Fixing Floorboards to a concrete slab

bosco · #1 2nd Sep 2005, 06:41 PM

I am going to install some pre-finished solid timber flooring ( Kempas ) on a concrete slab in a new home. I have read about the methods on plywood and batterns but has anyone glued the flooring directly to the slab as i am trying to keep the height down to a minimun so there is no stepping down to the tiled areas

Thanks

glock40sw · #2 2nd Sep 2005, 07:19 PM

My best advise...

Get a professional floor installer to do it.
Direct stick is NOT for the DYIer.

Ya know what KEMPAS means in english????

Answer is: Crrapp

Aussie Hardwood Rulz.

Hooroo.
Regards, Trevor.
Grafton

bosco · #3 2nd Sep 2005, 08:00 PM

Aussie Hardwood may rule but the price dosen't.

If i could get the wood for the same price $41 m for pre-finished boards i would use it
Cheers

Gaza · #4 2nd Sep 2005, 08:53 PM

two words

GOOD LUCK

Direct stick sucks & Pre-finished asian timbers x3 suck. Do both and have fun redoing it in 12 months time.

60X19mm Battens @ 450CC or 15MM PLYWOOD. will do the trick,

bosco · #5 2nd Sep 2005, 08:57 PM

Gaza

Have you had any issues with asian timbers. If so what were they

echnidna · #6 2nd Sep 2005, 09:02 PM

They are soft and damage easily

bosco · #7 2nd Sep 2005, 09:12 PM

Kempas has a hardness rating of 7.5 which is not to bad and better than most Australian timbers

Gaza · #8 2nd Sep 2005, 09:31 PM

1st Kempass is ok in regard to hardness its lots better than there other timbers.

2nd the technology required to produce a pre-finished soild timber flooring is huge, - drying and stability of timber
- Machining
- Application of finsh
- stability of final product
- after sales service / no one to turn to if problem
- reduced production stds, no national systems in place.

Arron · #9 2nd Sep 2005, 09:52 PM

Bosco, why wouldnt you just put down a floating floor.

Worked for us - laid a floor DIY in less then a day. Cheap. Nice looking. Lasts well. Sits directly on a foam underlay on the concrete.

Arron

Skew ChiDAMN!! · #10 2nd Sep 2005, 10:45 PM

I'd go with a 3-ply base. Surely the few extra mm wouldn't hurt, if it does you cshould be able to get the boards in 12mm thickness to allow for it. If you discover the kempas isn't what you wanted it's alot easier to lift/replace segments of ply than to remove individual boards & adhesive from cement...

'Tis called "hedging your bets..."

johnc · #11 3rd Sep 2005, 11:54 PM

There is a product to fix boards directly to concrete that you apply similar to a tile base, just screed on with a notched trowel and put down the board. It is fairly new and I don't know the name but if interested I could probably find out.

JohnC

slats · #12 4th Sep 2005, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosco

I am going to install some pre-finished solid timber flooring ( Kempas ) on a concrete slab in a new home. I have read about the methods on plywood and batterns but has anyone glued the flooring directly to the slab as i am trying to keep the height down to a minimun so there is no stepping down to the tiled areas

Thanks

Hi bosco. I am a professional floor installer i deal in bamboo flooring but have installed a lot of varieties by direct stick method. Dont let the cowboys put you off direct stick. Firstly put down a moisture barrier which is applied by a roller and is very simple to do. Just like painting a floor. If your slab is a under 5%
moisture they say there is no need for a moisture barrier.Do it any way and all future problems are solved.Then stick it down with sika bond glue applied with a notched trowled.Floors that i have done are some ten years old with no problems.Done probaly direcy stick is the best and cheapest way.
Regards Gary.

slats · #13 4th Sep 2005, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosco

I am going to install some pre-finished solid timber flooring ( Kempas ) on a concrete slab in a new home. I have read about the methods on plywood and batterns but has anyone glued the flooring directly to the slab as i am trying to keep the height down to a minimun so there is no stepping down to the tiled areas

Thanks

For the record .Strand woven bamboo has a janka rating of 15.3 compered to
kempas around eight.

Skew ChiDAMN!! · #14 4th Sep 2005, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slats

I am a professional floor installer i deal in bamboo flooring but have installed a lot of varieties by direct stick method. Dont let the cowboys put you off direct stick.

You lay 'em, I rip 'em up. I despise direct stick, not because it doesn't work but 'cos it does! Makes more work for me, especially when aged and/or the slab was poor quality.

It's not the direct stick itself I have doubts about in bosco's case, but that he's using kempas and wants to keep height to a minimum. If the kempas doesn't meet his expectations over, say, 5 years and he wants to replace it then he doesn't have the option of laying over the top. It has to come up.

Good point about the MC barrier though.

BTW, I'm not bagging kempas either, haven't had enough to do with it to form an opinion. When it comes to floors, I'm a darksider.

corbs · #15 4th Sep 2005, 11:29 AM

Not an expert but I thought I would throw in. If you go direct stick pray that you like it because you dont want to be the one pulling it up. If you wont be the one pulling it up then direct stick. The pic below is my bamboo floor that I installed direct stick after sealing the slab. The product is compressed bamboo which is supposed to have a janka rating of 14.7, its taken a hiding from 2 boys and a dog and still looks great with a quick sweep and mop after nearly 2 years.

<img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b179/corbs1975/100_0623.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

Good luck
Corbs