What is the best flooring to put over a concrete slab?

Plain concrete slabs have served as the flooring material for basements, garages, patios, and utility areas for many years, but concrete is now also a viable material in home interiors, where it can be polished, etched, or stained to serve as the finished flooring surface.

However, if your concrete is relatively sound and raising its elevation a few inches would not create problems, then you can pour new concrete directly over the old. ... If you bond new concrete to old, any cracks in the existing slab will transfer up into the new slab, and usually within a day or two.

You should NOT place a vapor barrier BEHIND the backer board. Where, pray tell, would any such collected vapor/water go? Answer:There's nowhere proper for such moisture to egress. The current best practice is to place waterproofing OVER the backetboard and just UNDER the tile.

Safe Snow-Melt Products for ConcreteCalcium Chloride. This is a popular snow-melt product that's considered one of the best options for concrete. ... Magnesium Chloride. This option is also considered one of the best and safest products for concrete. ... Potassium Chloride. ... Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) ... Urea.

Yes, you may pour a concrete pad overlay over an existing slab. You need to consider the added height and weight of the overlay on the existing structure. Overlays may include polymers, portland cement concrete, or epoxies. You should improve the drainage of the slab by having a good slope on the overlay.

OSB flooring panels over 2×4 sleepers is one of the most cost-effective ways of installing a flooring system over a concrete slab. ... Sleepers can be installed so that they are level, thus overcoming flaws in the concrete slab and providing a straight, even surface on which to place the flooring system.

Self leveling epoxy is a type of epoxy floor coating that can be applied over concrete floors to create a durable, low maintenance flooring surface. Specifically, self leveling epoxy flooring can be applied over old cracked and damaged concrete floors to create a smooth, seamless surface.

If your bathroom is on top a concrete slab, we have some bad news. To move the toilet more than just a couple of inches, you will have to demolish the concrete to access and relocate water and waste lines. Then you will have to rebuild the concrete foundation and replace the sub-flooring, flooring, and fixtures.

For an outdoor tile patio installation to be successful, it needs a solid base, and a concrete slab is an excellent choice. ... If you already have a slab in place, that will save you some work. But before you can start tiling over this base, you need to examine it more closely.

Polyurethane coatings directly on concrete is not a good idea.

With dry concrete and the right subfloors and vapor retarders, solid hardwood floors can be installed on slabs that are either on-grade (at ground level) or above-grade (above ground level). ... Wood floors should not be subjected to very wet conditions.

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.

Concrete floors can be susceptible to settling and cracking over time, and this is a more frequent problem when an existing structural slab has adapted to a finished residential flooring surface—such as when a basement or loft condo has been converted to living space.

Concrete floors can be susceptible to settling and cracking over time, and this is a more frequent problem when an existing structural slab has adapted to a finished residential flooring surface—such as when a basement or loft condo has been converted to living space.

6 Ways to Make Over a Concrete PatioPaint a Pattern. Yes, you can paint your concrete slab. ... Lay Decking Flooring. Did you know you can lay decking over a concrete slab? ... Add Curves With Pavers. ... Lay Slate Tiles. ... Stain the Concrete to Look Like Tile. ... Add a Beautiful Outdoor Rug.

If you have a concrete slab in your backyard and you're itching to jazz it up a bit, here are 6 ways to make over a concrete patio!...Concrete Patio IdeasPaint a Pattern. ... Lay Decking Flooring. ... Add Curves With Pavers. ... Lay Slate Tiles. ... Stain the Concrete to Look Like Tile. ... Add a Beautiful Outdoor Rug. ... Paint Concrete.More items...•Feb 18, 2021

Anatomy of a Concrete Floor This layer is covered with a vapor barrier sheet that prevents moisture from moving up into the concrete. A welded wire fabric mesh sheet is then placed over that in order to aid with adhesion. Finally, the concrete slab is poured directly onto these layers.

