Laying Floating Engineered Wood Flooring On Concrete

Boards adhere well to the rough surface of the concrete subfloor and therefore lead to less gaps or planks lifting and buckling.

Laying floating engineered wood flooring on concrete.

Consult the product data sheet for instructions regarding specific trowel requirements. In general use a notched trowel to spread the adhesive. Also the possibility of dampness however small is greater when there are fewer membranes between your concrete foundation and your floating floor. Then the engineered wood planks can be laid into the adhesive and locked together at their tongue and groove joints.

Engineered wood flooring offers the timeless look of hardwood but is perfect for basements and other areas where moisture can be an issue. Instead the planks are either glued or snapped together. Some engineered wood flooring products are designed for a glue down application when installing flooring over a concrete slab. A floating engineered wood flooring installation on concrete can be an excellent choice if your subfloor is below grade.

Made from layers of real wood compressed together engineered hardwood floors are better able to handle changes in moisture and humidity than solid hardwood. Glue nail staple and float. If your subfloor is concrete cover it with a wood or engineered wood subfloor first. Installing engineered hardwood flooring over concrete too tight against a stationary object will not allow room for normal expansion and may cause a failure.

Follow these steps to install an engineered wood floor in your home. The glue down method of engineered wood flooring installation is typically the most common and creates a highly stable floor. Unlike traditional solid wood strips a floating floor isn t nailed down. Experienced professionals pay close attention to managing moisture and minimizing wood floor expansion and contraction when preparing to install hardwood floors on concrete slabs.

A glue down installation requires premium wood adhesives to be properly troweled over the concrete slab. It s also a great option if you choose to incorporate a radiant heat system don t forget the vapor retarder in contrast gluing hardwood to concrete provides you with a very permanent solution. If you ve decided to install engineered hardwoods there are four possible installation methods depending on the subfloor. Laying down your floating flooring directly onto concrete is a no no.

The adhesive manufacturer should have instructions regarding specific trowel requirements. The planks go down fast over virtually any material concrete plywood sheet vinyl even ceramic tile. Other products are better suited for a nail down installation where they are secured to a wood subfloor with nails or staples.