Is It Best to Screw or Glue Chipboard? A Guide to Laying Chipboard Flooring!

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Chipboard is one of the most widely used construction materials. It’s highly in trend these days to use these chipboards for flooring purposes. If you have been looking out for stuff to elevate the aesthetics of your place, you must have seen wooden flooring on the web. 

This is actually a chipboard that’s generally screwed or glued to the floor, adding to its durability and being an aesthetic agent. However, not many people are aware of chipboard flooring yet and are always wondering what’s the right way to install or lay a chipboard on the floor. 

If you are also one of those individuals worrying about the correct method to lay a chipboard, this guide has you covered. 

We have come up with a comprehensive guide for you, throwing light on some of the advantages of using chipboard flooring, the correct method of laying chipboard, and answers to some frequently asked questions regarding chipboard flooring. 

 

What is Chipboard?

Before taking you toward the more complicated and technical part, where we will address your queries and talk about the perks and disadvantages of chipboard flooring, let us begin this write-up by first introducing the term chipboard to you. 

Chipboard is a piece of paper stock, a very thick one for that matter, made using 100 percent recycled fiber. Simply put, reconstituted wood, including chips, shaving, and sawdust, is used for making chipboard. These raw materials are brought together using natural or synthetic resin, which helps them take up the shape of a board. 

Unlike other paper stocks, chipboard managed to gather a lot of eyeballs due to its high affordability and durability. One thing you need to be careful of here is not to confuse a chipboard with a cupboard, as they sound almost the same. 

Chipboard differs from cardboard in the fact that cardboard is hollow from the inside, and chipboard, on the contrary, is filled. 

Uses of Chipboard 

Now that you know what a chipboard actually means, it’s time for you to explore some of the uses of this construction material, which is why it’s pretty common among the masses. 

Here is a list of some of the common applications of chipboard: 

  • Furniture 

One of the most significant uses of chipboard is its use as a raw material for flat-pack furniture. If you are a furniture hoarder, you must have heard of the brand Ikea and all the fame it has gotten over these years is because of chipboard. 

As the brand uses chipboard for making its furniture pieces, they are not just highly durable and of exceptional quality. Due to their lightweight, you won’t struggle to assemble or disassemble the furniture pieces. 

  • Frameworks 

Another thing where chipboards have wide usage is in making frameworks for cupboards and cabinets. These chipboards are not as hard as wood, so they can be used vertically and horizontally.  You can use these chipboards for making tables, headboards, and other furniture frameworks. 

  • Flooring 

This is what we are majorly concerned with in this guide. The use of chipboards for flooring is getting very famous lately, with many users considering this material for home renovations. The best kind of chipboards to be used for flooring are the treated ones, as they are moisture resistant. 

 

Some Surprising Facts About Chipboard 

At this point, you must have gotten well-versed with chipboard material and have cracked the main purpose of this construction material. Though many users know this product’s major uses and benefits, there are still some facts about chipboards that not many people know of. 

But don’t worry; we pledged to provide you with all the information we could find, so you make the right choice. Here are some surprising facts about chipboard no one ever talks about: 

  • Resemblance to Cardboard 

As we mentioned earlier, chipboard resembles cardboard in many expects. The only thing making them different is that cardboard is hollow from the inside. Chipboard, on the other hand, is filled internally. 

  • Densities 

When it comes to chipboards, you can find them in numerous thicknesses and densities. For instance, the one with a legal pad of paper as the backside is a lower-density chipboard; if a hardback book covers the back, the chipboard will be high-density. 

One example of the highest-density chipboard around is the floorboard. Generally, a chipboard of such density is used for protecting the flooring of different places from mud, water, large force impacts, paint, etc. 

  • Crafting 

The use of chipboard isn’t just limited to construction sites. You can find extensive uses of this material in crafting and other creative works. Similarly, several users around the globe love using chipboard to create cut-outs, letters, and other shapes. 

You can also use a chipboard for making frames to hang your pictures and other decoration pieces. 

 

What’s the Best Method to Lay Chipboard Flooring? 

Though cardboard flooring is equipped with tons of advantages and benefits, which we will address later, one thing many users struggle with when it comes to chipboard flooring is the method to use for laying the chipboard flooring. 

There are two methods different builders recommend to lay the chipboard flooring, including glueing and screwing. Here, many users worry that they might never be able to change the cable wiring at their place or improve the plumbing work if they glue the chipboards permanently to the floor. 

Similarly, a large number of users aren’t comfortable with making holes in the chipboard as well as the floor just to install the flooring. 

To clear up your confusion, if you don’t mind installing permanent flooring for the next couple of years but you can’t compromise on the chipboard flooring coming out and seeming uneven at some points, you should go with the glueing method. 

However, if you aim to achieve a sturdy result that can easily be gotten rid of in the future without affecting the actual texture of your flooring, you can go for the screwing method. 

Another thing that plays a significant role in determining the method you can go for is the quality and thickness of the chipboard. It’s because harder chipboards can easily be screwed without damage, while thin ones are prone to devastation on drawing holes. 

 

Method to Lay Chipboard Flooring 

Now that you know of the major uses of chipboard, some significant features of this construction material, and have touched on both methods, let us take you toward the main flooring process. As we have mentioned above, one of the major applications of chipboard is flooring.  

To lay chipboard flooring, you can get your hands on the chipboard flooring sheets available in numerous sizes in the market. But getting hands-on different sheet sizes won’t suffice. So, to lay chipboard flooring at your place, you need to know how this can be done. 

