QA

Question: How To Build A Raised Floor Over Concrete Slab

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.

Can you build a wood floor over concrete?

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 floor joists on a concrete slab?

Install it flat on the slab surface, with the outside edge aligned against the side wall or the edge of the floor line. Secure each length to the slab with concrete nails spaced approximately 32 inches apart and 8 to 12 inches from each end. These will be the end “sill plates” that support the ends of the floor joists.

Do I 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.

Can I put a subfloor over concrete?

How to Install a Glued Subfloor Over Concrete. As with a floated subfloor, NWFA recommends a vapor retarder for glue-down subfloors when installing ¾” wood flooring over concrete. After installing a vapor retarder (if necessary), cut your plywood panels into 2’x8′ or 4’x4′ sections.

Is it worth insulating a concrete floor?

Generally speaking, you only need to insulate the ground floor. If you’re on an upper floor, you don’t usually need to insulate your floor space. However, you should consider insulating any floors that are above unheated spaces such as garages, as you could be losing a lot of heat through those.

How do you insulate an existing concrete slab?

Step by step insulation of existing concrete slab Prepare the insulating floor. Remove dirt to fully expose the edges of the existing slab. Measure the distance between the slab. Install vapor barrier. Install the rigid foam. Install plywood panels. Install Threshold/Transitions. Finish the flooring material.

What is InSoFast?

InSoFast is a style of engineered continuous insulation that comes in 2-foot x 4-foot interlocking panels of varying thicknesses. The closed-cell, injection-molded EPS foam panels can be applied universally to any interior or exterior wall assembly in both new and retrofit construction projects.

Can you put a floating floor over 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.

What flooring can you put over concrete?

Like other flooring materials that work well over concrete slabs, laminate uses layers to fight moisture. This makes it a reliable option to install over your concrete slab. If you plan to transform your basement into a high traffic area for entertaining and relaxing, laminate could be a great option.

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 kind of plywood do you use for subfloor over concrete?

When installing subflooring over concrete, for installation of wood flooring, it is necessary to use thicker subflooring, so that it can be nailed into. A minimum of 5/8” thick plywood is recommended, with 3/4” thick plywood being considered ideal.

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.

Do slab foundations have floor joists?

Advantages Of Slab Foundations: One of their many benefits is that these foundations are generally less expensive to construct that pier and foundations. Since wooden members such as floor joists aren’t required, as they are with pier and beam structures, that price is eliminated.

How do you cover a concrete floor?

6 WAYS TO COVER CONCRETE FLOORS Textured Concrete Floor Coverings. If you are looking for a 3-dimensional textured floor covering that resembles most any natural material (stone, tile, wood, etc.) Thin Section / Microtoppings. Spray Applied or Stenciled Concrete. Self-Leveling. Epoxy Coating. Polishable Overlay.

How do you attach plywood to concrete floor?

Plywood-on-slab. Place a 6-mil polyethylene vapor retarder directly over the concrete. Lay 3/4-inch plywood sheets opposite to the direction of the finish flooring, leaving a 1/4-inch gap between panels to eliminate squeaking. Fasten the plywood to the concrete using powder-actuated fasteners or concrete nails.

Can you lay OSB on concrete floor?

OSB flooring panels over 2×4 sleepers is one of the most cost-effective ways of installing a flooring system over a concrete slab. Sleepers can be installed so that they are level, thus overcoming flaws in the concrete slab and providing a straight, even surface on which to place the flooring system.

Can you glue underlayment to concrete?

No, you should not glue down your underlayment. Underlayment is is a floating material, the same as your laminate flooring. In most cases, you should not glue or nail your underlayment down. You should always check with the installation instructions of the underlayment for proper installation instructions first.