Table of Contents
- 1 Can you lay plywood over concrete?
- 2 Do I need a vapor barrier between concrete and wood flooring?
- 3 Can you float a solid wood floor on concrete?
- 4 How do you attach wood to concrete without drilling?
- 5 Do you need vapor barrier on plywood subfloor?
- 6 Do you need a vapor barrier under concrete?
- 7 What to do about moisture between concrete and wood flooring?
- 8 Do you have to dry concrete before you put in flooring?
Can you lay plywood over concrete?
If you’re installing plywood over an existing dry concrete floor, you shouldn’t have any problem. However, a new concrete floor contains a lot of moisture. The moisture level of the concrete should be down to 5.5% before attaching the plywood subflooring.
How do you attach plywood to concrete floor?
Fasten the plywood to the concrete using powder-actuated fasteners or concrete nails. Standard 2-inch powercleats or pneumatic staples will contact the concrete surface beneath the plywood unless the machines are tilted forward by placing a 5/16-inch-thick spacer at the back edge of the nailer’s faceplate.
Do I need a vapor barrier between concrete and wood flooring?
Do I need a vapor barrier for hardwood floors?” The answer is YES! Moisture can destroy hardwood flooring. It causes cupping, warping, and even mildew if not treated. You must install a moisture barrier to protect your flooring from water wicking up from below.
How do you lay moisture barrier on concrete?
There are some basic steps to follow to lay down an effective and lasting vapor barrier:
- Select vapor barrier.
- Clean floor and perimeter walls.
- Apply butyl tape to walls.
- Unroll and trim vapor barrier sheets.
- Apply vapor barrier seam tape.
- Fasten vapor barrier to wall.
Can you float a solid wood floor on concrete?
Floating solid wood floor over concrete is possible, but many find it more complicated than floating a floor. Due to the added materials and skill level needed, generally, professionals no longer recommend solid wood flooring on concrete since using engineered wood is much simpler and gets the same luxurious feel.
Can you lay OSB on concrete floor?
Wood structural panels suitable for use as subflooring material should be plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) with a bond classification of Exposure 1 or Exterior. A moisture control membrane is recommended any time a wood subfloor is installed over concrete.
How do you attach wood to concrete without drilling?
If you are willing to make holes in the concrete but do not want to buy the particular drill bit needed, then the simplest solution is to get nails for your project. Standard nails will not work on concrete, but some nails are made specifically for nailing wood to concrete. Cut nails will also work for this as well.
How do you nail plywood into concrete?
Installation: (1) With the plywood or sleeper in place, use a hammer drill and ¼” carbide tipped masonry bit that meets ANSI standards. Drill right through the wood and into the concrete to a depth of ¼” deeper than the split drive anchor will penetrate the concrete.
Do you need vapor barrier on plywood subfloor?
Manufacturers Require a Vapor Barrier Your plywood subfloor may look dry, but after you install the flooring, moisture can migrate up through the subfloor and penetrate the flooring, and the results are usually disastrous. They provide sound and thermal insulation as well as moisture protection.
Where should vapor barrier be installed?
Vapor barriers are usually best installed on the side of the wall that experiences the hotter temperature and moister conditions: the inner surface in colder climates and the outer surface in hot, humid climates.
Do you need a vapor barrier under concrete?
Water vapor will always move from a high relative humidity environment below the building into an area of low relative humidity – even through concrete. That’s why nearly every expert in the concrete industry recommends a below-slab vapor barrier to stop the vapor drive of water upward and into your building envelope.
What can I use for vapor barrier under concrete?
- Use a low permeance vapor retarder to protect floor slabs that will be covered with moisture-sensitive floor coverings, adhesives, and coatings.
- Include a capillary break of granular material below the slab.
- Consider using concrete having a w/c not greater than 0.45 to hasten slab drying time.
What to do about moisture between concrete and wood flooring?
Inspect it before pouring the concrete and fix any tears it may have. If necessary, use a proper underlayment between the concrete slab and the flooring. This is especially true when using wood flooring. Installing a plywood underlayment can add extra protection, but must also be tested to ensure it’s not bringing in new moisture.
Can you use a moisture barrier under concrete?
The use of a moisture barrier beneath the slab, however, is not an alternative to these provisions, as any moisture already in the new concrete or other moisture that may be introduced would not be isolated from the wood.
Do you have to dry concrete before you put in flooring?
Once the slab is poured, the excess moisture must leave the slab in order to strengthen the concrete bond. The slab must also dry to a specified level of moisture before flooring materials can be installed on top of it.
Why does wood have to be attached to concrete slab?
This provision is intended to protect against the movement of water vapor from the ground through the concrete into the wood, which will not be able to dry because it’s fastened directly to the slab and thus traps the moisture.