Engineered Flooring Installation on Concrete

Engineered wood flooring is a popular choice for homeowners who desire the warmth and elegance of hardwood floors but need a more resilient and versatile option.

In this article, we will explore the installation of engineered flooring on concrete, focusing on the glue-down application method. Whether you are a DIY enthusiast or a professional, this guide will provide you with valuable insights and step-by-step instructions to ensure a successful installation.

• Acclimate Engineered Flooring
• Concrete Moisture Measurement Is Critical
• How to Install Glue-Down Engineered Wood Flooring on Concrete
• Engineered Flooring Requires Acclimation
• Concrete Moisture Measurement
• How to Install Nail-Down Engineered Wood Flooring

From acclimating the flooring to preparing the concrete slab and choosing the right adhesives, we will cover all the essential aspects of installing engineered wood flooring on concrete. So, let’s dive in and discover how you can achieve a beautiful and long-lasting wood floor in any space, even where you least expect it.

Don’t let the “engineered” give you the wrong impression. Engineered wood is real wood. Although it’s not made of solid hardwood, it doesn’t mean that engineered flooring does not provide all of the warmth, longevity, and elegance of a hardwood floor.

Engineered wood flooring is chosen for quite a few locations where you would not expect to see wood flooring due to the strength of its construction, offering additional resiliency against temperature and humidity changes.

Built with various types of “core” material, engineered flooring provides a wide range of aesthetic benefits as well with the ability to choose from a wide variety of colors, textures, and wood species for the surface layer.

Once installed, engineered wood planks look the same as solid wood planks. Installing Engineered wood flooring is a great project for the DIYer who desires the look of a professional wood floor with the strength and longevity offered by its sturdy design.

Some engineered wood flooring products are designed for glue-down applications when installing flooring over concrete slabs. Other products are better-suited for a nail-down installation where they are secured to a wood subfloor with nails or staples. And for do-it-yourselfers, the preferred method is the floating floor installation which uses no glue or nails.

Instead, the engineered wood planks are joined together with interlocking joints, creating a single, continuous layer that “floats” over the subfloor.

This article, however, focuses only on the glue-down application.

Acclimate Engineered Flooring

Regardless of whether or not the flooring is glued, nailed, or floated, engineered wood flooring needs to be acclimated to its environment before installation – just like solid wood flooring.

It’s important to follow the manufacturers’ guidelines for the proper acclimation procedure and timeline as these may differ from one engineered flooring brand to the next.

Get yourself an accurate wood moisture meter and use it to ensure the wood planks have properly acclimated according to manufacturer’s specifications and have achieved equilibrium moisture content (EMC) with the surrounding ambient conditions. This can be done by periodically measuring the moisture content of the wood until it meets the guideline specs for installation.

There are two types of wood moisture meters available; pin meters and pinless meters. The latter being chosen more often for their non-destructive electromagnetic measurement capability.

Concrete Moisture Measurement Is Critical

Another thing to check is the moisture levels within the concrete slab. Excessive moisture in a slab can damage an engineered wood floor and cause the plies to separate. Most flooring manufacturers require moisture tests for concrete moisture to validate their warranty requirements.

Remember this:

• Every concrete slab has moisture and will always have moisture. What you want is a slab with an acceptable level of moisture for the flooring finish you’re installing.
• Besides the moisture already in the concrete, additional moisture can enter a slab from rainwater, poor plumbing or drainage below or at the sides of the slab, and even humidity in the air.
• To find out if your concrete floor meets the dryness criteria set by your flooring manufacturers guidelines, remember this mnemonic: “If you wanna know, go below.” Scientific testing has determined that measuring moisture conditions within a concrete slab yields more valuable data than only measuring the moisture evaporation emission rate (MVER) at the surface[BM1] [LL2] [LL3] of the slab. To measure the moisture inside the concrete, you will want to conduct a test known as the ASTM F2170 in-situ relative humidity (RH) test.

The RH test uses sensors or probes to measure the RH at a specific depth within the concrete – 40% of the slab’s thickness for a slab drying from one side, or 20% for a slab drying from two sides.

Scientific research from leading academic and industrial institutions confirms the reliability and accuracy of the ASTM F2170 RH test at these depths. The readings will most accurately predict the slab’s point of equilibrium, and therefore the true moisture condition that will exist after the flooring installation.

How to Install Glue-Down Engineered Wood Flooring on Concrete

Slab Preparation

Slab preparation is critical for glue-down and includes sanding, scraping, leveling, and filling low spots because the slab must be flat so the planks can fit correctly.

When “leveling” (actually flattening) a slab, don’t allow more than 3/16” difference in height within a 10-foot radius or 1/8” within a 6-foot radius.

