How to Install Engineered Hardwood on Concrete

 

You may have heard that installing hardwood over concrete is a big no-no. In some cases, that’s true. Solid hardwood flooring should only be installed at ground level or above and never directly over concrete. On the other hand, engineered hardwood offers technology that allows for more flexibility in location. Here we’ll show you how to install engineered hardwood on concrete.

 

What Is Engineered Hardwood?

Engineered hardwood combines a top layer of real hardwood (called a veneer) over a high-quality core made from either plywood, lumber core,  MDF, or stone-polymer composite. The core is what allows for more versatility in installation.

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How Is Engineered Hardwood Installed?

For the most part, the profile of the board will determine your installation method. For instance, engineered hardwood boards that feature click profiles have a locking mechanism that doesn’t require nails or adhesive. You will install your floor by fitting the boards together according to the angle of the particular profile, creating a floating floor. A more common engineered option features the kind of tongue and groove profile you’d find in solid hardwood—a rounded wedge that fits into a groove along the side of the board. Installation for this kind of flooring requires nails, glue, or a combination of the two.

 

Nailing, of course, will not work over concrete. So, your options for engineered hardwood flooring installation on concrete will be to glue down your tongue and groove flooring or go with click profile boards. However, for engineered tongue and groove floors with a plywood or lumber core, you can glue the boards at the edges to float them if you wish. Floating floors are by far the most common method for installing flooring over concrete subfloors, such as in basements.

 

How to Install Engineered Hardwood Flooring on Concrete

First and foremost, check your Warranty, Installation, and Care guidelines for detailed instructions for installing your particular engineered hardwood product over concrete. Below you’ll find general tips and considerations to be aware of before embarking on this project.

 

Acclimate Your Flooring

Hardwood—solid and engineered—must acclimate to your home’s environment before installation. Acclimation involves setting your boards inside the room where they’ll be installed for a certain length of time. This is a crucial step; skipping this process can affect your floor’s performance. Follow the guidelines included with your product regarding how and for how long you need to acclimate your flooring to minimize shrinking and swelling with environmental changes.

 

Prepare Your Concrete Subfloor

For your floor to perform correctly, the subflooring underneath it needs to be clean and flat. Use patches or a self-leveling compound to address any issues before installing your flooring. You can find trowels and self-leveling compounds in our floor prep and tools department.

 

Use Moisture Mitigation

Solid hardwood is not recommended over concrete because moisture can affect the wood, causing problems such as warping, buckling, and other issues. Even with engineered hardwood, we recommend moisture vapor testing and mitigation solutions where appropriate. You can find moisture meters in our flooring tools selection.

 

The best underlayment for engineered hardwood on concrete will have moisture mitigation as its primary focus. This can include a sheet of 6 mil polyethylene film or another type of underlayment that incorporates a moisture barrier. When installing floating engineered wood flooring on concrete, install this underlayment over your concrete subfloor first. If gluing down your floor, use an adhesive and moisture barrier combination, which you can find among our floor prep products.

 

And last but not least, for additional peace of mind, you can choose our water-resistant AquaSeal-engineered hardwood, which pulls double duty by also helping to protect against splashes. So, your floor will keep up, whether it’s up against a muddy pet or an accidental make-up spill.

 

Begin Your Installation

Once you’ve prepped your subfloor and put the appropriate underlayment in place, it’s time to install your new flooring. Engineered hardwood, especially the click-lock kind for installing floating engineered wood flooring on concrete, can be considered a DIY project. For more challenging projects—or if you simply want to put your installation in the hands of experts—LL Flooring can help arrange for professional independent contractors who will help make your flooring dreams come true.

 

As you can see, engineered hardwood flooring on a concrete slab is not just possible—it’s a manageable project if you take the proper prep measures first. Browse our selection of engineered hardwood to find the perfect complement to your space—whether it’s your basement, top-floor bedroom, or somewhere in between. You can also check out our Flooring 101 for additional installation tips and guides, as well as advice on style and other flooring choices. For an in-person look at our flooring, why not visit an LL Flooring location near you? Also, feel free to call us at (800) 227-4036 to speak to one of our flooring experts.