Wood floors installation on concrete

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Detailed qualitative and quantitative testing methods are provided by the National Wood Flooring Association. 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. The solution here is establishing kerf cuts on the backside of the plywood with a circular saw giving it better flexing properties. For more traditional hardwoods or ones that are longer in length, the largest disadvantage of gluing has always been material that is not milled straight or may not lay flat.

This creates problems trying to close up gaps, whereas nailing to a wood sub floor forces gaps to close by the sheer force of the nailing tools used. Other common problems include wrong adhesives, or incorrect amount used. Adding one more product to the mix is the Sika Acoubond system above that also provides some sound dampening properties for apartment or condominium dwellers.

As mentioned previously, any successful installation using the these products requires very straight material. Based on 1, square feet. No angled walls. Keep in mind the material costs are not hardwood contractor pricing but average retail sales taxes not included at home improvement centers or flooring supply stores in the continental USA. They should also be considered general as regional differences can affect the pricing. Make sure you remove all the paint and sweep up any dirt or debris that might be left behind.

You will need a barrier that is appropriate for the flooring you choose:. Before you begin, open any doors or windows in the room to provide proper ventilation.

You will not likely want to inhale the fumes from your moisture barrier because it is likely to contain chemicals that are harmful to your lungs. Once the barrier is applied, you do not want to step on it. Finally, let the moisture barrier set for 24 hours. Some areas are more humid than others and will require more time to dry.

In this case, check back every four hours or so. Depending on the type of flooring you chose, your method for completing the next part will be different.

Do this in one of two ways:.