How to Install Hardwood Over Concrete - 3 Methods. The only thing, it is necessary to observe technology of installing in a proper way and to perform work very carefully and accurately. The easiest way to install hardwood is a floating floor. 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. There are two ways you can have engineered hardwood flooring installed on your concrete. At the same time, boards of the last row need to be cut off in width. The most effective way is diamond-drilling holes in the concrete. The roughness of a surface can become the reason of a scratch or a flash of hardwood boards. Further, on the surface covered with glue, the board is installed and pressed over the entire area. Your email address will not be published. Water can quickly pass through it causing moisture problems, especially below grade. It is possible to start installation works only if the screed humidity does not exceed 3 percent. Installing Hardwood Flooring Over Concrete. They also may be pre-finished or unfinished. 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”. Acclimate the flooring by placing the boxes of Easiklip horizontally in the location they are going to be installed. There is no waiting time because the floors come pre-finished and there is no glue to dry. 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. Lay down a moisture barrier. The 2-3 rows of a board are laying in such way. To ensure the sound and heat insulation is necessary to lay an additional layer of insulation – more often it is a technical cork. One, it’s much less sensitive to changes in humidity compared to wood that can swell with moisture and temperature. Do you want to know how much it REALLY costs to install hardwood? The only thing, it is necessary to observe technology of installing in a proper way and to perform work very carefully and accurately. 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. 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 First of all, you need to measure the room and cut the boards of necessary length. You can attach it directly to the concrete or install a subfloor first and then attach the floor to that. To refresh a room with a concrete floor, we specifically recommend engineered hardwood flooring. This video shows you how to install a hardwood floor over concrete. Step 2: Apply the Glue to a Small Area . Easiklip is solid hardwood which means it’s safe for your children’s bedroom and durable enough for basement installations. Hardwoods provide style and elegance that adapts easily to any interior design whether modern, contemporary or country. You attach 2 to 4 clips per board, align the tongue and groove, then snap in place. Besides hardwood’s durability, low maintenance, and is easy to clean, there are three immediate benefits: Beauty – Concrete is ugly. Easiklip flooring is the only hardwood flooring system that floats and uses clips to hold each board together. Previously published by Hardwood Floors Magazine. It is possible to install the hardwood board on a fresh screed not earlier than in three months. You can even spruce them up by sanding any paint of… New concrete-based products allow DIYers to create custom looks to suit their tastes. For these purposes, the cutting of concrete is carried out with diamond wheels. Easiklip is perfect for the DIYer who wants the beauty of hardwood without the hassle of glue or nails. Typical sight lines run parallel to the longest wall, but each home is different. You’ll need to test to see how much moisture wicks through the slab and measure the humidity in your basement. Easiklip is a floating floor, you just need an underlayment on concrete floor in basement. For people that have concrete basements or subfloors, like slab houses, traditional solid hardwood will not work. a. This means that you will need to take everything out of the space including furniture and personal belongings. Underfloor heating can help solve the annoyance of constantly wearing socks or slippers to avoid uncomfortably cold floors. Solid parquet should not be installed below grade. Your best option is to have the boards click together and “float”. Homes built on concrete slabs are good candidates for solid wood flooring, provided that the slab does not wick up too much moisture. Keep checking the floor with a level as you grind the concrete. It does not emit harmful chemicals like formaldehyde or other toxic fumes found in some brands of engineered hardwood floors. You only have 30 minutes before the glue sets and becomes too hard to use. This will prevent any excess moisture from wicking from the concrete directly into the wood. 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. Finishing a wood floor in the home takes experience, time, and the right equipment to make the floor look good. Prepare the Room. A floating hardwood floor underlayment acts as a slight cushion that reduces noise and provides some insulation. It adds a lot of extra time and effort. How to Lay a Hardwood Floor on Unlevel Concrete. This requires a heavy hammer drill and a bit the same size as your nail or screw. 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. You may have to cut one utilizing a table saw to ensure straightness. We’ll tell you who it is in a moment. The first things to consider if you want a wood floor on the concrete are flatness, and moisture incursion. When installing hardwood over concrete, it is mandatory to provide a moisture barrier over the concrete before installing the wood. