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.
How to install engineered wood flooring on concrete slab.
Hardwood installation on concrete is not as easy as you would think.
Slab preparation slab preparation is critical for glue down and includes sanding scraping leveling and filling low spots because the slab must be flat so the planks can fit correctly.
Installing engineered hardwood flooring over concrete too tight against a stationary object will not allow room for normal expansion and may cause a failure.
Engineered wood flooring offers the timeless look of hardwood but is perfect for basements and other areas where moisture can be an issue.
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.
Some engineered wood flooring products are designed for a glue down application when installing flooring over a concrete slab.
Experienced professionals pay close attention to managing moisture and minimizing wood floor expansion and contraction when preparing to install hardwood floors on concrete slabs.
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.
Here are the eight critical questions you must research and answer to plan and budget for a successful engineered hardwood flooring installation.
What are the best engineered hardwood floors to lay over your concrete slab.
You usually determine this with a meter that compares the relative humidity of the slab with the ambient humidity.
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.
Fortunately even if your home was built on a concrete slab you can still choose to put in new hardwood flooring.
It takes 6 to 8 weeks for concrete to cure depending on climate and the concrete mixture.
Consult the product data sheet for instructions regarding specific trowel requirements.
If you re curious how to install hardwood floor on concrete slab there are a few things you should know.
Cost skill level.
Does this mean you can t get hardwood installed in those areas.
You can enjoy luxurious hardwood in your concrete areas and we re going to show you how.
Before you prepare the concrete for hardwood flooring it must be dry.
How to install a base for a concrete floor.
How to install glue down engineered wood flooring on concrete.
Engineered hardwood products vary in depth typically ranging from three eighths to just over half an inch thick.