Installing Engineered Hardwood Flooring Basement

A thin veneer of real hardwood sits on top of a plywood base.

Installing engineered hardwood flooring basement. Some are glued down while others float unattached to the underlayment. The top is not wood but it looks like wood it s. Use a cleaner or special floor wipes designed for engineered wood flooring to immediately remove any glue that may have squeezed through the boards. Installing solid hardwood flooring in a basement that is below grade generally voids the warranty so if you really want the look of hardwood there choose engineered over solid planks.

This plywood makes the floor structurally sound and prevents moisture from damaging the floor. You need to leave a 5 16 inch gap between the flooring and the baseboard or wall around the perimeter of the room to allow the floor enough space to expand. In general use a notched trowel to spread the adhesive. With engineered wood flooring a thin layer of real hardwood is positioned on top of a plywood base.

Roughness or irregularities in the basement s concrete floor are likely to show through in the vinyl floor. Typically engineered wood flooring comes in tongue and groove planks the top layer of which is a laminated veneer. Engineered hardwood flooring is design in perpendicular layers so that there is less expansion and contraction. Engineered wood flooring has the timeless look of hardwood floors with the added durability of a plywood sub layer.

Engineered wood flooring 4 7 sq. Engineered flooring goes down over a thin foam sheet which provides cushioning and sound dampening. Installing engineered hardwood flooring over concrete too tight against a stationary object will not allow room for normal expansion and may cause a failure. Consult the product data sheet for instructions regarding specific trowel requirements.

While you can t install solid hardwood floors in the basement or below grade you can install engineered hardwood floors. Continue installing the floor when you reach the end of the floor stop and leave enough space to comfortably exit the room without stepping on the new floor. This plywood is considered dimensionally stable as it holds shape better than solid hardwood in the presence of moisture. For the best appearance and a warmer finished floor this flooring should be installed over a subfloor.

Sheet vinyl has another limitation as well. That s right installation can be challenging. The planks glue together to create a floor that floats moves freely as a unit.