Subfloor Over Laminate Flooring

Even with a brick.

Subfloor over laminate flooring.

In most cases you will not want to use a vapor barrier type underlayment when installing laminates on a standard plywood subfloor because wood is a natural material that needs to breathe installing a vapor barrier over this can cause moisture to become. Laminate flooring which can only be installed using the floating method can be installed over a plywood subfloor over the recommended foam pad. A breathable foam type underlayment is generally used when installing laminate flooring over plywood or osb subfloors. From a distance osb flooring may look a little rough and uneven but when you get closer and feel the surface you realize that s just an optical illusion.

Inspect the moisture level check the moisture level of the subflooring using a moisture meter. In some instances you might be able to install your flooring over an existing floor but it is important to check prior to installation if it is a suitable material. As with hardwood laminate flooring is best installed on a 3 4 inch thick plywood subfloor. Wood and concrete are the idea subfloors.

Laminate flooring cannot ever be installed on a subfloor made of carpet or padding. Laminate flooring on an uneven subfloor can cause problems and needs to be addressed. If you have a subfloor that consists of wood on top of concrete you ll need to test both floors. If you have a weak subfloor that flexes up and down when walked on i would recommended adding an additional layer of 3 8 or 1 2 inch thick plywood underlayment glued and screwed down over a 5 8 or.

This means that the choice of subfloor i e what you install laminate over needs to provide the right support. A floating floor laminate or locking hardwood shouldn t be installed over a wood subfloor that s adhered to a concrete slab. If the existing subfloor is in poor condition you will need to add a secondary underlayment of thin plywood over the subfloor. Remember that laminate flooring like swiss krono usa s laminate wood flooring is a floating floor it will expand and contract as temperature and other conditions change.

The floor can have an unlevel subfloor and still have a base for a nice laminate floor. The concrete subfloor must be sufficiently strong to safely support the flooring furniture and people in the room. It s a bit confusing but a flat floor can still be slightly out of level and still create a good foundation for a long lasting floor installation. Laminate is a fairly thin material and is not forgiving when it comes to grooves dents and ridges.

Check for cracks and crumbling.