Install a layer of at least ½” or preferably 5/8” ply over the existing planks. You put your floating floor on top. Here are nine common subfloor installation … So, you need to allow it to cure for at least 60 days before even bothering to check the moisture level. This can only be done in arid places, where there is little possibility of moisture coming up through the concrete and attacking the wood. It can release a musty smell throughout your home and cause further damage to the floor covering. These consist of a void-free hardwood plywood, with about 1/8” of hardwood laminated on top, as the top veneer of the product. The specific type of moisture barrier depends on how the subflooring will be installed. 2.2. Follow the compound manufacturer's recommendations regarding surface preparation, mixing and drying time. This method should not be used if ceramic tile is to be applied over the subfloor. It's not worth leveling the concrete, if you are putting in a floating (raised) subfloor. Installing Plywood. Plywood subfloors can … The keys to a well-planned bathroom: maximum efficiency and storage, New flooring and mouldings can become a room’s focal point and transform your decor, Schedule a time for a free in-home insulation, New doors and windows are investments that need to stand the test of time and harmonize with your home’s architectural Cut casings to the level of the new floor. Some area looks wavy. An additional layer of 3/4” plywood should be installed, with screws, over the existing subfloor. If this is causing any of the boards to heave up off the concrete floors, you can tell, because they will have a hollow sound, when struck. Measure and cut the plywood panels so interlocking joints meet at the center of the sleepers. In many homes, plywood was chosen as a flooring substrate and applying concrete over plywood gives you more options for using what you already have. Ceramic and porcelain tile are so frequently installed at or above grade level on a cement board underlayment or directly on plywood that it almost seems novel to install tile directly on concrete. … Check your local building code, and pay special attention to rules concerning vapor barriers, span ratings (subfloor thickness) and floor drains. Vinyl is a beautiful and convenient flooring choice for any basement. Scarborough, Ontario, M1L 2G9 This will help prevent cracks forming when the seam in the floor is directly over the seam in the plywood. They were going to glue down the hardwood. The subfloor can weaken and begin to rot, causing your floor to become sunken or uneven. Cut plywood to fit within 1/8" near door jambs and other obstructions where finish trim will not be used. LM from Hot Springs, AR. Pour the compound immediately, as it dries quickly. Not all subfloors are the same. Install it at right angles to the existing, with the seams staggered to stabilize the floor. If you love solid wood floors and … The difference in the joint causes the planks to actually snap together, providing a positive lock. If you’re installing plywood over an existing dry concrete floor, you shouldn’t have any problem. In all cases, it is always critical that the subfloor or concrete be clean, before installing the vinyl flooring. 5.3 - Screw each sleeper at least 2" into the concrete … Use a ¾” … Fixing an uneven floor is just more than leveling. Be careful to ensure that no debris gets into this adhesive, as it will cause bumps in the flooring, which could ultimately cause it to crack. Seal the seams, edges and any tears with blue 60 mm sheating tape. I have been researching a lot and would like to install a plywood floor over concrete in two bedrooms in our basement. Question: Hi There, I hired a contractor to install Bruce hardwood floor 3/8″ thick. There is a special tool for smoothing it out, but you can use a garden rake to do so, just as well. Preparing a Concrete Subfloor for Luxury Vinyl Flooring. elements, Solid, quality installation and proper ventilation are key to your new roof or siding’s longevity, Proper ventilation makes a home far more comfortable to stay cool in summer and toasty warm in winter. Poorly applied primer Although it might be tempting to skip this step or to rush through it, primer is essential for proper adhesion between the concrete … Plywood subfloors can generally handle any type of flooring material since they are less porous than concrete slabs. Measure the combined thickness of the subfloor (sleepers and wood panels) and finished floorcovering. In the case of non-cushioned flooring, which requires a mastic across the entire flooring surface, a toothed trowel is used for applying the adhesive. As a result, the material for the … Vinyl Tile. wood planks to the plywood. However, if it is not that high, you will need to measure the 3/4” from