Nail the 3/4-in. If you are installing a locking or floating floor not attached to the subfloor, just make sure that the subfloor is clean. Wait 3 hours for it to dry. Not doing the right prep on a slab can result in embarrassing problems, such as floating floors with so much deflection that the lamp on the end table shakes back and forth when someone walks by. As far as I can make out the insulation is sitting on a damp proof sheet which is on top of a concrete slab. Might help to mention testing for dampness, "Really helpful article, thank you. Install Engineered Wood Floor . Installing Hardwood Floors On Concrete. Here are the basics of how to install floating hardwood floors over concrete. How to Lay Floating Tongue and Groove Fl... How to Lay Floating Tongue and Groove Flooring Part 1. Many floating floors don’t respond well to moisture so they may require a moisture barrier to be laid first. It doesn't defy gravity and float. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Suppose the distance is 10 feet (3.05 m). This article has been viewed 204,887 times. Take your tape measure and determine the appropriate dimension for the board that you need. If you lay laminated boardsperpendicular to the windows, then add extra 7%, if diagonally – add 15%. As you don’t have to install underlay for Vinyl Flooring or LVT, this can go directly onto the concrete subfloor. Suppose this distance is 12 feet (3.66 m). Tools. Discussion in 'Carpenters' Talk' started by Gagsjd, Jan 4, 2018. Then take your saw and cut the board to the right size. This is to ensure that there is enough room for expansion later on. Moisture will get through, so even if you don’t add an additional underlay, you do need to seal the concrete. Skill Level: Intermediate. Yes, if the subfloor is strong enough. Once that’s done, you should measure your floor to figure out many vinyl planks you need to use. One of the most obvious advantages that a floating floor has over a non-floating floor is ease of installation. Then place another board vertically above that one and make another row. Use a self-leveler on low spots and/or sand high spots of wood or concrete. Place another wedge in between that board and the wall. You will then need to install the pad. Skill Level Start to Finish 2 Days. Installing laminate flooring is a snap literally. Would it be best to pull up two layers of old vinyl and lay new floating boards on the concrete below, or just lay it over the old vinyl? Note that in the UK the base board is skirting board. Use a long level and tape measure to check that the floor is level. To refresh a room with a concrete floor, we specifically recommend engineered hardwood flooring.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 … You can if you use vinyl planks, but not wood or laminate; they should not get wet. Moreover, the laminate flooring is easy to maintain and durable, if you clean it regularly with appropriate products. This article is about how to lay laminate flooring on concrete. An above-grade concrete floor will most likely be in a commercial building. Leaving a small barrier around the side of the room will give the flooring enough of a buffer to do its thing without cracking. Continue doing this until the floor is covered. Moisture can ruin your flooring before you even install it, so avoid bringing the flooring into the installation space until the concrete is dry. Can you lay floating floors straight on concrete? We'll explain the benefits and show you how to do a floating floor installation yourself. Floor definition. DHCR105_floor-moisture-barrier-01_s4x3. In our region of the country, installing over concrete slabs is something we do every day, no matter what kind of wood floor we're putting down. wood planks to the plywood. See also other 29 Stylish How to Install Floating Hardwood Floors On Concrete below here! Before installing a floating floor, check various spots on the subfloor with a level to ensure that it’s even, and fill in unlevel sections with patching compound. Typically, the floor must be level and uniform within 3/16 inch every 10 feet. A couple of years ago we bought the expensive kind of laminate hardwood flooring (Bruce). Oct 25 . The advantage of a glue-down installation is that it’s particularly stable when done properly. To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. It’s best to allow an extra 15cm, just to be on the safe side. See Step 1 for how to get professional results without shelling out an arm and a leg. Lay a plastic moisture barrier and then screw 3/4-in. Even if the subfloor was properly flattened prior to installation, there is another floor prep issue that can cause noisy floating floors: There may be loose debris under the floor crunching as you walk. What can I do? Avoid bunching or puncturing the … Concrete floor. Before you go about laying down your floating floor, you need to know how much ground you need to cover. It can be installed over any other tightly bonded flooring, making it ideal for retrofits. This installation method creates a