Engineered wood flooring offers the timeless look of hardwood but is perfect for basements and other areas where moisture can be an issue.
Floating engineered floor on concrete.
As an installation method glued down is most suited for either concrete or wood subfloors.
Cost skill level.
Also the possibility of dampness however small is greater when there are fewer membranes between your concrete foundation and your floating floor.
A floating engineered wood flooring installation on concrete can be an excellent choice if your subfloor is below grade.
How to install a base for a concrete floor.
The surface can t be slick heavily troweled or burnished.
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.
As needed use a concrete grinder you may want to rent one to remove any coating and to slightly roughen the concrete surface so the adhesive will stick.
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.
Nail down and floating floor installations will be covered in parts 2 and 3 of this article series.
500 750 square feet of coverage.
Floating engineered wood flooring problems mainly come from moisture and not taking the proper steps to ensure the wood is protected from underneath the main drawback of using a floating floor installation for the engineered wood is the initial extra step to secure the boards.
If your subfloor is concrete cover it with a wood or engineered wood subfloor first.
Glued down means using a bonding agent adhesive or glue which is put directly onto the subfloor before laying any of your engineered wood flooring.
Engineered flooring goes down over a thin foam sheet which provides cushioning and sound dampening.
Some engineered wood flooring products are designed for a glue down application when installing flooring over a concrete slab.
For one there s less insulation.
Laying down your floating flooring directly onto concrete is a no no.
Instead the engineered wood planks are joined together with interlocking joints creating a single continuous layer that floats over the subfloor.
The planks glue together to create a floor that floats moves freely as a unit.
Use a quality cleaner like zep professional concrete and masonry floor cleaner 27 per gallon.
Installing engineered wood flooring is a great project for the diyer who desires the look of a professional wood floor with the strength and longevity offered by its sturdy design.
Installing a floating engineered hardwood floor works well at any grade level and over most types of subfloor surfaces.
Follow these steps to install an engineered wood floor in your home.
This article however focuses only on the glue down application.