Tips for Installing Wood Flooring over Concrete

Installing solid wood flooring over concrete is a reasonably straightforward project.  If you have good DIY skills and the right tools and supplies you should be able to take care of this task yourself.  Here are a few practical tips to help you get started with installing your new flooring over concrete.

Prepare Subfloors

As with many DIY jobs preparation will be vital to the overall success of project.  You do need to spend some time preparing the subfloor before you even think about laying down your solid wood flooring:

*        Look at the concrete subfloor and check that it is smooth and even.  If not then you will need to use levelling products to create a flat surface.

*        If you leave the surface uneven then your solid wood flooring will also look uneven and this could spoil the finish.

*        Also ensure that the concrete floor is clean and free from grease, oil, paint, dirt, debris etc.  

*        This could prevent the adhesive from sticking properly in places so it is important to make certain the surface is clean and clear before you get started.

Use Damp Proof Membrane (DPM) Underlay

DPM underlay is an important step when laying solid wood flooring over concrete subfloors.  Concrete can retain and transfer moisture.  This could rise up into the solid wood flooring over time and cause it to warp and buckle.  This will damage the wood and also spoil the look of your flooring.

The best way to avoid this is to put down a barrier of DPM underlay between the concrete subfloor and solid wood flooring.  DPM underlay can also help to reduce noise and dust as well.  Make sure you choose a DPM undelay that is designed for use in interior flooring projects.

Create Expansion Gaps

Solid wood flooring can expand according to different levels of heat and moisture in rooms.  This means you do need to create a small expansion gap around the edges of rooms and also in doorways (between adjoining flooring).  These gaps only need to be 10mm and you will be able to disguise this gap by installing fresh skirting boards and door profiles.