Things to Know About Concrete and Wood
Having wood floors installed in your home can have a number of advantages. In terms of aesthetics, it gives warmth to the space, never goes out of style, and instantly raises a home’s market value. In addition, wood floors are incredibly robust and resistant to normal wear and tear. They are simple to keep clean and may be polished and swept. Since they don’t host parasites like dust mites, bugs, or allergen-producing spores, they are preferable to carpets.
They also better contain warmth than other floor kinds, but only if they are laid correctly. However, it can be challenging to put a wood floor over concrete. Numerous things could go wrong, so it’s crucial to be educated on the possible interactions between the two. Here are some considerations for installing wood floors over a concrete slab.
Make Sure the Foundation is in Good Shape
Putting wood floors in over broken concrete is a recipe for catastrophe. Confirming that your concrete floor is sound and devoid of fractures and collapsed places before installation is crucial. A concrete expert can tell you whether your foundation has settled and will cause issues with your new wood flooring.
The contractor may suggest a few fixes if you do have foundation problems, such as adding slab or push piers.
Make Sure the Concrete is Level
You must ensure that the concrete is level in order for the wood and concrete to join properly. Specifications state that no holes or bulges should be larger than 3/16 of an inch within any eight to ten-foot range. You can use a concrete grinder to smooth away tiny irregularities on an uneven concrete floor. Before installing wood floors, another alternative is to fill gouges, low places, and dips with a leveling compound.
A contractor may suggest polyurethane foam injections, a long-lasting and cost-effective solution to your concrete lifting problems. Using this technique, you can raise sinking concrete to its original level without adding additional weight.
Make Sure You Don’t Have a Moisture Problem
Another element that presents difficulties when putting wood on concrete is moisture. Due to its porous nature, concrete may collect rainwater from the ground as well as pull moisture from the air. To a certain extent, wood can withstand moisture, but if there is too much of it, the wood starts to swell and decay. The planks begin to push past the limited room for movement as the moisture is soaked into them. The boards eventually fill the area to capacity and begin to buckle and warp.
Concrete must have a moisture content of no more than 4% before installing wood floors. Wait two months before placing a wood floor in a newly constructed home to ensure that the concrete has fully cured. You should also install an underlayment with a moisture barrier to prevent the concrete’s moisture from harming the wood.
Want An Expert Opinion?
Before installing your new wood floors, let us look at your concrete to ensure you don’t wind up with issues down the road. Give us a call today.
