Laying Hardwood flooring on concrete foundation

10 years ago

We just bought a new home. it has pretty hard wood floors throughout the entire house except the bottom floor (its a split level.) The downstairs has old, ugly linoleum. The previous owers left enough real hard wood to do the living area but underneath the linoleum is only concrete. No plywood subfloor. Unless I dreamed this, I was thinking there was some special type of glue that could be used for hardwood to concrete surfaces? without having to lay a plywood subfloor? Is this possible? If so, what has been your experience? Suggested products for use, etc? Thanks so much for all your input. Trying to keep costs down if possible, but not to the point where I would want to compromise the finished product or integrity of the floor in the long run. Thanks.

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Comments (4)

yoboseiyo
10 years ago
there is a wood floor glue. i'm not sure about the way you install with it, but i used to sell the glue when i worked at HD. there are installers that will install with that.
PRO
HomePro Central On. inc
10 years ago
Re the hardwood in direct contact with the concrete floor, sorry but not cool, here's the skinny
A concrete floor will always be emitting some degree of moisture, for this reason even paint on the slab is not a good idea as it will blister as the the moisture evaporates out of the concrete.
Now this is not to suggest that you cannot put down your hardwood in the basement, you just need to prep properly. Air is your friend, this being understood maintaining at least a 3/4in. Air space is essential. Old school techniques were putting down sleepers ( pressure treated 2x4's on their flat) and then installing a plywood subfloor on the sleeper. Today a preferred method would be to install a dimpled plastic that will provide an air space this comes in a couple of differing styles there are prefab T&G 2x2 floor panels that are made of 5/8's inch OSB (chip board) and have the dimple material glued to the bottom of them and it just goes together like a jigsaw puzzle. This is a floating system (not fastened to the concrete) and then your flooring can now be effectively fastened to the sub floor without have to worry about the inevitable swelling , cupping and Mould grow if you had of glued directly to the slab. These subfloor tiles are a bit pricey but are very easy to use and provide a base for a finished product that will last forever
Hope that helps

