Gluing Engineered Wood Floor To Concrete

Engineered hardwood is sturdier than traditional plank but surface preparation still matters.

Gluing engineered wood floor to concrete.

The layers beneath the thin veneer of actual wood block out moisture and provide stability to an uneven concrete floor. Glue down as an installation method for engineered wood floors as the name suggests involves using a bonding agent adhesive or glue that you put directly on to your concrete subfloor before laying your floor. For any flooring installation over concrete you should anticipate potential problems with moisture levels. Other products are better suited for a nail down installation where they are secured to a wood subfloor with nails or staples.

Glued down means using a bonding agent adhesive or glue which is put directly onto the subfloor before laying any of your engineered wood flooring. Installing engineered wood flooring is a great project for the diyer who desires the look of a professional wood floor with the strength and longevity offered by its sturdy design. A sidebar offers advice on checking the concrete slab for moisture before you start. Put another way gluing solid 3 4 hardwood has always been risky business but some premium urethane glue manufacturers will warrant their use.

The difficulty encountered with solid hardwood is the lack of flexibility compared to more engineered products that are glued. Plus engineered wood is more environmentally friendly because the actual wood veneer is cut cleanly and thinly reducing sawdust. Plan to nail down the engineered hardwood flooring when you have a wood subfloor. As an installation method glued down is most suited for either concrete or wood subfloors.

Once installed engineered wood planks look the same as solid wood planks. Gluing works well when you are installing engineered hardwood over a concrete subfloor but be sure you clearly understand the manufacturer s application instructions before you glue that floor. Some engineered wood flooring products are designed for a glue down application when installing flooring over a concrete slab. Floating vs glued down engineered wood flooring.

Like any wood product engineered hardwood expands and contracts because of changes in moisture. Higher quality engineered ideal for wide plank. Use a cleaner or special floor wipes designed for engineered wood flooring to immediately remove any glue that may have squeezed through the boards. This step by step guide written by a florida flooring contractor covers everything from leveling the slab to laying out and installing the tongue and groove planks for glue wood flooring.

This means it is very low maintenance and won t swell or warp under normal traffic and conditions.