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Can you put solid hardwood flooring on concrete slab?
If you have a concrete slab main floor or basement, you may be wondering if it’s possible to install hardwood flooring directly on top of the concrete. The short answer is yes.
How do you install hardwood floors on a concrete slab?
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.
Can I glue down 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.
Can you put flooring directly on concrete?
Laminate flooring can be installed over concrete, wood or carpet subfloor or other surfaces. Installation of good quality underlayment is highly recommended. Installing underlayment is easy but it has to be done precise to avoid any tears.
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.
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.
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.
What do 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.
Is it better to glue or float an engineered wood floor?
If you are trying to decide between the two, then for engineered wood flooring floating is usually the best option as you can install it quickly and don’t have to worry about which glue to use and how long to wait for it to dry. If you are installing hardwood flooring then using glue may give you a more stable result.
How do you glue down a solid wood floor?
Simply apply the adhesive to the subfloor with a notched trowel and spread across a small area at a time (approximately 1m²). Place the hardwood flooring planks on top of the adhesive and push them together. There is no need to glue the planks together as they are fully bonded to the subfloor.
What goes under laminate flooring 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 float a hardwood floor over 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 lay vinyl tile directly on concrete?
Vinyl tile can be installed over concrete if the concrete is clean, smooth and dry. Repair any holes or cracks. You can sometimes lower high spots using a coarse-grit abrasive on a belt or disc sander.
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.
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.
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).
How can I make my concrete floor more comfortable?
Tips to cozy up your concrete floors Radiant heat floors. One way to combat cold toes is by installing radiant heat flooring. Add a rug. If you have existing concrete floors, you can cozy them up for the winter with a simple area rug. Throw blankets. Add natural light. Decorative lights.
How do you insulate a raised floor over concrete?
There are two ways to handle insulating concrete floors. You can attach wood sleepers to the floor, fill the gaps with rigid-foam insulation, and then apply a subfloor and finish flooring.
Do I need to put anything under hardwood flooring?
Wood floor installation requires a level subfloor and that your hardwood flooring is acclimated to the room’s humidity and temperature according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. To learn how to do this, watch Prepping Plywood Subfloors.
Do you need padding under wood floors?
Hardwood floors do not require underlayment padding, but they may squeak and creak if you place the surface boards directly against the underlayment. Wood-against-wood friction is one of the most common reasons behind floor creaks.
Which direction should hardwood floors run?
The most common way to lay hardwood flooring is by aligning the planks parallel to the longest wall. Apart from a few exceptions like sagging joists, this is the preferred direction to lay wood floors because it aesthetically provides the best result.
Can you put solid hardwood flooring on concrete slab?
If you have a concrete slab main floor or basement, you may be wondering if it’s possible to install hardwood flooring directly on top of the concrete. The short answer is yes.
How do you install hardwood floors on a concrete slab?
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.
Can I glue down 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 type of wood flooring to put over concrete?
According to flooring experts, the best kind of wood flooring to use with a concrete subfloor is a floating engineered wood floor. This kind of floor performs well, resists moisture and is easy to install. It is also inexpensive, which is a benefit for homes.
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.
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.
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.
What do 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.
Is it better to glue or float an engineered wood floor?
If you are trying to decide between the two, then for engineered wood flooring floating is usually the best option as you can install it quickly and don’t have to worry about which glue to use and how long to wait for it to dry. If you are installing hardwood flooring then using glue may give you a more stable result.
How do you glue down a solid wood floor?
Simply apply the adhesive to the subfloor with a notched trowel and spread across a small area at a time (approximately 1m²). Place the hardwood flooring planks on top of the adhesive and push them together. There is no need to glue the planks together as they are fully bonded to the 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.
What is the cheapest flooring to put over concrete?
The best options for both appearance and ease of installation are vinyl planks and sheet vinyl. Both can be “floated” over concrete—meaning they are not glued down but are instead laid on a thin underlayment sheet with bonded seams (sheet vinyl) or interlocking seams (planks).
How can I cover my concrete floor cheap?
Cheap Basement Flooring Ideas Epoxy and Concrete Paint. Paint is generally your cheapest basement floor option. Concrete Stain and Sealer. Concrete stain is another inexpensive option. Linoleum or Vinyl. Ceramic Tile Flooring. Rubber and Foam Mats. Traditional Carpet Flooring. Laminate or Engineered Hardwood.
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 thick should solid wood flooring be?
Typically, solid hardwood flooring is between 5/16 and ¾ inches thick. Those are pretty standard thicknesses that serve most needs. Engineered hardwood can come in different thicknesses but generally, it’s about the same offerings as solid hardwood.
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 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).
How can I make my concrete floor more comfortable?
Tips to cozy up your concrete floors Radiant heat floors. One way to combat cold toes is by installing radiant heat flooring. Add a rug. If you have existing concrete floors, you can cozy them up for the winter with a simple area rug. Throw blankets. Add natural light. Decorative lights.
