Installing laminate flooring over wood subfloor is also possible. Installing laminate flooring on concrete you should choose the right underlayment and think about water protection. Laminate flooring can be installed over concrete, wood or carpet subfloor or. Best underlayment to put over wood subfloor is rubber or foam. A laminate floor with a concrete look, like the impressive light grey laminate, is the right fit for you and your home. If you dont have all the tools or you want to be 100% sure you dont waste any material, invite a friend over to help you. Thinset on the floor for a floor installation using engineered wood. In addition to being lowmaintenance and durable, its one of the cheaper flooring options available. In this guideperform a moisture testacclimate your flooringthe concrete must. However, many homeowners are disappointed to discover that solid wood flooring cannot be installed on a concrete slab.
The best flooring to put over concrete includes epoxy, linoleum, cork, laminate and vinyl. Jul 17, 2017 concrete flooring in garages, patios and even balconies require specific flooring that will adhere to the concrete and be sustainable in damp or wet conditions. Dec 19, 2018 before you install any flooring material over a concrete slab, it is important to inspect the slab for defects. How to install laminate flooring on concrete in the kitchen. Before the installation itself, leave laminate boards in the room for some time. Best underlayment for laminate flooring on concrete mp. Several materials are available when choosing flooring that can be applied directly over the concrete. Tom meehan, a tile installer and owner of cape cod tileworks in harwich, massachusetts, replies. Gypsum concrete usage in the industry started in the 1980s due to the advantages over standard heavy concrete. Subfloor imperfections firm and support but flexible enough to form around subfloor surface roughness, helps to cut down on.
I hope this can help others looking to do the same thing. This article is about how to lay laminate flooring on concrete. However, what about the small holes created by pulling out the carpet tack strips. Installing vinyl flooring over ceramic tile this old house. How to install laminate flooring over concrete 2020 home. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. How to install laminate flooring over concrete important.
If you lay the laminated flooring on new concrete floors, you must know that the period of the complete drying is about 80 days. While this laminate offers you the minimalistic vibe of concrete, it combines it with the warm feel of wood. I use a product made by ardex that you just mix with water and apply it. Laminate flooring in a basement setting the spruce. Most laminate flooring has a lifespan between 15 and 25 years. In the northern states, where concrete is used for flooring in. The laminate flooring is then installed over that prepared slab and underlayment.
Installing laminate flooring over concrete the ultimate. Laminate is a cheap, fast flooring solution that easily goes right over ceramic tile. In new england, a 34 hardwood floor installed directly over concrete will absorb moisture from the concrete slab, and the boards will swell and cup. The wall in question is an interior common wall so it is not exposed to the elements. Laminate flooring is a moneysaving flooring choice that you can install in almost every room and over any type of subfloor, and that includes concrete. Laminate flooring over concrete slab so long story short, due to scheduling insanity im having to install the laminate flooring myself on a small remodel im doing. I was thinking of dressing up one of the walls with laminate flooring. It is a thin, solid flooring system that doesnt require adhesive, and comes with a padded underlayment that helps smooth out any contour from the ceramic. Apr 08, 2019 laminate flooring also has a relatively long lifespan, although it still falls short of concrete. The basic rules of laying laminate flooring dictate that the subfloor over which it is laid must be completely clean, flat and structurally sound. Why not just take the concrete foundation and have a company come in and color and lay a clear coat of some kind over it. If you have a vinyl floor, you may be able to install your flooring directly on top of it. Installing laminate plank flooring over concrete that has. Using a vnotched trowel, spread adhesive over a section of the floor.
I just had to wait for my wife to reach the im gonna leave you threshold,before i installed it. Since laminate is a floating floor installation, areas of peaks and lows can interfere with the stability of the locking system and joints. About 23 of the room is floorboard, and is concrete on the edge. Concrete floor overlay installation the concrete network. How to install laminate flooring on a concrete slab todays. The challenges of laying laminate on concrete for longterm performance your laminate wood floor needs to be dry, level and clean. How to lay tile over cracked concrete home guides sf gate. Can you install wood laminate on uneven concrete floor. Many home improvement stores sell filler products to help get rid of small divots and chips in laminate floors. Check for cracked or loose tiles and grout these could be signs of a poor floor condition caused by settling that could cause problems for your laminate floor.
If any moisture appears in the crack, use a hydraulic cement product instead. How to install interlocking laminate flooring on a. If a wood flooring has been installed on top of the slab, the wood may be cracking or warping. Wood laminate flooring has grown exponentially in popularity over the last few years, for several reasons. In this guideperform a moisture testacclimate your flooringthe concrete must be curedthe concrete. Clicktogether tiles and planks are diy friendly and easy to install as a floating floor system. Laminate flooring is a good alternative to wood flooring in basements. Installing laminate flooring preparing the concrete. A decorative concrete overlay or microtopping is a great solution for restoring and enhancing worn, damaged or discolored concrete floors. I am not an expert and others may do this differently. Wide seams between the tiles can create slight depressions in the vinyl flooring. We dont rely upon the actual layers of the epoxy or polyaspartic coatings to fill in the cracks in a garage or basement floor. If the cracks are there from the initial curing or settling of the floor, our teams normally crackchase or cut the cracks to remove the loose materials.
How to install laminate flooring on concrete floors and slab. Before you install any flooring material over a concrete slab, it is important to inspect the slab for defects. Do i need to repair cracks in concrete before laying laminate. There is about 150 sq ft off to the side lshaped basement that is very uneven. How to install laminate flooring on a concrete slab. Turning this over to wiser minds than i, what are your thots.
Aug 23, 2019 best flooring for concrete slab foundation. Prepping a concrete subfloor for hardwood or laminate flooring. Overlays can also be placed over other flooring materials, such as vinyl tile or wood. Laminate flooring over concrete slab now, ive done enough laminate flooring over wood subfloor to have no problem with the actual install. With a fan it dries within a hour and bonds to cement with no problem. Get free 2day shipping on qualified concrete, laminate flooring products or buy flooring department products today with buy online pick up in store. Easy ways to install vinyl plank flooring on concrete.
And while laminate flooring does work well over a concrete floor, there are a few things to keep in mind throughout the process. The laminate flooring is cheap and comes in a large diversity of colors, thicknesses and finishes, as you can easily find one to fit your needs and tastes perfectly. It should be noted that even flexible flooring can be damaged if the flooring is uneven enough. Oct 07, 2017 laying laminate flooring over concrete can look great and last for many years when installation factors involving the characteristics of concrete are addressed. If you have some planks left over from the floors installation, then you might be able to replace the cracked plank. Cracks in the concrete will lead to an uneven surface for installation and will often produce dust that can contaminate the laminate and the material used to hold it in place. To resolve this problem, a moisture barrier must first be laid over the concrete. You can not only see but even feel the structure of the pine wood. Gypsum concrete is a building material used as a floor underlayment applied over wood subflooring and concrete. During the installation, follow all of the manufacturers instructions exactly. Engineered wood flooring offers the timeless look of hardwood, but is perfect for basements and other areas where moisture can be an issue. All of the movement in concrete is transferred to the tile.
Quickstep is happy to offer you the perfect solution. Over the past few years, laminate flooring has become an extremely popular option for homeowners who are looking for an affordable solution especially when it comes to finishing concrete floors. How to install engineered wood over concrete howtos diy. Oct 14, 2019 determine how much flooring and materials will be needed. Add about 10% to that number to account for any possible mistakes and warped boards.
Laminate flooring can be installed over concrete as long as certain criteria are met that include level and fully cured concrete, a moisture level below 4. Most homes in the south are built on a concrete slab as basements are not an option in high watertable areas. Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market. Concrete crack repair for new laminate floor youtube. I am going to install laminate using fibreboard underlay. Gradual bends in the floor surface will be fairly easy to install over, but sharp corners will damage nearly any flooring option over time. My husband are going to be installing laminate flooring ourselves next week. As a result, several people have inquired regarding whether they will be able to install laminate flooring over their existing concrete floors. We had vinyl flooring over a concrete slab, a slab which cracked all the time because it wasnt poured as thick as code required. Laminate flooring is a great choice for a walkout basement. The raw look of concrete, the advantages of laminate. Laminate flooring goes very well over ceramic tiles.
Install basement flooring over concrete surface improvenet. We have several hairline cracks in the concrete substrate we know we need to patch those. Its durable, easy to maintain, will provide years of wear in an area of your home that is bound to get a lot more use in the coming years. Lower quality flooring may only last up to 10 years, while higher quality flooring could last 30 years or longer. The success of any flooring project depends on how well you prepare the surface before installation. These types of flooring failures occur due to excess moisture trapped between the flooring and the concrete. I install flooring for a living and run into a situation like this every once in a while and its not a big deal. The best options for flooring over a concrete slab foundation are wood laminate, carpet, or tile for your whole house. Installing laminate plank flooring over concrete that has a crack running down the middle so after tearing up the carpet, i noticed a crack going pretty much from one corner of the living room to the other diagonal and into the dining room. Requirements for concrete subfloors laminate flooring. Do i need to repair cracks in concrete before laying. Id like to install a tile floor over the slab, but im worried that the tile will crack.
Oct 25, 2010 laminate flooring over ceramic tiles is a common choice, especially when the tile is dingy and outdated. Cracked or missing tiles should be fixed or filled in. Installations over gypcrete lumber liquidators flooring co. Interlocking laminate flooring is a very interesting product. Or you may see that the flooring installed over the concrete slab is blistering or peeling away. If the tile floor has wide or deep seams, use an underlayment rather than installing the vinyl directly on the tile. Moreover, the laminate flooring is easy to maintain and durable, if you clean it regularly with appropriate products. How to lay laminate flooring on concrete howtospecialist. Nov 21, 2019 the steps in this guide on how to install vinyl plank flooring on concrete are quite easy to follow. Best flooring options for bathrooms most popular s41 e22. Now the concrete is slightly higher than the floorboards, creating a slight dip as you walk over it. I put down one in my man cave hamradio shack about three years ago that looks like randomwidth vgroove distressed oak flooring. How to install vinyl plank flooring on concrete step by.
Can you install vinyl tile over wood or other flooring. The thicker the flooring is, the more likely it actually is to break and become stressed. Once only seen in old factories and converted lofts, concrete has become a popular flooring choice among designers and decorators that lends itself to an industrial chic look. Laminate flooring over concrete slab flooring contractor talk. Concrete laminate flooring flooring the home depot. The florida home i just purchased has many cracks in the concrete slab, some of them 10 ft. Dips, bulges and cracks occur frequently as concrete cures and ages. Can mold grow under laminate flooring on a concrete. Vinyl flooring can be installed directly over ceramic and porcelain tile flooring. Wearing rubber gloves to protect your skin, run a finger over the filler to make it flush against the concrete floor. Jenn works with landscaper fred to build a boulder wall. Follow these steps to install an engineered wood floor in your home. You have many choices of flooring that can be placed over concrete in any interior or exterior condition. Although the flooring comes in a variety of forms, planks are installable with a minimal amount of tools and measuring.
Installing a hardwood floor over a concrete slab even if your home was built on a concrete slab, you can still enjoy the beauty and charm of hardwood floors. Its also a good idea to check the warranty on the material to ensure that your installation procedure does nothing to void it. While you can install tile directly on concrete, problems erupt when the concrete cracks or shifts. Laminate flooring repair to fix soft spot for uneven underlayment duration. Cracks in concrete immediately become cracks in the tile. How to install laminate over concrete day 1 youtube. I have a room that is both floorboards and concrete. Laminates can be laid down on almost all subfloors with minimal preparations, which is why many homeowners tackle its installation as a diy project. The hardest part of the job is often cleaning and leveling the concrete base. The steps in this guide on how to install vinyl plank flooring on concrete are quite easy to follow. Laminate flooring is available in many forms and finishes, allowing you to create a customized look throughout your home. The purpose of the information is to outline ideal flooring options and applications over gypcrete. The best options for flooring over a concrete slab foundation are woodlaminate, carpet, or tile for your whole house. Day 1 installing laminate flooring over a concrete slab.
An abovegrade concrete floor will most likely be in a commercial building. Click system is used for installing laminate flooring on concrete surface. How to install laminate flooring over concrete slab hunker. Apr 08, 2020 vinyl flooring is very durable and fits over most surfaces, including concrete. Many types of flooring can be installed over a concrete sub floor. Learn how to prepare a concrete subfloor for hardwood or laminate flooring. Laminate flooring can be used immediately after installation. Moisture problems between the flooring and the slab. Jul 11, 2009 i install flooring for a living and run into a situation like this every once in a while and its not a big deal.
What are the disadvantages to putting laminate flooring. My question is regarding the moisture barrier i need to put down below it. If you were to remove a cracked tile from concrete, undoubtedly you would see the same crack pattern below. Check to make sure the type you choose is rated for belowgrade basements. This is the case even if the concrete slab is firred out first 34 x 2 12 firring strips. The recycled wool from jackets are consistent in our underlayment and explains why we have higher rvalue than foam competitors. May 02, 2010 installing laminate flooring preparing the concrete substrate. Laminate flooring over ceramic tilesbuilddirect blog.
I have roughly 600 sq ft of basement that needs new flooring after some unfortunate flooding this past summer. Now, ive done enough laminate flooring over wood subfloor to have no problem with the actual install. How to put down flooring on a cracked concrete slab home. How can i prepare uneven concrete basement floor for vinyl. We had carpet over concrete and are now looking to lay vinyl planks down. Installing laminate plank flooring over concrete that has a. Most feel good to walk upon and come in different patterns and colors.
Concrete subflooring is commonly used in home building, and it is fairly easy to install beautiful flooring over the concrete. I own a beach condo in south carolina the walls are all concrete block, the building was constructed back in the early 1960s. Installing laminate flooring on concrete or wood with. Many homeowners now wish to replace their old ceramic tile with laminate flooring. The whole process takes about two hours, but you may want to go a little slower if you dont have much experience. Tiling is a family affair in this episode, tom repairs yearold pocket doors, and a new type of solar goes in. Crackchasing also creates clean, bondable surfaces. I just purchased laminate flooring people are telling me that i need heat in the room we are talking about 200 sq foot this is a breeze way from the house to the garage its going to be a floating floor over concrete the breeze way is going to be closed in from all elements we are turning the breeze way into a room they have also said that it. Installing a hardwood floor over a concrete slab american. Engineered wood flooring gives you the warmth and beauty of real wood with the stability and moisture resistance of laminate construction. Laying laminate flooring over concrete can look great and last for many years when installation factors involving the characteristics of concrete are addressed.
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