FAQ: How To Lay Wood Flooring Over Concrete?

Can hardwood floors be installed over concrete?

Solid parquet hardwood flooring can be glued directly to a concrete slab on grade or above grade with the use of a manufacturer recommended vapor retarder. Solid parquet should not be installed below grade. Successful installation also requires conducting a concrete slab moisture test before parquet installation.

Do you need underlay for solid wood flooring on concrete?

Because you are likely to be fixing your solid wood boards to the subfloor, underlay is not usually used, but there are slatted underlays you can buy for the purpose, with pre-cut slots that allow the floor to be glued directly to the subfloor (try Acoustalay Slatted Glue Through Underlay, available from Screwfix).

What is the best type of wood flooring to put over concrete?

A floating floor is the perfect companion for a concrete subfloor. According to flooring experts, the best kind of wood flooring to use with a concrete subfloor is a floating engineered wood floor. This kind of floor performs well, resists moisture and is easy to install.

Do I need a vapor barrier between concrete and wood flooring?

Do I need a vapor barrier for hardwood floors?” The answer is YES! Moisture can destroy hardwood flooring. It causes cupping, warping, and even mildew if not treated. You must install a moisture barrier to protect your flooring from water wicking up from below.

Do I need a subfloor over concrete?

While a subfloor is not necessary to add structural strength when you’ll be laying finish flooring on top of a concrete slab (as in a basement remodel), subflooring over concrete offers two other advantages: A subfloor will help insulate against a concrete floor that becomes overly cold in winter.

Can you float a solid wood floor on concrete?

The quickest way to get new wood underfoot is to install a floating floor. Unlike traditional solid – wood strips, a floating floor isn’t nailed down. Instead, the planks are either glued or snapped together. The planks go down fast, over virtually any material— concrete, plywood, sheet vinyl, even ceramic tile.

What flooring can you put on concrete?

The best options for flooring over a concrete slab foundation are wood / laminate, carpet, or tile for your whole house. Many concrete floors have a tendency to get damp, so when you are installing wood floors over a concrete slab foundation there are some important things that you need to do.

Is concrete floor cheaper than wood?

It is possible for a “fancy” concrete floor to be more expensive than an economical hardwood floor. In general, a tight budget will find concrete floors more budget-friendly, but it depends on the design and finish of the concrete floor.

Can I put plywood over concrete floor?

If you’re installing plywood over an existing dry concrete floor, you shouldn’t have any problem. However, a new concrete floor contains a lot of moisture. So, you need to allow it to cure for at least 60 days before even bothering to check the moisture level.

How do you glue engineered wood flooring over concrete?

How To: Install Engineered Hardwood Flooring on Concrete

1. Test the Humidity of the Concrete.
2. Prepare the Floor and Let Planks Acclimate.
3. Spread the Adhesive with a Notched Trowel.
4. Laying Down the Flooring Planks.
5. Apply Pressure to the Flooring.
6. Wait and Finish (If Needed)

Can you glue down 3/4 inch hardwood flooring?

No, 3/4 solid Hardwood flooring can expand and contract more than engineered wood flooring. I would not suggest direct gluing down any 3/4 – inch thick solid Hardwood flooring to any surface, the adhesive bond might not allow the solid wood flooring to move or breath normally and can cause the wood flooring to distort.