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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.
Can you put wood flooring directly on concrete?
Solid parquet hardwood flooring can be glued directly to a concrete slab on grade or above grade with the use of a manufacturer recommended vapor retarder. Solid parquet should not be installed below grade. Successful installation also requires conducting a concrete slab moisture test before parquet 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.
What underlayment to use for hardwood floors on concrete?
Lay 6-mil polyethylene sheeting over the concrete to minimize moisture migration from the concrete up into the wood flooring. Then fasten 3/4-in. treated plywood to the concrete with concrete screws spaced every 16 in. Alternatively, screw rows of treated 1x4s to the concrete 16 in.
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.
What types of wood flooring can be installed over concrete?
1. You can install either an engineered hardwood floor (this is real hardwood done in layers) or a laminate floor (this is fake floor that looks like hardwood) on top of cement. Laminate will cost less; engineered hardwood will improve the value of your home.
Do I need a subfloor over concrete?
While a subfloor is not necessary to add structural strength when you’ll be laying finish flooring on top of a concrete slab (as in a basement remodel), subflooring over concrete offers two other advantages: A subfloor will help insulate against a concrete floor that becomes overly cold in winter.
Can I put plywood over concrete floor?
If you’re installing plywood over an existing dry concrete floor, you shouldn’t have any problem. However, a new concrete floor contains a lot of moisture. The moisture level of the concrete should be down to 5.5% before attaching the plywood subflooring.
How do you attach wood to concrete without drilling?
Attaching wood with epoxy A common way to secure wooden items to concrete without drill is by using epoxy glue systems. This glue is specifically manufactured for these problems. Before opting for this method, you need to thoroughly clean off and dry the wood for them to bond correctly.
Should floating floors move when walking on them?
Floating floors should not bounce unless there are some underlying problems. Even though floating floors are not meant to bounce, it is somewhat common. There is a far higher probability of you having a bouncy floor if you have chosen a floating floor rather than a nail or glue it down to the surface of the subfloor.
What is the advantage of a floating floor?
One of the most obvious advantages of a floating floor, which is installed by connecting segments of flooring together so they “float” over a subfloor or existing flooring surface, is that it can be a cost-effective way to install an attractive floor and quickly update a space.
Can you lay solid oak flooring as a floating floor?
Although engineered oak floors are often fitted using the floating floor method, we do not recommend floating a traditional oak floor. The main reason this is not a recommended method is because solid oak boards are very susceptible to movement, caused by changing humidity levels, as temperatures rise and fall.
What should you put under hardwood flooring?
Red Rosin Paper or Builder’s Felt Paper or felt are two materials that are traditionally installed between hardwood flooring and the subfloor. These materials help minimize squeaking that may occur between the bottom of the floorboards and the top of the subfloor.
Should you put underlayment under hardwood floors?
While underlayment isn’t always necessary for your hardwood floors, there are always benefits to it. Underlayment provides support for your floor and helps smooth subfloor imperfections. It allows your flooring to lay correctly over the subfloor, preventing tripping hazards or an uneven appearance.
Is underlayment necessary?
Underlayment is not optional. If your laminate planks don’t have it already attached, we recommend that you buy rolls of underlayment on which to install your laminate floor.
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.
Can I use plastic sheeting as a vapor barrier?
In simple terms, a vapor barrier is a material that won’t allow moisture to pass through it, such as plastic sheeting. A very simple experiment to show how a vapor barrier works is to lay a plastic garbage bag down on some damp soil. There are two basic types of vapor barriers used with exterior wall insulation.
Do I need a vapor barrier between floors?
When moisture penetrates your flooring, it can cause mold, mildew, and the potential for water damage. A moisture barrier helps control the water vapor’s movement to help protect your floors. Therefore, if you’re installing floors in an area that sees moisture, even a little, a vapor barrier is needed.
How do you secure a subfloor to concrete?
To nail down the subfloor, always use a mechanical system such as a powder load or pneumatic pressure nail gun. Beginning at the center to prevent bowing, fasten the subfloor using a 12” x 12” grid on the interior and every 6-8” along the perimeter (2” from the panel edge).
