How to Install Floating Hardwood Floors over Concrete

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  • 24-48 hours
  • Advanced
  • 2,500-9,000
What You'll Need
Saw
Floating hardwood flooring
Tape measure
Rubber mallet
Glue
Pad
Moisture barrier
Wedges
What You'll Need
Saw
Floating hardwood flooring
Tape measure
Rubber mallet
Glue
Pad
Moisture barrier
Wedges

Floating wood flooring can provide you with a simple installation and a beautiful floor at the same time. Most people can install this type of hardwood flooring as long as they are willing to do a little bit of work. Here are the basics of how to install floating hardwood floors over concrete.

Prepare the Room

Before you start installing, you are going to want to prepare the room. This means that you will need to take everything out of the space including furniture and personal belongings. If you have carpet, you are going to need to remove it. Any other type of flooring should be fine to put the hardwood right over the top.

Moisture Barrier

Before you can install over a concrete subfloor, you are going to need to put in a moisture barrier. This comes in a roll that you can unroll over the floor. When you are installing a moisture barrier, you want to make sure that there are no gaps and that the entire floor is covered. Tape the seams of the moisture barrier together and then put the edge of the moisture barrier up the wall about two inches. You will later cover the moisture barrier up with baseboards along the edge.

Install the Pad

You will then need to install the pad. This should also come in a large roll that you can unroll. Make sure that the entire floor is covered with this pad. Tape the edges together and then cut off the excess along the wall.

Start Laying

At this point, you should be ready to start laying your floating hardwood flooring. Start in the corner of the room and lay one of the boards down on top of the pad. Place a wedge on each side of the board in between it and the wall. This is to ensure that there is enough room for expansion later on. Then place another board onto the narrow side of it up against the wall. Place another wedge in between that board and the wall. Slide the tongue and groove of the two boards together. Then continue laying boards in a vertical row in this fashion and periodically placing wedges between the wall and the boards.

Making Cuts

In order to finish off a row, you are going to have to make a cut. Take your tape measure and determine the appropriate dimension for the board that you need. Then take your saw and cut the board to the right size. Place the board into the gap.

Continuing

Take the small piece a board that was leftover from the cut and use it to start your next row. Take some adhesive and put it in the groove of the board and slide it up against the first row. Then place another board vertically above that one and make another row. Continue doing this until the floor is covered.

Finishing Up

You will then need to remove all of the wedges from around the outside of the room and install baseboards over the gaps.