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Home: How-To Information: Hardwood: Hardwood Flooring Over Concrete

INSTALLATION

Hardwood Flooring Over Concrete Slabs

With the right subfloors, solid hardwood flooring can be installed successfully on either on-grade or above-grade slabs. Below-grade installation is not recommended for solid wood.

The slab must be flat and level with a trowel finish, free of grease, oil, stains and dust. New concrete must be dry before beginning the subfloor.

Two subfloors are recommended: either 3/4" thick plywood, or 2" x 4" sleepers. Either system is satisfactory for 3/4 inch flooring up to 4 inches wide. For plank flooring 4 inches and wider must be used with the plywood-on-slab system or a sleeper system with an additional nailing surface.

Concrete slab subfloor systems require proper vapor barriers of either asphalt felt and mastic or polyethylene.


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