Hi to all....I live in San Antonio, Texas and am wanting to take on a DIY project that involves putting engineered flooring over concrete. I've taken advantage of many of the wonderful articles on this website, but wanted to hear opinions from folks who have had lots of experience doing this type of thing. Essentially wanting to install engineered in living room and hallway (plus coat closet). Figure it to be somewhere around 500 sq ft total. A few questions....

a) Any recommendations on good engineered flooring? I went to a few places, but the planks are less than 48" and my wife doesn't like the choppy look. I am not opposed to using the Internet to purchase.

b) Recommendations on underlayment? Although I plan on 'flattening' the concrete subfloor, I want to avoid at all costs the 'hollow sound'.

c) Plan on 'floating' the floor over concrete...any problems that I may run into? By this I mean, using glue on the tongue and grooves.

Essentially I am looking for a nice installation with good quality engineered hardwood, that would be somewhat easy to do (overlapping groove, 'click' installation, etc.)

So I welcome and ask for any and all comments, criticisms, etc. that will help this very willing DIY'er. Thanks in advance.

Paul

You need straps if your going to glue the T&G, ask Howard.

Also I like the silencer underlay with six mill under it.

Thanks...I only say that I will glue the tongue and groove because that is what I see most videos of installers doing. I am looking for the best method of installation for a DIY'er.

Second that motion!

Paul, you mentioned you do NOT want the "hollow" sound, and then a few lines down you said you want to do a floating installation.

Simply put... Floating = Hollow Sound.... That's the bottom line. You can use the best underlayment around and your floor will still be clickety clackety when you walk on it.

I recommend you direct-glue that sucker right to the subfloor! I've sold flooring to many DIYers over the years who have been able to successfully do their own glue-down installation. It's non-sense to say that glue-down wood flooring can't be done by a newbie. It's far easier than tile.

Yes - I've just done a full house floating over the concrete with the best sound absorption udnerlay i could buy in town and i still get the hollow sound. Not as much as with the basic underlay, but enough to know it is floating.