How to install hardwood floor over slab?

[Tom]

What is the right way to install a hard wood floor over concrete slab?

The area is SE Florida. Some installers said they Lay down plastic sheeting, then tar paper, then 3/4 inch plywood secured with tapcons with the plywood spaced about an 1/8 inch apart.

What would be the best way so the floor wouldn't buckle.

Thanks,

Tom

[Newguy]

what type of hard wood floor?

[Radicalsheep]

I put a sub-floor in my current home and the product was called dry-core. And it is a 2 foot by 2 foot squre board that inter locks with a tounge and groove. No nails needed. The bottom of the board had a hard bubble plastic which sites against the slab. So this causes some space between the slab and wood. It will trap cool air. I am sure that you could nail hard wood floor to this. Let me know if you want more info.

[Tom]

Typ of floor is Oak 3/4" planking. It will be nailed to the substrate and of course sanded and finsihed.

I asked about drycore in my area and no one knew anything. I will check on the net.

Thanks for you help.

[Radicalsheep]

Hey Tom I picked it up at home depot. I hope that helps. Not that cheap but I thought it was worth it.

[Newguy]

Typ of floor is Oak 3/4" planking. It will be nailed to the substrate and of course sanded and finsihed.

I asked about drycore in my area and no one knew anything. I will check on the net.

Thanks for you help.

I suspect you shouldn't need more then what you listed in your first post. Although that much plywood might be over kill, but to insure a proper install I would listen to that advice.

While I've not installed any wood floors personally, I can vouch that, that flooring (3/4 Oak, 2 1/2 inches wide tongue and groove) can span a 16 O.C joist without a subfloor at all here (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/rsawarhawk/Wheeling%20Ave/hardwoodfloors.jpg) is a picture of the floor I am talking about it
it had been there about 60 years atleast or more , out of the 800+ sq feet that was there, there was only 3 broken planks,