Pre-Installation Guide 

Before moving toward the main installation process, there are certain things you need to be careful about. Store all the chipboards in the desired room for around 48 hours before laying them on the floor. This will help them get accustomed to the environment, and all the shrinkage or swelling the concerned environment could cause will happen before installation. 

Another thing you need to make sure of is that all the joists are dry and none of the boards is exposed to a wet environment. 

Here is a step-by-step method you can follow for laying chipboard flooring at your place: 

  • Mark Points 

Start by marking the points/positions of the joists along the walls. This way, you won’t struggle later on while placing the boards and aligning the screws with joists later on. 

  • Position the Boards 

Once you have marked all the positions along the bottom of the walls, lay all the boards on the floor. The laying should be done along the length of these chipboards while keeping their printed side up. Loosely put the first chipboard with its printed side on the wall. While aligning it with the joists, keep a 10mm gap from the wall. 

  • Use Timber Wedges/Plastic Shims 

The 10mm gap you left before is for expansion purposes. So, use either timer wedges or plastic shims to maintain the gap. As you are just laying the boards loosely at this point, don’t worry about the gaps, as they will be fixed once you fix them. Don’t disturb the alignment while pushing the boards against the plastic shims. 

  • Trace Joists’ Centre

Mark the center of the joists using an edgy tool. While placing the boards, keep one end in alignment with the earlier marks and sling the other end with the center of the visible joist. 

  • Cut & Fix the Boards

Now cut the chipboards into the required sizes depending on your flooring. After measuring and cutting the boards successfully, you need to move to the next step, i.e., fixing them.  For this, lift the first board and apply the adhesive glue to the joists with the help of the gun. Once you have laid the board on the floor, fix it with the help of a screw. 

However, if the boards you own lack joint screws, you can secure them at a 10mm gap from the board’s edge. 

  • Apply the Chipboards 

Repeat the above step and keep on applying all the boards along their length while maintaining a 10mm gap between each of them. If you are using tongue and groove boards, they will easily fix into each other. 

On the contrary, for no tongue and groove boards, you can simply apply the adhesive glue to the exposed part of the joint and use screws to secure them to their place. If needed, use a hammer and chock to fix them. 

  • Cut and Fit the Last Board 

Once you are done laying all the chipboards in a row, you need to cut the final one to fit the flooring. For this board, maintain a 10mm gap from the wall to maintain the expansion gap and cut the board with a clean stroke. 

After cutting it to the desired size, use the same method you used for all the boards earlier to lay this one on the floor. Apply the adhesive glue and slowly place it in the required position. To maintain the expansion gap, use the same plastic shims. 

  • Lay the Boards for All Rows 

Using all the steps explained above, complete the process of laying these chipboards in different rows. During this entire process, if any cut-off piece from the previous row is larger than 500mm, you can use it as the first board of the next row. 

  • Complete the Last Row 

For the last row, you need to measure the boards individually. It’s almost the same as the first row, where you have to cut and fix the chipboards while maintaining the expansion gap from the wall. 

Use a circular saw and a timber batten to cut the boards for the last row in the correct sizes. Once done, apply the adhesive glue on one side, place the boards slowly on the floor, and screw to fix them. 

When you are done with laying all the chipboards successfully, use a slightly damped cloth to clean the boards. Ensure that you have screwed all of these boards and haven’t left any large gaps or spaces between them. While laying these boards, pay heed to the gaps in the wall for an even surface. 

Why Use Chipboard Flooring? 

Considering the above points, you must have realized that laying the chipboard flooring isn’t a simple task. It involves a lot of complex steps and careful examination. 

Due to this task’s complexity, many people don’t find it worth spending their energy and time installing the chipboard flooring as they consider it just as important as any other decoration piece. 

But the reality is completely different. Chipboard flooring has many other advantages that make all your effort to lay the flooring worthwhile. Here is a list of some of the major benefits of chipboard flooring: 

  • Budget-Friendly 

One of the many benefits of chipboard flooring is its affordable pricing. Unlike what most people think of chipboard flooring, considering its popularity, it is pretty budget-friendly. The installation won’t cost too much either, making it a cost-effective option to enhance the aesthetics of your palace. 

  • Sturdy 

Despite being affordable, the chipboard flooring will last you a fortune. You won’t have to worry about going through the entire installation hassle repeatedly. Moreover, the chipboards won’t easily get damaged due to drops or bumps, making them a great option for places with children. 

  • Flat 

Being flat and even in their texture, chipboards are easy to paint. Similarly, you won’t find them much different from the actual flooring, and you can easily walk and move around on the chipboard flooring. This makes them super convenient for rooms. 

  • Easy Cleaning 

Chipboard flooring can be cleaned easily compared to other expensive and luxurious options. You don’t have to get a vacuum cleaner or any other cleaning device, especially for them as they can be cleaned easily using a simple mop or duster. Additionally, dust particles would hardly trap between these boards due to their flat surface. 

 

Conclusion – Is It Best to Screw or Glue Chipboard? 

In this guide, we have covered all the aspects concerning chipboard and chipboard flooring. This guide has everything you can ask for, from the introduction to chipboards to their usage and benefits of using chipboard flooring. 

Hopefully, the laying method we have explained above will help you apply chipboards easily, and you won’t have to struggle any longer trying to install chipboard flooring at your place. 

We hope that you won’t worry about the correct method to lay chipboard flooring now. Thanks for reading this guide. 

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