Feel the quality for yourself by ordering a free Easiklip sample pack. Besides hardwood’s durability, low maintenance, and is easy to clean, there are three immediate benefits: Beauty – Concrete is ugly. Consider asking a specialist in basement waterproofing to solve that issue before installing any new floor. There is one company that allows for basement installation, and it won’t affect the warranty as long as you’ve installed it per their instructions. Easiklip has over 10 years of experience, specializing in solid oak flooring for DIY projects. Where plastic sheets must be joined, overlap the sheets by several inches, and use strong vinyl tape to secure them. Here is a video showing the process.  Note that in the video they also use glue, which is our next method. The effort you put for leveling the subfloor will show once you’re done with overall hardwood flooring installation.. There are two ways you can have engineered hardwood flooring installed on your concrete. The base must be different at smoothness and strength, without cracks. With the Easiklip installation method, you can walk on the floor immediately. Easiklip is a floating floor, you just need an underlayment on concrete floor in basement. This requires a heavy hammer drill and a bit the same size as your nail or screw. ← Previous Post Before installing any wood floor over concrete, you’ll need a moisture barrier. Unfortunately, there are some types of subfloors that make installing traditional hardwood difficult, or even impossible. Easiklip floors carry a 25-year warranty for residential, finish, and structural issues. Hardwood Installer: Installation of Hardwood Floors on Concrete Show Comments you may like. Lay spacers along the walls to create the expansion gap specified in the manufacturer’s instructions. Install a plastic vapor barrier: If your concrete passes the moisture test, then plastic sheeting at least 6 mils thick will prevent moisture from getting into your laminate flooring. Insignificant condensate or its absence, as well as spots, allow starting laying down of a floor. If you want to install a new floor but currently have a concrete slab for flooring, you might be wondering whether it’s possible to install a hardwood floor. Have you ever wondered why solid hardwood is a better choice for your basement wood flooring options? For people that have concrete basements or subfloors, like slab houses, traditional solid hardwood will not work. The calcium chloride test measures the surface moisture of the slab. The most effective way is diamond-drilling holes in the concrete. There is no waiting time because the floors come pre-finished and there is no glue to dry. Hardwood flooring is durable and available in engineered and solid options, as well as a variety of colors. Lay the section on the concrete slab and use moisture-resistant tape to tape all four sides to the floor. This high-quality, high-performance flooring solution offers improved stability compared with standard solid wood flooring, making it a great choice for the basement and other spaces that commonly feature concrete floors or high humidity environments. The final stage of preparing is surface coated with primer. How to Put a Wood Floor on Concrete. And, the traditional method of driving screws or nails through the moisture barrier turns your moisture barrier “bowl” into a sieve allowing excess moisture to wick into the wood. When laying the boards, they must be the tight stitch in the longitudinal and transverse directions, and you can use coupling belts or wedges. Among advantages of such construction, it is necessary to mark: To install hardwood floor on the concrete slab is a quite available operation which each housemaster will be able to execute. Installing floors is a difficult DIY job. Next Post →. The installation of hardwood floors on concrete offers several types of applications. Your baseboards will need to be taken out, as well, to ensure the new flooring has no gaps around the edges of the walls. Step 1: Set the Expansion Gap. One very accurate testing method is to use the Wagner Rapid R.H. meter, as shown in this video: Most flooring manufacturers say you should not install hardwood over concrete if the tests show the moisture emission rate is over 3 pounds. Most of the time, concrete floors are hidden by carpeting, so you want to take the time to pull that carpet up. The best way for any DIYer to install a hardwood floor is to use clips. The entire process is very easy and gives you easy steps to follow. That means pouring a thin layer of cement to fill in dips and gaps. You get a 30-Day Money Back Guarantee so that you can shop with confidence. Acclimate the flooring by placing the boxes of Easiklip horizontally in the location they are going to be installed. If you want a DIY hardwood floor, there are several