 | Roland Dalrymple has owned Quality Floor in Pittsburg/Frontenac for 15 years. He received his degree in Building Construction Tech at Pittsburg State and has been in the construction related field all his life. For more information or to reach Roland please call 620-231-2690.
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Carpet, Tile & Floor Covering
2012-08-30 08:35:13
Hardwood flooring over a concrete slab
A- Successful installation of wood flooring over concrete depends on a few things.
First, consider whether the slab is above or below grade. While possible, installation of wood flooring below grade, or below ground level as in a basement, is not recommended for most products.
Next, you need to consider whether or not the concrete is cured. If it is new concrete, be sure to wait about 8 weeks before the installation of the flooring.
Even in older slabs, moisture can be a problem. Before you install flooring, have a professional run a test to determine the moisture content and whether or not it is suitable for the flooring. If you have to run a dehumidifier year round, you likely have too much moisture in the area for hardwood flooring.
Another thing you should check is the flatness of the slab. Flatness is essential when installing tongue and groove plank installation. It is recommended that the slab be flat within 3/16" in a 10 foot radius or 1/8" within a 6 foot radius. One trick is to take a 6 to 10 straight edge and lay it on the slab at various places around the room and look for daylight underneath the straight edge. Any dips should be very noticeable. The dips must be filled in with a non-shrinking, mortar-type floor leveling compound before installation and allowed enough time to dry.
Engineered & Longstrip (glueless) Hardwood Floors can be installed over most concrete slabs under the right conditions.
