New Wooden Floors Over Concrete??

remodeling joe

i have this ho who wants wooden floors but the places he's shopping at says that he needs 5/8's plywood over his CONCRETE slab then nail the wooden slats over. i thought you'd just glue the slats on the cocrete.
anyone heard of this procedure before??? i'm in north fla.

lawndart

Are you going to be installing 3/4 solid plain saw hardwood flooring? Typically what you should be installing on concrete is either engineered, or quarter sawn materials. They hold up better to the moisture levels in concrete. These materials can be glued down, but you will need to seal the floor with Bosticks MVP first, and then use bosticks adhesive after the sealer has dried.

I'm off to work, I'll check back in later if you have any other questions.

DecksEtc

One question, why is the HO shopping for the materials?

remodeling joe

i am doing everything else except the floors but i never heard of plywood on concrete then nail the wooden slats on over...
he did say the engineered with the 3/16 solid veneer was his choice.

JPhelps

It's just another method for installing solids(not engineered) over concrete, when there are no vertical height concerns(such as doors). You can also go directly to concrete with a solid or engineered with glue, as mentioned by another poster Bostiks Best--if i'm not mistaken, if you follow their instructions to a "t" they will warranty your install. When going over concrete you still have to measure slab moisture, cause Bostiks will only hold down so much, then smooth trowel a solid layer of the glue on the floor before you ever get started installing. Once your first layer of glue dries(which is your vapor barrier) then move to your notched trowel to install flooring. If the slab isn't flat I'd say its gonna be just about impossible to get some planks to adhere.--JP

thom

I did an aerobics floor that was 3/4" Plywood on rubber cushion pads with maple strip on top. REAL bouncy.

There are glue down systems. Go to a flooring store and ask for a system made for installation on a slab. The guys at the home centers just don't know. If they did know they would be working as a tradesman for $20 instead of as a clerk for $9.

lawndart

Then glue it down Joe. There is no need to install plywood underneath an engineered product. Just make sure you use Bosticks MVP to seal the floor, and Bosticks Best to adhere it after the sealer has dried. What kind of condition is the subfloor (concrete) in?

PS.. Dont forget to allow the floor to acclimate in the room for atleast a week, and do a moisture test. Good Luck Joe

PrecisionFloors

Good advice...I second Bostick's Best, best adhesive on the market imo. Bosticks MVP is only necessary if there is a moisture problem though. I suppose you could do it for insurance but it is very spendy.

To add to that. Acclimation is a moisture equilibrium thing not a time thing. It could take two days or two weeks.

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