Installing Hardwood Floors Over Concrete Home Tips

Read on for in depth details on these five key areas.

Installing hardwood floors over concrete home tips.

Typically it is sheets of plastic laid on the slab and taped at the seams with waterproof tape. Before installing any wood floor over concrete you ll need a moisture barrier. Store hardwood flooring in the room so it can acclimate to the room s humidity. If you have a concrete then you have choices to make 1.

It will extend up the wall for about 2 to 3 inches creating a bowl where your wood floor stays dry and protected. Watch this video to see how easy it is. The following is a guide to help alleviate any concerns or worries about installing hardwood floors over concrete. Put one 1 2 inch spacer against each wall and slide the end of the board up.

Tap 1 4 inch shims in between the edges of the floor and the wall to leave room for expansion image 3. This comes in a roll that you can unroll over the floor. Condition of slab type of concrete location of slab flatness and moisture. When the adhesive requires add a moisture control system before applying the adhesive.

Experienced professionals pay close attention to managing moisture and minimizing wood floor expansion and contraction when preparing to install hardwood floors on concrete slabs. Engineered wood flooring can be installed below grade. When direct gluing a wood subfloor over concrete follow the adhesive manufacturer s recommendation for moisture requirements and limitations type of adhesive application method trowel notch type and spread rates. Stagger end joints from row to row.

When you are installing a moisture barrier you want to make sure that there are no gaps and that the entire floor is covered. Before you can install over a concrete subfloor you are going to need to put in a moisture barrier. Laminate will cost less. Use a tapping block to click pieces together image 1.

Solid wood flooring should only be installed over an above grade concrete slab. You can install either an engineered hardwood floor this is real hardwood done in layers or a laminate floor this is fake floor that looks like hardwood on top of cement. Tape seams together with painter s tape image 2. Put the first board up against the mason s line with the groove side facing away from the walls.

The slab should be at least 60 days old dry flat have a trowel finish and be free of high or low spots. 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. The secret behind a successful install over concrete is to focus on five key areas.