FAQ: How To Install Wood Floors Over Concrete Slab?

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).

How do you lay a wooden floor on a concrete base?

You can also install a solid wood floor over a concrete subfloor by floating it on an adhesive backed underlay such as Fast Fit Peel & Stick Underlay. This has adhesive on one side which the solid wood floor is laid onto. Before you lay down the underlay you will need to first lay a damp proof membrane.

You might be interested:  FAQ: How Do You Acid Stain Concrete?

How do you install solid wood flooring on a concrete slab?

Lay 6-mil polyethylene sheeting over the concrete to minimize moisture migration from the concrete up into the wood flooring. Then fasten 3/4-in. treated plywood to the concrete with concrete screws spaced every 16 in. Alternatively, screw rows of treated 1x4s to the concrete 16 in.

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 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.

What is the best flooring to put over concrete?

Best Flooring for Concrete Slab Foundation

  1. Engineered Wood. Natural hardwood flooring offers undeniable beauty and durability.
  2. Vinyl. As a longstanding choice for kitchens and bathrooms, vinyl has a reputation for extreme water resistance.
  3. Laminate.
  4. Carpet.
  5. Tile.

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 3/4inch 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.

You might be interested:  FAQ: How To Move A Tub Drain In A Concrete Floor?

Can I lay plywood on concrete?

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.

Can you glue floorboards to concrete?

If you want to glue wooden flooring over concrete, here is what you will need to know. You can fit both engineered wood and solid wood flooring over a concrete subfloor. A solid wooden floor needs to be glued down to the concrete. An engineered wooden floor can either be glued down or laid over an underlay.

How do you prepare a concrete floor for hardwood?

Typically, the floor must be level and uniform within 3/16 inch every 10 feet. Check your wood flooring manufacturer’s recommendations and sand any high spots with a concrete grinder. Fill any low spots with a cementitious leveling compound following the manufacturer’s directions and allow it to dry before proceeding.

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 solidwood 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.

You might be interested:  Often asked: How To Grind Concrete Sidewalk?

How do you insulate a concrete floor?

Insulation above a concrete floor



Lay the damp proof membrane onto the concrete, followed by the insulation. Then lay moisture-resistant chipboard, or a concrete screed to the top, which can then be covered by the flooring to finish.

What type of hardwood flooring is best for concrete slab?

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.

What is the best underlay for wood flooring on concrete?

Super Gold is the thickest underlay you can put under laminate or wood flooring. The main benefit of a thicker product is the warmth properties it has. It has a built in damp proof membrane so works great when laying on concrete floors for example kitchens and other downstairs rooms.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *