Thursday, August 15, 2019

Color and Design Options for Stained Concrete Flooring

Stained concrete flooring is becoming the flooring of choice for many homeowners. Property owners realize that concrete staining offers one of the longest lasting types of flooring available for homes and businesses.  And, they also enjoy the variety of design and color options. Unfortunately for some, however, it is just this wealth of options that […]

Thursday, May 31, 2018

HOW TO INSTALL HARDWOOD FLOORING ON CONCRETE

Hardwood floors are becoming increasingly popular among modern home owners. And there are plenty of reasons why!

1. Hardwood floors are very durable. If the right care is given to a properly installed hardwood floor, it can last for several generations. There are several buildings that were built centuries ago that still have their hardwood floor intact and in pristine condition.

2. Hardwood floors are aesthetically appealing. Installing a hardwood floor is bound to add an artistic and stately aura to any ordinary-looking room. Such floors also very adaptable and blend easily with almost all kinds of interior design themes.

3. Hardwood flooring is relatively easy to clean compared to other floor coverings. Cleaning hardwood floors is pretty straightforward. A mop and a vacuum cleaner will take care of all kinds of dirt and spillages that may occur. In addition, hardwood flooring does not accumulate dust and other unpleasant stuff that may cause allergies.

These are some of the reasons why you should consider having a hardwood floor in your house. Such a floor can easily be installed on a pre-existing concrete floor, meaning you won’t have to go through the grueling process of removing any part of your current floor to put it in place. This article will take you through a step by step process that you can follow to install a hardwood floor on concrete.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

1.Heavy duty 6 mm thick plastic sheet
2. Treated 3\4-inch thick plywood board
3. Wood floor adhesive
4. Rubber mallet
5. Stainless steel concrete screws
6. Electric drill/screwdriver
7. A trow
PREPARING THE CONCRETE FLOOR

Before beginning the process of water-proofing, you must ensure that the concrete floor is flat and even with no objects on the surface. This will ensure that the hardwood flooring retains an even profile with no visible bumps. Sweeping the concrete surface will remove all tiny objects and dust. If there are any cracks or holes on the floor, you will need to fill them up with a concrete sealer before proceeding.

LAYING A PLASTIC WATER BARRIER

Concrete floors tend to trap a lot of moisture within. Moisture is an enemy to any kind of wood, regardless of whether it is softwood or hardwood. It leads to rotting and weakening of the wooden planks used in the installation of the hardwood floor. It is thus necessary to make the floor water-proof to ensure the longevity of the hardwood floor.

For this procedure, you will need a 6mm thick plastic sheet that can be bought from any hardware store. This sheet should be laid across the concrete floor, making sure to cover every inch. The plastic sheet should be large enough to leave a 4-inch overlap along the edges of the wall.

PLACING THE TREATED PLYWOOD
The plywood is the surface upon which the hardwood flooring planks are going to be installed. Treated plywood has been specially manufactured to be able to resist mites and mold. This is the most ideal type of plywood for this exercise.It is unlikely that you will find a single plywood plank that covers the whole floor. Instead, you will be supplied with equally sized boards that should first be arranged to cover the whole floor area on top of the plastic sheet. Using the
electric screw driver, you will then fasten the plywood boards into the concrete floor below using concrete screws. The recommended spacing for the screws is one after every 16 inches of space. Be careful not to use too many
screws as you might end up damaging the plastic sheet below the plywood boards.

INSTALLING THE HARDWOOD FLOORING PLANKS
This is the final phase of installation. You will need a hammer or mallet, a trowel and enough flooring adhesive, all available in hardware stores. Using the trowel, apply the flooring adhesive on the plywood surface. Since this glue dries very fast, you should only apply it on small sections at a time. The hardwood flooring planks should then be laid on the plywood board on top of the glue while ensuring that there is no space left between the planks. You will use the mallet or hammer to gently knock the planks into position. Most flooring planks have an interlocking feature and so you must verify that each plank is locked or connected tightly to the next one.

While setting the hardwood flooring planks in place, it is advised to start from the part farthest from the exit. This will ensure that you don’t need to step on the freshly laid floor on your way out before it dries. Once the whole floor area
has been covered, it has to be left to settle for 24 hours before you can use the room. This will allow the glue to securely bond with all the individual flooring planks.

Source: HOW TO INSTALL HARDWOOD FLOORING ON CONCRETE