Luxury Vinyl Planks Over Concrete

So technically if you are installing vinyl plank flooring onto concrete you already have a subfloor.

Luxury vinyl planks over concrete.

This is the second time we ve done our concrete basement using vinyl plank flooring see the last place here and this time it went so much smoother. Saves you money generally this is less expensive vs hardwood or tile and you can often avoid tile rip up which can add a lot to your labor costs. It also needs to be free of solvent wax grease oil paint and any other sealing compounds. Underlayment isn t a necessity but you might consider it to add noise reducing qualities or additional softness to the product.

Vinyl flooring is very durable and fits over most surfaces including concrete. It can even go on top of radiant heat. Today i m sharing some tips tools and tricks to installing vinyl plank over concrete. If the concrete is uneven you will have to level it out.

Preparing a concrete subfloor for vinyl newly poured concrete off gases water vapor and typically needs from 120 to 150 days to dry out before it s ready to accept flooring according to milliken company. Although the flooring comes in a variety of forms planks are installable with a minimal amount of tools and measuring. First it will give you some added cushion to help make the floor softer to walk on. Large cracks and expansion joints should be filled and troweled smooth.

Engineered luxury vinyl can go on top of concrete plywood and tile. The key to installing luxury vinyl over concrete is to ensure the floor is level and clean. This additional layer can improve insulation and should make your vinyl plank flooring warmer and less resonant. Second you may want an extra vapor barrier above the subfloor to reduce any risk of moisture.

Rough and uneven spots will telegraph through the new flooring causing noticeable high spots that will wear faster than the rest of the floor. And then baseboard is another leap forward it s so exciting. Vinyl planks which are often categorized as luxury vinyl are wide strips of flooring that snap together to create a continuous layer that floats over the concrete. If you are installing your vinyl plank flooring over a concrete subfloor you may want to use an underlayment for three reasons.

Installation for planks is easier for beginners than laying down sheet vinyl because you re working with small pieces and if you make a bad cut you can simply cut a new piece. The hardest part of the job is often cleaning and leveling the concrete base. Vinyl plank flooring is water resistant and if it has a wpc core it s waterproof so it won t be damaged by the off gassing. Installing vinyl plank flooring ca be done over most surfaces as long as those surfaces are smooth.

However some people prefer to add another thin layer of subflooring between the concrete and vinyl.