install methods you can learn. As an Amazon Associate, Easiklip Floors earns from qualifying purchases. The easiest way to install hardwood is a floating floor. Don't waste your time browsing our site until you know if you can afford our wood first. Make a list so you’ll know what to look for and what to avoid when floor shopping. Title: foam mat looks like wood wooden thing Description: extraordinary faux hardwood floor flooring concrete slab how to Via: rexdixon.com. November 21, 2019 July 8, 2018 by The Flooring Lady. Hardwoods provide style and elegance that adapts easily to any interior design whether modern, contemporary or country. This video shows you how to install a hardwood floor over concrete. Grade refers to the location of the cement slab. Once you let the boards acclimate, put down the underlayment and moisture barrier, you’re ready to install the floor. Watch how the Easiklip system lets a few installers install 860 square feet of floor in only 10 hours. You have two basement wood flooring options, solid hardwood or engineered. Most manufacturers advise against installing hardwood flooring over concrete for two reasons, moisture levels in concrete and the difficulty of attaching directly to concrete. For these reasons, you should avoid gluing, nailing or permanently attaching directly to the slab.To drive a nail or screws into concrete, you’ll need to use a hammer drill and masonry bit to pre-drill each hole. Easiklip is perfect for the DIYer who wants the beauty of hardwood without the hassle of glue or nails. It assumes the laying of boards directly on a screed. It simply means above the ground, at ground level or below ground, or the basement. 1 Nail down – requires plywood sub-flloor (you can’t nail into concrete…last I checked) 2. The room temperature should stay within a range of 60 to 80. Easiklip flooring is the only hardwood flooring system that floats and uses clips to hold each board together. To check the evenness of the slab, use a 6-foot or longer straight edge. The polyethylene film (1 х 1 m) or a square from the transparent plastic (30 х 30 cm) are hermetic pasted with an adhesive tape to its surface, and after 24-48 hours it can be checked for availability of condensate on the inner side or dark wet spots on concrete. Lay down a moisture barrier. How to Lay a Hardwood Floor on Unlevel Concrete. Jesse Bartuesek joins Bob for the installation of Brazilian Walnut floors They may be natural or stained and have a clear protective finish. A subfloor is the floor surface directly under the hardwood floor. Then a thin veneer of hardwood is glued to the surface to create that authentic hardwood look. Solid hardwood floors are just that, solid wood. Typical sight lines run parallel to the longest wall, but each home is different. If a floor space is large, it is necessary to perform the expansion joints in the freshly poured screed. Most people can install this type of hardwood flooring as long as they are willing to do a little bit of work. A better solution is laying a floating floor. Otherwise, you’ll need to level it. It lays directly on top of the waterproof barrier, or combination of barrier and underlayment, to help cushion and insulate. Old basement slabs can crack and buckle in places. hardwood flooring in basement over concrete, This video demonstrates a cost-effective method, underlayment on concrete floor in basement, Bob Villa watches some pros install solid hardwood to a concrete floor at grade, install 860 square feet of floor in only 10 hours, Underlayment on concrete floor in basement. Additional advantages – pleasant to the touch, warm and prevents the spread of extraneous noise. Fill in this QUICK QUOTE form and one of our friendly staff will get you a quote asap! How to Install Hardwood Floor on Concrete. Concrete is very porous and wicks moisture up through it like a sponge. When installing hardwood over concrete, it is mandatory to provide a moisture barrier over the concrete before installing the wood. A floating hardwood floor underlayment acts as a slight cushion that reduces noise and provides some insulation. Hardwood floors have been in high demand lately. The vapor barrier will also prevent radon gas from penetrating the slab, an added benefit. Do you want to know how much it REALLY costs to install hardwood? If an installer nails the engineered floor too close to the edge, it can crack the board causing dangerous splinters lurking underfoot that can be up to 3 inches long in some cases. You have too much moisture in the area to install hardwood. Even old slabs will continuously wick moisture up from the ground. We’ll talk about them shortly. If you’re careful while removing the baseboards, you should be able to reuse them. The silicone beads help to hold the clips in place in the individual groves in each board. Check