Hi guys,

I am getting some mixed feedback re: hardwood over conrete installation. My question to you is:

1. is it better to install a subfloor or use gluedown menthod?


I know with a wood subfloor it will bump up the flor about 3 inches.

We are leaning towards the red kempas or some other dark cherry wood .

Thanks in advance.

You're better off doing a quality glue-down IMO. IT's a lot of work to secure a wood subfloor to a concrete slab. Then you still have to install the flooring over the subfloor as well.

The engineered glues of today are far better than in the past. They're especially made for gluing on concrete. And you won't have to worry about your floor being 3 inches too high.

thanks Jperry for your response. I felt the same way.

I have been reading up on the board and it seems like alot of people are anti bellawood. Is there are link available that grades/rates different manufacture's?

How well do bruce,mohawk and mannington rate?

nje39,



Why would the floor be raised 3"?

If you are installing a solid wood floor, you are better of installing a 3/4" plywood subfloor first. There are a few different methods for this. The overall height of the finished floor would be 1.5" off the concrete slab IF you use 3/4" thick wood flooring and 3/4" plywood subflooring. You can use a thinner solid to lesson the height. To directly glue a wood floor to concrete, it is recommended one use a quality engineered, multi-ply wood floor designed to be glued to concrete. Some have had success using a thinner solid glued over a vapor barrier like MVP or vinyl flooring. Gluing a thick 3/4" directly to concrete is very risky, IMO and subject to cupping.