QA

Question: How To Install Wood Flooring On Concrete

Can you put wood flooring directly on 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.

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.

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 bad to put wood on concrete?

Yes you sure can… provided there is not a moisture issue. (You should never install hardwood when there is a moisture issue regardless of the subfloor).

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.

How do you attach wood to concrete without drilling?

Cut Nail. Using cut nails is an easy approach for attaching wooden items to concrete without a hammer drill. The cut nail has a square, tapered shape with a tip pa. These are driven through a board into the concrete underneath, much like nailing wood to the wood floor.

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.

Do you glue down hardwood flooring?

Solid hardwood floors must be fixed into position by either gluing or nailing down to the subfloor. If you have a concrete subfloor, then you should glue your hardwood down, if you have a wooden subfloor then you can choose either method of 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.

Can tongue and groove flooring be floated?

Floating. Many tongue and groove floors can be floated over premium underlayment with good success. This is done by gluing the tongues and grooves together with a T&G adhesive. Unlike click-lock floating floors, T&G floors are not designed to be floated.

Why is my wood floor peeling?

Floor finishes peel because the floor was contaminated or improperly prepped when the finish was applied. Excessive sanding with high-grit paper can burnish wood and create a surface too smooth for the finish to adhere. Simply abrading the floor and applying a new top coat might not fix the problem.

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.

How do you install hardwood floors on a concrete basement?

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).

How do you install plywood plank flooring over concrete?

Place a layer of 6mm polyethylene onto the concrete as your moisture barrier. Using a Hilti Direct fastening tool, shoot concrete nails into 1/2 inch plywood to apply directly onto concrete. Install Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, milled to 1/2 inch thickness by blind nailing and gluing.

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.

What do you put under wood 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.

How do you stick something to concrete?

7 Ways to Attach Things to Cinder Block Walls 01 of 07. Mounting Putty. Mounting putty is a sticky, clay-like material that comes in sticks or cubes. 02 of 07. Hardwall Hangers. 03 of 07. Hot Melt Glue. 04 of 07. Self-Adhesive Hooks. 05 of 07. Landscape Block Adhesive. 06 of 07. Concrete Screws. 07 of 07. Expansion Bolts.

Can you use carpet underlay for wood flooring?

While carpet underlay works well for carpet, it isn’t as suitable for wood floors. It’s not a good idea to install wood floors, including hardwood planks and engineered wood flooring, over carpet underlay! It’s too thick for the hardwood planks, which won’t fit well under doors, baseboards, and cabinets.

Can you put underlay on concrete floor?

Regardless of your subfloor, you always need to use a thin underlay with laminate flooring. But with concrete, it also needs to have a moisture barrier. This is because concrete subfloors release moisture which can be very damaging if absorbed by the laminate planks.