Can Hardwood Be Installed Over Concrete Slab

Follow these steps to install an engineered wood floor in your home.

Can hardwood be installed over concrete slab.

Installing hardwood on concrete is not a do it yourself project. Installing a hardwood floor over a concrete slab even if your home was built on a concrete slab you can still enjoy the beauty and charm of hardwood floors. Installing the wrong kind of flooring over consistently damp concrete may encourage warping and wear over time. When a concrete slab absorbs moisture it can retain it for a surprisingly long time.

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. The concrete slab needs to be dry before any flooring can be installed. The floor is secured via the base molding around the edges. 1 nail down requires plywood sub flloor you can t nail into concrete last i checked 2.

Some engineered wood flooring products are designed for a glue down application when installing flooring over a concrete slab. Laminate flooring is also fairly easy to install. Too much humidity is most likely to be a problem for a newly installed slab but it could also be an issue for existing slabs too. Laminate flooring is a good alternative to wood flooring in basements.

Fortunately a variety of flooring materials are water resistant enough to function well over a concrete slab. Solid hardwood can not be glued except for bamboo 3. Many types of flooring can be installed over a concrete sub floor. Experienced professionals pay close attention to managing moisture and minimizing wood floor expansion and contraction when preparing to install hardwood floors on concrete slabs.

It takes 6 to 8 weeks for concrete to cure depending on climate and the concrete mixture. The slab can be tested to check the moisture levels and determine whether there is too much moisture to install the subfloor. But it s considerably more difficult to install a 3 4 in. However many homeowners are disappointed to discover that solid wood flooring cannot be installed on a concrete slab.

Other products are better suited for a nail down installation where they are secured to a wood subfloor with nails or staples. Glue down engineered hardwoods can be glued note. Float this is when the hardwood is clicked into each other or glued at joints but is not attached to the floor. How to install engineered wood over concrete engineered wood flooring offers the timeless look of hardwood but is perfect for basements and other areas where moisture can be an issue.