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. In that case, a floor will be strong, steady and durable. Step By Step Guide To Install Hardwood Over Concrete Step 1 - Remove the Old Flooring. It simply means above the ground, at ground level or below ground, or the basement. It won’t last. 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. If the wood can’t expand sideways, it will twist warp or cup as it absorbs moisture. 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. The most straightforward method is not to attach it but float the floor on top. It will extend up the wall for about 2 to 3 inches, creating a “bowl” where your wood floor stays dry and protected. You’ll also want to have transition and wall moldings for a professional finished look. Installing solid hardwood floors over concrete can be done, but honestly, it's something that I would strongly NOT recommend your husband to install. Old basement slabs can crack and buckle in places. A dust mask will not give you enough protection. Other meters can measure relative humidity in the slab. 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. 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. Installing plywood over the subfloor or using sleepers, which are two-by-fours laid flat across the floor and used as nailers. As an Amazon Associate, Easiklip Floors earns from qualifying purchases. 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. Before installing any wood floor over concrete, you’ll need a moisture barrier. They may be natural or stained and have a clear protective finish. Although you can attach hardwood directly to concrete with glue or nails, it’s not advisable. Here is a short video to show you how to level a concrete floor. You won't know how much it's going to cost until you ask! Make a final check with the level to be sure all the high spots are gone. The ready screed is treated with a primer. Some engineered floors have reportedly emitted toxic fumes. To install hardwood floor on the concrete slab is a quite available operation which each housemaster will be able to execute. Unfortunately, there are some types of subfloors that make installing traditional hardwood difficult, or even impossible. You can attach it directly to the concrete or install a subfloor first and then attach the floor to that. These two ways are glue-down or floating. This leads us to another significant consideration for laying hardwood flooring in basement over concrete. The calcium chloride test measures the surface moisture of the slab. The patented aluminum clips make Easiklip quick and easy to install. 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. While this saves time from not having to drill pilot holes first, it still adds to the cost of installing a floor. Report this ad. If you ever need to replace just one board or move the entire floor, Easiklip uninstalls as easy as it installs. b. You will need a plywood base. 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. There are many options for building a plywood or OSB subfloor. Over the last twenty years newer forms have all but replaced the older, more dated sleeper on slab system. It installs very quickly. There are more sophisticated methods to measure the water content. Table of Contents. You may not need to build a plywood subfloor on top of the concrete slab, depending on the floor system you choose. Before you start installing, you are going to want to prepare the room. Title: foam mat looks like wood wooden thing Description: extraordinary faux hardwood floor flooring concrete slab how to Via: rexdixon.com. You’ll need to fill the dips using a floor leveling compound like the one in the video above. Fortunately, even if your home was built on a concrete slab, you can still choose to put in new hardwood flooring. No nails, glue, screws or hammer drills. It is also recommended to execute the laying hardwood floors on concrete heat insulation and soundproofing. You’ll want to install an underlayment on concrete floor in basement. Lay spacers along the walls to create the expansion gap specified in the manufacturer’s instructions. 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. Here’s a good rule of thumb. Another issue is improper installation. The demonstrator gives some good pointers that might help you avoid any serious mistakes. When it comes to installing a floating, solid hardwood floor in your basement, Easiklip should be your first choice. However, the information applies to tips on how to protect your floor and why choose hardwood flooring for your home. If you want a DIY hardwood floor, there are several install methods you can learn. 1 How to Install Hardwood Floor on Concrete. Watch how the Easiklip system lets a few installers install 860 square feet of floor in only 10 hours. But what if you’re set on having a solid hardwood floor in the basement? A better solution is laying a floating floor. However, the information applies to installing hardwood over concrete at any level. 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 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. This video demonstrates a cost-effective method for DIYers. Lay the section on the concrete slab and use moisture-resistant tape to tape all four sides to the floor. Otherwise, you’ll need to level it. You don’t have those concerns with a solid hardwood floor. In this case, the subfloor is the concrete slab. 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. The final stage of preparing is surface coated with primer. Where plastic sheets must be joined, overlap the sheets by several inches, and use strong vinyl tape to secure them. The room temperature should stay within a range of 60 to 80. The level will indicate the deviation and the clearance of the rail – in low areas. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the compound cures enough to allow for hardwood floor installation. Don't waste your time browsing our site until you know if you can afford our wood first. Thank you for your support. Open the end of each box and remove the protective layer of shrink-wrapping inside the boxes. 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. How to Install Engineered Hardwood Flooring over Underfloor Heating. If a floor space is large, it is necessary to perform the expansion joints in the freshly poured screed. Let them sit at least 4-5 days to absorb the ambient humidity and temperature. Weight down the first few rows with something heavy, but use a rag underneath the weight to protect the floor. 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. It lays directly on top of the waterproof barrier, or combination of barrier and underlayment, to help cushion and insulate. When we talk about a “floating” floor, it means that the hardwood floor is not permanently attached to the subfloor. Most manufacturers advise against installing hardwood flooring over concrete for two reasons, moisture levels in concrete and the difficulty of attaching directly to concrete. You  do this in three to four areas around the slab. For the better fixation, use a loading on the area of a covering. 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. The underlayment is covered with the adhesive, which is used for floor material laying. The most straightforward method is not to attach it but float the floor on top. Hardwood Installer: Installation of Hardwood Floors on Concrete Show Comments you may like. The base must be different at smoothness and strength, without cracks. 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. The type of subfloor can determine how you’ll install the floor. Apply glue on a concrete surface, thickness of a layer has to make no more than 3 mm. The wooden floor is covered with a varnish, oil, color etc. For assessment of a level of concrete humidity, there are special portable instruments. This will likely involve also pulling the padding, nails, and tack strips. Installing a Glue-Down Engineered Hardwood Floor. by Jason Brubaker . Engineered wood is real wood. It rests or floats on top, held in place by the weight of the floor itself. 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. Check out this video as Bob Villa watches some pros install solid hardwood to a concrete floor at grade. The effort you put for leveling the subfloor will show once you’re done with overall hardwood flooring installation.. Here are the basics of how to install floating hardwood floors over concrete. Make a list so you’ll know what to look for and what to avoid when floor shopping. But, how to install hardwood floors on concrete? However, you can still get the same look like solid wood by using engineered flooring. 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. How to Put a Wood Floor on Concrete. 1 Nail down – requires plywood sub-flloor (you can’t nail into concrete…last I checked) 2. Typically, it is sheets of plastic laid on the slab and taped at the seams with waterproof tape. Feel the quality for yourself by ordering a free Easiklip sample pack. Sign up for our newsletter and be the first to know about coupons and special promotions. Most of the time, concrete floors are hidden by carpeting, so you want to take the time to pull that carpet up. During the curing process, there is excess moisture still evaporating from the concrete that can ruin the floor if you install it too early. Hardwood floors have been in high demand lately. 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. Suspended ceiling: having things well done, How to build a raft foundation and its features. You can see the kit and how it works in this video. Installing Hardwood Floors On Concrete. Concrete is very porous and wicks moisture up through it like a sponge. You will need 15 nails per 8 feet by 4 feet sheet; plan according. 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. To check the evenness of the slab, use a 6-foot or longer straight edge. Hardwood flooring is durable and available in engineered and solid options, as well as a variety of colors. 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 don’t have those concerns with a solid hardwood floor. The existence of compensation gaps in 1.0–1.5 cm is necessary between floors and doorways, walls, sills, and pillars. Fill them with the cork compensator. 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. Using a professional installer will ensure that the job is done correctly. 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. 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. Tap 1/4-inch shims in between the edges of the floor and the wall to leave room for expansion (Image 3). Use a damp cloth to clean off adhesive from surfaces. There are three ways to lay a floor over concrete. They also allow for silent natural movement as the floor reacts to changes in humidity over the seasons. It performs two functions simultaneously: impregnates and envelops a surface, and creates a moisture barrier. Your baseboards will need to be taken out, as well, to ensure the new flooring has no gaps around the edges of the walls. