How To Install A Wood Border Around A Garden

David Prince

We are building a large garage. By design, there is some square footage with a cement floor that will be a heated shop and bathroom. The floor will be very cold in the winter. How can we install a wooden floor over concrete to make this space warmer?

John Cross

Dear John,
I did a little research on installing a wood floor over concrete, and what I've discovered is that garages that are aboveground or level with the ground are candidates for wood flooring. However, the concrete floor in basements, garages and other rooms that are below ground cannot accept a wood floor.

If your garage is aboveground, there are a few things that you need to consider before installing a wood floor. According to the American Hardwood Information Center, your first step should be to make sure your concrete is completely dry -- this could take up to 60 days after it's poured. To test light-colored concrete slabs for moisture, lay a flat, noncorrugated rubber mat on the slab. Place a weight on top to prevent moisture from escaping and leave the mat in place for 24 hours. If the covered area shows dark or wet marks, there is too much moisture present to install your wood floor. But if there is no condensation, you are ready to proceed with the installation. Be sure to test several areas of the room.

Next, the American Hardwood Information Center says that the concrete surface must be clean and flat -- you'll need to grind off any high spots. They also recommend that you install a vapor barrier -- like an asphalt felt (or building paper) with asphalt mastic or 6-mil polyethylene sheathing. For a detailed description, check out Installing a Hardwood Floor over a Concrete Slab.

You also have the option of installing engineered wood flooring. These floors are very thin -- they come in 3/8", 1/2" and 3/4" widths -- and dimensionally stable. Check out Armstrong at www.armstrong.com; it has a huge selection of wood floors to choose from, almost all of which can be installed directly over the concrete -- either glued down or floating. Armstrong also offers a two-in-one padding, which has a foam side for cushion and acoustics and a polyethylene side to block moisture. And it also has a wide variety of laminate floors that are engineered so well that you won't be able to tell they are not real wood. Laminate floors are less expensive and easier to maintain, which might be the best bet in a garage setting.

Good luck with your project.

Jennifer

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