Readers ask: How To Lay Hardwood 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 kind of flooring can you put over 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.

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.

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.

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.

Can you lay pine flooring on concrete?

Yes, it can be done! For the longest time, homeowners were warned that wide plank wood floors installed over concrete would result in moisture problems.

Can I pour concrete directly on dirt?

Long story short, yes you can pour concrete over dirt.

How do I stop moisture in my concrete floor?

Methods Used to Stop Moisture in Concrete Floors

1. Low-permeance Vapor Barrier or Retarder. A Low-permeance vapor Barrier or retarder can effectively keep below-slab moisture from reaching the flooring system.
2. Allow Natural Drying of Concrete Slab.
3. Keep Excavation Free of Water.

Can mold grow under vinyl flooring on concrete?

Although vinyl plank flooring is well-known to be waterproof, it does not mean that liquids can seep through the cracks, grooves, or edges and become trapped under the planks, allowing mold to grow underneath your floors.

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.

Is it better to glue or float an engineered wood floor?

As an installation method, glued down is most suited for either concrete or wood subfloors. If you are trying to decide between the two, then for engineered wood flooring floating is usually the best option as you can install it quickly and don’t have to worry about which glue to use and how long to wait for it to dry.