How flat should subfloor be for vinyl plank flooring?
SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS
Subfloor must be clean, structurally sound/tight, and visibly dry. Floor must be flat to within a 3/16” in 10′ radius tolerance.
How thick should subfloor be for vinyl planks?
When you install your vinyl on a wood subfloor, the top plywood should be a minimum of 1/4″ thick. For most subfloors, you will need to add an extra layer of wood. To do this, measure and cut the plywood to fit your room.
Do you need underlay for glue down LVT?
Glue down vinyl plank flooring will not need an underlayment. You will install these planks by gluing them directly on top of the subfloor. It is very important to have a debris free and level subfloor for a glue down vinyl flooring installation!
Does LVP need underlayment on subfloor?
If you’re laying the LVP over an existing cushion-backed vinyl floor or a below-grade tile floor, then you won’t need to use an underlayment. However, you’ll want to use one in every other application including covering existing hardwood floors, vinyl flooring that isn’t cushioned, and concrete floors.
What subfloor is needed for vinyl plank flooring?
Rigid Underlayment
Plywood is often the most commonly used type of underlayment in vinyl plank flooring installation. Sheets of 4×8 foot plywood, usually ¼ to ½ inch thick tend to be an excellent flooring underlayment for many subfloors including wood, tile, and linoleum.
How thick should underlayment be for vinyl flooring?
1mm to 1.5mm thick
Most vinyl underlayments are 1mm to 1.5mm thick. When dealing with a click lock vinyl of 4mm or thicker, an underlayment has several benefits: It can help smooth over minor subfloor imperfections. It will add extra cushion to the floor, creating a softer feel under foot.
What size subfloor do I need?
The recommended thickness of the plywood subfloor is governed by the spacing of the joists. Some experts suggest that 15/32-inch plywood should be standard if the underlying floor joists are spaced 16 inches apart or less, but slightly thicker 3/4-inch plywood should be used for joists spaced further apart.
How do you prepare a subfloor for LVP?
Preparing a Concrete Subfloor for Luxury Vinyl Flooring
- Test the moisture content of your concrete subfloor. …
- Thoroughly clean your subfloor. …
- Check your subfloor to make sure it is level. …
- Level your floor by filling low spots with patching compound and a putty knife. …
- Use a belt sander to reduce high spots.
How thick should underlayment be?
Underlayment: Just under the visible floor covering is a layer of some kind of material, usually only about 1/4- or 1/2-inch thick. Its purpose is to provide a smooth, flat surface for the floor covering. It can be made of many different materials, chosen depending on the needs of the floor covering.
Do you need underlayment for vinyl plank flooring with attached pad?
If your vinyl plank flooring already has attached underlayment, there is no need to put padding under it. However, if it does not have its attached underlayment, it is highly recommended to put padding under it to provide sound-lessening and cushioning benefits.
What happens if you don’t put underlayment 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.
Can you install vinyl plank flooring over subfloor?
Can I install vinyl flooring over wood, plywood, particleboard or chipboard? You can install vinyl over wood floors if you put a plywood subfloor on top of it. Do not install glue down or peel and stick products over particleboard, chipboard or any form of embossed floor.
Do you need a moisture barrier under vinyl plank flooring on plywood?
For any flooring that requires a floating installation method, be laminate or vinyl planks, use a 6 mils (or thicker) plastic sheet as a moisture barrier. You can also use an underlayment with a moisture barrier built-in for water vapor control.
Is a moisture barrier the same as underlayment?
The Different Types of Moisture Barriers Explained. Some moisture barriers are very simple and some are part of the underlayment you would install anyway. Moisture barrier + underlayment makes installing over moisture prone subfloors super easy!
Do I need a vapor barrier under subfloor?
Placing a sheet of plastic between the subfloor and the flooring will keep your flooring from getting damaged. If there is no barrier, once the plywood subfloor starts to develop moisture, the moisture can create mold, which can destroy your flooring. If you have carpet, it can cause mold and mildew to grow through it.