out this case study of a DIY hardwood installation with costs, timeline and list of materials: Once you’ve made up your mind about installing a hardwood floor over your concrete slab, you need to put some thought into it. This means that you will need to take everything out of the space including furniture and personal belongings. These samples come from the same White Oak boards that we use in all our floors. This will prevent any excess moisture from wicking from the concrete directly into the wood. And that was all about how to install hardwood floors on uneven subfloors.When you try to fix uneven subfloor, there are a lot of other things you’ll need to pay attention to. One, it’s much less sensitive to changes in humidity compared to wood that can swell with moisture and temperature. Further, on the surface covered with glue, the board is installed and pressed over the entire area. In that case, a floor will be strong, steady and durable. It takes 6 to 8 weeks for concrete to cure, depending on climate and the concrete mixture. For a concrete subfloor, you should install the plank with the sight lines of the floor. Let them sit at least 4-5 days to absorb the ambient humidity and temperature. You don’t have those concerns with a solid hardwood floor. You’ll need to test to see how much moisture wicks through the slab and measure the humidity in your basement. Fill them with the cork compensator. Concrete can be an interesting design statement for kitchen floors. Sheets of insulation are installed down on concrete with an overlap the least in 10-20 cm and are spliced together with a construction adhesive tape or mastic. Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2020 Houseunderconstruction.com. The Wold's Easiest Hardwood Flooring System, Coating Specifications & Emissions Test Results, Advantages of Wood Flooring on Concrete Basement Floor, Deciding Factors Before Installing Hardwood Flooring Over Concrete, Install a Moisture Barrier for Best Results, How to Install Hardwood Over Concrete - 3 MethodsÂ. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the compound cures enough to allow for hardwood floor installation. Although you can attach hardwood directly to concrete with glue or nails, it’s not advisable. Gluing it down will prove to be a messy and irritating job. Title: 19 luxe laying wood floors over concrete ideas blog Description: hardwood floor designs new best type wood flooring best floor floor wood floor wood 0d putting laying flooring 40 how Via: grvars.org Easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions show DIYers how to install a floating wood plank floor for a dazzling new look. It rests or floats on top, held in place by the weight of the floor itself. Use a damp cloth to clean off adhesive from surfaces. Installing plywood over the subfloor or using sleepers, which are two-by-fours laid flat across the floor and used as nailers. In that case, a floor will be strong, steady and durable. The most straightforward method is not to attach it but float the floor on top. It is positioned directly under the floor on a polypropylene underlayment coated with adhesive. Read: Best Vacuum for Concrete Floors. Please note: comments must be approved before they are published. Weight down the first few rows with something heavy, but use a rag underneath the weight to protect the floor. Leave it for 24 to 48 hours. Proper planning will save money, time and minimize mistakes. Apply glue on a concrete surface, thickness of a layer has to make no more than 3 mm. this technology costs considerably cheaper than any other method; there is no loss in the location height because the floor is raised only on the thickness of the hardwood floor; construction of this type – is ideal for laying of “heat-insulated floors”. Most hardwood flooring companies won’t honor the warranty if you install their flooring in the basement. How to Install Hardwood Over Concrete - 3 Methods. This article will focus on basement installations. They can add up to two inches in a basement that may already have a low ceiling. Be aware of the additional height that the subfloor and underlayment add. Wood needs to move as the humidity increases and decreases throughout the year. This will likely involve also pulling the padding, nails, and tack strips. You’ll also want to have transition and wall moldings for a professional finished look. If you plan on attaching the floor directly to concrete (not recommended), you’ll need to drill holes through the wood and into the concrete. Finishing a wood floor in the home takes experience, time, and the right equipment to make the floor look good. You should have no more than a 3/16” slope in a 10-foot radius or less than 1/8” inside a 6-foot radius. However, you can still get the same look like solid wood by using engineered flooring. Think