floating floor, which means GripStrip vinyl planking covers the subfloor without adhering or fastening to it in any manner. With plywood subfloor- that’s totally enough. A floating engineered wood flooring installation on concrete can be an excellent choice if your subfloor is below grade. Rubber tile or rubber sheets. The installation of hardwood floors on concrete offers several types of applications. treated plywood to the concrete with concrete screws spaced every 16 in. ($3-$8/sq. In most circumstances, a residential concrete floor is created by grinding an existing structural concrete slab and applying a chosen polishing, colorizing, or texturizing technique. I am remodeling a basement apartment with a concrete floor and no moisture ... How to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring Over Tile. Do I put the floating floor underneath the kitchen cabinets or around them? Laurent “Frenchy” Billaud, whose tile installation company operates in the greater Los Angeles area, says he often sees floors where the installer skips putting down a crack isolation membrane. Installing a floating engineered hardwood floor works well at any grade level and over most types of subfloor surfaces. Laying laminate flooring on a concrete subfloor is not difficult if you use the right tools and techniques. First, apply a concrete leveling primer to the entire floor with a push broom. Ideally, I'd glue the T&G, as is the practice with the laminate floating flooring. Pour a Floating Concrete Floor: We had a building that had an existing concrete floor that was poured directly on the ground. LV-luxury vinyl planks, such as Coretec, Smartcore, Nucore are options. Floating floors are the best solution over a concrete subfloor. Step 8. Concrete as a subfloor is a better option if you plan to have something really heavy sitting on that floor. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Then, mix about 50 lb (23 kg) of the leveling compound in 20 cups (4,700 mL) of water. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be 2. The floor compresses on the underlayment. Chipboard floating floor. Start in the corner of the room and lay one of the boards down on top of the pad. Here are the basics of how to install floating hardwood floors over concrete. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Glue Down Installation method Euroak Flooring® Engineered Floating Floors it can be installed on different surfaces such as Concrete slab, Ceramic Tiles and existing timber flooring..etc, Please make sure the following additional steps are applied 1- In case of Ceramic tile the subfloor must be 100% stable, firm and free from cracks or movement. Unpack the flooring and spread it around the room to acclimate. When you install a floating floor throughout the whole house, do you leave the spacers in until you are entirely done, or do you remove them when each room is done? The installation of hardwood floors on concrete offers several types of applications. You may freely link Before you start installing, you are going to want to prepare the room. It shouldn't take too long, but the total time will depend mainly on the size of the room you are doing. Level. Read manufacturer’s directions before installation to maintain warranty coverage. Instead, the engineered wood planks are joined together with interlocking joints, creating a single, continuous layer that floats over the subfloor. Laminate Installation For the look of real hardwood, stone or tile—at affordable prices—explore the versatility and durability of laminate flooring. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. With use the floor comes apart--unlocks. Over the last twenty years newer forms have all but replaced the older, more dated sleeper on slab system. wood floor over concrete than over a … Prep your subfloor so that it's clean, dry and level within 3/16-inch change per 10 feet. Thank you so much for the step by step and all of the explanations. But with concrete? Installation of floating floors are easy and fast because planks click or snap together quickly and “float… Hardwood Installation Hardwood floors add unsurpassed beauty and exceptional value to your home. You can hire someone who is professional at doing these jobs for small pay. plywood to the concrete. For vinyl tile, skip … He did not use a subfloor or, "Helpful, thanks. Evaluate the space where you plan to install the floating flooring. If that’s the case and you’re not the building owner, you’d better check first. For the floor adhesive to properly stick, the floor must be clean. After that, measure the areas where there are depressions and rises. Take a look at our step-by-step guide: You should start and end the installation with a half plank or more. However, allow 24 hours for your flooring to acclimatise by leaving it out of its packaging. I am going to install engineered hardwood floating flooring throughout my h... Hi. Click and lock flooring. Dead-blow hammers minimize the damage to the wood. Don't sand vinyl flooring as it may contain asbestos. Any other type of flooring should be fine to put the hardwood right over the top. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. * (Don’t forget the vapor retarder!) Installing Hardwood Flooring Over Concrete. ", https://www.builddirect.com/learning-center/flooring/installing-glueless-floating-hardwood-floors/, https://www.amcork.com/pages/floating-cork-floor-plank-install-guide, https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-install-floating-engineered-wood-floor, https://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/flooring/installation-how-to/floating-floors/, http://www.woodworkerssource.com/wood_movement.php, http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20293998,00.html, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. How to Install a Laminate Floating Floor. You’ll want to install an underlayment on concrete floor in basement. When it’s ready, unroll your vinyl flooring and cut to size after measuring your room. Take the small piece a board that was leftover from the cut and use it to start your next row. To create this article, 15 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Copyright© What are the Advantages of a Power Float Concrete Floor? A floating engineered wood flooring installation on concrete can be an excellent choice if your subfloor is below grade. Pour the mixture onto the floor, letting gravity take it into the lower areas of the floor. Next, measure the distance of the opposing walls to each other. Is it possible to install a floating engineered wood floor over (what I bel... Iron railing install, floating hardwood floor. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Dips, bulges and cracks occur frequently as concrete cures and ages. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent If the concrete subfloor is always dry, however, laminate floors can be placed directly on the slab. The laminate flooring is cheap and comes in a large diversity of colors, thicknesses and finishes, as you can easily find one to fit your needs and tastes perfectly. What kind of under layer is needed? % of people told us that this article helped them. Stagger the end joints, overlapping the ends 4", with 1/4" space between. NB: Sprung floors, designed to give specific properties of shock absorption and energy return suitable for dance and sport, are generally floating floors. For calculating the required amount of laminated boards for a particular room, you should multiply its length by its width. Website operating If you're having trouble fitting the end piece into the floor because of the wall, you might need to remove the second-to-last piece and lay down the final piece of flooring. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Floor plenum airtightness. Normally you would jackhammer the old concrete out and do it right. Will the people on the floor below me hear when I walk on floating floorboards? Use a level at various spots on the floor to make sure it's even. In most cases, though, a floating floor shouldn't have a problem sustaining normal amounts of weight. You will then need to remove all of the wedges from around the outside of the room and install baseboards over the gaps. This article has been viewed 204,887 times. Fill in low spots with a concrete self-leveling compound. Installing a floating floor on an uneven surface could also be achieved by skipping all the above-mentioned steps. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Place a wedge on each side of the board in between it and the wall. This comes in a roll that you can unroll over the floor. moisture barrier. Over the years it had cracked. The main rule – take the overlay 3-5 mm thick. Installing Engineered or Floating Floors. Moreover, the laminate flooring is easy to maintain and durable, if you clean it regularly with appropriate products. Be sure to cut the right end of the planking. To learn more, including how to choose the right wood or finish for your floating floor, read on. Laminate was not the first attempt of a floating floor. From our experience, we can assert that the preparation stage is maybe more important then the actual installation. Learn more... A floating floor is simply a floor that does not need to be nailed or glued to the floor underneath it. I took up ... "Sleeper" OSB subfloor with pine T&G over concrete? I have come to learn that the floors are T@G chipboard laid directly on to insulation. Ideally, you should let the installation and replacement of tile floors to professionals, but there are some exceptions to the rule. I have purchased solid Indonesian hardwood flooring (18mm kiln dried T&G pre-finished planks designed for false floors) to install over an existing concrete slab. If your concrete subfloor was just poured, you’ll need to allow it to properly cure for a minimum of 60 days before your luxury vinyl flooring installation begins. Title: how to install laminate flooring with ease glued glue less systems Description: laminate started Via: carpentry-tips-and-tricks.com. This can also result in