Installing Hardwood Floors Over Concrete Home Tips

This comes in a roll that you can unroll over the floor.

Installing hardwood floors over concrete home tips.

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. Use a tapping block to click pieces together image 1. 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.

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. Store hardwood flooring in the room so it can acclimate to the room s humidity. Laminate will cost less.

Stagger end joints from row to row. The slab should be at least 60 days old dry flat have a trowel finish and be free of high or low spots. When the adhesive requires add a moisture control system before applying the adhesive. Tape seams together with painter s tape image 2.

Before installing any wood floor over concrete you ll need a moisture barrier. 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. 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. Condition of slab type of concrete location of slab flatness and moisture.

Put one 1 2 inch spacer against each wall and slide the end of the board up. 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. It will extend up the wall for about 2 to 3 inches creating a bowl where your wood floor stays dry and protected.

Experienced professionals pay close attention to managing moisture and minimizing wood floor expansion and contraction when preparing to install hardwood floors on concrete slabs. Use 1 2 inch spacers to assist in maintaining the 1 2 inch expansion gap between the first row of flooring planks and. Put the first board up against the mason s line with the groove side facing away from the walls. When you are installing a moisture barrier you want to make sure that there are no gaps and that the entire floor is covered.

Engineered hardwood will improve the value of your home. Tap 1 4 inch shims in between the edges of the floor and the wall to leave room for expansion image 3. Engineered wood flooring can be installed below grade.