Now, solid wood floors on concrete are an ideal choice in residential and commercial spaces - but in the past folks didn't recommend it. What fundamentals have changed? Why is this news going viral with over 96M views?
Today, you can really have it all: a beautiful and authentic Steller Solid Hardwood Floor can be assembled directly over a moisture barrier - no nails, glue or sleepers required. Even better, it is easy enough to install DIY or with the professional of your choice - no certifications required.
In this post we’ll talk in detail about:
- Why installing solid wood floors on concrete slab didn’t work in the past
- What subfloor sleepers are, and why you don't need them with Steller Floors
- How you can assemble a Steller Hardwood Floor directly over concrete subfloors with a simple moisture barrier like 6-mil polyethelene
The Limits of a Traditional Wood Floor
Can you put solid wood floors on concrete?
Traditionally, to install hardwood flooring the wood would be nailed or glued down. However, on concrete subflooring, nails will shatter the concrete and glue can loosen over time. These issues affect vinyl and engineered wood floors as well, and so these flooring types are often glued together in a floating format over sealed concrete.What is a floating floor?
Floating floors are a popular solution when installing new flooring, especially in areas where concrete slab subflooring is common. Floating flooring sits or "floats" on top of the concrete slab. Don’t glue down your floor.
Why does glue usually fail in a concrete subfloor application?
While simply gluing your flooring on top of the concrete slab may seem to be an easy, simple solution - it does come with some drawbacks. The process of gluing your flooring onto a concrete slab takes longer for installation and often costs more.
Repairs are difficult with permanently installed floors
It is also considerably more difficult to remove the flooring that has been glued down to replace or repair.In the long run, engineered and vinyl flooring types can disappoint homeowners as they split at the seams and delaminate. Distraught owners and builders, feeling that they have no good options, often resort to polishing concrete out of desperation.
Don't forget to test your subfloor for moisture and flatness.
Before you install any kind of flooring over concrete, you should test your slab for excess moisture and for flatness (1/8" of an inch over 8-10' - which is equal to fitting a quarter under a 4-foot long level). Don't worry -- levelling a subfloor is cost-effective and easy. Both of these conditions should be remediated before installing any kind of flooring in the market including LVP, engineered floors and Steller Floors.Innovation for a New Kind of Floor
Steller Hardwood Floors is changing the game by offering a patented assembly system that allows solid wood floors on concrete to be installed directly over a low-cost moisture barrier. Getting the best of both worlds is easier than ever because there’s no need to build a complex and expensive sleeper system.What are Subfloor Sleepers?
When a home or commercial space is built on a concrete slab and the owner is committed to having a warm and beautiful solid hardwood floor in their space, they previously had no option but to install subfloor sleepers above their foundation. Sleepers are a complex system made of 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 lumber that is built to allow the nails or glue used in traditional solid hardwood floor installation to be secured to the subfloor.Why are Subfloor Sleepers Bad?
The detriments of sleeper systems are clear even after you account for the added time and monetary cost. The architecture of the space needs to accommodate the wood subfloor system which can reduce ceiling height.Acoustically, you could accidentally create a “drum” that echoes underneath the floor. Worse, if the concrete subflooring is not sealed properly or if there is a leak under the floor, the area under the solid hardwood floor could become quite humid, which will result in squeaky warped planks. In this worst-case scenario, the hardwood floor would need to be repaired or replaced at an even higher cost.
How is a Steller Floor Different?
Steller Hardwood Floors have all of the benefits of a high-quality solid hardwood floor: they are beautiful, ¾” planks sourced with the highest quality rankings from the Northeastern USA. In addition, we prefinish and seal the planks so that they are ready to install on arrival. Then, our solid wood floors can be assembled on concrete using our patented assembly clip.
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