Installing Floating Engineered Wood Floors On Concrete

Watch as jack explains what s involved in floating installation of engineered hardwood flooring.

Installing floating engineered wood floors on concrete. Read manufacturer s directions before installation to maintain warranty coverage. You ll learn what tools you. How to install floating floor 1. Hardwood floors are durable low maintenance and easy to clean.

Boards adhere well to the rough surface of the concrete subfloor and therefore lead to less gaps or planks lifting and buckling. Install the first row install the first row using wood glue on all plank ends arranged with the tongue facing the center of the room. Your very first step before installing engineered hardwood floors over concrete is to let the boards acclimate to the room where they re going to be installed. When working on a clean concrete subfloor the glue down method is often the go to choice.

A glue down installation requires premium wood adhesives to be properly troweled over the concrete slab. Gauge the height of the cut by laying down a piece of foam underlayment and a piece of flooring upside down so the saw won t scratch the finish. Next check the boards for warpage or defects and then remove any bad ones. You should install a floating engineered hardwood when you need flexibility.

Be sure to follow the manufacturer s instructions after installing engineered flooring over concrete. Traffic should also be restricted for up to 24 hours after completing the installation to allow drying. A floating engineered wood flooring installation on concrete can be an excellent choice if your subfloor is below grade. Engineered wood floors are easy to install and resistant to moisture making them a great alternative to traditional hardwood floors.

For one there s less insulation. Roller after installation to ensure proper adhesive transfer. Installing a floating engineered hardwood floor step 1. Installing hardwood flooring over concrete.

For instance you might be required to roll and cross the floor with a 100 150 lb. Laying down your floating flooring directly onto concrete is a no no. Use a flush cut dovetail saw to trim the bottom of the casing at all doorways so that the flooring will slide underneath. Check the manufacturer s recommendations but in most cases it s a minimum of three days with no maximum.

Trim the door casings photo by kolin smith. Then the engineered wood planks can be laid into the adhesive and locked together at their tongue and groove joints. Considering new hardwood floors. Installing a floating engineered hardwood floor works well at any grade level and over most types of subfloor surfaces.

The adhesive manufacturer should have instructions regarding specific trowel requirements.