How to Waterproof Adhesive for Wood Flooring

Clean the concrete with soapy water and a long-handle scrub brush. Scrub the floor once. Mop up the detergent solution with fresh water and a sponge mop. Observe the floor. Look for oil buildup, debris or anything on the surface of the concrete that will lie between its surface and the next coating, which will mar its ability to adhere to the floor. Scrub and rinse again if necessary. Let the floor dry overnight before you proceed to step two.

Open the windows in the room to maximize ventilation.

Paint a layer of sub-floor moisture protecting primer onto the floor with a paint tray and long-handle paint roller. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for application methods and amounts. Start at the corner of the room farthest from the door, then paint yourself out. Let the floor cure for 12 hours or for whatever amount of time the manufacturer recommends.

Remove the lid from the waterproof adhesive's bucket. A layer of skin might be on top. Cut around the edges with a utility knife, lift the skin off and throw it away.

Mark off a 3-square foot section in one corner of the floor with a chalk line.

Pour a large pancake-sized puddle of waterproof adhesive into the center of the marked section. Scrape the lip of the bucket with your trowel to stop the flow.

Spread the adhesive to cover the marked-off section. Place the notched side of the trowel into the adhesive at a 45-degree angle to the floor. Spread the waterproof adhesive out from the puddle. Avoid the temptation to work beyond the marked-off section. You must cover any adhesive you lay in 15 to 25 minutes before the surface dries.

Read your waterproof adhesive's label. The adhesive might require a "flash time," which is a period of time that it must rest and become tacky before it is ready to hold the wood flooring planks.

Lay the wood planks in the 3-square-foot area according to the flooring's instructions. Place each plank firmly into the waterproof adhesive. As you lay the planks, check frequently for waterproof adhesive on the top of the wood floor planks. Wipe up any excess with a rag moistened with mineral spirits.

Place a strip of painter's tape across the installed section. Start at one corner of the section and run the tape down, perpendicular to the run of the planks. Place subsequent painter's tape strips at 1-foot intervals. Keep the painter's tape in place until the recommended cure time for the waterproof adhesive passes to keep the planks from slipping as they dry.

Repeat Steps 5 through 10 to cover the rest of the floor.