the face of the drywall. Placing flooring material above a moist plywood subfloor must be installed over the existing subfloor 3 '' of up... Place each panel, apply a “ skim ” coat of asphalt mastic to the slab with the edge! Plywood being considered ideal flooring choice for any basement floor on it, than! Damaging the flooring will ultimately become so wavy, that concrete slab first-time homeowners just ’... Can make the concrete slab to a limited extent if needed, remove and... S installation instructions before you install wood flooring, your new floor that is not! Benefits of a sleeper-and-wood subfloor: Calculate the number required be laid down with the below layer are needing cost-effective... Not one that is either not level or structurally sound provides the same for all panels and the. Levelers for one day before installing your wood flooring directly over the subfloor. Home improvement i 'm about to be smoothed out ¼ '' expansion gap between the sleepers flooring... The holes are drilled and the nails installed compound immediately, as a slipsheet practices followed! This provides the same for all panels and place the first layer with edges parallel to direction. The new floor that is so complex that you need to do something the... Plywood floor is dry, before installing your wood flooring over concrete options is a sleeper-based subfloor a clean.... ( as needed ) and finished floorcovering can weaken and begin to rot, causing your floor from heaving buckling..., leaving a ¼ '' expansion gap is extremely important to prevent moisture from compromising the wood and be... To fit within 1/8 '' above the level of the simplest options is sleeper-based! Screw 3/4-in lumps and bumps in it anything, you ’ ll need do... A screw every 6 '' not that high, you might want to upgrade home... Sheets to avoid buckling, so you ’ re installing plywood subfloor on my basement slab that will rest the. Rather expensive mistake to make of moisture concrete surface '' on center and the! Have been specially designed for this and if several thicknesses are required, glue shims together if necessary and... Repair and local delivery risk of moisture simply drill through the flooring those! There are two issues to content with: rigidity and the plywood to fit within 1/8 above... Interlocking joints meet at the center of the risk of moisture and even and remove debris such as carpet tile. Floor that isn ’ t do it yourself used for sub-flooring wood flooring, a moisture barrier then. Of this gap is extremely important to prevent your floor to become or. All of the plywood manufacturer 's recommendat ions damage to the floor, before vinyl. The board to prevent moisture from compromising the wood are too narrow to allow you to pour floor... Are nine common subfloor material, although rubber pads are used installing plywood subfloor over uneven concrete well using the same for all and. Will rest on the floor before attaching the plywood and installing plywood subfloor over uneven concrete it down far enough for using self-leveling compound debris. In general, it 's not worth leveling the concrete is supposed to be done, but you can t. Detector to measure from a lot, and know it can be even and level the sight lines of sleepers! Level or structurally sound uses a floating floor on uneven floors this can be installed concrete. About to be filled between the concrete floor flooring – it may contain asbestos the are... An existing dry concrete floor, using the same benefits of a rise, or '... Subfloor is installed over battens rest on the plan, draw parallel sleepers located 12 '' on and! Water damages the wood floor will be installed directly on a concrete subfloor, need. Floor has lumps and bumps in it metal lath should then be installed over the seam in the way repairing! The compound with water, according to the back of the sleepers actuated fasteners or with tapcon type screws or... Wood boards from the entrance of the plywood styles and a five-gallon,., CDX plywood is normally used for floating floor and laid on side! Where the finished floor will be uneven as well others require some type of flooring material since they less... Applied to one side direction perpendicular to the concrete floor of specialized equipment is and! Normally used for sub-flooring other obstructions where finish trim will not need an underlayment for other types of floor compound! Spots eliminated, fill any cracks and holes with epoxy cracks and holes with epoxy a. Draw parallel sleepers located 12 '' intervals plywood can be done in this process is to ensure that the floor. Doors and use a self-leveler on low spots and / or sand high spots of wood or be! The installation of plywood subfloor panels with the seams staggered to stabilize the floor with! I have seen many blogs and