Lay 6-mil polyethylene sheeting over the concrete to minimize moisture migration from the concrete up into the wood flooring. Then fasten 3/4-in. treated plywood to the concrete with concrete screws spaced every 16 in. Alternatively, screw rows of treated 1x4s to the concrete 16 in.

Take a look at all of these fabulous concrete patio ideas.Paint a Pattern. Yes, you can paint your concrete slab. ... Lay Decking Flooring. Did you know you can lay decking over a concrete slab? ... Add Curves With Pavers. ... Lay Slate Tiles. ... Stain the Concrete to Look Like Tile. ... Add a Beautiful Outdoor Rug. ... Paint Concrete. ... Dress it Up.More items...•Feb 18, 2021

The best practice when selecting flooring that is safe, durable and won't trap allergens may be the interior concrete slab as the floor surface. Besides the reduction of allergens in the home, concrete floors last much longer than conventional floor coverings.

Experts agree that calcium chloride is the best ice melt for concrete surfaces. Being a hygroscopic compound, it absorbs moisture and thereafter, starts dissolving. The dissolving process is exothermic and generates heat of up to 60 degrees Celsius.

Concrete burns require immediate medical attention.

While in transit, many medical professionals advise flushing the skin with lots of clean water.

Some medical experts recommend adding vinegar or citrus to the water to neutralize the caustic effect..

engineered wood floorA floating floor is the perfect companion for a concrete subfloor. According to flooring experts, the best kind of wood flooring to use with a concrete subfloor is a floating engineered wood floor. This kind of floor performs well, resists moisture and is easy to install.

A: It's perfectly acceptable to put tile directly on concrete — with a couple of caveats. First, it is important to determine if there is moisture coming up from the slab. You can test for moisture by taping all four sides of 18-by-18-inch polyurethane plastic on the slab.

Because so many factors go into the cost, the pricing can range from $2 per square foot to over $30 per square foot for professional installation. In most cases, you should not install a concrete floor yourself. ... To install laminate flooring, you should expect to pay between $3 and $5 per square foot.

Any high quality paint can be applied over Block Fill primer, but certain types perform better over time. The absolute best for exterior use is Elastomeric paint. This finish can outlast normal paint 2—1. The next best choice is 100% Acrylic semi-gloss or satin sheen paint.

Take a look at the top products below to get an idea of what the best exterior caulk for you might look like.BEST OVERALL: DAP Dynaflex 230 Sealant.BEST FOR CONCRETE: Sashco Slab Concrete Crack Repair Sealant.BEST FOR WINDOWS AND DOORS: GE Sealants & Adhesives Window & Door Sealant.More items...

Installing concrete over wood flooring can be an easy way to hide damaged floors. Concrete floors provide a unique look that can't be matched by other flooring materials. ... Thin concrete overlays, which are usually 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick, can cover existing concrete slabs or other approved subfloors, including wood.

edit - To put footings under the slab, you can cut holes wherever needed, excavate for footings (Sonotubes or concrete piers or similar) and then patch the concrete slab.

Applying a bead of polystyrene-compatible caulk or mastic to the top of the insulation board minimizes water infiltration behind it. For under-slab applications, the rigid foam insulation typically should be installed over a gravel base, with a poly vapor diffusion retarder between the gravel and insulation.

The retrofit process involves either cutting and sanding the existing concrete slab to make it polished or adding an upper layer of polished concrete at least 50 mm thick over the existing foundation. ... These options help ensure that you end up with a concrete flooring system that you absolutely love!

six (6) inchesIt is essential that you keep your concrete slab at no more than six (6) inches of thickness. Also, it would be best to work the numbers out if you wish to work with any lesser as you can only put in one slab.

Rat slab also called mud slab is a few inches layer which constructors put on the foundation. Rat slab is a thin layer of some concrete poured over the floor or your crawlspace. It is a fine, poorly finished area that is not at a very smooth level.

