Floating Hardwood Floor On Concrete Slab

Hardwood type there is no way to install standard 3 4 hardwood on concrete.

Floating hardwood floor on concrete slab.

With dry concrete and the right subfloors and vapor retarders solid hardwood floors can be installed on slabs that are either on grade at ground level or above grade above ground level. Also the concrete slab should have been fully cured at least 2 months before the floor was installed. This kind of floor performs well resists moisture and is easy to install. Using a glue down floor is an option in above grade installation only since installation below grade requires a plastic barrier on top of the concrete.

You may not need to build a plywood subfloor on top of the concrete slab depending on the floor system you choose. Learn how to use a grinder. Using a professional installer will ensure that the job is done correctly. The easiest way to install hardwood is a floating floor.

Moisture can pose problems for solid hardwood floors below ground level so engineered wood floors made of layers of wood glued together are the best choice there. A floating floor is the perfect companion for a concrete subfloor. For the floor adhesive to properly stick the floor must be clean. Fortunately even if your home was built on a concrete slab you can still choose to put in new hardwood flooring.

It s quite possible the installer used the wrong kind of glue it should have been a good quality rubber based mastic like dri tac. Use a quality cleaner like zep professional concrete and masonry floor cleaner 27 per gallon. This will result in buckling. 500 750 square feet of coverage.

You don t want to try and glue it down either. And the most important thing is that the proper flash off time was observed before the floor was installed. If you are installing a locking or floating floor not attached to the subfloor just make sure that the subfloor is clean. Floated subfloor system to begin you ll need two layers of 3 8 inch minimum cd exposure 1 plywood subfloor panels cdx 4 foot by 8 foot sheets.

As needed use a concrete grinder you may want to rent one to remove any coating and to slightly roughen the concrete surface so the adhesive will stick. Since humidity causes natural wood to expand and contract your flooring won t be able to move. When installing a hardwood floor on a slab it s necessary to carefully manage moisture levels and minimize issues from expanding and contracting. Do not fasten and leave 3 4 of an inch of space between the wall and plywood.

It is also inexpensive which is a benefit for homes. This type of flooring will float on top of your concrete slab and will allow for the natural expansion and contraction of the wood. Your best option is engineered hardwood flooring. Experience like we said this isn t a simple job to do on your own.

Similar to the engineered flooring the planks are made of several layers with the top one being real wood.