Vinyl plank flooring: Installation on main floor concrete
kiix
| Posted in General Questions on
Main floor of project currently has carpet, which was sitting on concrete subfloor. We need to remove the carpet and install vinyl plank floor.
My questions:
1. Should a moisture barrier be installed before the vinyl, or should the fact that carpet was already on the concrete be a good indicator that a moisture barrier is not needed?
2. What steps should I take if mold is found under the carpet, before installing the vinyl flooring?
Thanks in advance.
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Replies
Vinyl is it's own moisture barrier, and most adhesives use with vinyl flooring are moisture tolerant once cured.
Whether or not there needs to be something between the flooring & slab depends on your climate zone (and the manufacturer's installation specs, of course.)
Thanks. These particular planks are interlocking planks. It's less of a concern about moisture damaging the planks than overall health risk due to mold at this point.
Kiix,
Most people aren't particularly sensitive to mold. But if someone in your family is sensitive to mold, you may need to pay attention to this issue.
If you see mold, you can clean it up with a simple solution of detergent and water, using a bristle brush. Turn on a fan to accelerate drying after the cleanup.