Greetings,

I have 20 square meters of 3/4 inch solid French oak flooring in 5 or 6 inch width. I have trolled the web pages looking for advice as to whether this material can be installed in the floating manner on top of a concrete sub floor. The opinions vary widely. Can this be done?

From what I have read, I think that it can be done. I also think that you might find the information on the following site helpful to you.

Installing Hardwood Floors -- Over Concrete Slabs (http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Installing_Hardwood_Floors.html)

It can be done but you need to put plywood down first which will cause a total floor build-up of 1 1/2". A floating floor is better for a slab.

Is this a basement or above grade slab? Moisture is your enemy with solid wood, a vapor barrier and nailing surface are needed. Floating floor may work for laminates but not full thickness oak tongue and groove.

I have to go with ballenger on this one the 3/4 oak is going to have to be nailed to something and a vapor barrier is definitley needed you might be able to install plywood and then install the floor but the height might be too much. Also if you have a basement or a slab below grade I wouldn't even try it. Either way don't try to just float the 3/4 I seriously doubt it would hold up at all.

Hi I am a flooring specialist and no please do not glue down solid wood on concrete or wood. The correct material to use would be an engineered that would be layered for stability, can be floated or glued on concrete. Floated needs a vapor barrier like used with laminate.

Solid wood needs to be nail together over wood sub floor it is to unstable as a floating floor also try to put some of the wood together in a open area check to see how warped it is then ask yourself do you really want to sit there and hold every joint together until the glue dries