Subfloor For Laminate On Concrete

A floating floor laminate or locking hardwood shouldn t be installed over a wood subfloor that s adhered to a concrete slab.

Subfloor for laminate on concrete.

Check for cracks and crumbling. In laminate flooring installations the underlayment is the thin flexible sheet of resilient material that is installed on top of a subfloor in order to act as a base for the laminate planks or tiles you re installing. Laminate planks snap together and float above a subfloor which means tiny subfloor imperfections are okay although again a level subfloor will help prevent damage. Laminate flooring cannot ever be installed on a subfloor made of carpet or padding.

These hills and valleys will eventually lead to unwanted bouncy spots squeaks and groans in the final laminate floor. Inspect the moisture level check the moisture level of the subflooring using a moisture meter. Subfloors made of concrete typically are in the form of a solid concrete slab such as a basement floor or a slab on grade foundation. As mentioned concrete subfloors are porous and have the potential to hold onto excess moisture.

Look at the board where it touches the subfloor and see if there are any dips bumps or otherwise uneven areas. If you want to learn more about the right underlayment for your laminate flooring installation click here. 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. To level a subfloor for installing laminate follow the directions above to remove high and low spots.

While the subfloor provides the foundational support for the room the underlayment is what supports the flooring material itself intended to enhance and protect the flooring. Concrete or tile over concrete are acceptable floors for uninhabited basements. A concrete subfloor can be covered with a variety of flooring materials or it can serve as the finished floor itself. If you have a subfloor that consists of wood on top of concrete you ll need to test both floors.

It is important to choose an underlayment with a vapor barrier for all laminate flooring installations on concrete subfloors. The concrete subfloor must be sufficiently strong to safely support the flooring furniture and people in the room.