QA

Quick Answer: How To Put Hardwood Floor Over Concrete

When installing hardwood over concrete, this means placing a moisture barrier between the slab and flooring. Often a moisture barrier is a type of plastic sheet laid across the slab and taped at the seams with waterproof tape. This barrier will protect your floors from any moisture coming from the slab.

How do you lay hardwood flooring over concrete?

You can also install a solid wood floor over a concrete subfloor by floating it on an adhesive backed underlay such as Fast Fit Peel & Stick Underlay. This has adhesive on one side which the solid wood floor is laid onto. Before you lay down the underlay you will need to first lay a damp proof membrane.

Do you need underlay for solid wood flooring on concrete?

It is important to mention that you do not need a wood floor underlay when you have a solid hardwood floor and that’s because it is not stable, hence it has to be installed mechanically to the concrete subfloor.

How much does it cost to put hardwood floor on concrete?

The introduction was updated with new costs and an average national cost range. Added a section on hardwood flooring cost per square foot.Hardwood Flooring Prices. Hardwood Installation Costs National average cost $4,017 Average range $2,800-$6,400 Minimum cost $2,203 Maximum cost $8,496.

Can you float a hardwood floor over concrete?

Floating hardwood floors can be installed above, below, or on grade. It is a great option for when you need to install over radiant heat systems. Floating floors also work over just about any subfloor. Plywood, ceramic tile, linoleum floors, and concrete are no problem for a floating floor installation.

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 glue solid hardwood to concrete?

When gluing a solid or engineered wood floor down to concrete, you should use a flexible flooring adhesive. This allows your flooring to expand and contract naturally without causing any damage to the planks.

What is the best underlay for wood flooring on concrete?

Super Gold is the thickest underlay you can put under laminate or wood flooring. The main benefit of a thicker product is the warmth properties it has. It has a built in damp proof membrane so works great when laying on concrete floors for example kitchens and other downstairs rooms.

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.

Should I glue hardwood floor?

Solid hardwood floors must be fixed into position by either gluing or nailing down to the subfloor. If you have a concrete subfloor, then you should glue your hardwood down, if you have a wooden subfloor then you can choose either method of installation.

Do you need a subfloor over concrete?

If you don’t plan to use the space, there is no need for a subfloor or floor covering. Concrete or tile-over-concrete are acceptable floors for uninhabited basements. But to install any kind of floor covering—engineered wood, laminate, carpeting—basement subflooring is highly required.

Should you glue tongue and groove flooring?

Don’t Glue Tongue and Grooves This is because wood flooring needs room to move as it expands. If the wood is glued both to the subfloor and between the planks, there’s no room for movement. In the long-run, limited movement leads to cracks, disfigurement and warping of your wood flooring.

Can 3/4 hardwood be glued down?

No, 3/4 solid Hardwood flooring can expand and contract more than engineered wood flooring. I would not suggest direct gluing down any 3/4-inch thick solid Hardwood flooring to any surface, the adhesive bond might not allow the solid wood flooring to move or breath normally and can cause the wood flooring to distort.

Does engineered hardwood floor need underlayment?

Underlayments pads are especially important for engineered floors or laminate floors which are installed via the floating method over wood or concrete subfloors. An underlayment is necessary for multiple reasons, floating floors will expand and contract, moving ever so slightly as a whole unit.

What is the best adhesive for bonding wood to concrete?

CT1 is the ultimate construction adhesive and sealant with a phenomenal bond to almost all materials, but in particular for these. CT1 is a unique hybrid polymer with no solvents in its makeup. It will remain incredibly flexible, making it the perfect choice for Sticking Wood to Concrete.

Why is my wood floor peeling?

Floor finishes peel because the floor was contaminated or improperly prepped when the finish was applied. Excessive sanding with high-grit paper can burnish wood and create a surface too smooth for the finish to adhere. Simply abrading the floor and applying a new top coat might not fix the problem.

What kind of glue do you use for hardwood floors?

Urethane Wood Floor Glue This type of wooden floor adhesive is the most popular glue used for securing your hardwood flooring. The benefit of using urethane glue is that it is designed to be very flexible when dry.

Can you put underlayment on concrete?

With a concrete subfloor, you will need an underlayment that acts as a vapor barrier in order to prevent moisture from penetrating through to your laminate installation. The normal choice is a thin foam pad material made of polyethylene or polypropylene, which rolls out in sheets.

Can you put underlay on concrete floor?

Regardless of your subfloor, you always need to use a thin underlay with laminate flooring. But with concrete, it also needs to have a moisture barrier. This is because concrete subfloors release moisture which can be very damaging if absorbed by the laminate planks.

Can you use carpet underlay for wood flooring?

While carpet underlay works well for carpet, it isn’t as suitable for wood floors. It’s not a good idea to install wood floors, including hardwood planks and engineered wood flooring, over carpet underlay! It’s too thick for the hardwood planks, which won’t fit well under doors, baseboards, and cabinets.

What do you put between wood and concrete?

Anyplace where wood meets the ground or concrete, the lumber must be pressure treated. For additional moisture protection, a gasket or strip of closed-cell foam can be installed between the concrete foundation and the sill plate.