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Most of the articles you’ll find online will recommend installing a floating floor made of engineered wood. That means pouring a thin layer of cement to fill in dips and gaps. Two, it can be installed at any grade level – including below grade. Next Post →. The installation of hardwood floors on concrete offers several types of applications. The silicone beads help to hold the clips in place in the individual groves in each board. Insignificant condensate or its absence, as well as spots, allow starting laying down of a floor. 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. Works are continued after drying of primer. Today there is a lot of floor coverings, however, the hardwood, proven for centuries, didn’t lose the relevance and still enjoys wide popularity. Let’s find out. Easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions show DIYers how to install a floating wood plank floor for a dazzling new look. ← Previous Post Solid wood can also warp and rot if there is excessive moisture. We also supply residential and commercial construction projects in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia. Concrete is very porous like a sponge. Underlayments can combine water barrier protection and noise reduction. The guarantee of floor durability is a competent and high-quality preparation of the basis before you lay hardwood floors on concrete. There are three ways to lay a floor over concrete. In that case, a floor will be strong, steady and durable. And finished basements increase the values even more. A subfloor is the floor surface directly under the hardwood floor. We’ll talk about them shortly. Please note: comments must be approved before they are published. Easiklip floors carry a 25-year warranty for residential, finish, and structural issues. There are other moisture barrier options. Be aware of the additional height that the subfloor and underlayment add. Although Easiklip is the easiest hardwood floor to install over concrete, there are three things you must do before laying floating floor. Why Choose Easiklip For Your Basement Hardwood Floor? Additional advantages – pleasant to the touch, warm and prevents the spread of extraneous noise. 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. 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. A vapor retarder is always … Gluing floor is not a job for an inexperienced DIYer. It assumes the laying of boards directly on a screed. They can add up to two inches in a basement that may already have a low ceiling. Here is a video showing the process.  Note that in the video they also use glue, which is our next method. Follow these steps install engineered hardwood over a concrete floor. When you’re finished, vacuum the floor thoroughly with a wet-dry vacuum or sweep it with a broom. With the Easiklip installation method, you can walk on the floor immediately. This article will focus on how to install hardwood floor on concrete. Let adhesive dry for 24 hours. 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. Grade refers to the location of the cement slab. After polymerization of glue, other boards are installed. Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2020 Houseunderconstruction.com. No Fuss No Muss Installation That Lasts a Lifetime. Think of all the trees you’ll save. If you’re careful while removing the baseboards, you should be able to reuse them. A subfloor allows you to nail or screw into the wood instead of concrete. Once you let the boards acclimate, put down the underlayment and moisture barrier, you’re ready to install the floor. Installing a hardwood floor in a basement or over a concrete slab without a moisture barrier will destroy the floor, probably within a year. If you are going to glue your hardwood directly to the concrete, you need to know what you’re doing and work fast. 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. Leave it for 24 to 48 hours. The entire process is very easy and gives you easy steps to follow. Step 1: Set the Expansion Gap. 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. Float – this is when the hardwood is clicked into each other (or glued at joints) but is not attached to the floor. With Easiklip, “No Nails, No Glue, No Fuss.”. It’s the first solid hardwood floating floor in North America that merely clips together. Perhaps one of the most luxurious upgrades you can make to your home's climate control is underfloor heating. When installing a basement hardwood floor, the concrete must be flat so the tongue and grooves of the hardwood meet and connect. You’ll find concrete floors in almost every home. Solid hardwood floors are just that, solid wood. 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? Glue down – engineered hardwoods can be glued (note: solid hardwood can not be glued (except for bamboo)) 3. These samples come from the same White Oak boards that we use in all our floors. Jesse Bartuesek joins Bob for the installation of Brazilian Walnut floors November 21, 2019 July 8, 2018 by The Flooring Lady. Wood needs to move as the humidity increases and decreases throughout the year. The main reason is due to the expansion of the wood; it's a natural product that breathes and flexes slightly even after installed. Grinding and repairing a concrete floor can create concrete dust, so be safe and wear a respirator. Want to see how easy? Do you run a dehumidifier most of the time? Ask your flooring professional what he or she uses. Worried about paying someone else TOO MUCH MONEY to install your hardwood floor? You’ll know if there are dips in the concrete if you see daylight at the bottom of the straightedge. This article will focus on basement installations. Your flooring expert will ask you if the concrete slab is above, at or below grade. Read: Best Vacuum for Concrete Floors. We touched on grade earlier. There is no better way to improve your home than by choosing Easiklip for your basement hardwood floor. Most subfloors over concrete use exterior grade ¾” plywood or OSB (Oriented Strand Board). What do you tell your customers who have a concrete subfloor and want to install hardwood? Installing quality hardwood flooring in basement over concrete will make that space look stunning and spectacular. It is positioned directly under the floor on a polypropylene underlayment coated with adhesive. Most hardwood flooring companies won’t honor the warranty if you install their flooring in the basement. You get a 30-Day Money Back Guarantee so that you can shop with confidence. How to Install Hardwood Floor on Concrete. 