Build the Floor From the Bond Up

A timber floor can look perfect on installation day & still develop problems later if the bond underneath can't accommodate the installation conditions. Soudal flooring adhesives are designed for professional timber flooring where adhesion, elasticity, subfloor compatibility & working time all matter.

Soudal's SMX hybrid polymer systems provide options for engineered boards, solid timber, parquet & other suitable wooden flooring across substrates including concrete, screeds, timber, chipboard & existing ceramic tiles. Their permanently elastic bond helps accommodate normal movement within suitable timber flooring installations.

For the wider installation, browse Flooring Tools & Adhesives. Before laying begins, Measuring & Layout Tools can help with room set-out, board planning & installation checks.

What Are Soudal Flooring Adhesives?

Flooring adhesive forms the connection between the finished timber floor & the prepared substrate beneath it.

That bond has a demanding job. Timber responds to environmental conditions while the subfloor, board dimensions, installation method & site conditions can all influence performance.

Within Soudal's timber flooring range:

► SMX-20 Plus – a ready-to-use hybrid polymer timber flooring adhesive for suitable engineered boards, ready-to-use timber & solid wood.
► SMX-30 Plus – a universal parquet adhesive for suitable solid, pre-finished, wood-plank, wood-block, laminate & other wooden flooring installations.

Both are single-component systems requiring no mixing & remain permanently elastic after curing.

Why Choose Soudal Flooring Adhesives?

A floor doesn't stop moving just because the installer has finished.

That's why elasticity matters.

Soudal's SMX flooring systems combine high final bond strength with a bond layer designed to remain flexible after curing. They're also formulated without water, solvents or isocyanates, which is particularly relevant when working around moisture-sensitive timber flooring.

Application is straightforward: the material is spread across the prepared substrate with the appropriate notched trowel before the boards are positioned into the adhesive bed.

The result is a system designed around how timber flooring actually behaves rather than treating the finished floor as a static surface.

Common Applications

Engineered Timber Flooring

Engineered boards are manufactured for greater dimensional stability, but the installation underneath still matters.

SMX-20 Plus is suitable for indoor bonding of engineered boards onto appropriate porous & non-porous substrates.

Before spreading adhesive, inspect the subfloor for contamination, uneven areas & conditions that could interfere with bonding. The flooring should also be acclimatised & installed according to its manufacturer's requirements.

Solid Timber Floors

Solid timber deserves particular attention because changes in moisture & environmental conditions can affect board dimensions.

Soudal's flooring range includes systems for specified solid timber installations. Product selection should consider the timber dimensions, substrate & installation requirements rather than simply choosing whichever flooring adhesive is available.

For associated cutting, fitting & timber installation work, browse Carpentry Tools & Fasteners.

Parquet & Wood-Block Flooring

Smaller-format timber changes the installation process.

SMX-30 Plus is designed for multiple wooden flooring types including parquet, wood-plank & wood-block installations.

Trowel selection becomes especially important here. The correct notch helps establish an appropriate adhesive bed beneath the flooring without treating a small parquet piece like a full-width board.

Concrete & Screed Subfloors

The timber gets seen. The substrate determines what happens underneath it.

Soudal lists concrete & screeds among suitable substrates for its SMX timber flooring systems.

Before installation, check that the surface is structurally suitable, properly prepared & free from contamination that could interfere with the bond. Irregularities, moisture concerns or other defects should be dealt with before timber covers the area.

Where the project also involves concrete preparation or associated construction work, browse Concrete Sealers & Coatings.

Existing Ceramic Tile Surfaces

An existing tiled surface doesn't automatically mean complete removal is required before a timber installation.

SMX-20 Plus is suitable for specified applications over existing ceramic tiles where the surface meets the requirements of the flooring system.

Existing tiles still need to be stable, clean & appropriately prepared. A floor covering can hide a substrate from view—it can't make an unsuitable substrate disappear.

Floors With Underfloor Heating

Underfloor heating changes the environment beneath the boards.

Soudal specifies SMX-20 Plus & SMX-30 Plus as suitable for appropriate installations incorporating underfloor heating.

Treat the adhesive, timber, substrate & heating system as parts of one installation. Flooring manufacturer requirements, heating procedures & commissioning instructions should all be considered before the finished floor enters service.

Product Selection Guide

Start With the Flooring Type

Don't start with the bucket. Start with what's being laid.

Identify whether the project involves:

► Engineered timber
► Solid timber
► Parquet
► Wood blocks or planks
► Pre-finished flooring
► Another compatible wooden flooring system

Then match the board construction, dimensions & installation requirements to the appropriate Soudal product.

Read the Subfloor Before Covering It

A flooring adhesive shouldn't be expected to correct problems that should have been dealt with during preparation.

Check for:

► Dust & construction residue
► Oil or surface contamination
► Loose or unstable areas
► Excessive irregularities
► Existing coatings or finishes
► Moisture conditions
► Cracks or defects requiring attention

Once the timber goes down, access to these issues becomes considerably more difficult.

Match the Trowel to the Installation

Notched trowels control how the adhesive is distributed across the floor & influence transfer onto the underside of the boards.

Soudal specifies a No. 11 notched trowel for general application, with a No. 3 option for parquet smaller than 60 mm wide & 300 mm long.

Follow the current product instructions rather than assuming the same notch suits every board format.

Spread What You Can Lay

More coverage isn't useful if the adhesive sits exposed for too long.

Soudal instructs installers not to spread more material than can be covered with parquet within approximately 30 minutes.

Break larger floors into manageable working areas. This keeps the laying process controlled & reduces the temptation to rush board placement simply because too much adhesive has already been spread.

Check What's Happening Under the Board

The surface can look correctly installed while contact underneath tells a different story.

Soudal specifies a minimum 80% adhesive contact coverage for its SMX timber flooring systems. Boards should be slid into the adhesive layer & tapped or tamped into position.

Lift an occasional board during installation to check transfer rather than waiting until the entire floor has been laid.

For cutting, trimming & powered preparation around flooring installations, browse Power Tool Accessories.

Expert Tips

Set out the room before opening the adhesive. Establish board direction, starting lines, transitions & difficult cuts while the working area is still clear.

Inspect the whole subfloor—not just the starting corner. A good first few metres don't guarantee the remaining area is ready.

Keep the trowel working consistently. Uneven ridges can produce uneven transfer beneath the boards.

Work in sections you can comfortably cover. Controlled progress is preferable to spreading a large area & racing the adhesive's working time.

Slide boards into position. Proper placement helps the underside engage with the adhesive bed.

Lift a board occasionally. Checking transfer during installation gives you a chance to correct technique while the work is still underway.

Don't bury a substrate problem. Timber flooring is an expensive way to hide an issue that should have been corrected first.

Allow the bond to develop before the next stage. Sanding, finishing or loading the floor prematurely can interfere with an otherwise sound installation.

Treat heated floors as a complete system. Follow the relevant requirements for the timber, substrate, adhesive & heating equipment.

For practical advice on keeping application equipment serviceable between projects, read How To Clean Your Gear Without Ruining It.

For crews preparing equipment before a larger run of site work, see Spring Jobsite Prep Getting Your Gear Ready.

For another perspective on choosing dependable equipment for professional work, read A tool is not just a tool. It’s a promise..