Installing Hardwood Flooring Over Concrete
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About Hardwood on Concrete
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Many homeowners want to enjoy the look of real hardwood in their basements. However this means installing it over concrete in some cases. This can be done. It is best, however, to lay down a sub floor of plywood or flooring board. This sub floor will provide some insulation and absorb moisture that can seep through concrete. Since concrete also gets cold, it will reduce warping as well.
Prepping the Slab
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To install hardwood on a concrete surface you should first layer that surface with a material that is moisture resistant. The sub flooring goes over top of this barrier. It can be fastened in place using concrete anchor screws and it should be very secure. Take note that some moisture may seep through the screw holes. Once the plywood sub floor is in place the hardwood can be laid right over top of it.
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Laying the Wood
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Once you are satisfied with the sub floor you can begin to install the hardwood floor. This installation is just like any other. You may want to leave more room for the wood to expand at the edges of the walls. A gap of 1/2 inches or even 3/4 inches can be used here. The hardwood can be fastened right to the plywood sub flooring using shorter finish nails and 1/2 inch air gun nails or staples.
After the Install
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The only difference with a hardwood floor on a concrete slab is the possibility of more moisture getting into the wood. Monitor the room humidity and moisture content accordingly. You can use a hygrometer to take humidity measurements. Make sure the flooring is not warping prematurely or coming up in certain places. It should be monitored a little more closely, every week or so at first, just to be sure that your moisture barrier and sub floor is preventing moisture from getting to the hardwood.
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