How To Level A Concrete Floor For Engineered Hardwood

Typically the floor must be level and uniform within 3 16 inch every 10 feet.

How to level a concrete floor for engineered hardwood.

A dust mask will not give you enough protection. A floating engineered wood flooring installation on concrete can be an excellent choice if your subfloor is below grade. Installing a floating engineered hardwood floor works well at any grade level and over most types of subfloor surfaces. Engineered hardwood is sturdier than traditional plank but surface preparation still matters.

Like any wood product engineered hardwood expands and contracts because of changes in moisture. When installing a basement hardwood floor the concrete must be flat so the tongue and grooves of the hardwood meet and connect. Keep checking the floor with a level as you grind the concrete. Some engineered wood flooring products are designed for a glue down application when installing flooring over a concrete slab.

Whether you re going on to install hardwood ceramic tile or laminate one of the most important steps of any flooring project is making sure the subfloor foundation is level. Once installed engineered wood planks look the same as solid wood planks. Old basement slabs can crack and buckle in places. The misconception is that a concrete subfloor must be completely level to install hardwood.

Grinding and repairing a concrete floor can create concrete dust so be safe and wear a respirator. How to level a floor. Fill any low spots with a cementitious leveling compound following the manufacturer s directions and allow it to dry before proceeding. Moisture can pose problems for solid hardwood floors below ground level so engineered wood floors made of layers of wood glued together are the best.

With dry concrete and the right subfloors and vapor retarders solid hardwood floors can be installed on slabs that are either on grade at ground level or above grade above ground level. You need to fill any large cracks and be sure that the entire floor is level. Hardwood floor installers often use the term level when referring to subfloors when actually they are meaning the term flat while it s desirable to have a level floor most homes. Other products are better suited for a nail down installation where they are secured to a wood subfloor with nails or staples.

When you re finished vacuum the floor thoroughly with a wet dry vacuum or sweep it with a broom. Level floors are critical for reducing.