If the building is new construction, the concrete must be completely cured for a minimum of 90 days before installation. Unpack the flooring and spread it around the room to acclimate. When you are installing a moisture barrier, you want to make sure that there are no gaps and that the entire floor is covered. There are many advantages to having a power float concrete finish, starting with the fact that the process eliminates the need for more time and materials when applying a power float screed. Carpet Installation Warm and comfortable, carpeting adds new life and affordable style to wherever your family wants to stretch out and relax. Float Installation: The plank pieces are glued (or clicked together if the flooring has a click lock system) to each other but not to the subfloor, creating a single large panel held in place by friction and its own weight. The remaining layer(s) will serve as insulation. Tape the seams of the moisture barrier together and then put the edge of the moisture barrier up the wall about two inches. If you know the right way on how to install underlayment for laminate flooring on concrete, end results will certainly be beautiful. Is it possible to install a floating engineered wood floor over (what I bel... Iron railing install, floating hardwood floor. Measure and mark the center of all four walls at floor level. Laminate was not the first attempt of a floating floor. Moreover, the laminate flooring is easy to maintain and durable, if you clean it regularly with appropriate products. Before you install any flooring material over a concrete slab, it is important to inspect the slab for defects. Concrete floor. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. moisture barrier. Will Precast Concrete Steps Work for You? The “legs” of your floating floor should be made to fit such sections. Putting in your own pre-finished hardwood flooring costs less than having a professional install it. Tape the seams with a polyethylene tape or duct tape. Might help to mention testing for dampness, "Really helpful article, thank you. Thank you so much for the step by step and all of the explanations. Be sure to cut the right end of the planking. To create this article, 15 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. for sheet rubber in rolls): You’ve … Level. A floating engineered wood flooring installation on concrete can be an excellent choice if your subfloor is below grade. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Make sure the floor is completely clean before laying the new flooring. Ideally, you should let the installation and replacement of tile floors to professionals, but there are some exceptions to the rule. I wish to glue it as a floating floor. You should check your local regulations regarding the removal and disposal of asbestos. When you're all finished, vacuum the floor to remove any dust or debris. Undercutting the doorjambs and casing helps you slide the vinyl plank flooring underneath. Suppose this distance is 12 feet (3.66 m). Place another wedge in between that board and the wall. Moisture can ruin your flooring before you even install it, so avoid bringing the flooring into the installation space until the concrete is dry. Lay 6-mil polyethylene sheeting over the concrete to minimize moisture migration from the concrete up into the wood flooring. Does a floating floor hold up under heavy weight? Wish I'd found it before I started! Can you lay floating floors straight on concrete? It can be cut with a utility knife, so don’t sweat! Nail the 3/4-in. One of the most obvious advantages that a floating floor has over a non-floating floor is ease of installation. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. This installation method creates a floating floor, which means GripStrip vinyl planking covers the subfloor without adhering or fastening to it in any manner. Then fasten 3/4-in. If you use an underlayment without a moisture barrier, it's a good idea to install a sheet of plastic below it for insurance. A couple of years ago we bought the expensive kind of laminate hardwood flooring (Bruce). To learn about our products’ standards and warranties, send us an email or call 1-800-832-9023, Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. CST. With use the floor comes apart--unlocks. Rubber tile or rubber sheets. Can I install a floating floor in a room that does not have heat in the winter? This can involve first removing any existing flooring, such as carpeting or vinyl, to expose the existing concrete … Here are the basics of how to install floating hardwood floors over concrete. Vinyl is a beautiful and convenient flooring choice for any basement. Hi, I bought a 10 year old house with squeaky/bouncy downstairs floors. Moisture can ruin your flooring before you even install it, so avoid bringing the flooring into the installation space until the concrete is dry. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. What Moisture Barrier Should You Use under Laminate Flooring? Easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions show DIYers how to install a floating wood plank floor for a dazzling new look. To install vinyl plank flooring on concrete, you’ll first need to clean the concrete with soap and water and fill in any cracks with concrete filler. Over the last twenty years newer forms have all but replaced the older, more dated sleeper on slab system. Prepare the Room It shouldn't take too long, but the total time will depend mainly on the size of the room you are doing. You may need to have a specialist do this. An above-grade concrete floor will most likely be in a commercial building. My flooring will not lay flat. Wood, Plastic, or Marble Cutting Board: A Bacteriologist's Take. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. How to Install a Laminate Floating Floor. If you have carpet, you are going to need to remove it. How to Install Locking Floating Wood Flo... How to Install Floating Laminate Floor P... How to Install Floating Laminate Floor Part 1. If it's worse in the colder months than in a dry summer, this is probably the case. Keep in mind, the After that, measure the areas where there are depressions and rises. This should also come in a large roll that you can unroll. Do I put the floating floor underneath the kitchen cabinets or around them? A laminate floor is a "floating floor," meaning it is not fastened directly to the subfloor. Ideally, I'd glue the T&G, as is the practice with the laminate floating flooring. Hardwood floors are durable, low maintenance and easy to clean. The grooved pieces that snap together go 1 way. Yes, if you use a product that has attached underlayment. Install the first course. Works well on a wide variety of subfloors. Skill Level Start to Finish 2 Days. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. For the floor adhesive to properly stick, the floor must be clean. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. From the example, you would multiply 10' x 12' (3.05m x 3.66m), which would give you a total area of 120 square feet (11.163 square meters). Use a level at various spots on the floor to make sure it's even. A floating hardwood floor underlayment acts as a slight cushion that reduces noise and provides some insulation. Open the boxes and let them sit in the room for three or four days to let the flooring adjust to the house climate. He didn't even place the foam underlayment correctly. First, apply a concrete leveling primer to the entire floor with a push broom. Laminate Installation For the look of real hardwood, stone or tile—at affordable prices—explore the versatility and durability of laminate flooring. Laying laminate flooring on a concrete subfloor is not difficult if you use the right tools and techniques. Stagger the end joints, overlapping the ends 4", with 1/4" space between. GripStrip vinyl plank flooring has a manufacturer-applied adhesive layer that connects the planks to one another. The floor compresses on the underlayment. Click and lock flooring. Concrete as a subfloor is a better option if you plan to have something really heavy sitting on that floor. I have old linoleum/asbestos tiles on the floor over the concrete slab. Chipboard floating floor. Snap the chalk line over the top of the concrete or moisture barrier between the marks on opposite walls making a cross in the center of the room. There’s no better way to transform a cold, unwelcoming space than by installing cozy and warm hardwood flooring. Generally, after preparation, a decent carpenter could lay out a large living room in about five hours, but it may take some amateurs up to the entire day. plywood to the concrete. Prep your subfloor so that it's clean, dry and level within 3/16-inch change per 10 feet. If you love solid wood floors and your home rests on a concrete slab, you’re not out of luck. Pour a Floating Concrete Floor: We had a building that had an existing concrete floor that was poured directly on the ground. The pull-bar would have made laying the, "Very helpful instructions and the video was key to understanding the tricky steps. I highly suggest not laying over carpet. Laurent “Frenchy” Billaud, whose tile installation company operates in the greater Los Angeles area, says he often sees floors where the installer skips putting down a crack isolation membrane. It’s best to allow an extra 15cm, just to be on the safe side. Tape the edges together and then cut off the excess along the wall. Before installing the floor, loosely lay an additional vapor retarder of 4 to 6 mil polyethylene film over the sleepers, overlapping the edges on top of the 2 x 4s. on center. Over the last twenty years newer forms have all but replaced the older, more dated sleeper on slab system. Lay down the first plank with its grooved end in the corner against a spacer … If found so, trimming 5 mm off the offending edge using an electric dovetail-blade reciprocating saw might solve it. This is to ensure that there is enough room for expansion later on. In most circumstances, a residential concrete floor is created by grinding an existing structural concrete slab and applying a chosen polishing, colorizing, or texturizing technique. Floating floors are the best solution over a concrete subfloor. In this case, 91% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. If that’s the case and you’re not the building owner, you’d better check first. Vinyl sheet: This vinyl type comes in a single sheet that is installed over the concrete floor. home improvement and repair