Homepromike
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I'll agree with ProSource Memphis, you need to install an engineered wood floor because of the concrete. For our customers that are in your exact situation we offer engineered products, prefinished and unfinished (site sanded/finished), that have 3-5 mm wear layers. Some of these products can withstand 2-4 sandings, which equals way more lifespan than a cheap engineered floor. This equals less cost in the long run, but higher cost up front. Basically the thicker the wear layer, the better chance your engineered floor will last longer (80 years + estimated for 4-5mm), and the more expensive it will be. ProSource is correct, gluing a 3/4" solid floor down can be problematic and not worth the risk. Especially when there are high quality engineered floors that offer essentially the same thing. Engineered is going to be more stable with your fluctuating climate as well. You'll want a hygrometer in the home to monitor relative humidity. It should be somewhere around 30-60% RH for the floor to play nice. There are so many more variables involved in this discussion that entire books can probably be written. But that's my $.02
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Firstly check where dump comes from. No point in replacing the floorboards if then there is too much moisture. Replace all damaged floorboards and make sure joists are sound and stable. Then you can add a damp proof membrane over the pine floorboards. Then you can add the underlay and the floating hardwood flooring on top. Solid wood flooring is the worst option in areas where there is moisture. We strongly recommend quality engineered flooring instead. This is a rather complex job if done properly. The installation of the damp proof membrane is crucial obviously and to do a good job you should remove the skirting boards. damp proof membranes are available from may retailers https://www.screwfix.com/p/capital-valley-plastics-ltd-damp-proof-membrane-black-1000ga-4-x-25m/88322 and all have more or less the same specs. The DPM is indeed required to damp proof anything above the structural floor. There is nothing you can do on the structural pine board other than making sure there is no water leakage and there is good ventilation. hope this helps
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Living in the vibrant heart of London offers many perks, but it can also bring the challenge of noise. Whether it's foot traffic from the flat above or the echo of urban life below, soundproofing your floors can significantly enhance your living space's tranquillity and privacy. Here's ADOVA's comprehensive guide to soundproofing floors in London flats, with a brief look into replacing carpets with wood flooring. Understanding Sound Transmission Before diving into solutions, it's crucial to understand two types of sound: airborne (like music or voices) and impact (such as footsteps). Effective soundproofing targets both types, reducing the transmission of noise between floors in multi-storey buildings. Assessing Your Needs Identify Noise Sources: Start by identifying the predominant types of noise you're experiencing. Is the nuisance mainly from airborne sounds coming from adjacent flats or common areas? Or is it impact noise from above or below your unit? 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While regulations for existing buildings may not be as stringent, they offer a benchmark for the level of sound insulation that could be achieved. Professional Assessment: Consider consulting with a soundproofing expert or an acoustic engineer who can assess your property's specific challenges. They can offer tailored advice, taking into account the type of construction, the materials involved, and the best strategies to address both airborne and impact noise. Additionally, they can help navigate the necessary approvals to ensure your project complies with all local regulations and standards. Understanding the nature of sound transmission and carefully assessing your property's specific needs and regulatory constraints are the first critical steps toward achieving a quieter, more peaceful living space. With this foundation, you can explore the most effective soundproofing strategies for your London flat, ensuring a solution that not only reduces noise but also enhances your quality of life. Soundproofing Solutions Adding Mass Dense Materials: Adding mass to your floor is a straightforward way to block noise. Materials like high-density acoustic boards can be installed beneath your current flooring to absorb and block sound. Decoupling Floating Floors: This method involves creating a "floating" layer above the structural floor, effectively decoupling the floor finish from the building structure to reduce sound transmission. Specialised cradles or resilient battens can achieve this separation. Absorption Acoustic Underlay: A practical option for flats is to install a high-quality acoustic underlay beneath the flooring. Acoustic underlay is an essential component in the soundproofing strategy of any flat, particularly in urban environments like London where noise reduction is a priority. This versatile solution serves as a foundational layer beneath flooring, whether hardwood or carpet, to dampen sound vibrations and reduce the transmission of impact noises—such as footsteps, moving furniture, or dropped items—that can easily travel between floors in multi-storey buildings. Mineral Wool Insulation: For more comprehensive solutions, installing mineral wool between floor joists can absorb sound vibrations, reducing both airborne and impact noise. Mineral wool insulation, also known as rock or slag wool insulation, is a highly effective material for soundproofing floors in multi-storey buildings, including flats in London. Its fibrous composition is adept at absorbing sound vibrations, making it an excellent choice for reducing both airborne noises, such as voices and music, and impact noises, like footsteps or dropped objects. Damping Damping plays a crucial role in soundproofing by reducing the vibrational energy of sound waves as they pass through materials, effectively converting this energy into a negligible amount of heat. This process is particularly important in dense urban environments like London, where reducing noise transmission within multi-storey residential buildings can significantly enhance living conditions. One of the most effective methods for achieving this is through the use of acoustic compounds. Acoustic Compounds: Applying damping compounds between layers of flooring can dissipate sound vibrations, further enhancing soundproofing efficiency. Replacing Carpets with Wood Flooring The decision to replace carpets with wood flooring in a London flat is not merely an aesthetic choice but also one that has implications for soundproofing and overall living comfort. While wood floors offer a timeless elegance and are easier to maintain than carpets, there are several considerations to bear in mind, especially regarding noise reduction and the acoustic environment of your home. Acoustic Considerations Impact Noise: One of the primary concerns when switching from carpet to wood flooring is the increase in impact noise. Carpets naturally absorb sound, especially the impact noise produced by footsteps, dropped objects, or moving furniture. Wood, being a harder material, does not offer the same level of sound absorption, potentially leading to louder noise levels within your own flat and in those below you. 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PRO
Hoebeke Builders, Inc.
10 years ago
Homepromike's got this one right! Just a side note, we recently completed a remodel where the Family Room slab had been dropped for wood skreets, plywood, and then hardwoods. They used a plastic membrane to control moisture. But the adjacent Kitchen was tile and the client wanted the hardwoods continued into the Kitchen. Our options were to glue down "oak shorts" or short pieces of oak flooring that wouldn't cup or curl as bad, or lace longer lengths of "engineered hardwood" into the existing wood floor. That's what we ended up doing and the engineered wood with 1/2" plywood with hardwood veneer impregnated on the face has done a wonderful job!
kvanover711
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you all so much!!!!! :)

Laying Hardwood flooring on concrete foundation

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yoboseiyo

HomePro Central On. inc

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Laying Hardwood flooring on concrete foundation

Comments (4)

yoboseiyo

HomePro Central On. inc

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Hoebeke Builders, Inc.

kvanover711Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

kvanover711
Original Author