Here s a step by step guide to help a diy enthusiast install an engineered wood floor over a concrete base.
How to lay engineered oak flooring on concrete.
Treated plywood to the concrete with concrete screws spaced every 16 in.
Oak walnut by finish oiled lacquered.
This test will determine the moisture levels of the slab.
For this the floor quite literally floats over the top of the concrete with the tongue and grooves glued together.
Engineered oak boards as a structural floor in this situation the engineered oak boards are fixed by secret nailing see below them to your timber joists to form a new floor or to replace existing floor boards.
Laying laminate flooring on concrete.
Wood fiber based multiply and 2 ply construction.
Alternatively screw rows of treated 1x4s to the concrete 16 in.
Here are the eight critical questions you must research and answer to plan and budget for a successful engineered hardwood flooring installation.
Treat it with the respect it deserves.
Installing an engineered wood floor is a major project.
The maximum length that we recommend engineered wood flooring can be installed is 7m in any direction.
Glue down as an installation method for engineered wood floors as the name suggests involves using a bonding agent adhesive or glue that you put directly on to your concrete subfloor before laying your floor.
The floating floor method simply involves laying your engineered oak boards without any direct fixing to the sub floor.
Lay the 1x4s perpendicular to the direction you intend to install the floor planks.
The engineered oak flooring must be suitable for the task so normally 20 mm thick and the joists should be spaced no wider than.
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.
Once you ve fitted your underlay you can start laying laminate on concrete.
Engineered flooring goes down over a thin foam sheet which provides cushioning and sound dampening.
What are the best engineered hardwood floors to lay over your concrete slab.
If you choose this method of fitting you need to make sure that there s no dampness whatsoever in your subfloor.
Laying an engineered floor over concrete.
Engineered floors are common in 3 types of construction.
If you do intend to install engineered wood flooring in a longer run look for areas where you can add expansion gaps such as doorways.
Then nail the flooring planks with a standard flooring nailer see photo for details.
If in doubt add an extra pack to allow for any mishaps.
For laminate flooring calculate how many packs you ll need by working out the surface area of the room by multiplying the length and width together.
The tests mentioned below are the ones recommended by the oak flooring institute of national oak flooring manufactures association.