How to lay solid wood flooring on concrete

Many people in Chester, Wrexham and North Wales install solid wood flooring because it looks beautiful and will last for a long time. However, it is important that wood flooring is laid correctly on concrete.

Preparation

The concrete subfloor needs to be prepared well. It must be clean, free of all debris and be completely flat. If you are in Chester, Wrexham or North Wales, there will be many days when there is high moisture content in the atmosphere. Wood can become warped if too damp. Moisture rises from a concrete subfloor, so to protect the wood, a damp proof membrane should be installed.

If the floor is uneven, a self-levelling compound must be used. Any paint or old adhesive should be removed either mechanically or using chemicals.

There are three ways to lay a solid wood floor – glueing, floating or nailing. Whichever method is used, a damp proof membrane should be first laid on the concrete to protect the wood.

Glueing

In the glueing process, an adhesive is applied to the subfloor and the planks laid on top of it.

The recommended way to lay wood flooring is to start with the longest wall, pressing the wood down on the adhesive. A 10mm expansion gap is laid around the room perimeter using spacers.

Parquet flooring uses a different method. First measure the centre of the room then lay out the tiles without adhesive to make sure they are in the correct position before glueing.

An alternative to glueing directly on the concrete is to use an adhesive backed underlay over a waterproof membrane. The wood planks are pressed onto the adhesive layer.

Nailing

Nailing involves attaching the wood planks onto wooden batons laid out at intervals of around 450mm. Wood batons should have a minimum depth of 40mm. The easiest way to fix the wood planks is by using a nail gun.

Floating

Floating means that the wood planks are not glued or nailed to the subfloor, though glue can be used in the tongue and grooves to keep the planks together. A floating wood floor should be installed over a padded underlay.

Use a quality North Wales, Chester or Wrexham installer

Unless you are skilled in installing wood floors, it is not recommended that you install wood floors yourself. A professional flooring installer makes sure that the concrete is prepared correctly and that the wood floor is laid well.

Laying solid wood floors over concrete is a skilled job. Done incorrectly, it may reduce the life of the floor. A wood floor is a considerable investment but is cost effective because the floor lasts a long time. If it becomes worn, it can be resanded to make it look like new again. Don’t try to save money by using a cheap inexperienced installer or doing it yourself without expert knowledge, as in the long term it could cost you more.

Properly installed, sold wood floors laid over concrete are beautiful options for homes and businesses in the North Wales, Chester and Wrexham region.