The trend towards natural finishes has seen more and more people stripping up their carpets to reveal beautiful timber flooring. It is hard to beat the visual charm and unrelenting durability that a hardwood floor offers. But what if you peel away your carpet, only to encounter a concrete slab? No problem. It is possible to lay hardwood flooring on top of a concrete slab.

Advantages of hardwood flooring

It is no wonder that hardwood floors have become a popular flooring option in recent years. No matter what your style and taste in home interior, installing a hardwood floor is sure to add elegant aesthetic appeal. There is a wide selection of engineered and solid hard wood flooring options from which to choose.

Laying hardwood flooring over a concrete slab

While it is possible to fit a hardwood floor on top of a concrete slab, it does require a little extra effort.

The place to start when planning to install a hardwood floor over a concrete slab is to measure the moisture within the slab to ensure that it is dry enough: you must be certain that the concrete does not suffer from damp due to exterior water issues.

Because the underlay and the flooring will together raise the height of the floor up to 1.5-inches, check the additional height fits around cabinets, in doorways, and at joints with other types of flooring.

To avoid movement of moisture from the concrete into the hardwood flooring 0.2-inch polyethylene sheeting is laid over the concrete. Next, secure ¾-inch treated plywood to the concrete with concrete screws at 16-inch intervals. Finally, nail the flooring planks as usual.

If you are ready to make an investment in the natural beauty and tough durability of a hardwood floor, please contact the team at California Designs Inc. With many years of experience in the industry, we can help you to select a timber flooring option which will not only add warmth to your home but also increase its value.