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Installing Hardwood Floors over Concrete

Jesse Bartusek from Bellawood joins Bob for the installation of the Bellawood Brazilian Walnut, also called Ipe. The first step, Bartusek explains, is to monitor the moisture content in the concrete so that there will be no cupping of the wood from excessive moisture levels. A moisture barrier is put down between the concrete and the wood to ensure a dry seat. The sealer and the adhesive are both polyurethane based. Once the adhesive is troweled on, the crew has between 30 and 45 minutes to install the planks. The planks are laid out and hammered with a rubber mallet to put them in place. The crew then tapes the boards because the adhesive has memory and will pull boards back to their initial positions if not held in place. Tapping all the boards in place, or racking out the floor, can force some glue up onto the surface. It must be removed with a special adhesive remover. The patterns and colors in the wood tend to vary because it is a natural product. The eight-layer aluminum oxide finish provides long wear that is guaranteed for 50 years by Bellawood. The tape will stay in place for at least four hours but is recommended for 24.

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Installing Hardwood Floors over Concrete

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" All right we're putting down hardwood floors on our concrete slab. And these fellows are the installers and just -- is with us from bellawood to explain -- about the process personal we're using this beautiful what is it resilient reviewing. Yeah Brazilian walnut. And as you can see it's solid it's not a laminated product. And I always thought that installing. Hardwood directly over a concrete slab as a bit of a challenge what's been done to prep the situation."

" After we test for moisture content and we and then apply a concrete sealer to prevent any incremental moisture coming through. This is more shooters who eliminating any moisture coming up through the concrete slab and -- actually caught in the wood."

" Yeah that's the biggest dangers you've got moisture coming up through the slab. That will eventually make its way into the wood and cause the wood to swell a bit usually -- like that so that she did it. Kind of an irregular wave throughout the pre war correct. And then the the actual adhesive that's being used is something special that interacts with that sealer. "

" both the products are actually polyurethane based. Knows -- only thing that bellawood recommends using -- installation process. Quarter inch notched trowel. Yes going to be specific to the thickness of the product and the -- towards."

" And -- it. Now in a situation like this where you're not nailing it down. Speed really is going to be a major factor right."

" Oh definitely use usually only have about half hour 45 minutes work this glue after that sense of two point can move -- So so they have to really pay attention to other precut. Answer laying out it's certainly helpful we will make the process go a little quicker. And obviously experienced these guys can do they go. I love -- just using a rubber mallet -- and face. These guys. Clear a lot of experience it do. Just -- shoot down. Well with the flu itself memory based solution and what happens Houston whose side not shift the -- slightly shift the product. The boards have a tendency to pull back or separate from one its. -- the hold -- to keep the tight joints. Look at him go. This is. A hard part is correct now. Racking it out. You know grew increasingly. -- get -- glue to the surface. Is it water soluble. Noah actually use. Stronger him. But he's removed."

" Well clearly -- had a lot of experience at this. Jesse these via the pattern and coloration. Tends to vary a fair amount doesn't this now this is. Called Brazilian walnut yeah otherwise known hasn't had heat hey okay slump from sweeps -- it's finished use deck materials. Outside work it's a very dense wood that's very very long lasting tell us about the finish that's put on it."

" Well this is so it's finishes and profiles. Eight layers of an aluminum oxide finish that has been UV dried between layers PP they offer fifty years of a guarantee."

" Yes this has a fifty year wear guarantee doesn't -- what's the approximate cost. On this particular product now though it's all without warning which can beat the the taping and stuff needs to stay on her. There's -- least four hours before you can take it off but they recommend point four grade. OK well this makes for a very elegant installation thanks for coming out."

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