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Can you float a hardwood floor over concrete?
You can float a hardwood floor over concrete as long as special attention is paid to the unique challenges and aspects of each type of flooring. The most common and recommended flooring for covering concrete is engineered hardwood.
Is it better to glue or float an engineered wood floor on concrete?
As an installation method, glued down is most suited for either concrete or wood subfloors. 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.
Is it better to glue or float hardwood floors?
Glue-down floors are better for rooms with heavy load and foot traffic because they’re more stable. On the other hand, floating floors have more room for warping and buckling that are triggered by changing temperature and moisture levels in the room.
What do you put under hardwood floors on concrete?
Layers of asphalt felt with asphalt mastic or 6 mil polyethylene sheathing are some of the choices. The National Wood Flooring Association recommends two choices in sub-flooring systems for concrete installations: plywood-on-slab and sleeper.
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.
Can you put solid hardwood flooring on concrete?
Both solid wood flooring and engineered wood flooring can be laid onto a concrete subfloor. Solid wood flooring is made from one single piece of wood, and can be highly sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity as this can cause the wood to expand and contract.
Do you need a moisture barrier under engineered hardwood?
If you’re planning to nail down your hardwood floors, a moisture barrier is recommended. If you are installing an floating engineered hardwood flooring, you can use Aquabar underlayment to help control moisture.
Why do floating floors fail?
The most common cause of peaking is no expansion in your floating floor between the walls/vertical surfaces, or the overzealous use of water. This “expansion gap” allows for the entire floor to expand/contract in situations of changeable weather conditions, for example when it is raining or when the weather is warm.
How do you install engineered wood flooring on concrete?
How To: Install Engineered Hardwood Flooring on Concrete Test the Humidity of the Concrete. Prepare the Floor and Let Planks Acclimate. Spread the Adhesive with a Notched Trowel. Laying Down the Flooring Planks. Apply Pressure to the Flooring. Wait and Finish (If Needed).
What keeps a floating floor from moving?
Use a transition strip of molding to fill that 3/8-inch gap you left between the floating floorboards and the walls. Add a bead of construction adhesive to the gap first, and then slide the transition strip in place. This will do a lot to prevent the floating floors from moving.
What is the advantage of a floating floor?
Most floating floors are eco-friendly, simply because it uses less wood and some are made of entirely eco-friendly materials. It can also be easily placed over existing flooring or a variety of different materials and is highly flexible.
Are floating hardwood floors good?
A floating floor can be a good choice if you are a DIYer, or if you are on a budget. These products are typically less expensive and easier to install than comparable glue-down or nail-down flooring.
Can you put laminate flooring over concrete?
Laminate flooring is a money-saving flooring choice that you can install in almost every room and over any type of subfloor, and that includes concrete, says BuildDirect. The planks snap together to form a unit that floats over the subfloor, which means that it isn’t glued, nailed or otherwise attached.
Is it OK to put hardwood floors in a basement?
As moisture can cause cupping, swelling, warping and splitting, it is generally not recommended to use hardwood in a basement as most basements are more prone to excess moisture.
Can you put a floating floor 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.
Can I float engineered wood over concrete?
Installing a floating engineered hardwood floor works well at any grade level and over most types of subfloor surfaces. A floating engineered wood flooring installation on concrete can be an excellent choice if your subfloor is below grade. It’s also a great option if you choose to incorporate a radiant heat system.
How do you apply moisture barrier to concrete?
How to Install a Vapor Barrier on a Concrete Floor Select the Vapor Barrier. Clean Floor and Perimeter Walls. Apply Butyl Tape to Walls. Unroll and Trim Vapor Barrier Sheets. Apply Vapor Barrier Seam Tape. Fasten Vapor Barrier to Wall.
How long do floating floors last?
How long does laminate flooring last? Depending on the quality of the flooring, laminate flooring can last between 15 to 25 years on average, or longer.
Do you glue floating floor?
Floating laminate floors are not intended to be glued down. Floating laminate floors can move with temperature, and gluing down the planks can damage them. If installing in a wet area, like a bathroom, you should glue the laminate planks to seal the tongue and groove seams from moisture.
