Floating Hardwood Floor On Concrete Slab

The easiest way to install hardwood is a floating floor.

Floating hardwood floor on concrete slab.

And the most important thing is that the proper flash off time was observed before the floor was installed. As needed use a concrete grinder you may want to rent one to remove any coating and to slightly roughen the concrete surface so the adhesive will stick. When installing a hardwood floor on a slab it s necessary to carefully manage moisture levels and minimize issues from expanding and contracting. According to flooring experts the best kind of wood flooring to use with a concrete subfloor is a floating engineered wood floor.

This will result in buckling. Fortunately even if your home was built on a concrete slab you can still choose to put in new hardwood flooring. Your best option is engineered hardwood flooring. It s quite possible the installer used the wrong kind of glue it should have been a good quality rubber based mastic like dri tac.

If you are installing a locking or floating floor not attached to the subfloor just make sure that the subfloor is clean. With dry concrete and the right subfloors and vapor retarders solid hardwood floors can be installed on slabs that are either on grade at ground level or above grade above ground level. Learn how to use a grinder. Since humidity causes natural wood to expand and contract your flooring won t be able to move.

Also the concrete slab should have been fully cured at least 2 months before the floor was installed. This kind of floor performs well resists moisture and is easy to install. Using a glue down floor is an option in above grade installation only since installation below grade requires a plastic barrier on top of the concrete. You may not need to build a plywood subfloor on top of the concrete slab depending on the floor system you choose.

Basement wood flooring options you have two basement wood flooring options solid hardwood or engineered. Floated subfloor system to begin you ll need two layers of 3 8 inch minimum cd exposure 1 plywood subfloor panels cdx 4 foot by 8 foot sheets. Experience like we said this isn t a simple job to do on your own. For the floor adhesive to properly stick the floor must be clean.

Using a professional installer will ensure that the job is done correctly. First position the plywood layer with its edges parallel to the wall. 500 750 square feet of coverage. It is also inexpensive which is a benefit for homes.

Use a quality cleaner like zep professional concrete and masonry floor cleaner 27 per gallon. Hardwood type there is no way to install standard 3 4 hardwood on concrete. Do not fasten and leave 3 4 of an inch of space between the wall and plywood. You don t want to try and glue it down either.

Moisture can pose problems for solid hardwood floors below ground level so engineered wood floors made of layers of wood glued together are the best choice there.