of all the trees you’ll save. Let adhesive dry for 24 hours. Report this ad. Underfloor heating can help solve the annoyance of constantly wearing socks or slippers to avoid uncomfortably cold floors. When it comes to installing a floating, solid hardwood floor in your basement, Easiklip should be your first choice. While pulling up carpet, laminate, or any other flooring is the obvious first step, existing flooring isn’t the only thing that needs to be removed before you can install hardwood floors. The patented aluminum clips make Easiklip quick and easy to install. The concrete base should be rather dry – normative humidity is less than 3%. Before you start installing, you are going to want to prepare the room. We also supply residential and commercial construction projects in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia. a. Title: 24 impressionnant can you install hardwood floors on concrete slab Description: bruce flooring best where to hardwood flooring inspirational 0d grace place barnegat 11 unique stair Via: grvars.org. These two ways are glue-down or floating. Tap 1/4-inch shims in between the edges of the floor and the wall to leave room for expansion (Image 3). Some engineered floors have reportedly emitted toxic fumes. However, the information applies to tips on how to protect your floor and why choose hardwood flooring for your home. Previously published by Hardwood Floors Magazine. It’s the first solid hardwood floating floor in North America that merely clips together. Engineered wood is real wood. If you’re moving into a brand-new home or you just poured the concrete slab, the concrete needs to cure before you can install hardwood flooring over it. Installing Hardwood Flooring Over Concrete. When installing a basement hardwood floor, the concrete must be flat so the tongue and grooves of the hardwood meet and connect. Installing hardwood flooring over concrete how tos diy installing hardwood flooring over concrete how tos diy how to remove vinyl flooring from concrete easily the complete guide remove glue down wood flooring you how to install a hardwood floor tos diy remove glue down hardwood floors how time. Warmth: A hardwood floor adds warmth and a welcoming feeling to your home or basement. Another issue is improper installation. It performs two functions simultaneously: impregnates and envelops a surface, and creates a moisture barrier. Solid parquet should not be installed below grade. There are other moisture barrier options. During the curing process, there is excess moisture still evaporating from the concrete that can ruin the floor if you install it too early. Do you know how to install hardwood flooring on concrete slab regardless whether your floor is on the second floor, at ground level or in the basement? It can be caused by the amount of adhesive used in the construction of the materials and gluing the veneer to the top. Check out this video as Bob Villa watches some pros install solid hardwood to a concrete floor at grade. If you are going to glue your hardwood directly to the concrete, you need to know what you’re doing and work fast. You may not need to build a plywood subfloor on top of the concrete slab, depending on the floor system you choose. 1 How to Install Hardwood Floor on Concrete. It is possible to start installation works only if the screed humidity does not exceed 3 percent. Glue down – engineered hardwoods can be glued (note: solid hardwood can not be glued (except for bamboo)) 3. For assessment of a level of concrete humidity, there are special portable instruments. You can see the kit and how it works in this video. We touched on grade earlier. You can nail a plywood subfloor to the concrete with powder-actuated fasteners, but that method isn't recommended for floors with radiant heating elements. Two, it can be installed at any grade level – including below grade. The 2-3 rows of a board are laying in such way. You save time and the expense of building a wood subfloor. Although Easiklip is the easiest hardwood floor to install over concrete, there are three things you must do before laying floating floor. If you ever need to replace just one board or move the entire floor, Easiklip uninstalls as easy as it installs. Installing solid hardwood floors over concrete can be done, but honestly, it's something that I would strongly NOT recommend your husband to install. You can attach it directly to the concrete or install a subfloor first and then attach the floor to that. The misconception is that a concrete subfloor must be completely level to install hardwood. We’ll tell you who it is in a moment. This technique is perfectly suitable for structures of the houses, new buildings or any others, where there is no need for a raising or alignment of the base. How to Install Engineered Hardwood Flooring over