Can solid hardwood be installed on concrete

It is the fighting of the natural tendencies of the solid hardwood to bow, twist, and curl. All wood flooring is a natural product and will move with varying moisture and humidity levels, and. Due to this movement, solid wood should not be installed in basements since they are below-grade and highly prone to moisture and relative humidity issues. The direction of the hardwood movement is determined by the annual growth rings.

Plain-sawn boards will expand and contract through the width of the board. The wider the plank, the more potential for movement. Typically, solid flooring that is quarter-sawn produces the most stable board possible.

By having such a high grain angle, the usual expansion and contraction that hardwood floors experience with changes in humidity are kept to an absolute minimum because the expansion of the flooring is up and down rather than side to side. A quarter-sawn board expands and shrinks mostly across its thickness.

Therefore, a floor made of quarter-sawn boards shrinks and expands significantly less across its width, making a much more stable floor. 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. If you ever need to replace just one board or move the entire floor, Easiklip uninstalls as easy as it installs.

It does not emit harmful chemicals like formaldehyde or other toxic fumes found in some brands of engineered hardwood floors. You get a Day Money Back Guarantee so that you can shop with confidence. Easiklip floors carry a year warranty for residential, finish, and structural issues. Feel the quality for yourself by ordering a free Easiklip sample pack.

You will receive a 5" sample of each of our floor types to see which one fits your decor:. These samples come from the same White Oak boards that we use in all our floors. There is no better way to improve your home than by choosing Easiklip for your basement hardwood floor. Please wait. Calculating shipping We're sorry, freight costs to , require a manual quotation.

Please submit your request below and our staff will send you a quote asap! As an Amazon Associate, Easiklip Floors earns from qualifying purchases. This helps us provide more great blog content. Thank you for your support. Shopping Cart. My Account. Welcome to Easiklip Floors! Login Create Account.

How to Install Hardwood Floors on Concrete. Engineered floors are made with lots of chemical adhesives where a base of wood chips or thin sheets are pressed together under heat to form a sheet of OSB or plywood.

Then a thin veneer of hardwood is glued to the surface to create that authentic hardwood look. They may be natural or stained and have a clear protective finish. Solid hardwood floors are just that, solid wood. They also may be pre-finished or unfinished. Finishing a wood floor in the home takes experience, time, and the right equipment to make the floor look good.

Solid wood can also warp and rot if there is excessive moisture. This is how much your real solid hardwood floor will cost: sq ft. Shipping Economy Freight. Calculate Shipping Costs: Please wait. Calculate Shipping Costs: We're sorry, freight costs to , require a manual quotation. Tags: concrete DIY tutorial.

Apr 25, Easiklip Floors. Recent Posts. Sep 15, We Accept. Stay in Touch Sign up for our newsletter and be the first to know about coupons and special promotions. During your estimate, we will bring multiple samples of the highest quality hardwood for you to look at. Get a free copy of our carpet buying guide today and we will walk you through the entire process, start to finish.

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