Installing Hardwood Floors Over Concrete Home Tips

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.

Installing hardwood floors over concrete home tips.

Before you can install over a concrete subfloor you are going to need to put in a moisture barrier. Typically it is sheets of plastic laid on the slab and taped at the seams with waterproof tape. Read on for in depth details on these five key areas. Installing a hardwood floor over a concrete slab even if your home was built on a concrete slab you can still enjoy the beauty and charm of hardwood floors.

If you have a concrete then you have choices to make 1. Tape seams together with painter s tape image 2. Store hardwood flooring in the room so it can acclimate to the room s humidity. Engineered wood flooring can be installed below grade.

Put one 1 2 inch spacer against each wall and slide the end of the board up. Experienced professionals pay close attention to managing moisture and minimizing wood floor expansion and contraction when preparing to install hardwood floors on concrete slabs. Condition of slab type of concrete location of slab flatness and moisture. Engineered hardwood will improve the value of your home.

Stagger end joints from row to row. Tap 1 4 inch shims in between the edges of the floor and the wall to leave room for expansion image 3. Use 1 2 inch spacers to assist in maintaining the 1 2 inch expansion gap between the first row of flooring planks and. Watch this video to see how easy it is.

Laminate will cost less. Use a tapping block to click pieces together image 1. 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. The following is a guide to help alleviate any concerns or worries about installing hardwood floors over concrete.

When the adhesive requires add a moisture control system before applying the adhesive. 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 installing any wood floor over concrete you ll need a moisture barrier. 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.

Solid wood flooring should only be installed over an above grade concrete slab. The secret behind a successful install over concrete is to focus on five key areas. Put the first board up against the mason s line with the groove side facing away from the walls.