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Can you put vinyl plank flooring directly on concrete?
Yes, and that’s one of the questions we hear most often is about luxury vinyl plank (LVP). Most homes in Florida don’t have basements so, rather than an actual concrete subfloor, the concrete is a slab-on-grade, meaning no basement floors and no walls.
Do you need underlay for vinyl plank flooring on concrete?
If you are laying your vinyl planks on a concrete subfloor, an underlayment would be necessary, first, because it will offer extra cushion, and second, because it will act as a moisture barrier and keep water vapor out of the planks. So yes, you do need underlayment for vinyl plank flooring.
How level does a concrete floor need to be for vinyl plank flooring?
If you’re installing vinyl planks on top of a concrete floor, the standard tolerance required is for the floor to be level to 3/16” within a 10′ radius. It also can’t have a dip of ⅛” within 2′. Level means that a floor doesn’t slope in any direction.
What type of underlayment do you use for vinyl planks on concrete?
If you have any areas on a concrete subfloor with moisture concerns, it is recommended to use a vapor barrier underlayment that will not add any cushion to the planks. For click lock vinyls over 4mm, you’ll want to choose an underlayment specific to a vinyl floor, such as our Perfect Mat Underlayment or Floor Muffler.
Do you need a moisture barrier under vinyl plank flooring?
Meaning, if you’re going to install vinyl plank flooring over tile, vinyl flooring, and even hardwood. As with the plywood floor, there’s no need to worry about a moisture barrier; the underlayment should provide cushioning and sound-deadening benefits.
Do you need to seal a concrete floor before laying vinyl flooring?
You don’t need to seal a concrete floor before installing laminate; however, to prevent moisture from the concrete floor from affecting your laminate, install a vapor barrier of polyethylene film. Install this barrier even if the concrete subfloor is covered by vinyl, linoleum, terrazzo or ceramic tile.
What underlayment should I use on concrete?
With a concrete subfloor, you will need an underlayment that acts as a vapor barrier in order to prevent moisture from penetrating through to your laminate installation. The normal choice is a thin foam pad material made of polyethylene or polypropylene, which rolls out in sheets.
Can you install luxury vinyl plank on concrete?
LVT can be glued on top of concrete, but can also be laid without glue. Glued-down LVT involves using an adhesive covering the concrete on which the tiles are laid. Some types of LVT tiles or planks have inbuilt pressure sensitive adhesive, which makes them easier to install.
How do you lay vinyl flooring on uneven concrete?
If you are installing vinyl planks over a concrete subfloor, you first need to level or sand any deformities. It means you have to sand down high spots in the concrete or fill in low spots with a self-leveling compound. Also, you should check for subfloor deformities with a level or straight pipe.
Do you put anything under vinyl plank flooring?
Vinyl planks require hard, thin underlay because the product itself is softer. Putting a soft product under vinyl plank will result in an unstable floor that is much more inclined to being damaged and even punctured or torn over time.
Does vinyl flooring need to be glued down?
As the name states – glue down vinyl flooring does require glue. Every plank needs to be glued down to the subfloor. This glue down vinyl flooring installation is best for places where the subfloor may not be perfectly even.
Should I put underlay under vinyl flooring?
Underlay. Most vinyl floors don’t need an underlay. If the surface you’re laying on is level and smooth, a well-cushioned vinyl floor should be fine on its own. Our Luxury Vinyl Click flooring is laid using the same as technique as laminate options in that it’s loose laid creating a “floating floor”.
Can mold grow under vinyl flooring on concrete?
Yes, mold can grow under vinyl flooring on concrete. This is one of the most common issues faced by people buying a house without knowing how to properly assess the condition of the floor and subfloor.
Can mold grow under vinyl plank flooring?
Although vinyl flooring is known to be waterproof, liquids can still seep through the grooves, edges, or unsealed seams and get trapped underneath the flooring, causing mold to grow.
What do you put on concrete floor before vinyl?
Perhaps the easiest way to improve the insulation of a floating vinyl floor on concrete is to install a thermal underlayment, preferably made of cork, fiber-felt or a similar material.
What do you put on concrete floor before laminate?
For concrete or wood subfloor use of rubber or foam underlayment is recommended. When laminate flooring is installed on concrete there are many factors that should be taken in account. First and probably most important factor is humidity of concrete surface.
Do you need a vapor barrier under laminate flooring on concrete?
All laminate flooring requires an underlayment to allow the floor to float and give the locking system its strength. You will need a moisture barrier underlayment when installing: On a cement subfloor. On any subfloor that has a chance of moisture coming up and soaking into the flooring.
