With the improvements in hardwood floors most engineered and longstrip engineered plank floors can be used over a concrete slab. Manufacturers do not recommend using solid wood floors over a slab. Engineered planks and strip wood floors can be glued directly to a clean, dry, well-cured concrete slab. Some engineered wood floors can be glued at the tongue and grooves and then allowed to be floated over a special padding that is laid over the concrete slab.

Yes, you can install solid wood boards on a concrete slab. As 3/4'' boards must be nailed and not glued, you must first install a wood subfloor (plywood or OSB panels).

It is not recommended to install solid wood flooring over a concrete slab. Although this is the general rule, there have been successful installations of solid wood flooring installed over dry, concrete slabs. This entails several additional steps. A plastic barrier is set over the slab and taped at all seams. Then some sort of moisture-resistant wood subfloor (marine plywood) is built on top of the plastic film. Then the flooring is nailed to the wood subfloor.

Bob, if you won the lottery what would you do to your home? (From your friends at the Remedy Building)

Mohawk Engineered & Longstrip (glueless) Hardwood Floors can be installed over most concrete slabs (not solid hardwood). The concrete slab must be fully cured for at least 60 days, free of structural defects, clean and visually dry with no history of moisture problems. When testing for moisture, Mohawk suggests utilizing the industry-standard calcium chloride test or the Tramex Moisture Encounter (5 max).

Yes. Either use engineered hardwood flooring or install 2 layers of ½” Plywood before installing a hardwood floor. Please refer to our hardwood section for more information.

Answer: In most cases if a person has basic carpentry skills they can install a hardwood floor themselves. The only equipment needed is a hammer, nail set, and a table-saw. Some installation methods require use of other equipment, check with your retailer.

Yes, the configuration is different. However, a similar or lesser amount of concrete is generally required so that overall the foundation and slab costs for a rammed earth house are similar to a typical brick house.

Floor Protection cannot be used on concrete. We do not recommend using any adhesive based products on wood. Dura Runner Plus can be used on both concrete and hardwood and other hard surfaces.

Screw Clips twist into the foam-board insulation. The tubing snaps into the screw clips. Then, wire mesh (remesh) and/or rebar is laid over the tubing. When you pour the concrete, pull the wire mesh to the middle of the slab. Be careful not to pull the tubing up with the remesh when you pour. Many people prefer to use fiber-reinforced concrete so they don't have to install wire mesh.

Concrete Floors must not contain a sealer or finish of any kind. For installing below grade (below floor level, like in basements), we recommend Basement Proofer to prepare concrete floors. First, clean the sub-floor for any remaining dirt and grease. Tiles must be in the room of installation for at least 2 days to stabilize temperature. Never use polyurethane over vinyl tile.

Although the vast majority of our buildings are constructed on our superior floor system and sufficient for any application, we do have the ability to construct your Heartland building on an existing slab provided the slab is level within ½" and appropriately sized. Because of the individual nature of each slab, please contact us to determine if your slab meets our specifications.

No. You should never wet mop your wood floor. Standing water left after wet mopping can dull your finish, damage the wood, and leave unsightly discoloring. If you happen to spill water on your floor, clean it up as quickly as possible. If massive amounts of water leak out onto the floor, such as a dishwasher that has leaked, it might damage the floor to the point where it would need to be replaced. Most homeowners insurance companies would cover the repairs needed if this were to happen.

Any room except a full bath. With the variety of products available and the choice of installation options, hardwood flooring can now be installed in any room of the home. The only consideration is whether the floor will be installed on, above or below grade. For example, because of potential moisture, solid hardwood is not recommended for installations below grade, such as in a basement. Engineered products, which are inherently dimensionally stable, are better choices for this type of area.

No. Carpet Protection is intended for use only on domestic synthetic carpeting. Also, we do not recommend using any adhesive based products on wood. Dura Runner Plus can be used on both concrete and hardwood and other hard surfaces.

The only difference is the type of underlayments you need to properly install your floor. Come in and ask a Laminate Professional for details.

SkimStone is formulated for application over concrete floors. Good adhesion has been achieved over a wide variety of materials but bare concrete is the only recommended substrate for SkimStone floors.

Any reputable installer will insist you consider getting a moisture test done if your slab is less than six months old. If the moisture content in the slab is higher than 3% the installer may suggest the use of a moisture barrier to protect the timber flooring while the slab continues to dry.

Not necessarily. However, it is simply a matter of what the purchaser wants. The building will be built on pressure treated skids and they will sit on top of the concrete. The most important thing is to ensure the site is level prior to L'il Barn Builder constructing your building.

Yes. You will need to make your sales representative aware of this, so the materials can be figured properly. Anchor bolts will need to be placed in the slab on 3' centers prior to construction. Ask your sales representative for an anchor bolt layout; this will need to be used when the concrete is poured. Back to Top

Trusteel is not a concreting business however we can arrange for a concrete slab to be laid or you can engage a local concreter to undertake this work. Until a site visit has been undertaken, the concrete price quoted is a "budget price". The finalised price will be based on a 100mm (unless otherwise stated) thick, reinforced concrete slab with allowances made for any fall that may require filling on site or access restrictions.

No, all concrete slabs shall have six inches by six inches wire mesh for reinforcing with four inches of concrete and four inches of compacted gravel or sand. Exception: Basement floors are not required to have wire mesh.

You can install StoneDeck over a concrete slab but it would be more cost-effective for you to use a stone without our system’s special composite backing.

Yes ! this is exactly the kind of installation real hardwood floating floor is designed for. You must use the specified underlay with a DPM over the subfloor to lay the floating floor onto.

Carpetiles may be installed over most any smooth surface. Our Commercial Grade Carpetiles are installed in office buildings, schools, banks, hospitals, airports, & retail stores. Most of these installations are over concrete subfloors. Carpetiles may also be installed over wood, ceramic tile, laminate or vinyl flooring as well. Our recommended i-Stik Double Sided Carpet Tape method makes installation a breeze.

It is very easy to clean a Pre-finished hardwood floor. Simply dust mop, sweep, or vacuum (vacuum should have rubber wheels so not to scratch the floor). Most flooring dealers also sell cleaning kits, which come with a mop as well as an approved cleaner. If you are not sure which cleaner is appropriate for your floor, contact your local dealer for assistance.

Yes, you can install a 3/4'' or 9/16'' solid wood floor over a radiant heating system, provided you know how the latter works and how it may react to flooring. Solid wood floors installed over such a system must meet certain specifications and recommendations.

Power troweling provides a nice-looking, smooth finish on concrete floors. It creates a "hard cap" (crust) on the surface. But when overdone, the surface becomes shiny and the crust may be very thick (1/8" instead of 1/32"), which may lead to problems. (Uncured lumps pushed into the surface while still plastic will become stress points that may cause spider web cracking later. The thick hard cap may spall as the concrete underneath cures and shrinks.

The sub-floor must be level to 3mm over 3mtrs. If not then either a leveling compound must be used, the floor sanded/ground to the required level or battens could be installed and packed and the plywood attached to them. Keep in mind that the last option would, of course, increase the height of the floor. Please note: This type of floor in not suitable to span battens.

The answer is yes, but if a room has under floor heating, it is doubly important that it be properly installed to allow for expansion and contraction. We are able to supply manufacturers' technical specifications regarding underfloor heating.