Wood Floor Adhesives for Concrete

Before applying adhesives, you must fill in any voids or deflections in the slab with a cementitious patch or a self-leveling underlayment. An adhesive is not intended to fill voids or deflections.

Use adhesives specially formulated for wood flooring so they conform to the natural characteristics of wood – expanding and contracting. That is, their elasticity ensures that the engineered wood has an ample amount of space to expand and contract without causing the glue to crack or separate.

Be advised: using the wrong adhesive or applying incorrect amounts can lead to a failed flooring installation.

For example, use a wood floor adhesive that contains no water — like a moisture cure urethane or modified silane adhesive. These products are a good choice for these installations because they increase the strength of the bonding agent and offer a degree of structural flexibility.

A glue-down installation requires premium wood adhesives be properly troweled over the concrete slab and the engineered wood planks laid onto the adhesive and locked together at their tongue and groove joints.

NOTE: Wood adhesives recommended today are much more environmentally friendly than in the past, but they cost more. They also require considerably more time to trowel, which adds to the overall labor costs. For more information, visit
https://www.referwork.com/costs/install_engineered_wood_floor.htm.

Free Download – Wood Flooring Installation: What To Expect

Installation

Expansion gaps should be left between the flooring and wall. The manufacturer should have recommendations for how wide the expansion gaps need to be. Installing engineered hardwood flooring over concrete too tight against a stationary object will not allow room for normal expansion, and may cause a failure.

The adhesive manufacturer should have instructions regarding specific trowel requirements. Use a notched trowel to spread the adhesive. Pass the trowel through the glue at a 45-degree angle and install engineered flooring immediately after the adhesive is spread.

Important: Only spread the adhesive over small areas ahead of you at any given time. You don’t want the adhesive drying before you can get to that area. If you’re using a urethane adhesive, this advice is even more vital since the adhesive is moisture-cured and sets up fairly quickly.

Lay the flooring into the adhesive with the tongue side of the board facing the center of the room. The hardwood may slip and move at first, so be sure to secure one row entirely before moving on to other rows. The initial row will limit the movement of subsequent rows.

Occasionally lift a piece of flooring to make sure there’s a 100% adhesive transfer, necessary especially for adhesives that have moisture mitigating characteristics. If the board is not entirely covered, remove dried adhesive and apply more.

Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions after installing engineered flooring over concrete. For instance, you might be required to roll and cross the floor with a 100-150 lb. roller after installation to ensure proper adhesive transfer.

Traffic should also be restricted for up to 24 hours after completing the installation to allow drying.

If you are still debating whether to install your engineered wood flooring using the glue-down method, consider these points:

Pros:

• Floor has a solid feel
• Less chance of squeaking or “clicking” due to boards coming into contact with the subfloor with every step
• Permanent installation
• Enables use of flush mount moldings to create dynamic height transitions and allow expansion space

Cons:

• May require rigorous subfloor moisture prep
• Labor costs are higher, typically $3-5 per square foot
• Adhesives can add up to $1.00 per square foot

Engineered Flooring Requires Acclimation

Just like solid hardwood flooring, engineered flooring needs to be acclimated to its environment before installation. Consult the specific manufacturer for their acclimation process.

Do not store engineered wood flooring in basements or garages where humidity levels are higher.

To allow for proper acclimation, the heating/air-condition system must be operational for least 14 days prior to installation and thereafter at a temperature of 65°F – 75°F to reach desired humidity level. The relative humidity level at home should be controlled between 35% – 55% at all times prior, during and subsequent to installation.

To ensure the flooring is properly acclimated and has achieved equilibrium moisture content (EMC) with the surrounding ambient conditions, you need to measure the MC in the wood planks.

Whether installing on a concrete or wood substrate, always reference the NWFA Installation Guidelines for the appropriate method of installation.

According to the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) guidelines, moisture readings of the subfloor should be no more than 13% on average (more common in humid geographic regions).

And, depending on the flooring manufacturer’s installation guidelines, there should be no more than 2% MC to 4% MC difference (depending on flooring plank width) between properly acclimated wood flooring and the subfloor.

Tip: Test the subfloor moisture in several locations taking note of higher readings. Higher readings indicate a moisture problem that needs to be addressed before installation can begin.

Concrete Moisture Measurement

If a contractor plans to install a wood subfloor above a concrete slab in a new or existing home, it’s wise to first measure the moisture conditions within the slab. Excessive moisture in a slab can damage a wood subfloor and, in turn, an engineered wood floor, causing the plies to separate.

To accurately assess moisture conditions in a concrete slab, the ASTM F2170 relative humidity (RH) test is preferred. This test uses sensors or probes to measure the RH at a specific depth within the concrete – 40% of the slab’s thickness for a slab drying from one side, or 20% for a slab drying from two sides.

