45 mm |
Table 4
2.5 Screw spacing on solid substructure
| Concrete | Plywood/chipboard (min. 22 mm) |
|
| Screwed from above | 60-80 cm | 60-80 cm |
| Hidden screws | N/A | 40-50 cm |
Table 5
3.1 Installation on joists/beams – screwed from above or with hidden screws
Oak planks that are wider than 300 mm must be installed with a 2 mm gap between all the planks and should always be screwed and plugged from above, cf. the procedure described in section 3.1.1. Douglas planks should be installed without a gap between the planks, unless Dinesen has advised otherwise.
3.1.1 Screwed from above
Figure 1: Cross-section screwed from above, joists/beams
3.1.2 Hidden screws
Figure 2: Cross-section hidden screws, joists/beams
3.2 Installation on concrete – screwed from above
Oak planks that are wider than 300 mm must be installed with a 2 mm gap between all the planks and should always be screwed and plugged from above, cf. the procedure described in section 3.2.1. Douglas planks should be installed without a gap between the planks, unless Dinesen has advised otherwise.
Figure 3: Cross-section screwed from above, concrete
It is important to vacuum the holes in the concrete and to make sure that they are deep enough
(50 mm). Otherwise, there is a risk that the screw heads might break off. As you work, check continually that the screws have a sufficient grip in the substructure.
3.3 Installation on plywood/chipboard – screwed from above or with hidden screws
Oak planks that are wider than 300 mm must be installed with a 2 mm gap between all the planks and should always be screwed and plugged from above, cf. the procedure described in section 3.3.1. Douglas planks should be installed without a gap between the planks, unless Dinesen has advised otherwise.
3.3.1 Screwed from above
Figure 4: Cross-section screwed from above, plywood/chipboard
Figure 5: Cross-screwed from above, plywood/chipboard (alternative solution)
3.3.2 Hidden screws
Figure 6: Cross-section hidden screws, plywood/chipboard
Figure 7: Cross-section hidden screws, plywood/chipboard (alternative solution)
4.1 Installation on joists/beams – screwed from above or with hidden screws
Oak planks that are wider than 300 mm must be installed with a 2 mm gap between all the planks and should always be screwed and plugged from above, cf. the procedure described in section 4.1.1. Douglas planks should be installed without a gap between the planks, unless Dinesen has advised otherwise.
4.1.1 Screwed from above
Figure 8: Longitudinal section screwed from above, joists/beams
Figure 9: Cross-section screwed from above, joists/beams
4.1.2 Hidden screws
Figure 10: Cross-section hidden screws, joists/beams
4.2 Installation on concrete – screwed from above
Oak planks that are wider than 300 mm must be installed with a 2 mm gap between all the planks and should always be screwed and plugged from above, cf. the procedure described in section 4.2.1. Douglas planks should be installed without a gap between the planks, unless Dinesen has advised otherwise.
Figure 11: Cross-section screwed from above, concrete
4.3 Installation on plywood/chipboard – screwed from above or with hidden screws
Oak planks that are wider than 300 mm must be installed with a 2 mm gap between all the planks and should always be screwed and plugged from above, cf. the procedure described in section 4.3.1. Douglas planks should be installed without a gap between the planks, unless Dinesen has advised otherwise.
4.3.1 Screwed from above
Figure 12: Cross-section screwed from above, plywood/chipboard
Figure 13: Cross-section screwed from above, plywood/chipboard (alternative solution)
4.3.2 Hidden screws
Figure 14: Cross-section hidden screws, plywood/chipboard
Figure 15: Cross-section hidden screws, plywood/chipboard (alternative solution)
5.1 Installation on joists/beams – screwed from above
Figure 16: Longitudinal section screwed from above, joists/beams
Figure 17: Cross-section screwed from above, joists/beams
5.2 Installation on concrete – screwed from above
Figure 18: Cross-section screwed from above, concrete
5.3 Installation on plywood/chipboard – screwed from above
Figure 19: Cross-section screwed from above, plywood/chipboard on joists/beams
Figure 20: Cross-section screwed from above, plywood/chipboard
6.1 Installation on joists/beams – screwed from above
Figure 21: Longitudinal section screwed from above, joists/beams
Figure 22: Cross-section screwed from above, joists/beams
6.2 Installation on concrete – screwed from above
Figure 23: Cross-section screwed from above, concrete
6.3 Installation on plywood/chipboard – screwed from above
Figure 24: Cross-section screwed from above, plywood/chipboard
Figure 25: Cross-section screwed from above, plywood/chipboard
7.1 Full-surface gluing with Stauf products
Do not combine full-surface gluing with other installation methods. Only glue the planks themselves to the substructure.
The air humidity must be between 35 and 65% RH and must not exceed 50% RH in winter. The temperature must be between 18 and 25° C.
Install the planks immediately, except in winter when the planks should be placed in the room in which they are going to be installed for 24-48 hours prior to the installation.
Never apply glue to the long sides of floor planks!
7.1.1 Stauf products
Use STAUF VPU-155 S primer and STAUF PUK 455 glue. Follow Stauf’s and Dinesen’s instructions carefully with regard to:
7.1.2 Substructures
For all substructures, Dinesen’s recommendations about humidity apply.
For cast substructures:
For anhydrite substructures:
For plywood and chipboard substructures:
Other substructures:
7.1.3 Underfloor heating
If underfloor heating has been cast into the concrete layer, the underfloor heating must be turned on at an acceptable temperature for at least 30 days before the planks are installed. With underfloor heating, make sure to turn the heat off at least 24 hours before gluing. Do not turn on the heat until 7 days after the floor has been glued. Turn up the heat slowly, following Dinesen’s ”Before installation” instructions.
7.1.4 General installation
Apply weights on the planks during the curing period to ensure sufficient pressure across the entire floor. Place 15 kg sand bags, buckets with sand or similar weights on top of the planks. Distribute them evenly with approximately one load per m2 until the glue has cured. The areas along the edges of the floor and the last installed rows are particularly important. The floor should not be used until the glue has cured.
Sanding and finishing should not be performed until at least 48 hours after the fullsurface gluing.
To request additional instructions concerning full-surface gluing gluing, please contact Dinesen or download the instructions on dinesen.com
It is important to follow these instructions to the last detail. Following, is some additional advice for the installation process to help prevent general installation errors and damage.
