Is A Moisture Barrier Necessary For Vinyl Flooring

In existing spaces oil based paints or vapor barrier latex paints offer an effective moisture barrier.

Is a moisture barrier necessary for vinyl flooring.

They have the potential to release moisture into the structure creating an inward vapor that doesn t exist with vinyl siding. This practice has been linked to moldy buildings and other air quality problems. Some underlayments have a built in moisture barrier. Moist concrete concrete may seem very dense but it is actually full of small pores that will absorb water from the ground.

Avoid fully impermeable barriers such as polyethylene or vinyl wall coverings on spaces that are air conditioned. If you are adding an exterior wall anywhere in the house and you answered yes to either of the above questions you should consider using a vapor retarder. This is also an extra piece of protection if you have any water leaking underneath the vinyl planks. The visqueen acts as a barrier between the flooring and the sub floor and allows the vinyl planks to float above the sub floor and smoothly expand and contract with the temperature and humidity changes in your home.

Omit plastic when covering bare wood subfloors thereby allowing the subfloor to breathe. All laminate flooring requires an underlayment to allow the floor to float and give the locking system its strength and in particular cases you will need to use a moisture barrier bestlaminate blog a helpful resource for your laminate vinyl and hardwood flooring projects. A moisture barrier may or may not be needed to insure good adhesion of your vinyl floor so do your homework to avoid problems later on down the road.