waterproof vinyl flooring with attached underlayment

#Waterproof vinyl flooring with attached underlayment install#

This is because luxury vinyl planks are usually designed with pre-attached underlayment. You should know that you don’t need underlayment with luxury vinyl planks. The right underlayment should also provide good soundproofing, comfort, and insulation beneath the vinyl planks. You need a waterproof underlayment for your vinyl flooring that is at least 1mm thick on a concrete floor before installing vinyl planks. What Type of Underlayment Do You Need For Concrete?

#Waterproof vinyl flooring with attached underlayment install#

If you skip the underlayment and install the vinyl planks directly on the concrete floor, the planks will become prone to water damage.Īlso, the vinyl floor will feel hard on the feet and knees due to a lack of cushioning or insulation beneath the vinyl plank floor. The waterproof underlayment is required to serve as a waterproof barrier between the concrete and the vinyl planks in the event of a leak.Īsides from waterproofing, the underlayment also helps with soundproofing, insulation, and comfort. You don’t want that water reaching your vinyl planks because it can cause swelling and even mold growth on the vinyl planks. In the case of a leak beneath your vinyl floor either from a broken pipe or a flood, the water will pass through the concrete floor. The purpose of the underlayment is to provide a waterproof barrier between the concrete and the vinyl planks.Īs you know, concrete is a very porous substance. The underlayment also makes the vinyl planks more comfortable.īefore you can lay vinyl plank flooring over a concrete subfloor, a waterproof underlayment is needed on the concrete. The waterproof underlayment is to protect the vinyl planks from moisture damage. You are required to install a waterproof underlayment or insulation on the concrete floor before installing the vinyl plank flooring. It’s not a good idea to put vinyl plank flooring directly on concrete because concrete subfloors are known to trap moisture due to the porosity of concrete. Can You Put Vinyl Plank Flooring Directly On Concrete? You should know that vinyl planks can only be installed on concrete that is at least 2 months old. With all of these in place, you can lock the vinyl planks on the underlayment using the vinyl plank’s tongue and groove locking system.

A waterproof underlayment is also needed on the concrete to prevent moisture damage. Then you should remove all baseboards and trims on the floor to create acclimation gaps for the vinyl planks.Ĭracks and dents in the concrete should be filled with concrete paste and allowed to dry. To install vinyl plank flooring on concrete, you need to clean and sand the concrete. But, installing the planks on concrete is a different thing. Installing vinyl plank flooring is pretty straightforward.