dents and mars. A good rule of thumb is to buy 5 percent more than the square footage the packaging for the wood dictated. Tape the seams with a polyethylene tape or duct tape. Vinyl Tile. Yes. He didn't even place the foam underlayment correctly. When Laminate Flooring first hit the United States in 1994 under the brand name Pergo, flooring installation began to change. My flooring will not lay flat. The grooved pieces that snap together go 1 way. If you are installing a floating floor over concrete, extend the underlayment up the wall by about two inches. Where do I start in a room when installing a floating floor? At this point, you should be ready to start laying your floating hardwood flooring. Most people can install this type of hardwood flooring as long as they are willing to do a little bit of work. See care and maintenance. If you know the right way on how to install underlayment for laminate flooring on concrete, end results will certainly be beautiful. Next is to trim it around irregular boundaries like columns and door jambs. Can I install a floating floor in a room that does not have heat in the winter? and it feels so good, you guys! Then, use a level to find any spots where the ground is uneven and apply concrete self-leveling compound to even it out. How to Install Locking Floating Wood Flo... How to Install Floating Laminate Floor P... How to Install Floating Laminate Floor Part 1. If it's worse in the colder months than in a dry summer, this is probably the case. Make sure the floor is completely clean before laying the new flooring. Hardwood floors are durable, low maintenance and easy to clean. If the building is new construction, the concrete must be completely cured for a minimum of 90 days before installation. The floating wood floor will expand and contract as a unit with temperature fluctuations. Approved. Float, Glue and Nail installation are three main methods used for installing this type of floor. Can I lay a floating floor over a carpet with the addition of an insulating sheet? Ignore the instructions the flooring came with and leave them in all the time. Gagsjd New Member. Prepare the Room Multiply these two measurements to find the total area you will need to cover with pre-finished hardwood flooring. In this case, 91% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. RELATED: Step by Step: How to Get a Concrete Slab Ready for Wood Floors. Contractor fixes the moisture barrier of the floor. If found so, trimming 5 mm off the offending edge using an electric dovetail-blade reciprocating saw might solve it. View our Privacy Policy here. No. However the building supports were placed directly on to… Terms of the Trade: What Is a Tongue and Groove Joint? In order to finish off a row, you are going to have to make a cut. Easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions show DIYers how to install a floating wood plank floor for a dazzling new look. Beam and block. Works well on a wide variety of subfloors. A laminate floor is a "floating floor," meaning it is not fastened directly to the subfloor. Since most floating floors are made from thinner materials, they tend to be less substantial flooring options and easily be chipped during installation when a tapping block and mallet are used. For do-it-yourselfers, the preferred method is the floating floor installation, which uses no glue or nails. When you're all finished, vacuum the floor to remove any dust or debris. Before installing the floor, loosely lay an additional vapor retarder of 4 to 6 mil polyethylene film over the sleepers, overlapping the edges on top of the 2 x 4s. An appropriate underlayment may minimize noise. When you are installing a moisture barrier, you want to make sure that there are no gaps and that the entire floor is covered. Last Updated: September 13, 2019 Laminate flooring is also fairly easy to install. To learn about our products’ standards and warranties, send us an email or call 1-800-832-9023, Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. CST. The quality of laying the laminated flooring much depends on the tools. This means that you will need to take everything out of the space including furniture and personal belongings. Note: When installing engineered hardwood floors over radiant heated subfloors, turn the heat off for 24 hours before, during and after installation. Many types of flooring can be installed over a concrete sub floor. Putting in your own pre-finished hardwood flooring costs less than having a professional install it. