What is the best subfloor over concrete?

When installing subflooring over concrete, for installation of wood flooring, it is necessary to use thicker subflooring, so that it can be nailed into. A minimum of 5/8” thick plywood is recommended, with 3/4” thick plywood being considered ideal.

Can you put plywood over concrete slab?

Plywood-on-slab. Place a 6-mil polyethylene vapor retarder directly over the concrete. Lay 3/4-inch plywood sheets opposite to the direction of the finish flooring, leaving a 1/4-inch gap between panels to eliminate squeaking. Fasten the plywood to the concrete using powder-actuated fasteners or concrete nails.

Can solid wood flooring be installed on concrete?

Though installing hardwood floors over concrete is possible, there are numerous factors to consider before doing so. Installing wood flooring over your slab foundation can be a great idea as long as the slab is properly prepared, and the floor is installed by a professional.

Can you tile directly onto OSB?

In cases where OSB is to be used as an underlayment on interior floor installation, it must be properly treated before the installation of tile. Once the RedGard® is dry, tile can be safely installed to the RedGard®-coated OSB with one of CuSTOM®’s polymer-modified thin-set or medium bed mortars.

Do I need a vapor barrier under my concrete slab?

Exterior concrete slabs or those in unheated structures don’t require a vapor retarding barrier. However, if the surface will be sealed with an impermeable membrane or product, there should be a vapor barrier under the pad.

Do you need a subfloor over concrete?

While a subfloor is not necessary to add structural strength when you’ll be laying finish flooring on top of a concrete slab (as in a basement remodel), subflooring over concrete offers two other advantages: If necessary, place sleepers (mini-joists) to raise the subfloor above a very damp concrete slab.

How do you install a floating subfloor on concrete?

To install a floated subfloor system, first place a layer of plywood subfloor panels with the edges parallel to the wall. Use a ¾” spacer between the plywood and the wall and a 1/8” spacer between panels. Next, lay a second layer of plywood at a 45-degree angle to the first layer.

Can I waterproof OSB?

Oriented strand board is resistant to water but not necessarily waterproof. The heat-cured resin adhesive that coats and bonds the strands to form the panels is waterproof. Unfortunately, though, saw cuts and sanding can damage the protection and expose unprotected wood to moisture damage.

Can a tile be put on an OSB slab?

Put the tile on the OSB slab is quite possible with your own hands, if you carefully read all the nuances of this process The need to install tiles on the OSB basically arises if the house was built using wireframe technology.

Is it OK to put cement board over concrete floor?

If you have a concrete subfloor then you should not be contemplating installing cement board over it. I know it seems like a smooth surface and it seems like it may fix some of the issues with the concrete floor but don’t do it. Self-Leveling Underlayment: The Ultimate Guide

What happens when you put OSB on a subfloor?

The smooth, finished side goes up when you install OSB as a subfloor. If you lay the sheet the other way, it doesn’t provide proper moisture protection, and moisture protection is everything when it comes to laminate flooring. Sheets should be butted together and staggered, so that end joints do not form continuous lines.

Can you lay laminate flooring over OSB flooring?

There’s absolutely no problem laying a laminate floor over OSB, provided you take all the moisture-preventative steps you would take for a plywood subfloor. From a distance, OSB flooring may look a little rough and uneven, but when you get closer and feel the surface, you realize that’s just an optical illusion.

Is it necessary to put cement board over concrete?

Normally, installing cement board is not regarded as necessary when you are laying tile onto a concrete slab since this subfloor is already cementitious—adding cement board would be redundant.

Do you need to cut OSB before you waterproof it?

Therefore, you will need to make sure your OSB is cut into the pieces you will need before you add your waterproofing so these edges can be protected. Measure, mark, and cut all the pieces you need, and set them aside on the tarp. You don’t want grass or dirt to get in your waterproofing either. Save a scrap piece of OSB at this time as well.

How is cement board used to install tile?

These convenient panels of cementitious board provide an instant flat, hard surface that bonds with the thin-set adhesives or mortars used to install tile. Typically, a layer of cement board is screwed to a plywood or OSB subfloor, to to the wall studs for wall installations.