Installing Hardwood Floors On Concrete Subfloor

Get a comprehensive breakdown on which materials to use what to take into consideration and what steps to take for four subfloor systems.

Installing hardwood floors on concrete subfloor.

You simply nail the boards with a flooring nailer. Installing hardwood flooring over concrete hardwood floors are durable low maintenance and easy to clean. For a concrete subfloor you should install the plank with the sight lines of the floor. Determining moisture content of both the wood flooring and the subfloor is an important part of quality control in the flooring installation process.

Typical sight lines run parallel to the longest wall but each home is different. Test for dryness new concrete is heavy with moisture and it must be a minimum of 30 days old before moisture testing begins. Do this by multiplying the room s length by its width. Learn how to install beautiful hardwood floors over a concrete slab.

Make a final check with the level to be sure all the high and low spots are gone. Then vacuum the floor with a wet dry vac or sweep it with a broom. Measure and mark the center of all four walls at floor level. It s best to use shorter cleats than you would for a wood floor to ensure they sink in all the way.

Installing hardwood flooring on a plywood covered slab is identical to installing it on a wood subfloor. Floated subfloor alternate subfloor glue down sub floor and the nail down subfloor system. When installing a basement hardwood floor the concrete must be flat so the tongue and grooves of the hardwood meet and connect. Old basement slabs can crack and buckle in places.

Slabs less than 60 days old are generally too wet to install floors. If your concrete subfloor was just poured you ll need to allow it to properly cure for a minimum of 60 days before your luxury vinyl flooring installation begins. Before you install file flooring follow the directions above for fixing high spots and low spots in a wood or concrete subfloor. Read manufacturer s directions before installation to maintain warranty coverage.

The key to a beautiful long lasting hardwood or laminate floor is a well prepared subfloor.