How To Install Wide Plank Wood Floors Over Concrete
Wood over concrete? Yes, it can be done! For the
longest time, homeowners were warned that wide plank wood floors
installed over concrete would result in moisture problems. But that’s
not so anymore. A concrete sub-floor is no reason to deny yourself
beautiful wood floors. Nowadays, they can go virtually anywhere.
It is true that wood is affected by climate change: wood fibers expand
and contract with fluctuations in relative humidity. However, this
movement and the resulting moisture problems can be controlled with
proper installation techniques and the use of high quality wood
products. “If you’re going to be installing over concrete, it becomes
even more critical that you understand what part of the tree the boards
are cut from and the manner in which the boards were processed; both of
these factors are vital to your overall satisfaction with the floor,”
says Chris Sy from Carlisle Wide Plank Flooring. He explains that wood
cut from the center of a tree contains a higher percentage of vertical
grain which makes it less susceptible to movement and thus a higher
quality material.
Before you embark on this installation process, Carlisle recommends
certain rules of thumb to manage moisture and ensure the stability of
the wood:
1. Be sure the wood supplier has properly dried the wood. (Carlisle
recommends 6-12 months of air drying followed by a period of kiln
drying.)
2. Let the wood acclimate in the home or business for 7-10 days.
3. During acclimation in your home or business, keep relative humidity
at 45 percent.
4. Make sure the wood flooring has proper stress reliefs (These ridges
on the underside of the wood relieve tension in wood, reduces board
movement, and provides a greater glue surface).
There are two options for installation of wide plank wood floors. Both
options are driven by the height allowance between the slab and door. To
determine height, measure the distance from the top of slab to the
bottom of the exterior door or measure the transition to other flooring
surfaces. Check accuracy by swinging door completely in both directions.
Here are some step-by-step installation guidelines once you know the
height allowance:
Option One: Gluing directly to concrete -- 1/2 to 3/4 inch height
allowance
Using either Bostik’s Best or Sika adhesive product, spread one layer of
adhesive onto the concrete per manufacturer’s instructions and place
your Carlisle planks, milled to 1/2 to 3/4 inch thickness directly onto
the adhesive. Allow 12 hours drying time before finishing your floors.
Option Two-A: Concrete slab with plywood sub-floor -- 1 inch height
allowance
Place a layer of 6mm polyethylene onto the concrete as your moisture
barrier. Using a Hilti Direct fastening tool, shoot concrete nails into
1/2 inch plywood to apply directly onto concrete. Install Carlisle Wide
Plank Floors, milled to 1/2 inch thickness by blind nailing and gluing.
Option Two-B: Concrete slab with plywood sub-floor -- 1 1/2 inches or
more height allowance
Lay down 3/4 inch plywood and then follow the directions above.
The cost associated with both options for installing wood over concrete
is similar. However, due to the cost of the adhesives, it can be
slightly cheaper to use the plywood method.
It’s also possible to install Carlisle floors over concrete slabs with
radiant heat. The installation process calls for using a floating
plywood sub-floor.
Proof that this method of installation has gained industry acceptance is
its prevalence in high end commercial applications. For instance, the
Park Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C., used Carlisle White Oak wide plank
wood flooring over concrete in the public space of their main level.
Given the resources for high quality wood, like Carlisle Wide Plank
Floors, and the variety of mastic adhesives available today, you too can
install wood floors over concrete in your home.
For more information about Carlisle floors, log on to
www.wideplankflooring.com
or call (800)
595-9663.
- Courtesy of: ARA Content