Installing Hardwood Floors on Concrete 

If you don’t mind me asking, did you fasten it like these guys did?

Hey there. No we strictly just spread the glue down and set the boards in place. No nailing at all. It is now 19 years old and the total area is 500sq ft. All boards still tight to concrete.

Was it t&G?

@@davidharlass5984awesome. Thank you for the info!

Ha, spot on!

Hahahahaha

the glue acts as the membrane, that's why it is screeded across the entire floor

@@josephtrankina4534 the glue is for bonding the wood to the floor . A DPM is for forming a damp proof membrane between the adhesive and the concrete. You can't have something acting as a DPM if its not a DPM.

@@Miguel...160 You mean the polyurethane glue, which is always advertised as waterproof and is troweled on doesn't count? Seems like it'd be fine. What you're basically saying is you want the wood floor to float as it's adhered to the DPM instead of the floor. Which is an option if the DPM can handle the expansion/contraction of the wood, but not for that floor system, and quite expensive in 2013 when this was filmed. It 'seems' fine to me, but I wouldn't put a wood floor in my basement(which is where I have concrete. Had several leaks over the years, and the wood would just soak it up and rot. It'd go with a vinyl floating floor, just so I don't have to replace chunks of wood every time there's a leak. Or resin.

@@zetsumeinaito yes of course. If u just went with a membrane, the adhesive would only adhere to that and be useless - the membrane would be the weakest link.

@@oliverleslie7382 You generally get what you pay for on that.

+Howard Chislett I agree it sounds weird, But the wood will expand and shrink with high and low temps even though its nailed in on concrete.

Howard Chislett bh

those are little highways for spiders and cockroaches.

@@silentndeadly Good point. Laying my floor now. I will cover those 10 mm gaps in diatomaceous earth. That will kill any insects there forever

@@chrislambe400 diatomaceous earth is bad for lungs, not a great idea to use this way

Concrete nails work well, depends on the concrete though.. if there are river rocks in the mix - forget it.

@@krakenwoodfloorservicemcma5975 He's probably thinking about the punching a hole through the water barrier to put in those nails.

Glue is the vapour barrier. Better adhesion without the paint. I think..

@@ralphjenkins370 he was talking about the walls 😁

what about in a garden shed with a concrete floor

+Ben Weinman I wouldn't recommend it, but if it's a garden shed, I wouldn't say it would have to be to code. Do what u will. But know that in 2-3years it could be pretty warped and twisted.

hats not a problem got any suggestions for flooring

+Ben Weinman assuming that you already have a concrete slab, personally I would leave it bare concrete, lay patio stone with sand or some sort of a garage floor treatment, basically an epoxy paint. things I wouldn't recommend: 1 Laying any sort of laminate/wood floor 2 laying tile Laying tile in a basement would be fine but outside if you live in a cold climate the freeze and thaw cycle would probably make it crack. Hope I could help out!

okay thanks man it did

David Morgan Polyurethane - www.mapei.com/GB-EN/Products-for-Wooden-Floors/Adhesives-for-the-installation-of-wood-and-laminate-Flooring

why? what role does the subfloor serve on top of concrete?

@@jacksonmstrong1you put 6 mil plastic under the subfloor

You really want to have all that sanding dust kicked up onto the walls and ceilings. Seems easier to just throw a dropcloth down and paint after the floor is done.

My house was built in 1908, I was like nope! you beat me to the post.

It's not recommended in USA to attach hardwood to a cement slab. There will be problems with that floor in the future.

Sikaflex 228

Dan Bull

They look like galvanized finish nails

Ummm.... first part of the video? 1:34

Wood also changes moisture levels

That was my thoughts, there’s no way this didn’t rot

No glue on the tongue & groove? Just screws will hold all the warpage down over time?

Cold? boo hoo. Ceramic holds very well to concrete, and it's an excellent conductor for a radiant heated. floor.I'm not a tile setter but I've designed a few and there's no end to the looks you can achieve. On walkout basements ceramic makes a good solar heat trap if the orientation of the house is right. As for 'cold', put on a pair of slippers. Better yet, one or more Persian Rug types on the floor will define areas and add to a warmer feel. And when I say Tile, I include porcelain, terra cotta and slate.

@@stayjit1 better they have some experience before trying to lay slate tile..could be very heart breaking, along with the slate

He predrilled, so it is more like a holding pin

Will definitely work with the right pilot hole.. galvanized nails lock solid when they get damp.

Even if Red Guard eliminated the failure rate (which it doesn't) it's cost prohibitive. It's cheaper, better, and perfectly reliable (trifecta of a good decision here) to just add a layer plywood and attach the floor it.

What I said is true: The failure rate is north of 70% when installing real 100% hardwood flooring on concrete. Always use ENGINEERED hardwood as it's the only hardwood that will stand the test of time.

A layer of plywood is the only way to glue 100% hardwood to concrete. Just using red guard is not enough.

@@johng9562 Glue the plywood and then glue the floor?

Upper lumpers

You should see the ridiculous outfits i sand in.. keeps customers far away and they never bother you.

@@krakenwoodfloorservicemcma5975 "Wow that psycho sure can put down a great floor"

@@JohnBoyX570 exactly

primalfury2011 I thought that to

sahmadi1000 1/4 inch