Pelican Parts Forums

Pelican Parts Forums (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/)
-   Off Topic Discussions (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/)
-   -   Floating Laminate floor question (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1081270-floating-laminate-floor-question.html)

cstreit 12-20-2020 06:29 AM

Floating Laminate floor question
 
Hey all,

I'm installing a new floating laminate floor in our sunroom. Its a concrete slab. Along with it I will be doing electric floor warmers so naturally due to the warmers and concrete there is a vapor/insulating barrier on the floor first.

So my question is - the floors we like have a 2mil attached pad preinstalled on them. Is it okay to have the underlayment and then install a floor with an additional underlayment? (4mm total)

onewhippedpuppy 12-20-2020 06:32 AM

I don’t see why not. As long as you have a solid and reasonably flat substrate the floor doesn’t care what it is installed over.

Bugsinrugs 12-20-2020 06:35 AM

It will be fine. The more insulation the better

dad911 12-20-2020 06:37 AM

What system are you using under the floor?

Are you using Floor and Decor? I se there are stores near you. We like NuCore, and strongly do not like AquaGuard. As in will never use again.

stealthn 12-20-2020 07:02 AM

For our downstairs bathroom we used Ditra covering then heated flooring and stone. This allows the concrete to breath as well. I’ve never been a fan of plastic right on concrete due to its’ porosity.

cstreit 12-20-2020 07:10 AM

I’m using quietwarmth electric. Very thin system.

As far as flooring Were looking at mohawk/pergo.

Underlayment is roberts air guard. Breathable but with a vapor barrier

Sooner or later 12-20-2020 07:16 AM

Check how water affects the laminates you are looking at. Some brands tend to act like a sponge and the edges swell when wet and then look like crap.

My Pergo does fine. I used a different brand (don't remember the brand) in a small sunroof that was terrible.

cstreit 12-20-2020 07:24 AM

Well unless you buy vinyl they are all “water resistant”. . The room is dry and the underlayment is designed specifically for below grade concrete floor.

Vinyl click lock would be good if I expected a lot of wet, but part of the rehab was all new windows, weather sealing, and is above grade by 12”

red-beard 12-20-2020 07:41 AM

Some of the underlayment pads are designed to allow some airflow, routing away any moisture.

Salty Springs 12-20-2020 08:09 AM

Chris
I've been thru lots of floors in my concrete slab home over the years,from real wood to engineered wood / laminate. We finally installed the LVP (luxury vinyl plank) over a moisture proof paint & a 4 mil visqueen vapor barrier. I highly recommend it. It is scratch proof, water proof and beautiful. Make sure you go with a high quality/name brand whatever floor you pick. There is a lot of questionable flooring being sold.
Dave

cstreit 12-20-2020 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty Springs (Post 11149251)
Chris
I've been thru lots of floors in my concrete slab home over the years,from real wood to engineered wood / laminate. We finally installed the LVP (luxury vinyl plank) over a moisture proof paint & a 4 mil visqueen vapor barrier. I highly recommend it. It is scratch proof, water proof and beautiful. Make sure you go with a high quality/name brand whatever floor you pick. There is a lot of questionable flooring being sold.
Dave

Thanks. My logical side tells me thats a better way to go...

3rd_gear_Ted 12-20-2020 08:39 AM

Recommend the 10 mm thick stuff. It seems to lay better and the joint edges are larger too.

bkreigsr 12-20-2020 09:27 AM

Keep in mind that the thicker the underlay, the less efficient the heating source above the slab will be.
10 mm - you might not feel the heat at all ?
Bill K