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 204,887 times. How to Install Natural Stone Veneer in a Shower. Cork is the best choice, but it’s quite expensive. Next, sand down any bumps or ridges, vacuum away the dirt and debris, and roll out the foam underlayment. ft. for tiles, and $1-$5/sq. If it butts up to a wall, temperature and humidity will cause expansion, which in turn may cause lifting. Fill in unlevel spots or grooves with patching compound. Measure and mark the center of all four walls at floor level. Learn how to use a grinder. You will need: 1. a p… Over the last twenty years newer forms have all but replaced the older, more dated sleeper on slab system. Install floating floor over double glued floor. Either lay it over both layers, or pull one up first. Using a tape measure, measure the room from one wall to the opposite wall, and write down the distance. How to Install Brazilian Cherry Hardwood... How to Install Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring. This article, however, focuses only on the glue-down application. It can be cut with a utility knife, so don’t sweat! Lay 6-mil polyethylene sheeting over the concrete to minimize moisture migration from the concrete up into the wood flooring. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Before you install any flooring material over a concrete slab, it is important to inspect the slab for defects. Carpet Installation Warm and comfortable, carpeting adds new life and affordable style to wherever your family wants to stretch out and relax. Self-leveler is available in powder and pre-mixed form and is used to create a flat, smooth surface in flooring projects. Can I put vinyl planks over ceramic tile? Vinyl sheet: This vinyl type comes in a single sheet that is installed over the concrete floor. Open the boxes and let them sit in the room for three or four days to let the flooring adjust to the house climate. Floating wood flooring can provide you with a simple installation and a beautiful floor at the same time. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. A floating floor is easily installed without using glue, staples or nails, making it an exceptional DIY floor option. This flooring has underlay attached. Unpack the flooring and spread it around the room to acclimate. GripStrip vinyl plank flooring has a manufacturer-applied adhesive layer that connects the planks to one another. Check that there is sufficient expansion space all round the edges. Floating is relative to lateral floor movement, not vertical. Concrete is a common subfloor material, and in general, it’s easy to prepare for a luxury vinyl flooring installation project. Installing one might appear to be a frightening task, but with proper preparation and planning, any home improvement DIYer can do it. Place the board into the gap. Flooring. Because it doesn’t include any gaps, this type of vinyl flooring offers the most moisture resistance. You will lay the flooring lengthwise to this wall. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". Underlayments can combine water barrier protection and noise reduction. Floating floors can be laid on concrete, but the technique is important. The “legs” of your floating floor should be made to fit such sections. We have a patio that a previous owner turned into an office. Use a quality cleaner like Zep Professional Concrete and Masonry Floor Cleaner ($27 per gallon; 500-750 square feet of coverage). What Kinds of Floors Keep Your House Cool? An advantage of installing engineered or floating floors is that they come pre-finished once our technicians have laid your floor it is ready to walk on. Installing a floating engineered hardwood floor works well at any grade level and over most types of subfloor surfaces. You may need to have a specialist do this. Concrete is a common subfloor material, and in general, it’s easy to prepare for a luxury vinyl flooring installation project. Most people can install this type of hardwood flooring as long as they are willing to do a little bit of work. Lay down the first plank with its grooved end in the corner against a spacer … Determine your starting wall. The instructions I have are for secret nailing to 38 mm joists, which would end up too high. Slide the first two rows into their final position, and repeat steps 5 and 6 above, using the same alternating plank technique to complete the process. There are many advantages to having a power float concrete finish, starting with the fact that the process eliminates the need for more time and materials when applying a power float screed. Divide the total area of the room by the area the box or roll covers. Instead, the engineered wood planks are joined together with interlocking joints, creating a single, continuous layer that “floats” over the subfloor. Then continue laying boards in a vertical row in this fashion and periodically placing wedges between the wall and the boards. Hopefully they are thin enough to put the base boards right over. Floating floors can be pieced together like a puzzle — leading to a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach by el… Use a piece of foam and planking as a measurement guide when trimming door casings. Take some adhesive and put it in the groove of the board and slide it up against the first row. Laminate floors, which may be tongue and groove or snap-together, are "floating" floors and not attached to the subfloor. If your concrete slab is … Source Images. Laying the piece on the ground first and then marking it with a pencil will ensure you cut the correct