Can Hardwood Floors Be Installed Over Concrete Slab

Float this is when the hardwood is clicked into each other or glued at joints but is not attached to the floor.

Can hardwood floors be installed over concrete slab.

Before you run out and order a hardwood floor there are several items you need know. Deciding factors before installing hardwood flooring over concrete. The slab can be tested to check the moisture levels and determine whether there is too much moisture to install the subfloor. Installing hardwood on concrete is not a do it yourself project.

Installing the wrong kind of flooring over consistently damp concrete may encourage warping and wear over time. Too much humidity is most likely to be a problem for a newly installed slab but it could also be an issue for existing slabs too. However many homeowners are disappointed to discover that solid wood flooring cannot be installed on a concrete slab. 1 nail down requires plywood sub flloor you can t nail into concrete last i checked 2.

Cost skill level start to finish 2 days. The concrete slab needs to be dry before any flooring can be installed. Laminate flooring is a good alternative to wood flooring in basements. The fact that your home is built on a concrete slabs does not preclude installing hardwood floors but several considerations apply not least of which is subfloor preparation.

Alternatively screw rows of treated 1x4s to the concrete 16 in. Treated plywood to the concrete with concrete screws spaced every 16 in. 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. When a concrete slab absorbs moisture it can retain it for a surprisingly long time.

Proper planning will save money time and minimize mistakes. Once you ve made up your mind about installing a hardwood floor over your concrete slab you need to put some thought into it. Laminate flooring is also fairly easy to install. Installing hardwood floors over concrete slab before you make any decision on flooring the first thing you need to do is contact an experienced professional.

Fortunately a variety of flooring materials are water resistant enough to function well over a concrete slab. Lay 6 mil polyethylene sheeting over the concrete to minimize moisture migration from the concrete up into the wood flooring. Solid hardwood can not be glued except for bamboo 3. Glue down engineered hardwoods can be glued note.

For starters while you can consider solid hardwood for at and above grade installations only engineered flooring with its plywoodlike construction is suitable below. Hardwood floors are durable low maintenance and easy to clean. Experienced professionals pay close attention to managing moisture and minimizing wood floor expansion and contraction when preparing to install hardwood floors on concrete slabs. Read manufacturer s directions before installation to maintain warranty coverage.