Laying boards on concrete with the QuikBrace™
For ultimate comfort in your home, sometimes you cannot replace the feel of floorboards placed on a concrete foundation. If you are looking for more than just a floating floor in your home, there are a few ways the QuikBrace™ can be used on concrete sub-floors to get you the level of comfort you are after. This page outlines the different methods you can use with the QuikBrace™ to achieve what you want, as well as some tips for flooring in general.
- Plan out where you will need anchor points prior to installation and sealing the concrete foundation (for example, two feet from your first row). Snap a chalk line and drill 10mm diameter holes spaced about three feet apart. Insert steel pins of at least 10mm diameter into these holes. You can then use a suitable piece of timber or other material leaning against the steel pins to brace off.
- Another way plot your anchor points before laying floorboard on concrete, is to simply mount plywood onto the required length of timber and brace from a wall.
- You can also simply lay the floorboard into the adhesive as close to its final position and drill and pin as required.
Tips for flooring
Generally concrete foundations are flat, but If not they can be grinded or re-levelled by using a concrete leveller topping product to reach the appropriate dimensions.
Once the concrete foundation is prepared, the next step is to apply to the surface a moisture vapor barriers sealer. Concrete subfloors can be like a sponge holding water. Because moisture travels through concrete foundations, if it is left unchecked, it can affect the performance of the floorboard covering on top; especially timber floors. If you use a reputable brand barrier sealer on the floorboards, you will likely get the insurance you need and avoid moisture catchment in the concrete subfloor under the floorboards.
Moisture can even have an impact on conventional installation methods like Plywood and Battens. Builder’s black plastic and moisture barriers are best practice in these instances to minimize damage from moisture.
It is important to note that even the existing terrain and location on a rising or sloping ground can influence seasonal fluctuation in concrete moisture content. New and old slabs should be checked with a moisture meter, every 2 years, and precautions such as the black plastic and moisture barriers should be used to combat any evidence of moisture build up.
Laying timber floorboards, like overlay flooring, range in thickness from 10 mm to 14mm. The direct stick on concrete can help in reducing floor finished heights. This is especially important in kitchen areas where you don’t want excessive height created from the floorboards rising, that may affect bench top heights etc.
Keep in mind that, prior to laying the floorboards, dishwasher space, and adjustment capability, may also need to be considered when determining the required space as well as what preventative measure to take to minimize moisture build up in the concrete subfloor.
Timber floorboards on concrete is an excellent option because you don’t face the issue of extra height being created by underlay materials between the concrete and the floorboards.
Some leading brands have state of the art adhesive that is designed to foam as it dries and cures, called “direct stick adhesive” that will help the floorboards consistently stick to the concrete subfloor. These products go a long way to controlling any small deviations in the concrete, and they have the potential to lessen the drummy or hollow spots in the concrete.
Sometimes it is a good idea to use long weights to weigh down the floor as the adhesive dries. The foaming reaction allows the floor to be pushed flat under the weights. This can really help with sanding, as the floor is flattened by the glue foaming and expanding under the long flat weights on top of the floorboards.
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