Hardwood floors are a classic flooring option that can help elevate the look and feel of your home. However, if you’re trying to decide on what type of flooring is best to cover concrete, you may be wondering if hardwood floors are even an option. At Marks Lumber in Clancy, Montana, we’re here to help you determine if hardwood flooring is a viable option for your space.

Floating Wood Floors

Floating floors are installed using interlocking pieces to lock them in place. The process is usually used for vinyl, laminate or even engineered wood floorings and is a quick solution for installing flooring over concrete slabs. However, despite the appeal of a quick, easy installation process, it is not a process recommended for wood flooring.

Always Have a Subfloor

Because solid wood floors are a natural, living material, they tend to expand and contract with the variation in moisture levels. While these are very minor movements in the moment, over time, they can lead to gaps between the planks.

At Marks Lumber, we recommend nailing down hardwood flooring to help minimize movement as much as possible. This means that installing a subfloor is necessary for proper installation. Just be careful that adding the subfloor in addition to the wood flooring won’t cause problems with the height of your doors.

Moisture Levels

Another reason why you shouldn’t install wood floors directly over concrete is due to moisture levels. Concrete is porous and tends to hold moisture. This can create a nightmare if you install wood flooring directly on top without a subfloor or moisture barrier. For wood flooring, it is recommended that you always use a moisture barrier in addition to your subfloor for the best results.

While we don't generally recommend installing wood floors over concrete, there may be ways to achieve lasting results. However, we recommend you talk to a qualified professional before installing wood floors over concrete. It's also a good idea to follow your manufacturer's guidelines for installing your flooring. At Marks Lumber, we recommend utilizing Western Wood Products Association (WWPA) guidelines for proper installation.

Contact Marks Lumber's qualified sales team today to learn more about our circle sawn products, or download our circle sawn flooring installation instructions today.

Sources: https://flooringsuperstores.co...