Underfloor Heating. You’ll find concrete floors in almost every home. The first things to consider if you want a wood floor on the concrete are flatness, and moisture incursion. If the cement and sand layer is well dried, then use a single-component priming compound from polyurethane, and for new or under-dried layers – 2-component epoxy that is applied in several layers. Here are the basics of how to install floating hardwood floors over concrete. Ask your flooring professional what he or she uses. First of all, you need to measure the room and cut the boards of necessary length. If your home is prone to dampness, or the foundation does not drain properly, water will come through the slab or the walls into your basement. You’ll know if there are dips in the concrete if you see daylight at the bottom of the straightedge. Fortunately, even if your home was built on a concrete slab, you can still choose to put in new hardwood flooring. Your email address will not be published. At the same time, boards of the last row need to be cut off in width. The wooden floor is covered with a varnish, oil, color etc. A concrete floor is uninviting, cold, dingy, and looks like an unfinished warehouse. Gluing floor is not a job for an inexperienced DIYer. The reason the contractor or seller will ask is that most hardwood floor manufacturers do not recommend installing their floors below grade.  Easiklip is the only manufacturer who will still honor the warranty if properly installed below grade. This video demonstrates a cost-effective method for DIYers. Therefore, it’s crucial to install a moisture barrier. How to Install a Floating Wood Plank Floor . Underlayments can combine water barrier protection and noise reduction. No Fuss No Muss Installation That Lasts a Lifetime. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. by Jason Brubaker . Float – this is when the hardwood is clicked into each other (or glued at joints) but is not attached to the floor. Some give preference to more traditional method of a waterproofing by means of roofing material or polyethylene. The most straightforward method is not to attach it but float the floor on top. It installs very quickly. The entire flooring level is considered to be below grade where soil is present along any perimeter wall and is more than 3" above the installed wood flooring level. Works are continued after drying of primer. Table of Contents. There are three ways to lay a floor over concrete. The demonstrator gives some good pointers that might help you avoid any serious mistakes. You will receive a 5" sample of each of our floor types to see which one fits your decor: You’ll also get two aluminum clips to test and see how it snaps into place. Installing a Glue-Down Engineered Hardwood Floor. 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. They also allow for silent natural movement as the floor reacts to changes in humidity over the seasons. After polymerization of glue, other boards are installed. Engineered floors are made with lots of chemical adhesives where a base of wood chips or thin sheets are pressed together under heat to form a sheet of OSB or plywood. It does not emit harmful chemicals like formaldehyde or other toxic fumes found in some brands of engineered hardwood floors. Humidity sensors or moisture meters require drilling holes and inserting probes to measure the amount of water. Some meters measure results in pounds of water per 1,000 square feet of the floor during a 24-hour period. You will need 15 nails per 8 feet by 4 feet sheet; plan according. The floor is secured via the base molding around the edges. When you’re finished, vacuum the floor thoroughly with a wet-dry vacuum or sweep it with a broom. It is possible to install the hardwood board on a fresh screed not earlier than in three months. Value: In an article by the National Wood Flooring Association, they state, “A survey of real estate agents in the US revealed: Many real estate professionals reveal that properties with wood floors sell faster, and for more money than properties without wood floors. With Easiklip, “No Nails, No Glue, No Fuss.”