end. And for do-it-yourselfers, the preferred method is the floating floor installation which uses no glue or nails. Lay the 1x4s perpendicular to the direction you intend to install the floor planks. A floating hardwood floor underlayment acts as a slight cushion that reduces noise and provides some insulation. This can involve first removing any existing flooring, such as carpeting or vinyl, to expose the existing concrete … Will Precast Concrete Steps Work for You? ", on a concrete floor first, as other videos do. Chips in floating floors can also be created by cleaning the floor with a beater-bar attachment on a vacuum cleaner. Yes, if you use a product that has attached underlayment. By using our site, you agree to our. However, many homeowners are disappointed to discover that solid wood flooring cannot be installed on a concrete slab. #6. Slide the tongue and groove of the two boards together. suggestions. But it’s considerably more difficult to install a 3/4-in. Learn how to install Smartcore Ultra Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring. Moisture can ruin your flooring before you even install it, so avoid bringing the flooring into the installation space until the concrete is dry. The pull-bar would have made laying the, "Very helpful instructions and the video was key to understanding the tricky steps. Unless you live in a place with drastic humidity changes, leave those suckers in. It cost just as much as 3/4" red oak (the best if you can get). Can I put a floating floor over old stick down squares in bath room? When it comes to distinguishing between installing a floating floor vs a nail-down or glue-down type method, it is imperative that you weigh the good along with the bad before making any final decisions.One of the most obvious advantages that a floating floor has over a non-floating floor is ease of installation. If you have carpet, you are going to need to remove it. Before you can install over a concrete subfloor, you are going to need to put in a moisture barrier. Then choose an overlay. Floating floor over concrete/ cutback adhesive. Sand down bumps and ridges in the subfloor. If you decide to install your floating floor on concrete anyway, you need to test the concrete with a calibrated concrete moisture meter to verify that it is dry (less than 4% moisture content) before proceeding. Should I remove the old tile before I float my flooring? Hi, I bought a 10 year old house with squeaky/bouncy downstairs floors. I wish to glue it as a floating floor. With Laminate flooring came a floating floor with a pad underneath it. The flooring associate at The Home Depot Canada suggested using vapour barrier with tuck tape to seal the concrete. A vinyl sheet may be forgiving if your concrete slab isn’t perfectly even. We’re making progress on my office makeover (see the plans here!) All information is provided "AS IS." It’s also a great option if you choose to incorporate a radiant heat system. We removed the shims for expansion and shrinking just like the instructions said. Then place another board onto the narrow side of it up against the wall. Laminate flooring is a good alternative to wood flooring in basements. Concrete Floor Installation . From: … This is a possible basement flooring project you can DIY. If your concrete subfloor was just poured, you’ll need to allow it to properly cure for a minimum of 60 days before your luxury vinyl flooring installation begins. Make sure that the entire floor is covered with this pad. There can be issues with different types of floating floor products when laid over concrete. Install the first course. For example, vinyl is somewhat easy to deal with, as long as you take the measures right and know how to cut it and install it above a previously set floor. Then fasten 3/4-in. Tape the edges together and then cut off the excess along the wall. We welcome your comments and We installed wood look vinyl plank over concrete floors in our basement- here’s what I’ve learned from doing it a couple times and tips for installing your own! Afterwards, lay down your flooring and cut the last piece in the row to make it fit, minus 5/16 of an inch to account for the spacer. Glue-down – A glue-down flooring installation involves the application of a bonding agent or adhesive to the subfloor, which might either be concrete or wood. Thoroughly clean the area where you would be building the floating floor. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Using a glue-down floor is an option in above-grade installation only since installation below grade requires a plastic barrier on top of the concrete. Tips and Products for Cleaning Hardwood Floors. References {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2d\/Install-a-Floating-Floor-Step-1Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Install-a-Floating-Floor-Step-1Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2d\/Install-a-Floating-Floor-Step-1Bullet1.jpg\/aid1325482-v4-728px-Install-a-Floating-Floor-Step-1Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"