Floating Hardwood Floor On Concrete Slab

Using a professional installer will ensure that the job is done correctly.

Floating hardwood floor on concrete slab.

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. 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. Do not fasten and leave 3 4 of an inch of space between the wall and plywood. When installing a hardwood floor on a slab it s necessary to carefully manage moisture levels and minimize issues from expanding and contracting.

For the floor adhesive to properly stick the floor must be clean. And the most important thing is that the proper flash off time was observed before the floor was installed. It is also inexpensive which is a benefit for homes. A floating floor is the perfect companion for a concrete subfloor.

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. Basement wood flooring options you have two basement wood flooring options solid hardwood or engineered. Hardwood type there is no way to install standard 3 4 hardwood on concrete.

The easiest way to install hardwood is a floating floor. This will result in buckling. 500 750 square feet of coverage. Use a quality cleaner like zep professional concrete and masonry floor cleaner 27 per gallon.

First position the plywood layer with its edges parallel to the wall. You don t want to try and glue it down either. Your best option is engineered hardwood flooring. 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.

According to flooring experts the best kind of wood flooring to use with a concrete subfloor is a floating engineered wood floor. Fortunately even if your home was built on a concrete slab you can still choose to put in new hardwood flooring. Similar to the engineered flooring the planks are made of several layers with the top one being real wood. Since humidity causes natural wood to expand and contract your flooring won t be able to move.

Experience like we said this isn t a simple job to do on your own. This kind of floor performs well resists moisture and is easy to install. If you are installing a locking or floating floor not attached to the subfloor just make sure that the subfloor is clean. 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.

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.