Subfloor Over Concrete Floor

In basements and in homes with slab on grade foundations the subfloor may simply be a concrete slab.

Subfloor over concrete floor. However you re not out of the woods. On wood frame floors the subflooring provides a continuous structural surface over the floor joists. Floated subfloor alternate subfloor glue down sub floor and the nail down subfloor system. The subfloor is the foundation beneath finish flooring materials.

Concrete expands and contracts and that type of movement can also crack the tiles and the grout. To install any kind of floor covering engineered wood laminate carpeting basement subflooring is required. Additionally the underlayment is always a waterproof material that will create a waterproof barrier. When installing a ceramic tile floor on a concrete subfloor you don t have to worry about flexing as long as the concrete slab is at least 1 1 8 inch thick which most slabs are.

But this direct installation will result in a floor that s cold underfoot. Use a 6 staple pattern at the perimeter of the subfloor. Concrete or tile over concrete are acceptable floors for uninhabited basements. How to install a glued subfloor over concrete.

How to install subfloor sleepers over slab in the basement and other rooms with a concrete floor. As with a floated subfloor nwfa recommends a vapor retarder for glue down subfloors when installing wood flooring over concrete. A cold floor may be tolerable in. Measure and mark the center of all four walls at floor level.

Subfloors are strong versatile and very durable. The underlayment exists to create an air filled gap between the concrete below and the subflooring which will help to insulate the floor and keep the room warmer. The concrete subfloor must be sufficiently strong to safely support the flooring furniture and people in the room. Get a comprehensive breakdown on which materials to use what to take into consideration and what steps to take for four subfloor systems.

Many basement flooring materials like paint epoxy tile and rubber flooring for example can go down directly over the basement s original poured concrete floor as long as the concrete is in good condition. Learn how to install beautiful hardwood floors over a concrete slab. Snap the chalk line over the top of the concrete or moisture barrier between the marks on opposite walls making a cross in the center of the room. Check your flooring manufacturer s recommendations to ensure you re using a proper subfloor.