Installing Hardwood Over Concrete Subfloor

Learn how to install beautiful hardwood floors over a concrete slab.

Installing hardwood over concrete subfloor.

Proper planning will save money time and minimize mistakes. For a concrete subfloor you should install the plank with the sight lines of the floor. Before you run out and order a hardwood floor there are several items you need know. Snap the chalk line over the top of the concrete or moisture barrier between the marks on opposite walls making a cross in the center of the room.

As with a floated subfloor nwfa recommends a vapor retarder for glue down subfloors when installing wood flooring over concrete. Because it raises the finished floor by an extra 1 1 2 inches and for other reasons the sleeper method has fallen into disuse. 1 nail down requires plywood sub flloor you can t nail into concrete last i checked 2. Once you ve made up your mind about installing a hardwood floor over your concrete slab you need to put some thought into it.

Installing a hardwood floor over a concrete slab even if your home was built on a concrete slab you can still enjoy the beauty and charm of hardwood floors. Glue down engineered hardwoods can be glued note. Solid hardwood can not be glued except for bamboo 3. Deciding factors before installing hardwood flooring over concrete.

Float this is when the hardwood is clicked into each other or glued at joints but is not attached to the floor. Follow these steps to install an engineered wood floor in your home. Get a comprehensive breakdown on which materials to use what to take into consideration and what steps to take for four subfloor systems. In many situations the installation method calls for an installation of a wood subfloor over a concrete subfloor.

Different methods may be necessary depending on the subfloor system and or the flooring being installed. Experienced professionals pay close attention to managing moisture and minimizing wood floor expansion and contraction when preparing to install hardwood floors on concrete slabs. Floated subfloor alternate subfloor glue down sub floor and the nail down subfloor system. How to install engineered wood over concrete engineered wood flooring offers the timeless look of hardwood but is perfect for basements and other areas where moisture can be an issue.

Installing plywood over the subfloor or using sleepers which are two by fours laid flat across the floor and used as nailers.