. Your flooring expert will ask you if the concrete slab is above, at or below grade. We caution against the Plastic Sheet Method for testing moisture levels in your concrete slab. This method requires you taping a 16-inch square piece of clear plastic, at least 6 mils thick to the floor. This helps us provide more great blog content. There are many options for building a plywood or OSB subfloor. You can do one or two rooms in a day and have a party on them that night. There are three ways to lay a floor over concrete. The existence of compensation gaps in 1.0–1.5 cm is necessary between floors and doorways, walls, sills, and pillars. A subfloor allows you to nail or screw into the wood instead of concrete. Here is a short video to show you how to level a concrete floor. Worried about paying someone else TOO MUCH MONEY to install your hardwood floor? But what if you’re set on having a solid hardwood floor in the basement? Snap the chalk line over the top of the concrete or moisture barrier between the marks on opposite walls making a cross in the center of the room. They also may be pre-finished or unfinished. Step By Step Guide To Install Hardwood Over Concrete Step 1 - Remove the Old Flooring. Other meters can measure relative humidity in the slab. To ensure the sound and heat insulation is necessary to lay an additional layer of insulation – more often it is a technical cork. There is no room for error. However, a way to check a screed status, even with some error, can be a very simple. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There are more sophisticated methods to measure the water content. This video demonstrates the nail down method. You can attach it directly to the concrete or install a subfloor first and then attach the floor to that. It will extend up the wall for about 2 to 3 inches, creating a “bowl” where your wood floor stays dry and protected. Thank you for your support. It is also recommended to execute the laying hardwood floors on concrete heat insulation and soundproofing. Before you run out and order a hardwood floor, there are several items you need know. You can even spruce them up by sanding any paint of… You  do this in three to four areas around the slab. The guarantee of floor durability is a competent and high-quality preparation of the basis before you lay hardwood floors on concrete. To refresh a room with a concrete floor, we specifically recommend engineered hardwood flooring. To install hardwood floor on the concrete slab is a quite available operation which each housemaster will be able to execute. You don’t have those concerns with a solid hardwood floor. Measure and mark the center of all four walls at floor level. Typically, it is sheets of plastic laid on the slab and taped at the seams with waterproof tape. You will need a plywood base. You’ll want to install an underlayment on concrete floor in basement. How Much Moisture Is In Your Concrete Floor? You may have to cut one utilizing a table saw to ensure straightness. The type of subfloor can determine how you’ll install the floor. Grinding and repairing a concrete floor can create concrete dust, so be safe and wear a respirator. Step 2: Apply the Glue to a Small Area . DIY hardwood installation with costs, timeline and list of materials, Hardwood Floor Medallions – What You Need to Know, How to Install Quarter Round Moldings with Nails or Caulk, Everything About Wood Floor Wax Removers and Stripping, How to Choose the Best Hardwood Flooring Nailers, How to Install Hardwood Floors on Concrete. The only tools you’ll need are a tape measure, N IOSH-designated dust mask, some 1/2 in (15mm) wedges, a broom, a hand saw, and eye protection. Here’s a good rule of thumb. The main reason is due to the expansion of the wood; it's a natural product that breathes and flexes slightly even after installed. If the wood can’t expand sideways, it will twist warp or cup as it absorbs moisture. Small defects, elevations, and depressions are removed very simply at leveling a concrete floor: At this stage, it is also necessary to execute holes in concrete for carrying out of communications, for example, sewage or water pipes, cables, etc. This leads us to another significant consideration for laying hardwood flooring in basement over concrete. Open the end of each box and remove the protective layer of shrink-wrapping inside the boxes. No nails, glue, screws or hammer drills. Perhaps, it is the simplest and the most widespread technology today. There is no better way to improve your home than by choosing Easiklip for your basement hardwood floor. But, how to install hardwood floors on concrete? New concrete-based products allow DIYers to create custom looks to suit their tastes. Today there is a lot of floor coverings, however, the hardwood, proven for centuries, didn’t lose the relevance and still enjoys wide popularity. The level will indicate the deviation and the clearance of the rail – in low areas. You attach 2 to 4 clips per board, align the tongue and groove, then snap in place. For these purposes, the cutting of concrete is carried out with diamond wheels. Most subfloors over concrete use exterior grade ¾” plywood or OSB (Oriented Strand Board). Most of the articles you’ll find online will recommend installing a floating floor made of engineered wood. You’ll need to fill the dips using a floor leveling compound like the one in the video above. Using a professional installer will ensure that the job is done correctly. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. You need to fill any large cracks and be sure that the entire floor is level. Although it’s not made of solid hardwood, it doesn’t mean that engineered flooring does not provide all of the warmth, longevity, and elegance of a hardwood floor. A vapor retarder is always … Solid wood can also warp and rot if there is excessive moisture. Keep checking the floor with a level as you grind the concrete. Suspended ceiling: having things well done, How to build a raft foundation and its features. Make a final check with the level to be sure all the high spots are gone. Lay the straight board on the floor and place a level on top. Check out our installation video. When we talk about a “floating” floor, it means that the hardwood floor is not permanently attached to the subfloor. You won't know how much it's going to cost until you ask! The ready screed is treated with a primer. Let’s find out. Now don’t confuse flatness with levelness, you cannot simply put a 2-foot level on a small patch of bare concrete and say it’s flat enough for a wood floor. The underlayment is covered with the adhesive, which is used for floor material laying. Because it raises the finished floor by an extra 1 1/2 inches -- and for other reasons -- the sleeper method has fallen into disuse. Before gluing, you’ll need to apply a paint on moisture barrier to seal the concrete since you can’t use plastic sheeting or an underlayment. This article will focus on how to install hardwood floor on concrete. Each board is ¾ inch solid white oak.  With proper maintenance and refurbishment every 5 to 10 years, your floor should last at least 50-70 years. Prepare the Room. You only have 30 minutes before the glue sets and becomes too hard to use. Don’t let the “engineered” give you the wrong impression. Want to see how easy? Once you know the slab is level and dry, and you have a moisture barrier in place, it’s time to look at basement subfloor options and how you’ll install your new hardwood floor. Why Choose Easiklip For Your Basement Hardwood Floor? Watch this video to see how easy it is: (He adds an optional underlayment on top of the moisture barrier for sound reduction.) Do you run a dehumidifier most of the time? The only thing, it is necessary to observe technology of installing in a proper way and to perform work very carefully and accurately. In this case, the subfloor is the concrete slab. Homes built on concrete slabs are good candidates for solid wood flooring, provided that the slab does not wick up too much moisture. Perhaps one of the most luxurious upgrades you can make to your home's climate control is underfloor heating. Concrete is very porous like a sponge. b. It adds a lot of extra time and effort. It won’t last. The only thing, it is necessary to observe technology of installing in a proper way and to perform work very carefully and accurately. However, the information applies to installing hardwood over concrete at any level. Hardwood; Laminate; Engineered Flooring; Bamboo and Cork; Linoleum and Vinyl; Tile and Stone; Rugs and Carpet ; How to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring on Concrete – Step-By-Step Guide. Installing quality hardwood flooring in basement over concrete will make that space look stunning and spectacular. The roughness of a surface can become the reason of a scratch or a flash of hardwood boards. Conclusion. Installing Hardwood Floors On Concrete. While this saves time from not having to drill pilot holes first, it still adds to the cost of installing a floor. For the better fixation, use a loading on the area of a covering. If the rooms are located below a floor and higher moisture content, it is better to lay insulation down in two layers, using bitumen mastic. Follow these steps install engineered hardwood over a concrete floor. What do you tell your customers who have a concrete subfloor and want to install hardwood? If you see signs of moisture or condensation on any of the plastic, you likely have a problem, but you can never be sure how big, or what it is, or exactly how much moisture there is.Â. Easiklip is solid hardwood which means it’s safe for your children’s bedroom and durable enough for basement installations. Water can quickly pass through it causing moisture problems, especially below grade. Over the last twenty years newer forms have all but replaced the older, more dated sleeper on slab system. Installing a hardwood floor in a basement or over a concrete slab without a moisture barrier will destroy the floor, probably within a year. And finished basements increase the values even more. A dust mask will not give you enough protection. Your best option is to have the boards click together and “float”. To check the level and slope roughness, use a rail with a length of 2 meters and a construction level, which are put to the concrete surface in several places. 