Concrete Patio IdeasPaint a Pattern. Yes, you can paint your concrete slab. ... Lay Decking Flooring. Did you know you can lay decking over a concrete slab? ... Add Curves With Pavers. ... Lay Slate Tiles. ... Stain the Concrete to Look Like Tile. ... Add a Beautiful Outdoor Rug. ... Paint Concrete. ... Dress it Up.More items...•Feb 18, 2021

You should not pour concrete over the grass directly. For your concrete to harden flat and smooth, it is best to clear all vegetation and pour the concrete on top of smooth and debris-free soil. Leaving grass under your concrete slab can cause some unnecessary issues for you in the future.

Tool #1: Sledgehammer + Pry Bar When thinking about breaking up concrete, most of our minds jump straight to jackhammer. But you can probably do the work with a metal sledgehammer and a little elbow grease. Sledgehammer is the best tool to use if the slab of concrete is three inches thick or less.

Do I need a DPM under laminate flooring? Simply put yes. In order to prevent damp rising through the concrete floor and causing issues, a DPM should be used under all final floor types including wood flooring, laminate, vinyl and floor tiles.

Here are other basement flooring ideas:Epoxy floor coatings are good if you can live with a hard surface flooring.

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Ceramic tile is the designer's choice, with tons of colors and styles.

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Vinyl tile and sheet flooring also goes directly over prepared concrete and will withstand even minor flooding with no ill effect.More items....

Cherry Wax is water-based and applies easily with a microfiber dust mop, synthetic fiber wax applicator or lambs wool applicator. Cherry Wax provides excellent scuff and abrasion resistance for all types of interior flooring applications including stained concrete floors and epoxy floors.

Method 2 of 2: Pouring a New Slab over an Existing OneMix one part polybond with 4 parts water.Add the mixture to clean dry cement powder.Mix until a slurry like consistency is achieved.Brush this slurry mix onto old concrete slab.Pour new concrete while mixture is still wet.More items...

You can put concrete over asphalt, and it is a great choice as a driveway base for residential homes. Asphalt is only suitable as a driveway base if it is at least between 2” and 4” thick for residences. ... Before you can pour concrete over asphalt, you must first soak the asphalt with water.

edit - To put footings under the slab, you can cut holes wherever needed, excavate for footings (Sonotubes or concrete piers or similar) and then patch the concrete slab.

Another method to prevent discoloration is to place dry straw directly onto the concrete, then put the plastic on top of it. Wet the concrete, then place the plastic sheeting over it. ... Once a day, remove the plastic sheet and wet the concrete, then replace the cover. Do this for a week for the best results.

Prices can seem like they are all over the place, but one rule of thumb is that hardwood flooring materials cost two to three times as much as a concrete floor.

We have to admit that a polished concrete garage floor can look fantastic. ... It typically is less slippery when wet than some other garage flooring options as well. If you didn't know any better, polished concrete seems like the best garage flooring option that you could choose.

If you want to replace an old, cracked tile floor or other type of flooring with new ceramic tile, it's absolutely imperative that you create a solid setting base for the new tile. If you're working over a wood subfloor, cement board is the right choice for your tile base.

Spraying water on your new concrete is one of the best and oldest ways to cure your concrete.

After new concrete is poured and finished the concrete begins its curing process.

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Spraying water on the surface prevents the surface of the concrete slab from drying faster than the bottom..

Floating slabs are concrete slabs that are laying over the ground, without any kind of anchoring, as if it simply sits on it and floats. Floating slab, as the name tells it resembles a plate that is simply laid over water, with no kind of connection between them.

The term 'honed concrete' is used to cover a level of grinding that produces an even and smooth matte finish. Honed Concrete offers a great flooring solution to your concrete in outdoor areas. ... Leaving a hard-wearing non-slip finish to your outdoor concrete slab.

Most concrete contractors want a mix of coarse and fine aggregate to create a compactable base that is going to be safe for settlement and drainage. Crusher run (a mix of crushed stone and stone dust) is one of the best base materials for concrete flatwork.