gregpark 12-20-2020 03:25 PM

I vote LVT, it looks better than laminate, is not slippery like laminate, is water proof unlike laminate. And, unlike any laminate, the good stuff carries a life time warranty. Use any mil visqueen (loose layed). Though LVT is waterproof, it blocks any possible hydrostaticaly transferred mineral buildup that can come from the slab up through the seams of the planks. I've seen it happen. The electric radiant heat mats lie on top of the visqueen and I would recommend a cushioned backed LVT product on top of that. A forever floor.
Of the many disadvantages of laminate, the biggest problem is water from the top not the bottom. Potted plants, pet water bowls, heavy mopping or a plumbing leak. Ponding water will find its way into the seams and swell the particle board or MDF core material and the seams are puckered forever. This will not happen with LVT.
I stopped selling laminate 25 years ago, too many call backs that were not my fault. My guys will install someone's laminate they bought elsewhere but not without signing a waiver of our responsibility for what happens down the road to their crappy floor covering. I'm a licensed flooring contractor in CA with 50 years experience for what that's worth

wdfifteen 12-20-2020 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cstreit (Post 11149142)
Hey all,

I'm installing a new floating laminate floor in our sunroom. Its a concrete slab. Along with it I will be doing electric floor warmers so naturally due to the warmers and concrete there is a vapor/insulating barrier on the floor first.

So my question is - the floors we like have a 2mil attached pad preinstalled on them. Is it okay to have the underlayment and then install a floor with an additional underlayment? (4mm total)

I would talk to the manufacturer of the laminate. Laminates aren't all the same with regard to adhesives, etc.

Sooner or later 12-20-2020 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregpark (Post 11149734)
I vote LVT, it looks better than laminate, is not slippery like laminate, is water proof unlike laminate. And, unlike any laminate, the good stuff carries a life time warranty. Use any mil visqueen (loose layed). Though LVT is waterproof, it blocks any possible hydrostaticaly transferred mineral buildup that can come from the slab up through the seams of the planks. I've seen it happen. The electric radiant heat mats lie on top of the visqueen and I would recommend a cushioned backed LVT product on top of that. A forever floor.
Of the many disadvantages of laminate, the biggest problem is water from the top not the bottom. Potted plants, pet water bowls, heavy mopping or a plumbing leak. Ponding water will find its way into the seams and swell the particle board or MDF core material and the seams are puckered forever. This will not happen with LVT.
I stopped selling laminate 25 years ago, too many call backs that were not my fault. My guys will install someone's laminate they bought elsewhere but not without signing a waiver of our responsibility for what happens down the road to their crappy floor covering. I'm a licensed flooring contractor in CA with 50 years experience for what that's worth

Excellent post.

URY914 12-21-2020 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregpark (Post 11149734)
I vote LVT, it looks better than laminate, is not slippery like laminate, is water proof unlike laminate. And, unlike any laminate, the good stuff carries a life time warranty. Use any mil visqueen (loose layed). Though LVT is waterproof, it blocks any possible hydrostaticaly transferred mineral buildup that can come from the slab up through the seams of the planks. I've seen it happen. The electric radiant heat mats lie on top of the visqueen and I would recommend a cushioned backed LVT product on top of that. A forever floor.
Of the many disadvantages of laminate, the biggest problem is water from the top not the bottom. Potted plants, pet water bowls, heavy mopping or a plumbing leak. Ponding water will find its way into the seams and swell the particle board or MDF core material and the seams are puckered forever. This will not happen with LVT.
I stopped selling laminate 25 years ago, too many call backs that were not my fault. My guys will install someone's laminate they bought elsewhere but not without signing a waiver of our responsibility for what happens down the road to their crappy floor covering. I'm a licensed flooring contractor in CA with 50 years experience for what that's worth

Wood laminates are really coming back to haunt people that put them in 15 years ago or so. Agree with everything said above.

gregpark 12-21-2020 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdfifteen (Post 11149740)
I would talk to the manufacturer of the laminate. Laminates aren't all the same with regard to adhesives, etc.

Call China?
Laminates are all manufactured using copious amounts of adhesives causing the product to gas off formaldehyde for years. LVT is not made this way

cstreit 12-21-2020 07:09 AM

What’s the difference between LVPlank (click lock) and LVT?

Sooner or later 12-21-2020 07:13 AM

LVP is a longer "plank" . LVT is square or rectangular "tile". Same material.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 06:55 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2025 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website


DTO Garage Plus vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.