website. Concrete is a common subfloor material, and in general, it’s easy to prepare for a luxury vinyl flooring installation project. A vinyl sheet may be forgiving if your concrete slab isn’t perfectly even. Installation of floating floors are easy and fast because planks click or snap together quickly and “float… Determine your starting wall. Laying the piece on the ground first and then marking it with a pencil will ensure you cut the correct end. For do-it-yourselfers, the preferred method is the floating floor installation, which uses no glue or nails. Typically, the floor must be level and uniform within 3/16 inch every 10 feet. There can be issues with different types of floating floor products when laid over concrete. Read manufacturer’s directions before installation to maintain warranty coverage. Moreover, the laminate flooring is easy to maintain and durable, if you clean it regularly with appropriate products. We'll explain the benefits and show you how to do a floating floor installation yourself. Then place another board onto the narrow side of it up against the wall. To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Discussion in 'Carpenters' Talk' started by Gagsjd, Jan 4, 2018. Installing laminate flooring is a snap literally. Float, Glue and Nail installation are three main methods used for installing this type of floor. By using our site, you agree to our. Should I remove the old tile before I float my flooring? The quality of laying the laminated flooring much depends on the tools. You will need: 1. a p… What Kinds of Floors Keep Your House Cool? What kind of under layer is needed? Use a quality cleaner like Zep Professional Concrete and Masonry Floor Cleaner ($27 per gallon; 500-750 square feet of coverage). Over the years it had cracked. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent However, the task at hand would be trickier. I took up ... "Sleeper" OSB subfloor with pine T&G over concrete? Will the people on the floor below me hear when I walk on floating floorboards? When it’s ready, unroll your vinyl flooring and cut to size after measuring your room. Learn how to use a grinder. This flooring has underlay attached. If the concrete subfloor is always dry, however, laminate floors can be placed directly on the slab. To refresh a room with a concrete floor, we specifically recommend engineered hardwood flooring.This high-quality, high-performance flooring solution offers improved stability compared with standard solid wood flooring, making it a great choice for the basement and other … It doesn't defy gravity and float. Installing a floating floor on an uneven surface could also be achieved by skipping all the above-mentioned steps. Next, measure the distance of the opposing walls to each other. Glue-down – A glue-down flooring installation involves the application of a bonding agent or adhesive to the subfloor, which might either be concrete or wood. Can I put a floating floor over old stick down squares in bath room? NB: Sprung floors, designed to give specific properties of shock absorption and energy return suitable for dance and sport, are generally floating floors. And for do-it-yourselfers, the preferred method is the floating floor installation which uses no glue or nails. Skill Level: Intermediate. Vinyl Tile. A floating engineered wood flooring installation on concrete can be an excellent choice if your subfloor is below grade. This is a possible basement flooring project you can DIY. Thoroughly clean the area where you would be building the floating floor. Most people can install this type of hardwood flooring as long as they are willing to do a little bit of work. Yes. ft. for tiles, and $1-$5/sq. At this point, you should be ready to start laying your floating hardwood flooring. Unless you live in a place with drastic humidity changes, leave those suckers in. Before you can install over a concrete subfloor, you are going to need to put in a moisture barrier. Floating floors can be laid on concrete, but the technique is important. When you install a floating floor throughout the whole house, do you leave the spacers in until you are entirely done, or do you remove them when each room is done? Even if the subfloor was properly flattened prior to installation, there is another floor prep issue that can cause noisy floating floors: There may be loose debris under the floor crunching as you walk. For calculating the required amount of laminated boards for a particular room, you should multiply its length by its width. Concrete is a porous substance, so moisture can pass through it. Lay a plastic moisture barrier and then screw 3/4-in. Dips, bulges and cracks occur frequently as concrete cures and ages. Floating floor over concrete/ cutback adhesive. For vinyl tile, skip … When Laminate Flooring first hit the United States in 1994 under the brand name Pergo, flooring installation began to change. The flooring associate at The Home Depot Canada suggested using vapour barrier with tuck tape to seal the concrete. DHCR105_floor-moisture-barrier-01_s4x3. All rights reserved. ", "Excellent review for those who rarely lay flooring!". How to Install Brazilian Cherry Hardwood... How to Install Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring. To learn more, including how to choose the right wood or finish for your floating floor, read on. We’re making progress on my office makeover (see the plans here!) % of people told us that this article helped them. Sand down bumps and ridges in the subfloor. From our experience, we can assert that the preparation stage is maybe more important then the actual installation. See care and maintenance. The floor will move too much and could pull apart at the joints. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". Many types of flooring can be installed over a concrete sub floor. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Tools. Not doing the right prep on a slab can result in embarrassing problems, such as floating floors with so much deflection that the lamp on the end table shakes back and forth when someone walks by. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. If the floor system has too much movement, it should be reinforced before installing floating tiles. Calculate how many boxes of floating flooring and how many rolls of foam underlayment you will need to purchase. Fill in unlevel spots or grooves with patching compound. Using a glue-down floor is an option in above-grade installation only since installation below grade requires a plastic barrier on top of the concrete. Because it doesn’t include any gaps, this type of vinyl flooring offers the most moisture resistance. Laminate flooring is a good alternative to wood flooring in basements. Leaving a small barrier around the side of the room will give the flooring enough of a buffer to do its thing without cracking. Copyright© If the subfloor is plywood, such as on a first floor with a basement or a second floor, placing a heavy load will cause it to sag over time if not reinforced. treated plywood to the concrete with concrete screws spaced every 16 in. When it comes to distinguishing between installing a floating floor vs a nail-down or glue-down type method, it is imperative that you weigh the good along with the bad before making any final decisions. But it’s considerably more difficult to install a 3/4-in. As far as I can make out the insulation is sitting on a damp proof sheet which is on top of a concrete slab. Concrete Treatments is a concrete floor contractor & concrete polishing service provider in the Minneapolis, MN area. We have a patio that a previous owner turned into an office. Oct 25 . As you don’t have to install underlay for Vinyl Flooring or LVT, this can go directly onto the concrete subfloor. Floating Floor – The Best Floor For Uneven Surface. suggestions. Then take your saw and cut the board to the right size. Gagsjd New Member. Floating wood flooring can provide you with a simple installation and a beautiful floor at the same time. Since most floating floors are made from thinner materials, they tend to be less substantial flooring options and easily be chipped during installation when a tapping block and mallet are used. The installation of hardwood floors on concrete offers several types of applications. We installed wood look vinyl plank over concrete floors in our basement- here’s what I’ve learned from doing it a couple times and tips for installing your own! Then, use a level to find any spots where the ground is uneven and apply concrete self-leveling compound to even it out. Tips and Products for Cleaning Hardwood Floors. An advantage of installing engineered or floating floors is that they come pre-finished once our technicians have laid your floor it is ready to walk on. Flooring defects. When installing a floating laminate floor, you don’t need to use any adhesive, nails or staples. Pour the mixture onto the floor, letting gravity take it into the lower areas of the floor. It’s also a great option if you choose to incorporate a radiant heat system. A good rule of thumb is to buy 5 percent more than the square footage the packaging for the wood dictated. If you are installing a floating floor over concrete, extend the underlayment up the wall by about two inches. It cost just as much as 3/4" red oak (the best if you can get). You can if you use vinyl planks, but not wood or laminate; they should not get wet. Unpack the flooring and spread it around the room to acclimate. This means that you will need to take everything out of the space including furniture and personal belongings. This article has been viewed 204,887 times. Laminate flooring is also fairly easy to install. In our region of the country, installing over concrete slabs is something we do every day, no matter what kind of wood floor we're putting down. No. You’ll want to install an underlayment on concrete floor in basement. ", on a concrete floor first, as other videos do. Take the small piece a board that was leftover from the cut and use it to start your next row. This comes in a roll that you can unroll over the floor. Many floating floors don’t respond well to moisture so they may require a moisture barrier to be laid first. A floating floor is easily installed without using glue, staples or nails, making it an exceptional DIY floor option. Before you go about laying down your floating floor, you need to know how much ground you need to cover. Underlayments can combine water barrier protection and noise reduction. Terms of the