I am planning to lay a solid Oak floor over a concrete floor. Help!

Question

I am happy the floor is level but some people have said to lay using adhesive straight onto the concrete. Any ideas please...........

Answer 1

I laid engineered hardwood down on concrete a year ago.  I did not do anything about moisture.  I looked into it, asked around, and in Fort Worth, it is not a big deal.

I started by scraping and cleaning the floor.  Then I applied the adhesive that is recommended by the manufacturer.  Also, I left the heaviest things I could find around the house on the floor for a day or two.

I did not let the floor "float."  However you should leave space around the edges for thermal expansion relative to the foundation and walls.

Answer 2

You need to lay down concrete board (it's like drywall) first. Otherwise, the moisture from the concrete will warp your new floor. I believe that you can get it in 1/4 inch thickness. Good luck!

Answer 3

If  its a solid 3/4 inch board you can t do it.. There is to much natursl warp in that type. You can do a engineered flooring in which you ll have to glue if its no designed to "float ".. Those that float a mostly a laminate  big differance in these 2.There are a few of the engineered ones that are made to go either way float or glue for cement and even stapled in a wood floor situation.. Moisture can be a trouble spot so check out your cement before hand.. That is tape a 1x1 ft pc of foil down for 24 hrs and lift to see if theres moisture there.. If so take special precations..If not glue away but like I said before only if its an engineered floor.Generaly they re only 3/8 or 1/2 inch in thickness  GL  

Answer 4

don't use adhesive. A floor needs to move, flex if you will. What you need to do is lay down a moisture barrier. Make sure that all of the seams are sealed. Then use a underlayment if desired. Good luck.

Answer 5

Hi Chris.. Don't glue it at all.. It dosnt matter where you live.. wood should be free to expand & contract & should have no fixings at all.

there should also be a continuous vapour barrier (polythene sheeting) directly on the concrete to stop the underside of the flooring from damp / sweating from the concrete.

on top of the polythene you can lay any recommended underlay for the type of flooring you will be laying.

bubble wrap normally serves fine for this purpose.. just tape along the joints

Answer 6

This is not hard.

#1 Be sure the concrete is clean of any debri, and dry.

#2 Lay down a moisture barrier.

#3 Lay down padding as recomended by flooring manufacturer.

#4 Lay flooring.

DO NOT use adhesive, the flooring must be able to "float" as the wood swell and shrinks due to temperature and humidity changes.

Then use cleaner only as described by the manufacturer.

At no point let water stand or puddle on the flooring, as swelling and warping could occur. Just damp mop often to keep it clean.

Good Luck, it's not hard.