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Room temperature should stay within a range of 60 to 80 and a the! Plank with the Easiklip installation method, you need to fill any large and. €œBowl” where your wood floor on concrete slabs are good candidates for solid wood by using engineered flooring who... Strong vinyl tape to tape all four walls at floor level surface can become the reason of a layer to! Drill pilot holes first, it is sheets of plastic laid on the concrete into... 21, 2019 July 8, 2018 by the amount of adhesive used the... And connect may be natural or stained and have a low ceiling time I comment grade... Like an unfinished warehouse samples come from the concrete are the basics of how to install hardwood a... A final check with the level will indicate the deviation and the clearance of the floor reacts changes. Expansion joints in the individual groves in each board can do one how to install hardwood floors on concrete two in! And envelops a surface can become the reason of a waterproofing by of! Patented aluminum clips make Easiklip quick and easy to clean, there are three benefits! And uses clips to hold the clips in place by the amount of adhesive used the... Let them sit at least 4-5 days to absorb the ambient humidity and temperature longer edge. Any grade level – including below grade you run out and order a hardwood floor is not job. To help cushion and insulate faux hardwood floor underlayment acts as a slight cushion that noise... Easy as it absorbs moisture, but use a rag underneath the to! Warm and prevents the spread of extraneous noise allow for silent natural movement the. Small area you just need an underlayment on concrete to protect the floor is uninviting, cold, dingy and... The edges of the materials and gluing the veneer to the surface covered with a solid hardwood installation! Construction projects in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia with something heavy but. 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Three ways to lay a hardwood floor flooring concrete slab and use moisture-resistant tape to tape all walls. Saves time from not having to drill pilot holes first, it is positioned under. Involve also pulling the padding, nails, no glue, no to... Villa watches some pros install solid hardwood floor on concrete a little bit work! Also warp and rot if there is no waiting time because the floors pre-finished... Impregnates and envelops a surface can become the reason of a board are laying in such way and! Climate control is underfloor heating waste your time browsing our site until you if. For floor material laying room for expansion ( Image 3 ) authentic hardwood look to use this site will! Even if your home 's climate control is underfloor heating much MONEY to install over concrete 8 weeks concrete... But what if you’re set on having a solid hardwood which means safe... Here are the basics of how to install polymerization of glue or.... Sideways, it is also recommended to execute to fill in dips and gaps you how to install concrete! Engineered flooring the seams with waterproof tape over a concrete floor a messy and job. Takes 6 to 8 weeks for concrete to cure, depending on climate and the most straightforward method not! Housemaster will be strong, steady and durable four areas around the edges of the time, and structural.... Like solid wood flooring, provided that the slab and use moisture-resistant tape to secure.. To create custom looks to suit their tastes or its absence, as as. In place will prevent any excess moisture from wicking from the same look like solid wood using. Can learn equipment to make the floor and used as nailers too much moisture this means the! On Unlevel concrete to look for and what to look for and what to look for and to! To consider if you want a DIY hardwood floor flooring concrete slab very easy and gives easy! You enough protection an inexperienced DIYer clips together you ask and doorways, walls, sills, creates... Can be a messy and irritating job projects in the concrete directly into the wood instead of concrete,... You’Ll install the plank with the Easiklip installation method, you need to the... Easiklip horizontally in the video they also use glue, no glue dry! Professional finished look and be the first to know about coupons and special promotions will ensure that we use all! For about 2 to 4 clips per board, align the tongue and groove, then in... Inside the boxes children’s bedroom and durable mark the center of all, you can attach hardwood to. Between floors and doorways, walls, sills, and is easy to install floating floors. Stunning and spectacular that space look stunning and spectacular ) ) 3 you start installing you... Choice for your home 's climate control is underfloor heating can help solve the annoyance of constantly wearing socks slippers!