Pine flooring T/G

[Sorgy]

We are in the process of building a New Cabin/ Bunkhouse. Before we tore down the old cabin we removed the old pine flooring. Some of it was installed over concrete and some was nialed to a wood sub floor.

Our new cabin has a poured slab floor - that is insulated underneath. Is installing the flooring over the concrete a good or bad idea? We would have to install some nailer boards to nail the floor to. (the old cabin had 4X4 framing in concrete that the floor was nailed to.

We would install the floor and refinish it at that point.

any other suggestions for the use of this flooring?

thanks

Steve

[CAMAN]

I personally wouldn't lay wood flooring on top of of concrete, even if there is a vapor barrier and padding between them, that concrete needs to breathe. I've never done a large floor like yours, but in my previous house I had a 6x8 storage closet that just had a slab with some vinyl flooring on it and it was bitterly cold in the winter. I ripped up the vinyl and installed green treated 2x2s 12" OC, glued and tapcon screwed them in place, then placed 1 1/2" pink foamboard insulation between the studs and placed OSB subfloor on top along with new flooring. Worked great, and I actually turned off the furnace vent in that room because it got so dang hot in there once the floor was insulated.

Don't know how well it would go over with new home codes, but it's an idea I would do again if I needed to.

[mn_bowhunter]

If the floor is on or above grade solid flooring is ok to use. It is NOT recommended for use below grade. To fasten you could glue the flooring down, or install nailers. Another option is to use dricore panels to attach the hardwood. Dricore panels will hold up to moisture better to a point. If you have adjacent floors height differences will need to be adjusted. Height differences are easier to overcome with a direct glue down floor. Dricore floated will have the most bounce and give.

[Sorgy]

thanks for the replys. The room size we are looking at using the flooring in is 15 1/2 X 17 feet. It will not be heated on a constant basis. I do like the idea of mouting the nailers down - With the insulation below the floor and the air space under the wood I think it would be OK. Not perfect but workable- It should last for many years. Some of this flooring is 60 years old- True 1/2" pine flooring.

Steve

[titelines]

Don't know if you can do this or not, but we just floated our wood floor over the concrete foundation. Laid down a vapor barrier/cushion, applied glue to the grooves, snapped them together and laid the floor down. Been a few years and it's flawless so far, very tight to the walls etc. Will be very easy to take this out if/when we decide to replace it.

[mn_bowhunter]

Forgot to mention, if you use nailers make sure all butt ends are supported by nailers. This is especially important with a floor that's only 1/2" thick.

[Sorgy]

Thanks for the replys guy's.

I like the glued together idea but there is a lot of very fine dust / dirt in the old grooves and such.

We should use a vapor barrier and nailer to hold it all together. We have poly and insulation under the concrete floor so I don't think there will be a huge problem with the moisture.

If we have problems we can always tear it out.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone

Steve