How To Install New Hardwood Floors Over Old Hardwood Floors

Or if the thickness of the floor will allow it staple to the existing floor.

How to install new hardwood floors over old hardwood floors. The surface of the old floor needs to be cleaned. Installing engineered hardwood over existing flooring is a great option for people who have hard to remove floors such as glued down hardwood or glued down vinyl. Installing new hardwood over older wood floors can be extremely time saving in lieu of removal that can become expensive dirty and even dangerous depending on how the original floor was installed. To save money and effort the best choice is to sand the old hardwood floor and to avoid installing the new one over the old floor.

If your subfloor is already hardwood but you want to improve the look of your home with new material it is possible to lay engineered hardwood over the existing floor with proper preparation and traditional installation techniques. If you will install on top the old floor boards have to be securely fastened try to avoid any loose floorboards. To keep the new wood flooring level with other transitioning floors in your home consider using inch thick. Like unfinished hardwood floors the prefinished types typically have tongue and groove edges on all sides.

Check with the flooring manufacturer for recommendations. When installing a floor over your existing floor you will want to choose an engineered wood floor that is at least 1 2 thick and over 4 3 4 wide. It will extend up the wall for about 2 to 3 inches creating a bowl where your wood floor stays dry and protected. Typically it is sheets of plastic laid on the slab and taped at the seams with waterproof tape.

Before installing any wood floor over concrete you ll need a moisture barrier. Solid wood floors should not be installed in basements or below grade. They are available in 3 4 inch thickness as well as low profile styles that are 5 16 to 5 8 inch thick which are a good or installing over existing flooring.