Moisture can pose problems for solid hardwood floors below ground level so engineered wood floors made of layers of wood glued together are the best choice there.
Can you float a hardwood floor over concrete.
Most people can install this type of hardwood flooring as long as they are willing to do a little bit of work.
If you have a concrete then you have choices to make.
When we talk about a floating floor it means that the hardwood floor is not permanently attached to the subfloor.
You can choose any type of flooring solid or engineered and any type of method but i would suggest nailing since it s the most secure.
It rests or floats on top held in place by the weight of the floor itself.
Here are the basics of how to install floating hardwood floors over concrete.
Step 1 prepare the room.
Both laminate and engineered hardwood floors can be floated.
In new england a 3 4 hardwood floor installed directly over concrete will absorb moisture from the concrete slab and the boards will swell and cup.
So if you have a plywood sub floor the world is your oyster.
With dry concrete and the right subfloors and vapor retarders solid hardwood floors can be installed on slabs that are either on grade at ground level or above grade above ground level.
Floating wood flooring can provide you with a simple installation and a beautiful floor at the same time.
Before you start installing you are going to want to prepare the room.
I suggest laying out felt paper over the concrete sealing the joints with an asphalt adhesive and then laying the wood floor over as though you were installing a floating floor.
The reason for this is that solid wood flooring is much more susceptible to movement than engineered flooring due to fluctuating moisture and humidity levels.