Installing Engineered Hardwood Flooring Basement

Use a cleaner or special floor wipes designed for engineered wood flooring to immediately remove any glue that may have squeezed through the boards.

Installing engineered hardwood flooring basement.

The planks glue together to create a floor that floats moves freely as a unit. Consult the product data sheet for instructions regarding specific trowel requirements. While you can t install solid hardwood floors in the basement or below grade you can install engineered hardwood floors. That s right installation can be challenging.

Engineered wood flooring offers the timeless look of hardwood but is perfect for basements and other areas where moisture can be an issue. Engineered wood flooring 4 7 sq. Installing engineered hardwood flooring over concrete too tight against a stationary object will not allow room for normal expansion and may cause a failure. Some are glued down while others float unattached to the underlayment.

Installing solid hardwood flooring in a basement that is below grade generally voids the warranty so if you really want the look of hardwood there choose engineered over solid planks. Sheet vinyl has another limitation as well. Engineered flooring goes down over a thin foam sheet which provides cushioning and sound dampening. Engineered wood flooring has the timeless look of hardwood floors with the added durability of a plywood sub layer.

Typically engineered wood flooring comes in tongue and groove planks the top layer of which is a laminated veneer. You need to leave a 5 16 inch gap between the flooring and the baseboard or wall around the perimeter of the room to allow the floor enough space to expand. This plywood makes the floor structurally sound and prevents moisture from damaging the floor. Engineered hardwood flooring is design in perpendicular layers so that there is less expansion and contraction.

Follow these steps to install an engineered wood floor in your home. In general use a notched trowel to spread the adhesive. Roughness or irregularities in the basement s concrete floor are likely to show through in the vinyl floor. For the best appearance and a warmer finished floor this flooring should be installed over a subfloor.

A thin veneer of real hardwood sits on top of a plywood base. With engineered wood flooring a thin layer of real hardwood is positioned on top of a plywood base. This plywood is considered dimensionally stable as it holds shape better than solid hardwood in the presence of moisture.