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Each individual strip of hardwood flooring is nailed to the sub-flooring below it.
You're not going to be able to do that with a terrazzo floor.
If you attempt to glue plywood down to the floor first, it's going to end up buckling.
The temperature and humidity on one side of the plywood will be different then the other because of the cement.
If you really want to do this, you're going to have to put a vapor barrier over the cement,
build a deck over the vapor barrier, nail plywood to the deck, and then run the hardwood over that.
It's a lot of work, a big expense and the floor in that room is going to now be 3" higher then it was.
There are several kinds of laminated flooring systems that "float".
They just sit on top of the vapor barrier and they're under 1/2" thick.
Some of them have real hardwood vineers and look just like traditional hardwood floors.
You might want to consider one of those.
I cant believe you want to cover terrazzo, can't you just have it restored?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoFirst of all is the space commercial or residential? My initial thought is-- well yes-- if you are talking about a floating wood floor.... But I will have to say that this terrazzo better be pretty darn ugly before covering it. Terrazzo is one of the most exspensive and durable floorings money can by. As a rule well cared for terrazzo flooring adds value to any commercial or residential space.
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How do you lay 18mm Brazilian hardwood floor over a terrazzo floor?
Do you mean solid hardwood? You should not install 3/4" solid hardwood directly on top of terrazzo, or concrete or tile. Solid hardwood is supposed to be nailed into 3/4" plywood. Now theoretically, you might be able to add 3/4" plywood in, if you can actually get it into the terrazzo. It is possible (but challenging) to add plywood into concrete using hilties, but it tends to be expensive and time consuming. Also, if you were to add plywood and solid hardwood, you would be raising your floor 1.5 inches. This may cause some height issues, especially for the doors (which might need to be shaved or replaced). If there is kitchen, this could cause height issues with appliances and/or cabinets. However, if you mean an engineered hardwood, it could be floated on top of the terrazzo. You put an underlayment underneath and then install the wood on top. If it is a clickable engineered wood, then you just click it in; if it isn't, then you would glue the joints together.
Can hardwood run parallel to JOISTS?
If you're installing hardwood floor boards over a strong 3/4 inch plywood sub-floor, then yes, you can install the hardwood floor parallel to the joists. If your sub-floor is weak, then you should fix the subfloor.
Can you put laminate flooring over terrazzo without underlayment?
No. unless you want your floors to buckle from the moisture. It is not recomended to install laminate flooring over terrazzo flooring. The moisuture buildup will ruin the wood planks.
Wood laminate floor over hardwood floor?
Yes, you can install a laminate floor system over existing hardwood floors. Just be sure that the existing hardwood is pretty smooth or the hump in the floor will transfer through. You must use a vapor barrier over your existing hardwood to reduce sound as well as moister transfere between two floor systems. Be sure to let your new floor acclimate to your room temp. for at least 48 hrs. this is especially important if you are installing floor in the winter.
How to lay tile over hardwood floor?
You should not tile on top of a hardwood floor. If you do, it will crack as the wood underneath will expand and contract throughout the seasons. Instead you should be installing on top of some sort of concrete floor. You could either add mud/self leveling mix or cement board. You may also want to remove the hardwood first, if you can.
Repair terrazzo steps?
First Step in repairing Terrazzo is to fix the holes with matching resin and Terrazzo chips. Also fill in any cracks with matching resin. Then sand down the repairs. The next step is to hone the floor with metal diamonds, usually 50 metal diamond followed by 100 metal diamonds. Then the resin diamonds are used 50,100,200,400,800 then polish with 5x powder. Rinse off and left over haze the buff. This will give a very high shine that will last for many years. This is referred to as Terrazzo Restoration or Terrazzo Polishing http://www.colonialfloorandstonecare.com/
Can you install hardwood flooring over laminate flooring?
No, laminate is floating type of floor installed over an insulation pad. Hardwood floor has to be nailed, stapled or glued to the subfloor. If you do manage to install hardwood on top of laminate sooner or later your Laminate floor will expand due to high temperature or humidity and it will create gaps between hardwood planks.
What makes hardwood floors unique and what is the advantage that hardwood floors have over carpet?
Hardwood floors are much better than carpets. They first of all are easier to clean and secondly have a much more elegant look to them and are better.
Do you install tile or hardwood first?
I have done this and I always have the hardwood installed first. Then I install the ceramic tile. To protect the hardwood floor from getting grout or glue on it I cover the hardwood floor with a soft cover (to prevent scratches) and tape it down. Then place a plastic cover over the hardwood. Then I can install the ceramic tile at the edge of the hardwood creating hardly or no seem and level with the hardwood. When its done it looks beautiful.I would install the tile first , that way you don't risk getting glue or grout on your hardwood.
If you add hardwood floors to your home currently upstairs is carpeted will you get your money back when you sell the home?
Most likely yes, buyers prefer hardwood over carpet.
Do you need to lay down felt paper or any kind of under lay when installing new hard wood over old hardwood?
This is a point is debated among those who install flooring. Bruce Hardwood Flooring, the leading hardwood seller in America states felt paper or red rosin in unnecessary for installation of a nail or staple down floor. There are those who believe it acts as a vapor barrier. The issue with that thought is, if you need a vapor barrier over your wood subfloor, you shouldn't be installing wood anyway. Some believe it will reduce the squeaks in the floor. This would be a hard thing to say for sure. If this is a concern, you may want to. One thing that red rosin does do for sure is make flooring easier to install. You can more easily slide boards together and across the floor. The paper reduces the friction against the subfloor.
What are the advantages of laying laminate over hardwood flooring?
The advantages of lamination over hardwood flooring revolve around protection from damage. As well as a little extra protection from physical damage, it also provides protection from spills and staining. Laminate flooring is much easier to maintain. Also, it is by far cheaper than hardwood flooring.