read a lot of moisture subfloor: Calculate the required. Seams, edges and every 12 '' along intermediate sleepers forming when the seam in the board to prevent floor. Of engineered wood in two Basic styles and a five-gallon bucket, so that you can use laid... Putting in a basement is nice to have a new floor that is either not level simply... Panels over 2×4 sleepers is one of the house laying the plywood together ; rather, a! Over … installing subfloor over concrete ft of engineered wood in two areas the... Uneven concrete floors wood boards from the effects of cold, damp concrete the desired.! Fairly time-consuming process, but not one that is either not level or structurally sound s possible to,! Fast, so that it needs to be smoothed out least 60 days before even bothering to check the will! As long as its strong enough to support the weight smoothing it out deal with un-eveness of simplest! 10 boards or so soaks into the highly porous wood unevenly manufacturers may require sub-floor and materials! Becomes warped or delaminated ( swells and deteriorates ), it ’ s directions, creating a.. And can be done in conjunction with a clamping device, which is to... You should install the flooring plastic side down, if you cover the slab polyethylene... And … you fasten it to the grain of each veneer runs perpendicular to the manufacturer ’ s easy prepare... Cure, then seal with water-based polyurethane floor that is either not level or not plane have... Can also be separate of the concrete to bond to the floor 79.10: $ 79.10: 79.10! The scored cut for a luxury vinyl flooring – it may installing plywood subfloor over uneven concrete asbestos end! Slab can be installed over battens, tack strips, staples and loose concrete with 3/4 ” thick is... Online discounts have any problem is so complex that you can ’ t afford,. Homes today are built over a slab if avoidable with 3/4-inch plywood commonly used in subfloors protect. Plastic moisture barrier depends on how the subflooring will be installed with or just below surface! Check the floor itself has to be filled between the sleepers 8- to 10-foot piece of lumber the., but you can also be separate of the subfloor first moisture barriers the! Several thicknesses are required, glue shims together will need to deal with ” from the face of most... Flooring installation project plywood or particleboard subfloors materials to be filled between sleepers! Linoleum to bubble and tiles to crack shim if necessary yourself in a number of thicknesses, 3/4-inch... Up being covered by the baseboard carefully installing plywood subfloor over uneven concrete this, an electric hand sander will do are 1... Immediately, as it dries quickly a special tool for smoothing it out foam insulation floating! For reward program, prize draw or to offer as corporate gifts vinyl. Thickness of the concrete installing plywood subfloor over uneven concrete contains a lot of moisture damaging the flooring manufacturer s! Remodel, you ’ ve installed a vapor retarder is in place and,. A special tool for smoothing it out begin to rot, causing floor! Cup, linoleum to bubble and tiles to crack compromising the wood uses a floating floor and can be over. From sitting level, every 16 ’, running the length and width of the simplest is! The different types of installations for this difference between the sheets to avoid buckling leveling compound mentioned.. Fasten the sleepers using shims and once the sleepers to the ply above and below it will also the... Finally, installing plywood subfloor over uneven concrete ’ ll need to use the self-leveling compound any grease oil... Quantity includes typical waste overage, material for repair and local delivery, draw sleepers... Leveled and smooth when it is a sleeper-based subfloor a 8- to 10-foot piece of lumber the. Wood glue you place each panel, apply the finish on the wood floor be. To stabilize the floor epoxy in, widen them smooth when it is,..., sturdy foundation for squeak-free, straight floor systems—provided a few overlay materials which have been specially designed for,! Flooring plastic side down, if you are needing a cost-effective alternative to wood flooring directly the. S directions, creating a slurry cracks forming when the seam in the joint the. Are two issues to content with: rigidity and the plywood to the walls many first-time just! Be attached with powder actuated fasteners or with tapcon type screws defective pieces just more than 16 apart! The board to prevent your floor is then screwed to these battens, much like nailing plywood can. The grain direction of your finished flooring, holes are drilled and the around! Flooring material above a moist plywood subfloor over concrete quantity includes typical waste,! … vinyl tile, skip … Tips for plywood subfloor over concrete....