Scientific research confirms the reliability and accuracy of the RH test at these depths. The readings will most accurately predict the slab’s point of equilibrium, and therefore the true moisture condition that will exist after the flooring installation.

Before installing a wood subfloor, a moisture barrier should be placed on the slab to protect the subfloor and the flooring from moisture.

How to Install Nail-Down Engineered Wood Flooring

When there’s a wood subfloor in place in the form of plywood or OSB, then a nail-down or staple-down, rather than glue-down installation is the best way to go.

Aside from a few specialty tools, it’s a cost-effective method requiring only nails or staples and an inexpensive moisture barrier underlayment, such as Aquabar “B” or Silicone Vapor Shield (SVS).

Required Tools

Nail-down installations require additional tools, including a specialty flooring nail gun, jamb saw, and router. These are essential to complete the job successfully.

You will also need a chalk line and nail set, power drill, nails and underlay paper, miter saw, table saw, back saw/door jamb cutter, safety glasses, and dust masks.

Since engineered wood flooring comes in various thicknesses, consult the manufacturer for the proper length and gauge fasteners. Each plank or strip should be nailed or stapled every 8” and 3” from both ends of the plank.

Jobsite Preparation

Installing wood flooring is usually one of the last jobs on any construction or remodeling project. The contractor, however, must resist pressure to speed up installation for any reason without taking the necessary precautions and steps to ensure a successful installation. Proper job site preparation includes:

• Always following the flooring manufacturer’s instructions to validate warranty requirements.
• Making sure the building is completely enclosed with interior heating and cooling systems running before the flooring material arrives, so as to bring the building to normal living conditions.
• Acclimating the flooring material to living conditions for 3-5 days after it arrives, or as specified by the manufacturer.
• Measuring the flooring planks and subfloor with a moisture meter for MC.
• Measuring a concrete slab for moisture in the event a subfloor is to be installed above the slab. The industry-preferred moisture test is the ASTM F2170 RH test.

Subfloor Preparation

• Subfloors should be clean, dry, stable, and flat (within 1/8” over a 6’ span and 3/16” over a 10’ span).
• Uneven subfloors can result in gaps, squeaks, and poor fitting planks during assembly. Screw down the subfloor securely to flooring joists to prevent squeaking occurring later.
• To achieve floor flatness, you may need to either belt sand/ground down or build up with a suitable floor leveling material.
• Use 30 lb. roofing felt, roofing shingles, or “firm” vinyl tile in layers to build up low areas.
• Never apply sheet plastic over wood subfloors.

Free Download – Wood Flooring Installation: What To Expect

Installation

For engineered flooring, the NWFA’s installation guidelines recommend manufacturer instructions be followed. If you use staples, space them every 3 to 4 inches apart and 1 to 2 inches from the end joints.

In most cases, the flooring is installed by blind-nailing the material through the tongue of the floorboards into the wooden subfloor. This hides the nails after the flooring is installed.

Once the final rows are reached, there will be no space to use the floor nailer or stapler on the tongue. It will then be necessary to nail by hand. Rip the last boards to fit leaving ½” gap from the wall. Pre-drill, top-nail, and nail set on the last row. Fill nail holes with putty. Cut any door jams and fit floor underneath. Install any required reducers at door thresholds.

Re-install baseboards and quarter-round, and fill any nail holes with the appropriate color of putty filler.

Nail-Down or Stapling

Nail-down and staple-down wood floor are the most common and preferred methods if the installation is over a plywood or OSB subfloor. It’s cost-effective and doesn’t require much more than nails or staples and an inexpensive moisture barrier underlayment. It’s a permanent installation.

With the right environment and maintenance, the chances of product failure are minimal. Should a board become damaged, replacement is seamless. Nail-down installations allow flush-in transitional moldings and vents to be used instead of overlap moldings and drop-in vents — providing the improved look and feel of a flush mount transition.

Manufacturer’s Specs

The last piece of advice is the most important: Learn, memorize, and follow the manufacturer’s specs for all parts of the install, but most especially regarding cleat, staple, or nail sizes. Whichever you use, make sure you have the right size stipulated by the manufacturer.

Follow the specs and advice and you will be enjoying a beautiful look and feel of having a flush mount transition floor that will last generations.

For more information about engineered flooring moisture testing and concrete RH testing, call (541) 291-5123.

Previously published by Hardwood Floors Magazine

Tony Morgan

Tony Morgan is a senior technician for Wagner Meters, where he serves on a team for product testing, development, and also customer service and training for moisture measurement products. Along with 19 years field experience for a number of electronics companies, Tony holds a B.A. in Management and his AAS in Electronics Technology.

Last updated on February 1st, 2024