Installing Hardwood Floors On Concrete Subfloor

Old basement slabs can crack and buckle in places.

Installing hardwood floors on concrete subfloor.

Get a comprehensive breakdown on which materials to use what to take into consideration and what steps to take for four subfloor systems. When installing a basement hardwood floor the concrete must be flat so the tongue and grooves of the hardwood meet and connect. Slabs less than 60 days old are generally too wet to install floors. Before you install file flooring follow the directions above for fixing high spots and low spots in a wood or concrete subfloor.

You need to fill any large cracks and be sure that the entire floor is level. For a concrete subfloor you should install the plank with the sight lines of the floor. Learn how to install beautiful hardwood floors over a concrete slab. Installing hardwood flooring on a plywood covered slab is identical to installing it on a wood subfloor.

Measure and mark the center of all four walls at floor level. Installing hardwood flooring over concrete hardwood floors are durable low maintenance and easy to clean. Before you install your plywood subfloor first calculate the room s square footage to find out how much flooring you ll need to buy. You simply nail the boards with a flooring nailer.

Determining moisture content of both the wood flooring and the subfloor is an important part of quality control in the flooring installation process. Concrete is a common subfloor material and in general it s easy to prepare for a luxury vinyl flooring installation project. Floated subfloor alternate subfloor glue down sub floor and the nail down subfloor system. If your concrete subfloor was just poured you ll need to allow it to properly cure for a minimum of 60 days before your luxury vinyl flooring installation begins.

It s best to use shorter cleats than you would for a wood floor to ensure they sink in all the way. Make a final check with the level to be sure all the high and low spots are gone. The key to a beautiful long lasting hardwood or laminate floor is a well prepared subfloor. Test for dryness new concrete is heavy with moisture and it must be a minimum of 30 days old before moisture testing begins.

Read manufacturer s directions before installation to maintain warranty coverage.