Q: We have a floating wooden floor on very small portion of our floor. I want to put a wooden floor over the complete floor. Our builder suggested that due to moisture issue, they put floating floor. I want some suggestion on what can I do now.
Can I put a glued wooden floor OR floating wooden floor? Will floating wooden floor be OK on large portion of floor?
Is there any chemical I can put on the floor which can act as moisture resistance so that I can glue the wooden floor?
Please advise
Best Regards
Dheeraj Rutia
A: My assumption here is that you are trying to install over concrete since you only list a float or glue as options for installation. Depending on where in your home you are trying to install your floor and what type of floor it is will matter what choices you have. If this floor is below ground level (a basement for instance) then you can NOT install a 3/4″ solid hardwood floor regardless of which installation method you use. You can install a 5/16″ solid hardwood floor in these areas and glue down is the installation method of choice in this case.
You can float a floor over a large area, but you can’t expect to place any heavy furniture over a floating floor, especially against a wall. The reason here is that the floor will be propped up at an angle, similar to a teeter-totter, which can ruin the joints of the floor and more.
Typically, you can only float an engineered wood floor, but you can also glue down an engineered wood floor. Assuming your installation is done properly, the adhesive used to glue a floor down will act as a moisture barrier, preventing moisture from coming up through the concrete slab into the floor. Typically engineered floors can be installed in these areas, but check with the floors manufacturer to be sure.
As far as a coating or chemical to add moisture resistance, the best you can do is site finish a floor or use small beads of glue in the tongue and groove of the floor to add a bit more moisture protection. Beyond this, ensuring a proper moisture barrier (6mil polyethylene for floating floors or the adhesive for a glue down floor) and taking time to acclimate the floor and do a proper install.
