I’m a builder/remodeler and recently purchaced nearly completed new home and am preparing to set 18″ Travertine Stone and engineered hardwood flooring on a concrete slab. All has passed FL building codes to date so I’m assuming the slab is “proper”. I need advice on preparing the slab for these coverings ie. anti-fracture membranes and or vapor barriers for the above mentioned flooring products. Their are many maunfacturers and costs involved. I’m looking for feedback regarding what the best choice would be and what experiences anyone has had, good and bad, with the installations. What should I expect to pay for any of the “systems”.
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Replies
You have two very different situations. Concrete slabs work very well for tile cuz they don't flex and they are a good bonding surface. Add a layer of non-woven membrane to prevent cracks in the concrete from telegraphing through. DalTile sells it, and Schluter makes it.
The concrete needs to be fully cured before installing the wood. How old will the slab be when the wood is laid? If you do it too soon, there will be (not could be) moisture coming up off the new concrete. Bostick makes a good adhesive that they claim also acts as a vapor barrier. Engineered flooring is a good choice. Theres an article in the latest FHB about laying a wood floor on concrete.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
Thanks for your comments... what woven fabric membrane would you suggest or have you used? The slab over 12 months old... I've read that you should allow 1 month per inch of thickness for cure time... if this is true then I think it should be ok for wood flooring.
Go to schluter.com and look for kerdi and ditra. Two different products that have similar uses. One is a waffle membrane that is used for flors that are expected to deflect, and the othjer is a ruberized sheet that keeps minor ncracks from telegraphiung through. They also sell it as a watrerproofer.
A year old slab should be plenty dry enough, unless there is ground moisture migrating up.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.