Flat, Clean Slab The slab must be flat with a trowel finish, free of grease, oil, stains and dust. Grind off any high spots and fill any low spots. Vapor Retarder With solid hardwood floors, a proper vapor retarder must be installed on top of the slab to make sure normal slab moisture does not reach the finished floor. Layers of asphalt felt with asphalt mastic or 6 mil polyethylene sheathing are some of the choices.
Subfloors The National Wood Flooring Association recommends two choices in sub-flooring systems for concrete installations: plywood-on-slab and sleeper. Either subfloor system is satisfactory for three-quarter inch flooring.
Asphalt felt or building paper: first, prime the slab and apply cold, cut-back asphalt mastic with a notched trowel 50 sq. Allow to set for two hours. Unroll lb. Over this, apply a second similar coating of mastic and roll out a second layer of asphalt or paper in the same direction as the first, staggering the overlaps to achieve an even thickness.
Polyethylene: Cover the entire slab with 4 to 6 mil polyethylene film, overlapping the edges 4" to 6", and allowing enough film to extend under the baseboard on all sides.
When moisture conditions are more severe, prime the slab and apply cold, cut-back mastic with a straightedge or fine-tooth trowel sq. Lay 4 to 6 mil polyethylene film over the slab, overlapping the edges 4 to 6". In either case, roll the film flat or "walk" it in, stepping on every square foot to ensure adhesion. Puncture bubbles to release trapped air.
Install the plywood after the vapor retarder is in place. Lay plywood diagonally across the direction of the finished floor to help prevent cracks along panel edges. Do not use power-actuated fasteners or concrete nails when radiant heat pipes are embedded in the slab. Lay panels in a staggered pattern with at least 2' long planks along starting and finishing walls.
For systems other than radiant heat, the plywood planks may be glued to the plastic with asphalt mastic. Floating subfloor of 2 layers of plywood secured together over a vapor retarder.
No fasteners penetrate the retarder or the concrete. Sleepers Flat, dry, kiln-dried, preservative-treated 2" x 4" sleepers in random lengths 18" to 48" can also serve as a nailing base. Otherwise, yellow pine, fir or other kiln-dried framing species is acceptable. However, the information applies to installing hardwood floors over concrete at any level.
Have you ever wondered why solid hardwood floors is a better choice for your basement wood flooring options? Beauty — Concrete is ugly. Installing hardwood flooring in basement over concrete will make that space look stunning and spectacular.
Hardwoods provide style and elegance that adapts easily to any interior design whether modern, contemporary or country. Warmth : A hardwood floor adds warmth and a welcoming feeling to your home or basement.
A concrete floor is uninviting, cold, dingy, and looks like an unfinished warehouse. Many real estate professionals reveal that properties with wood flooring sell faster, and for more money than properties without wood floors.
And finished basements increase the values even more. Check out this case study of a DIY hardwood installation with costs, timeline and list of materials :.
Proper planning will save money, time and minimize mistakes. Before you run out and order a hardwood floor, there are several items you need know. We touched on grade earlier. Grade refers to the location of the cement slab. Your flooring expert will ask you if the concrete slab is above, at or below grade. It simply means above the ground, at ground level or below ground, or the basement.
The reason the contractor or seller will ask is that most hardwood floor manufacturers do not recommend installing their floors below grade. Easiklip is the only manufacturer who will still honor the warranty if properly installed below grade. It takes 6 to 8 weeks for concrete to cure, depending on climate and the concrete mixture.
During the curing process, there is excess moisture still evaporating from the concrete that can ruin the floor if you install it too early. This leads us to another significant consideration for laying hardwood floor in basement over concrete. Even old slabs will continuously wick moisture up from the ground. If your home is prone to dampness, or the foundation does not drain properly, water will come through the slab or the walls into your basement.
Do you run a dehumidifier most of the time? You have too much moisture in the area to install hardwood. Consider asking a specialist in basement waterproofing to solve that issue before installing any new floor.
We caution against the Plastic Sheet Method for testing moisture levels in your concrete slab. This method requires you taping a inch square piece of clear plastic, at least 6 mils thick to the floor.
Lay the section on the concrete slab and use moisture-resistant tape to tape all four sides to the floor. You do this in three to four areas around the slab. Leave it for 24 to 48 hours. If you see signs of moisture or condensation on any of the plastic, you likely have a problem, but you can never be sure how big, or what it is, or exactly how much moisture there is.
The calcium chloride test measures the surface moisture of the slab. You can see the kit and how it works in this video. Humidity sensors or moisture meters require drilling holes and inserting probes to measure the amount of water.
Some meters measure results in pounds of water per 1, square feet of the floor during a hour period. Other meters can measure relative humidity in the slab. One very accurate testing method is to use the Wagner Rapid R. Most flooring manufacturers say you should not install hardwood over concrete if the tests show the moisture emission rate is over 3 pounds. When installing hardwood flooring on basement , 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. You need to fill any large cracks and be sure that the entire floor is level. That means pouring a thin layer of cement to fill in dips and gaps. Here is a short video to show you how to level a concrete floor. To check the evenness of the slab, use a 6-foot or longer straight edge. You may have to cut one utilizing a table saw to ensure straightness. Lay the straight board on the floor and place a level on top.
Concrete is very porous like a sponge. Water can quickly pass through it causing moisture problems, especially below grade. Although concrete releases water vapor and is susceptible to moisture that comes from the ground, solid and engineered hardwood flooring can be installed over a concrete slab if the proper precautions are taken.
You can install solid and engineered hardwood flooring over a concrete subfloor using one of three methods:. Glue down engineered hardwood flooring to concrete slab above and below grade. Best method for basement installations as well as homes, condos, or apartments. Engineered is the most durable hardwood flooring against humidity and temperature fluctuations. Engineered offers wider plank widths than solid hardwood flooring.
Engineered flooring can be installed immediately without acclimation. Glue down solid hardwood flooring to concrete slab above grade. Solid hardwood flooring offers the most variety in wood species, colors, and styles. Solid hardwood flooring requires hours to acclimate before it can be installed. Secure a plywood subfloor over concrete slab and then nail down solid hardwood flooring above grade. Since the cost of plywood is lower than adhesives, this is the most budget-effective method.
Click here to download this guide. Shop Solid Hardwood Flooring. Engineered Hardwood Flooring. Hardwood Accessories. Order Samples.
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