Just got through a nightmare glue-down job with a trick I learned from an old guy in Kansas City

Had to install about 800 square feet of solid hardwood over a concrete slab that was sweating moisture like crazy. The moisture test was borderline, and the homeowner refused a full subfloor. I was staring at a future callback for sure. An old installer I met at a supply house years ago in KC told me to roll out a coat of moisture-curing urethane adhesive first, let it get tacky, then put down the regular wood flooring adhesive right on top of it. He called it a 'primer coat' for bad slabs. I was desperate, so I tried it. Used Bostik's Best for the first coat, waited about 45 minutes, then laid the normal adhesive. The wood went down solid and hasn't made a peep in six months. Has anyone else had to use a double-glue method like this on a questionable slab?

3 comments

3 Comments

tara62313d ago

Borderline moisture test and the homeowner refuses a subfloor? That's basically being asked to build a boat out of tissue paper. Glad the old Kansas City trick worked, sounds like you dodged a major headache.

alice33613d ago

So you're telling me I could have avoided that squeaky mess in my own kitchen last year? I just kept adding more glue like a total rookie, ended up with a floor that sounds like a haunted house.

wyatt_green319d ago

Tell me about it... I did the same thing on my first big job. More glue just makes a sticky mess that still squeaks. You have to find the exact spot and pin it down with a screw from below. That Kansas City trick Tara mentioned is the real deal for a reason. It's all about getting right under the problem.