Asked by: Yaoyao Urbanos
hobbies and interests woodworking

Do I need moisture barrier on wood subfloor?

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Sometimes, a moisture barrier is not recommended. If you're installing your hardwood floors over a wood subfloor, you should avoid using a moisture barrier. Over time, moisture can get trapped between the moisture barrier protecting your hardwood flooring and the wood subfloor.


Just so, is a moisture barrier necessary for wood floors?

A moisture barrier is need to protect the flooring against moisture or moisture vapor. IN addition, a 15 lb felt paper should be placed between the sub-floor and the new hardwood flooring. Glue Down Installations – When gluing down wood to concrete, a moisture barrier is almost always needed, especially below-grade.

Furthermore, do I need underlayment for laminate flooring on plywood? Laminate floors can be installed directly over concrete, plywood, OSB, parquet, vinyl and tile. The underlayment must be applied to the original flooring surface first, and then the floating floor can be installed.

People also ask, do you need a moisture barrier for laminate flooring on plywood?

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. Plywood subfloors: A breathable foam-type underlayment is generally used when installing laminate flooring over plywood or OSB subfloors.

Can you use self leveling compound on wood subfloor?

These compounds are used to level out low areas in plywood substrates in preparation for laminate, wood or tile flooring installation. Self leveling compounds are simple to prepare and use, and are available in many formulations to meet a variety of flooring needs.

Related Question Answers

Jamar Dadda

Professional

Does vinyl plank flooring need moisture barrier?

Existing 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.

Mihael Pfennigwerth

Professional

Can roofing felt be used under hardwood flooring?

Staple or Nail Down Installation
With a staple down or nail down installation over a wood subfloor using solid flooring or engineered flooring, it is recommended that an underlayment of 15lb. black felt paper for flooring installations over wood subfloors looks a lot like roofing paper, but it is very different.

Eleodoro El Yazidi

Professional

How do you install hardwood flooring over concrete?

Lay 6-mil polyethylene sheeting over the concrete to minimize moisture migration from the concrete up into the wood flooring. Then fasten 3/4-in. treated plywood to the concrete with concrete screws spaced every 16 in. Alternatively, screw rows of treated 1x4s to the concrete 16 in.

Virginijus Belarra

Explainer

What do you put under hardwood floors?

Padding and Layers Under Solid Wood Flooring
  1. Red Rosin Paper or Builder's Felt. Paper or felt are two materials that are traditionally installed between hardwood flooring and subfloor.
  2. Solid Underlayment.
  3. Rubberized Membrane.
  4. Thick Underlayment With Intervening Plywood.

Emma Mahon

Explainer

Do hardwood floors need underlayment?

The short answer: usually. If you already have a plywood subfloor, and the subfloor is smooth and level, then you may not need an underlayment beneath the hardwood floor. Plywood has some moisture resistance already compared to solid wood, and it mostly gives a smooth surface.

Bangally Philipi

Pundit

Does cork underlayment need a moisture barrier?

As a Class I material, our cork flooring underlayment is ideal for use in a wide range of applications and environments. It's vital for many flooring types, including hardwood, to have a form of moisture protection in case water seeps up from below the subfloor.

Lenore Porlan

Pundit

Should I put plastic under concrete?

Vapor retarders have been used since the 1950s. Recently, though, research has shown that the old traditional layer of 6-mil Visqueen (polyethylene plastic) under the slab is seldom effective for two main reasons: Although it may seem water-tight, this grade of material allows a lot of water vapor to pass through.

Lis Labisch

Pundit

Does floor need to be level for laminate?

When leveling a floor for laminate, the floor needs to be even across the surface, not level from one side to the other. While bumps and dips in the subfloor require correcting, there's no need to build up a smooth and even surface so that it's also level from end to end.

Najate Rhoades

Pundit

What is a moisture barrier for laminate flooring?

Moisture barrier underlayment acts as a blockade between the subfloor and laminate to protect your floor from any moisture damage.

Yerena Castañer

Pundit

Can I put new subfloor over old subfloor?

One of the benefits of removing the old flooring is it allows you the chance to fix any loose subflooring or squeaks by re-securing the main subfloor to the floor joists prior to installing the new flooring. With all that being said though the answer is YES you can install New Wood Flooring over the old.

Silke Steegmans

Teacher

How thick is underlayment for laminate floors?

This is usually 3mm thick, or 1/8” thick. Standard underlayment. This is the most commonly used underlayment. It is also 3mm thick (1/8” thick) and is best installed over wood subflooring.

Jianfeng Torinos

Teacher

Do I need a damp proof membrane under laminate floor?

If your house is relatively modern there will be a damp proof membrane below the floor . If the house is older , or there is a doubt regarding possible moisture in the concrete subfloor , then laminate can be laid on a bituminous reinforced underlay designed for that purpose .

Eloi Balo

Teacher

Does laminate need underlayment?

Underlayment for laminate flooring is a must. Since laminate is a floating floor, it must be evenly distributed across your subfloor. Underlayment is what allows the floor to float, gives it stability, support, noise reduction, and supports the locking systems in between planks to assure the sturdiest flooring project.

Junbo Farias

Reviewer

What is the best underlayment for laminate floors?

Best underlay for laminate flooring is foam or cork. Best underlay for laminate flooring is foam because it is simple to install, it is a good sound barrier, and is very cost effective. Some best foams have attached additional layer which functions as the best moisture barrier.

Analis Ivchenko

Reviewer

Do all laminate floors need underlayment?

Laminate Underlayment: What to Know Before Installation. But if you are accustomed to other types of floors like hardwood, engineered wood, vinyl, and tile, all of which require no underlayment, you might be surprised to learn that underlayment is practically a requirement with laminate flooring.

Jonny Musatov

Reviewer

Can you put laminate flooring down without underlayment?

Some laminate flooring planks come with the underlayment attached to each plank. Underlayment is not optional. If your laminate planks don't have it already attached, we recommend that you buy rolls of underlayment on which to install your laminate floor. Its importance can't be overstated.

Irai Wrightson

Supporter

Does laminate flooring with attached padding still need underlayment?

So no, you don't need underlayment for laminate with attached pad. In fact, combining attached pad and underlayment is not just a waste of money, there's a good chance it will damage your laminate installation. However, make sure your attached pad comes with a moisture barrier.

Georgeann Labandibar

Supporter

Can you put laminate flooring over plywood?

Laminate floors can be installed directly over concrete, plywood, OSB, parquet, vinyl and tile. The underlayment must be applied to the original flooring surface first, and then the floating floor can be installed.

Sigurd Abdurahmanoff

Supporter

What is the purpose of underlayment for laminate flooring?

Flooring Underlayment
The thin layer of material helps cushion, sound absorption, insulation and reduce wear with your flooring. For laminate or engineered wood flooring, it provides a “vapor barrier” to prevent moisture from coming through and damaging your floor.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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12th April, 2020

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