If you are installing laminate over a concrete sub-floor, it is very important that a vapor barrier is used to prevent any possible damage due to the moisture released by the concrete.
Can laminate flooring be installed over uneven floors?
Laminate can be installed on an uneven floor; however this can degrade the quality of your new laminate. The finished product may become warped as a result, causing the floor to shift and become damaged when walked on. For this reason, it is best to level the subfloor prior to installing laminate.
Is a vapor barrier necessary for laminate flooring?
When moisture penetrates your flooring, it can cause mold, mildew, and the potential for water damage. A moisture barrier helps control the water vapor’s movement to help protect your floors. Therefore, if you’re installing floors in an area that sees moisture, even a little, a vapor barrier is needed.
Is a moisture barrier necessary for laminate flooring on concrete?
You will need a moisture barrier if you are going to install flooring over concrete. You also want to use a moisture barrier over any floor that has been prone to moisture damage.
Do you need a moisture barrier for laminate flooring on plywood?
Moisture protection will not have any benefit to laminate flooring on plywood as most plywood subfloors are usually installed on the main or second level of a house. However, if the main level of the house is above a crawl space, we recommend to properly seal the crawl space of moisture.
Do I need a vapor barrier?
If you live in a mixed climate – hot and humid with several heating months in the winter, you probably need a vapor retarder. Specifically, if you live in climate zones 4C (marine), 5, 6, 7 and 8.
Where should vapor barrier be installed?
Vapor barriers are usually best installed on the side of the wall that experiences the hotter temperature and moister conditions: the inner surface in colder climates and the outer surface in hot, humid climates. In existing spaces, oil-based paints or vapor-barrier latex paints offer an effective moisture barrier.
Do I need a vapor barrier and underlayment?
Very often, particularly in a below-grade installation on a concrete basement floor, a vapor barrier is recommended in addition to the underlayment. That vapor barrier would go between the subfloor and the underlayment.
What happens if you don’t use underlayment under laminate flooring?
If the subfloor in your home or property is uneven, then your laminate floor could move and shift if it doesn’t have an underlayment for support. As a result, the floor will be more prone to wear-and-tear and could even warp. The more stability, the less likely you’ll have to pay out of pocket for costly repairs.
How do you install vapor barrier under laminate flooring?
Vapour barriers should always be laid on a clean and dry surface. Start in one corner of the room and spread the membrane out from there across the floor. As moisture can also penetrate laminate flooring from walls, make sure to place the vapour barrier so it extends up on each wall by three centimetres.
Do you tape vapor barrier to floor?
A vapor barrier is usually run up the walls a bit for concrete floors and then secured using special Christmas tree fasteners. Also, a special type of tape seals all of the seams between the sheets of vapor barrier.
Do you put moisture barrier under subfloor?
To avoid puncturing the moisture barrier, install it under the subfloor to protect both the sub and finished floors. For example, you would lay the plastic sheeting directly on the dirt, gravel, or cement slab before building the sub-floor.
Do you tape down vapor barrier?
While laying the vapor barrier, ensure a 6-inch overlap along any seam between sheets. Seal the seams with no gaps using duct tape or moisture-resistant and long-lasting tape. Some plastic sheeting vapor barriers have self-sealing edges, so you don’t have to worry about running out of tape or using the wrong kind.
Can you use plastic sheeting as a vapor barrier?
In simple terms, a vapor barrier is a material that won’t allow moisture to pass through it, such as plastic sheeting. A very simple experiment to show how a vapor barrier works is to lay a plastic garbage bag down on some damp soil.
Does vinyl plank flooring need a vapor barrier?
For vinyl flooring installations over wood subfloors, you will not need to worry about a moisture barrier, but you may want an underlayment for added cushion or sound reduction. It may also be a requirement in certain HOA or apartment complexes to have a sound barrier with your flooring.
What is a vapor barrier for flooring?
A vapor barrier is a thin material laid over the subfloor before the installation of the new floor to protect against moisture and water damage. Hydrostatic pressure is an issue within foundations and it is important to protect your home and flooring from exposure to moisture.
What can I use for moisture barrier under my house?
Use plastic sheeting to control moisture in your crawlspace.
We use foil-faced rigid insulation to keep the space under the house dry. The plastic and the insulation will eliminate any moisture problems you have in the crawlspace, such as water droplets collecting on the concrete walls and pipes.
What underlayment to use for moisture barrier?
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.
