If you have an existing floor you will need to break through the concrete to install the pipes using heavy machinery.
How to install a floor clean out for concrete slab.
Installing a hardwood floor over a concrete slab.
To check if the floor has moisture tape a 2 x 2 clear plastic wrapper on the ground where you plan to install your new carpet.
Before the concrete trucks come the contractor fills in the area over the network of plumbing pipes and drain lines with compacted sand.
To install vinyl plank flooring on concrete you ll first need to clean the concrete with soap and water and fill in any cracks with concrete filler.
A slab foundation is usually less expensive to install than a full concrete wall foundation with a concrete floor.
It doesn t have a foundation or any concrete walls under it or around it.
It may be applicable if your concrete is too old or too damaged.
The extra layer can even out any minor imperfections in the concrete or level it out if the concrete drops or sinks in some areas.
Seal the plastic using a tape and then wait for 24 hours.
If there is moisture under the plastic it means that you need to use waterproof paint or moisture sealant on the floor before starting your installation project.
Even if your home was built on a concrete slab you can still enjoy the beauty and charm of hardwood floors.
Experienced professionals pay close attention to managing moisture and minimizing wood floor expansion and contraction when preparing to install hardwood floors on concrete slabs.
At this point you will no longer see the horizontal drainpipes and the main sewer line but you will see the stubs that extend vertically out of the sand.
However you don t need to add the extra subfloor layer.
How to build a concrete slab.
In maine we install a lot of slabs on grade for houses and garages.
If you are installing a locking or floating floor not attached to the subfloor just make sure that the subfloor is clean.
The important thing is that the concrete is smooth free of damages clean and dust free.
As needed use a concrete grinder you may want to rent one to remove any coating and to slightly roughen the concrete surface so the adhesive will stick.
New floors are easier to plan as you can lay out the pipes in place and then install the floor over top.
The plumbing trenches are typically dug at the same time as the slab footings if any.
A concrete slab is poured right on the ground.