Installing Engineered Hardwood Flooring Basement

Some are glued down while others float unattached to the underlayment.

Installing engineered hardwood flooring basement.

Engineered wood flooring offers the timeless look of hardwood but is perfect for basements and other areas where moisture can be an issue. Pass the trowel through the glue at a 45. In general use a notched trowel to spread the adhesive. Roughness or irregularities in the basement s concrete floor are likely to show through in the vinyl floor.

Engineered wood flooring 4 7 sq. While you can t install solid hardwood floors in the basement or below grade you can install engineered hardwood floors. The planks glue together to create a floor that floats moves freely as a unit. With engineered wood flooring a thin layer of real hardwood is positioned on top of a plywood base.

Installing solid hardwood flooring in a basement that is below grade generally voids the warranty so if you really want the look of hardwood there choose engineered over solid planks. Engineered hardwood flooring is design in perpendicular layers so that there is less expansion and contraction. A thin veneer of real hardwood sits on top of a plywood base. Installing engineered hardwood flooring over concrete too tight against a stationary object will not allow room for normal expansion and may cause a failure.

Engineered flooring goes down over a thin foam sheet which provides cushioning and sound dampening. Continue installing the floor when you reach the end of the floor stop and leave enough space to comfortably exit the room without stepping on the new floor. Sheet vinyl has another limitation as well. Typically engineered wood flooring comes in tongue and groove planks the top layer of which is a laminated veneer.

Consult the product data sheet for instructions regarding specific trowel requirements. Engineered wood flooring has the timeless look of hardwood floors with the added durability of a plywood sub layer. You need to leave a 5 16 inch gap between the flooring and the baseboard or wall around the perimeter of the room to allow the floor enough space to expand. This plywood is considered dimensionally stable as it holds shape better than solid hardwood in the presence of moisture.

Follow these steps to install an engineered wood floor in your home. This plywood makes the floor structurally sound and prevents moisture from damaging the floor. Use a cleaner or special floor wipes designed for engineered wood flooring to immediately remove any glue that may have squeezed through the boards.