Can You Glue Decking to Concrete?

I’m pretty new to the DIY world, and I’m a bit overwhelmed with all the different types of wood glue out there. Is it possible to just glue decking boards directly to concrete? Or do I need some other kind of adhesive?

Is It Possible to Glue Decking to Concrete?

It is possible to glue decking to concrete, but it’s not recommended. When you’re using this method, you want to make sure that your cement is clean and dry and that the surface of your deck boards are clean as well. Then, use a high-grade construction adhesive like DuPont™ Corian® Concrete Adhesive Sealant to attach your new decking installation securely. This way, even if there are any gaps between your boards or if some of them shift slightly over time (which happens with all wood), they’ll still stay in place and not fall off when stressed or pushed on by anything heavy like a lawnmower.

Why Shouldn’t I Glue Decking Boards to Concrete?

The main reason to avoid glueing deck boards to concrete is that it’s not as strong or flexible as a solid deck. It will sag, warp or crack over time. It won’t withstand the same kind of weight and pressure that a solid wood or composite deck can handle without damage. This means you’ll have to replace your glued-on boards much sooner than you would if you had used screws instead of glue.

Another disadvantage of gluing your decking down is that it’s less attractive than a solid wood or composite structure with no gaps between the boards where dirt and moisture can collect. Glued-down boards also tend to be slightly darker than their solid counterparts because they don’t allow sunlight through them as well (this problem can be mitigated by using translucent stain).

What Can I Do Instead of Gluing My Deck Boards?

• Use a metal deck frame. A metal frame will give you the most direct connection between your boards and the ground, but it’s also the most expensive option.
• Use a wood frame. In this case, you’ll make sure that each board is screwed into the joists and then screw those joists into each other when attaching them to your concrete flooring. This will be less expensive than using metal supports, but it also means that there’s more of an opportunity for gaps between your boards and where they meet their supports.
• Use a composite decking board (aka “hardware-free”). If you don’t have much experience working with wood or don’t want to deal with any potential issues related to gluing down hardwood (i.e., gaps), one solution might be to find composite boards made specifically for use on concrete surfaces—it’s basically just treated lumber glued together at right angles in order to create straight lines like what we see in modern architecture today! These boards are often lighter than real wood thanks to lower densities within each piece itself which means they won’t sink into ours when wet either—and they’re usually easier on your wallet too since they cost less per square foot than regular lumber would cost if purchased separately from someone like Home Depot or Lowes’ supply chain systems.”

It’s Best to Avoid Attaching Deck Boards Directly to Concrete.

If you want to attach deck boards directly to concrete, it’s best to use a moisture barrier. A moisture barrier is a material that prevents water from penetrating through the concrete and into the wood. This protects both your decking and the concrete from damage caused by moisture. If you don’t use a moisture barrier when attaching decking boards directly to concrete, there is a chance that mold will grow on both surfaces as they absorb water from rain or snow runoff.

Because these materials are so similar in function, some builders choose not to use anything other than regular old construction adhesive when attaching wood planks directly to an existing slab of poured or precast concrete — but this isn’t recommended for several reasons: first off because without something like Liquid Nails holding them together (which you could apply yourself using an adhesive gun), those planks won’t stay put very long — especially if they’re not held down with screws drilled through each joist hole; secondly because any water pooling between two adjacent surfaces would inevitably lead one side drying out while being exposed continuously over time – resulting eventually in significant rot among those boards (which could occur sooner rather than later depending on how much exposure occurred at each site).

Conclusion

Now that you know how to glue decking to concrete and why you shouldn’t, you can make an informed decision about what method of building your deck will work best for your situation. If you have a concrete slab that is a good base for the deck, then using concrete screws or fasteners is the way to go. But if you don’t want to drill into the slab, don’t worry—there are still other options available!