The generous use of hardwood flooring throughout the home is one of the hottest design trends in residential architecture in recent years. Consider your own history: Is this your first major flooring project or do you have some experience? Do use a tapping block to fit the planks snuggly. Next, check the boards for warpage or defects, and then remove any bad ones. Concrete subfloors should be as flat as possible in accordance with the manufacturer’s tolerances (an eighth-inch across a ten-foot area is a good industry standard). Floating wood flooring can provide you with a simple installation and a beautiful floor at the same time. The more pointed question you have to answer is whether a reduction in upfront dollars spent will be worth your sweat equity time you’ll invest to achieve an inexpert installation – especially when compared to your lower total cost of ownership incurred by engaging a flooring professional. Snap a line or use some sort of straight edge to ensure that boards are lined up straight. Take your tape measure and determine the appropriate dimension for the board that you need. If the concrete is below grade, bring the plastic at least 4" (10cm) up the wall. Engineered hardwood needs to acclimate, but different manufacturers require different things. Tape the edges together and then cut off the excess along the wall. If you are a homeowner, you may also be asking yourself whether you can save money by doing your own installation. Can you install hardwood flooring on concrete.The floor is secured via the base molding around the edges. Engineered hardwood installation costs vary. Good luck. I had planned on replacing all flooring with engineered hardwood (had to abandon the thought of hardwood floors due to this concrete layer). Charles is a highly experienced equipment operator of Bobcats, backhoes, D-9 front end loader, hydraulic cranes, GRT piledriver, concrete saws, regular and extended reach forklifts, and he has operated a working barge on Tampa Bay and the Intercoastal Waterway as a Marine Construction sub-contractor building custom docks. FREE ground shipping on orders over $100. Had 2 questions. Personally, I am less concerned with the method of fastening and MUCH more concerned about the subfloor preparation. One local flooring store said only vinyl could work. Other products are better suited for a nail-down installation where they are secured to a wood subfloor with nails or staples. For one, there's less insulation. Analyze the costs of labor and materials against services and warranties offered. Ensure that joints have appropriate offsets and that you avoid discernable patterns. Everyone has an opinion on this, but a qualified installation professional with a quality flooring product, can have a floor perform exceptionally with cleats, staples, and/or adhesive. This should also come in a large roll that you can unroll. The instructions I have are for secret nailing to 38 mm joists, which would end up too high. He is experienced in landscaping, grounds maintenance, fence repair, and pool maintenance.  If a concrete subfloor is in place, conduct an RH moisture test on the concrete according to the ASTM F2170 standard to verify its readiness for installation. My real question is how clean does the concrete have to be?? When selecting the starter wall, consider the grain of the engineered hardwood, as well as how light may affect the perspective. Hardwood floors are durable, ... Use these step-by-step instructions to install engineered hardwood floors in your home. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Trowel spread the glue in a predetermined area. Installing a Floating Engineered Hardwood Floor Step 1: Install the First Row You should ALWAYS follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. In some cases, engineered wood flooring can be installed directly over concrete and even in below-grade applications. This is an apartment building, 5th floor. All rights reserved. It is much easier to fix a couple of errant rows than an entire room. You may freely link Another product (I usually don’t talk specific products) is Aquabar. Here are the eight critical questions you must research and answer to plan and budget for a successful engineered hardwood flooring installation. Be proactive and ask questions. Floating For floated wood subfloors installed on-grade and below-grade, be certain moisture control is taken into account. Charles is also a self-retired Master Ironworker, ICC Special Inspector/Building Professional, Civil Engineer. Make any necessary repairs on the subfloor. Charles has vast experience in housekeeping in private home, medical facilities, business offices, restaurant, heavy industrial, and hotel-motel settings. Terms of the Trade: What Is a Tongue and Groove Joint? His areas of focus include flooring, siding, roofing, tile, bakeware, and motorcycles. Use a hammer and block to gently tap the joints tight. Concrete has a dull black finish that I think is from the previous glue that was used (@1966) and has some remnant dust from the homosote. You will then need to install the pad. Follow the flooring manufacturer’s guidelines for best practices on securing (nailing or stapling) the engineered wood to the subfloor. Have you planned to install your engineered hardwood in a way that is compatible with a radiant heat system? Verify that the radiant heat system you are considering is compatible with engineered wood flooring. The breakdown comes when the floor isn’t flat, the wrong size/gauge fasteners are used, fastener spacing is incorrect, the wrong trowel sized is used for adhesive, or the product is low quality and would be hard to install in the best of situations. Moisture impacts the engineered hardwood flooring regardless of whether the subfloor is wood or concrete.