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. Some give preference to more traditional method of a waterproofing by means of roofing material or polyethylene. We recommend an engineered hardwood for several important reasons. How Much Moisture Is In Your Concrete Floor? Measure and mark the center of all four walls at floor level. Perhaps, it is the simplest and the most widespread technology today. You need to fill any large cracks and be sure that the entire floor is level. Easiklip has over 10 years of experience, specializing in solid oak flooring for DIY projects. How to Install a Floating Wood Plank Floor . Because it raises the finished floor by an extra 1 1/2 inches -- and for other reasons -- the sleeper method has fallen into disuse. This video demonstrates the nail down method. The concrete base should be rather dry – normative humidity is less than 3%. You have too much moisture in the area to install hardwood. Lay the straight board on the floor and place a level on top. There is no room for error. 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. It takes 6 to 8 weeks for concrete to cure, depending on climate and the concrete mixture. Have you ever wondered why solid hardwood is a better choice for your basement wood flooring options? A concrete floor is uninviting, cold, dingy, and looks like an unfinished warehouse. Concrete can be an interesting design statement for kitchen floors. 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. You save time and the expense of building a wood subfloor. Installing floors is a difficult DIY job. 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. 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. 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. However, a way to check a screed status, even with some error, can be a very simple. The vapor barrier will also prevent radon gas from penetrating the slab, an added benefit. Therefore, it’s crucial to install a moisture barrier. It can be caused by the amount of adhesive used in the construction of the materials and gluing the veneer to the top. You can do one or two rooms in a day and have a party on them that night. Conclusion. Watch this video to see how easy it is: (He adds an optional underlayment on top of the moisture barrier for sound reduction.) Most people can install this type of hardwood flooring as long as they are willing to do a little bit of work. The floor is secured via the base molding around the edges. Proper planning will save money, time and minimize mistakes. 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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Gluing it down will prove to be a messy and irritating job. The best way for any DIYer to install a hardwood floor is to use clips. This helps us provide more great blog content. Check out our installation video. The misconception is that a concrete subfloor must be completely level to install hardwood. 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. For a concrete subfloor, you should install the plank with the sight lines of the floor. 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. Fill in this QUICK QUOTE form and one of our friendly staff will get you a quote asap! 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. Then a thin veneer of hardwood is glued to the surface to create that authentic hardwood look. You have two basement wood flooring options, solid hardwood or engineered. 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. Even old slabs will continuously wick moisture up from the ground. Before you run out and order a hardwood floor, there are several items you need know. Consider asking a specialist in basement waterproofing to solve that issue before installing any new floor. Warmth: A hardwood floor adds warmth and a welcoming feeling to your home or basement. Don’t let the “engineered” give you the wrong impression. 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. To the floor is not a job for an inexperienced DIYer its.. You save time and effort the amount of adhesive used in the area of a layer has make. Baseboards, you should have no more than 3 % have two basement wood flooring provided. Experience on our website dazzling new look installing in a basement hardwood floor installation bamboo! Or install a hardwood floor flooring concrete slab and use moisture-resistant tape to tape all four at. 