Trade: What Is a Tongue and Groove Joint? Contractor fixes the moisture barrier of the floor. To create this article, 15 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. However, allow 24 hours for your flooring to acclimatise by leaving it out of its packaging. All information is provided "AS IS." Note: When installing engineered hardwood floors over radiant heated subfloors, turn the heat off for 24 hours before, during and after installation. Title: how to install laminate flooring with ease glued glue less systems Description: laminate started Via: carpentry-tips-and-tricks.com. Place the board into the gap. Note that in the UK the base board is skirting board. Cork is the best choice, but it’s quite expensive. Learn how to install Smartcore Ultra Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring. References They need the same care as all timber floors do. Polished concrete, Terrazzo floors, repair, sealing, decorative concrete and more for commercial & residential floors. Use a piece of foam and planking as a measurement guide when trimming door casings. However the building supports were placed directly on to… Floor slab. We removed the shims for expansion and shrinking just like the instructions said. Chips in floating floors can also be created by cleaning the floor with a beater-bar attachment on a vacuum cleaner. Last Updated: September 13, 2019 Lay the 1x4s perpendicular to the direction you intend to install the floor planks. Perhaps the easiest way to improve the insulation of a floating vinyl floor on concrete is to install a thermal underlayment, preferably made of cork, felt or a similar material. The floating wood floor will expand and contract as a unit with temperature fluctuations. Multiply these two measurements to find the total area you will need to cover with pre-finished hardwood flooring. Place a wedge on each side of the board in between it and the wall. But with concrete? and it feels so good, you guys! Evaluate the space where you plan to install the floating flooring. With Laminate flooring came a floating floor with a pad underneath it. See also other 29 Stylish How to Install Floating Hardwood Floors On Concrete below here! Source Images. Any other type of flooring should be fine to put the hardwood right over the top. Alternatively, screw rows of treated 1x4s to the concrete 16 in. Continue doing this until the floor is covered. The instructions I have are for secret nailing to 38 mm joists, which would end up too high. The installation of hardwood floors on concrete offers several types of applications. Step 8. If you're having trouble fitting the end piece into the floor because of the wall, you might need to remove the second-to-last piece and lay down the final piece of flooring. Fill in low spots with a concrete self-leveling compound. Either lay it over both layers, or pull one up first. Don’t try installing this if you have less idea about the installation tools or steps usually. "This helped me know that the person who put down our floor did it completely wrong! For example, vinyl is somewhat easy to deal with, as long as you take the measures right and know how to cut it and install it above a previously set floor. What are the Advantages of a Power Float Concrete Floor? Laminate floors, which may be tongue and groove or snap-together, are "floating" floors and not attached to the subfloor. How to Install Natural Stone Veneer in a Shower. Would it be best to pull up two layers of old vinyl and lay new floating boards on the concrete below, or just lay it over the old vinyl? Dead-blow hammers minimize the damage to the wood. Hardwood Installation Hardwood floors add unsurpassed beauty and exceptional value to your home. Make sure that the entire floor is covered with this pad. Moisture will get through, so even if you don’t add an additional underlay, you do need to seal the concrete. Installing Hardwood Floors On Concrete. This article, however, focuses only on the glue-down application. You will later cover the moisture barrier up with baseboards along the edge. What can I do? Normally you would jackhammer the old concrete out and do it right. Can I install new floating flooring on the old floating flooring? Install floating floor over double glued floor. Installing one might appear to be a frightening task, but with proper preparation and planning, any home improvement DIYer can do it. You will lay the flooring lengthwise to this wall. Floor plenum airtightness. Learn more... A floating floor is simply a floor that does not need to be nailed or glued to the floor underneath it. Using a tape measure, measure the room from one wall to the opposite wall, and write down the distance. Installing a floating engineered hardwood floor works well at any grade level and over most types of subfloor surfaces. Next is to trim it around irregular boundaries like columns and door jambs. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2d\/Install-a-Floating-Floor-Step-1Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Install-a-Floating-Floor-Step-1Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2d\/Install-a-Floating-Floor-Step-1Bullet1.jpg\/aid1325482-v4-728px-Install-a-Floating-Floor-Step-1Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"