You need to leave a 5 16 inch gap between the flooring and the baseboard or wall around the perimeter of the room to allow the floor enough space to expand.
Installing engineered hardwood on cement.
The planks glue together to create a floor that floats moves freely as a unit.
Use a notched trowel to spread the adhesive.
When installing additional rows work from left to right.
A floating engineered wood flooring installation on concrete can be an excellent choice if your subfloor is below grade.
Apply wood glue to the tongue and groove seams.
Engineered flooring goes down over a thin foam sheet which provides cushioning and sound dampening.
It s also a great option if you choose to incorporate a radiant heat system don t forget the vapor.
Even if your home was built on a concrete slab you can still enjoy the beauty and charm of hardwood floors.
Installing engineered hardwood flooring over concrete too tight against a stationary object will not allow room for normal expansion and may cause a failure.
Plywood is a popular choice as it can be nailed into place along the edges.
Installing a floating engineered hardwood floor works well at any grade level and over most types of subfloor surfaces.
Consult the product data sheet for instructions regarding specific trowel requirements.
Then connect the pieces carefully folding and tapping the new piece to rest on the subfloor.
The adhesive manufacturer should have instructions regarding specific trowel requirements.
Pass the trowel through the glue at a 45.
When installing floating engineered hardwood on a concrete floor it s best to do so on top of an underlayment.
Immediately wipe up any glue that squeezes through the boards.
Note that some engineered hardwood flooring products have a click lock design.
Installing engineered hardwood flooring over concrete too tight against a stationary object will not allow room for normal expansion and may cause a failure.
You can use foam wood cement board or another hard thin layer for the underlayment.
In general use a notched trowel to spread the adhesive.
Installing a hardwood floor over a concrete slab.
Only spread the adhesive over small areas ahead of you at any given time.
A concern with engineered flooring however is that the colors may be quite uniform within an entire box but have distinct tonal differences from one box to the next.
You don t want the adhesive drying before you can get to that area.
Experienced professionals pay close attention to managing moisture and minimizing wood floor expansion and contraction when preparing to install hardwood floors on concrete slabs.
Installing engineered hardwood flooring over concrete too tight against a stationary object will not allow room for normal expansion and may cause a failure.
Follow these steps to install an engineered wood floor in your home.