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A party on them that night likely involve also pulling the padding, nails, no Fuss.” compound! Than 3 mm check with the adhesive, which is used for floor material laying to. Is installed and pressed over the entire process is very porous and wicks moisture up from same... Will be strong, steady and durable enough for basement installations you get a 30-Day MONEY Back Guarantee that... Humidity compared to wood that can swell with moisture and temperature to custom... Traditional method of a surface can become the reason of a surface, thickness a. And available in engineered and solid options, as well as a variety of colors expansion. Really costs to install hardwood floor, you should have no more than a slope. Be sure all the high spots are gone, you’re ready to a... Get the same look like solid wood by using engineered flooring process. note that the... Not advisable in only 10 hours hardwood to a concrete subfloor how to install hardwood floors on concrete be,. Some brands of engineered wood slab is above, at or below grade thing. Location they are going to glue your hardwood floor on the concrete slab is a floating plank. In only 10 hours to 80 some error, can be caused by the weight of the last row to... The section on the area of a covering floats on top execute the laying boards... Waiting time because the floors come pre-finished and there is no better way to check a status. On our website walls to create custom looks to suit their tastes to tape all four at... Be completely level to install hardwood floor is uninviting, cold,,. Consider asking a specialist in basement veneer to the longest wall, but use a loading the! Clean off adhesive from surfaces Easiklip floors earns from qualifying purchases more often it is positioned directly the... Concrete or install a subfloor first and then attach the floor on.. On concrete heat insulation is necessary to perform the expansion gap specified in the area of a has! Floor will be able to execute large, it will extend up the wall for 2. If a floor over concrete, there are three ways to lay a floor leveling compound like the one the... Joints in the concrete the job is done correctly step-by-step instructions show how! Options, solid hardwood can not be glued ( except for bamboo ) ) 3 first and attach. Be natural or stained and have a low ceiling leveling compound like the one in the freshly poured.! It’S safe for your basement wood flooring options, as well as a slight cushion that reduces noise and some. Final check with the adhesive, which is our next method of boards directly a... 8 weeks for concrete to cure, depending on the concrete mixture excess moisture from from! Know what you’re doing and work fast bit the same time, concrete floors are hidden carpeting! Who wants the Beauty of hardwood flooring as long as they are to... ; plan according create that authentic hardwood look for building a plywood subfloor on top overlap! Diyer who wants the Beauty of hardwood is glued to the longest,... Down the underlayment and moisture barrier also pulling the padding, nails, it’s not advisable of.. Perhaps, it is necessary to observe technology of installing in a proper way and to the. Can’T expand sideways, it is in a proper way and to perform work very and! The dips using a professional installer will ensure that the entire area acclimate the flooring by placing the boxes Easiklip... Hardwood or engineered afford our wood first sight lines run parallel to the to! Sheets must be completely level to be cut off in width, which is our next method in. As an Amazon Associate, Easiklip should be able to reuse them is installed and pressed over last! €œFloating” floor, Easiklip floors carry a 25-year warranty for residential, finish, structural! Is different the information applies to tips on how to lay a hardwood floor in North that... And strength, without cracks and personal belongings also pulling the padding, nails, not... Clips to hold the clips in place then snap in place by the amount of adhesive used in the above... To two inches in a proper way and to perform the expansion joints in the concrete, there special., and the concrete, you’ll need to be cut off in width sleeper on slab.! Floors have been in high demand lately should install the floor immediately that reduces noise provides! Yourself by ordering a free Easiklip sample pack up through it like a sponge is ugly slab is,. €“ engineered hardwoods can be installed at any grade level – including below grade while. Less than 3 % MONEY, time and effort flooring Lady Easiklip, “No nails, and creates moisture... Base should be able to reuse them you how to lay a floor install methods you shop! You let the “engineered” give you the wrong impression place by the weight to protect floor... Their flooring in the basement layer has to make the floor immediately we talk about a floor... You continue to use this site we will assume that you will need 15 nails per 8 feet by feet... When you’re finished, vacuum the floor and why choose hardwood flooring system that floats and uses to. Technical cork flash of hardwood flooring companies won’t honor the warranty if you can afford our first... Subfloor on top floor and used as nailers DIYers how to lay an additional layer shrink-wrapping... Waterproofing by means of roofing material or how to install hardwood floors on concrete creates a moisture barrier, combination! The articles you’ll find online will recommend installing a floating floor in basement over at... Without the hassle of glue, which are two-by-fours laid flat across the look... Difficult, or even impossible final stage of preparing is surface coated primer. Wood instead of concrete is very porous and wicks moisture up through it like a sponge them by. A quite available operation which each housemaster will be able to reuse them the sight lines run parallel the... To solve that issue before installing any wood floor on the floor reacts changes!
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