Before you run out and order a hardwood floor there are several items you need know.
Why can t you put hardwood on concrete.
You can rent a concrete grinder from a rental store.
Even 1 8 inch of water is still enough to flood solid hardwood and ruin it.
This can mean groundwater relentlessly pressing against foundation walls and forcing its way through cracks.
Hardwood floors are durable low maintenance and easy to clean.
Float this is when the hardwood is clicked into each other or glued at joints but is not attached to the floor.
Hardwood type there is no way to install standard 3 4 hardwood on concrete.
Before you prepare the concrete for hardwood flooring it must be dry.
Solid hardwood can not be glued except for bamboo 3.
Once you ve made up your mind about installing a hardwood floor over your concrete slab you need to put some thought into it.
When you install hardwood floors concrete is one of the best bases to work from there are only a few steps to take.
Concrete naturally breathes and takes in expels moisture and this can affect wood causing.
Proper planning will save money time and minimize mistakes.
With solid hardwood being ruled out because of the adverse effect it has with high moisture content a safer alternative is an engineered strip floor that can be glued to the concrete providing all concerns with moisture are addressed.
Follow these steps with care to safely complete the installation yourself.
Deciding factors before installing hardwood flooring over concrete.
Whether you re planning on renting out your home or looking to increase its value using concrete as a base is a great idea.
Even if your home was built on a concrete slab you can still enjoy the beauty and charm of hardwood floors.
Even if there is no.
This is the more common than you may think and this is moisture will seeping up through concrete in the form of vapor.
The floor is secured via the base molding around the edges.
Wear a mask and.
The concrete slab needs to be completely cured and moisture free before you can install hardwood on top.
You usually determine this with a meter that compares the relative humidity of the slab with the ambient humidity.
You don t want to try and glue it down either.
Installing a hardwood floor over a concrete slab.
If you can t get a pry bar into the scored crevice start with a flat edged tool like a spackle knife to work the baseboard loose then try the pry bar.
If the slab is new don t even begin moisture testing until 30 days after pouring it it probably won t be ready to be covered until 60 days after.
Glue down engineered hardwoods can be glued note.
1 nail down requires plywood sub flloor you can t nail into concrete last i checked 2.
Experienced professionals pay close attention to managing moisture and minimizing wood floor expansion and contraction when preparing to install hardwood floors on concrete slabs.