When it comes to modern style, hardwood flooring is certainly the most popular choice for today’s homeowners. Gone is the heyday for the likes of carpet and laminate floorings, for hardwood is far more beautiful and adds warmth, character, and value to a home. Hardwood is versatile and can adapt to whatever your style is, whether it is contemporary, farmhouse, or modern, and it will heighten your home’s atmosphere.
At the moment, however, you have a concrete slab for a floor. What are your options? Are your choices limited because of the concrete flooring? Thankfully not, because there is a way to install hardwood floors over concrete. Here are some guidelines to help you through the process.
What is the floor’s grade level?
Before you do anything, it is important to know the grade level of the concrete floor, which is the location of the cement slab. Your concrete floor will be one of the following:
- Above grade (above ground)
- On grade (ground level)
- Below grade (basement level)
The classification of your concrete floor is important because it determines the amount of moisture it contains and whether installing hardwood should be done or not. Many manufacturers do not recommend installing hardwood floors on concrete that is below grade because it contains too much moisture.
Check the floor’s specifications
If you have determined that the project can move forward, then the next step is to ensure that the concrete floor is in good order and satisfies certain requirements. To learn more about those requirements, check out our complete concrete subfloor guidelines, but the rule of thumb is that the floor must be flat, dry, 3,000 psi, and free from non-compatible sealers, waxes, or oil.
Install a subfloor under-layer
There are multiple ways to install hardwood over a concrete subfloor, but the best way to achieve it is by first installing a wooden subfloor over the concrete. This wooden underlayment should be ¾ inch thick and will allow you to install your hardwood floor more easily. However, please note that installing this underlayment will raise your floor about 1½ inches, so make sure to measure carefully so that you don’t encounter problems with other installments like cabinets and doorways. For more great insight, check out our guide to installing a subfloor over concrete.
Acclimation of the materials
Wood flooring is a hygroscopic material subject to dimensional change as a result of variations in moisture, temperature, and humidity in the surrounding environment. Because of this, we advise that you always follow manufacturers’ recommendations regarding how and whether to acclimate wood flooring.
Should you need to acclimate the material, then it should be removed from any boxes or casings and be stored in the room where it will be installed. This allows the wood to acclimate to the moisture. Again, follow manufacturers’ recommendations when conducting this process, and measure the moisture in the room to ensure that the material has acclimated properly. To learn more about acclimating your hardwood flooring, check out our acclimation guide.
Installing the hardwood
No matter the type of hardwood you have selected, whether it is traditional material that needs to be nailed in or if it is engineered and will be pieced together, this is where your wooden subfloor will help make this step simpler for you. It can hold the nails in place or serve as the mount to which you will glue your hardwood flooring.
If you have a concrete floor and have been looking for ways to install beautiful hardwood in your home, contact us today. Our specialists have decades of experience, and we are excited to help you make your home look and feel the way you want!
