LVP over engineered wood on a concrete slab?
 

Calling GregPark.

Our dark engineered wood floor has taking a beating over the last 10 years and we want to update it with a lighter color. I like the color of this material in the attached link, but in the instructions it says not to install it on a wood floor on a slab. Why is that? Condensation and possible rot? My flooring guy says it wouldn’t be a problem.

The current floor is glued down, so it would be a bear to pull it up. I’m thinking with this snap in place product, it’s something Ms. Rocket and I can do.

Thoughts?

Armstrong NexPro X 411PX
Whispered Secret Rigid Core - Subtle gray
6 in. Wide x 48 in. Long, Low Gloss


https://www.armstrongflooring.com/pro/en-us/rigid-core/nexpro-x/item/411PX.html

Manufacturers will specifically describe scenarios where the warranty will be discarded, even if there’s only a remote likelihood of problems.

That may or may not be the case, here.

I think possible condensation, rot and mold are reasons some say not to do it.
I use a lot of LVP, and try to save money where I can. And removing a glued down engineered floor is going to add quite a bit of cost, I’d imagine.
Idk. Part of me would be a little nervous about it. But another part says does a glued down engineered wood floor, which is glued down on the bottom and coated in some kind of clearcoat on the top, really “breathe” in any significant amount?

True. This is not our dream home and I’m sure we will be gone in a few years. so I’m not worried about long-term.

That's what I would recommend. LVT. An engineered wood floor would probably work but not every slab is the same. There may or may not be a working vapor membrane under it, there may be different moisture readings at different times of the year. Wood and water are a bad combo so a wood floor is a little risky. I've done hundreds with no problems but every now and then I'll see a failure. LVT is guaranteed to work forever. The higher quality ones have a life time warranty (residential). It could flood and your floor will be fine. Unless it burns it should be the last floor you do

Also, high quality LVT costs significantly less than high quality engineered wood and is faster, easier and less messy to install

Where do you think this selection falls in the range of price and quality? What would the price be for a box? We probably need to install 1500 ft.².

Armstrong NexPro X 411PX
Whispered Secret Rigid Core - Subtle gray
6 in. Wide x 48 in. Long, Low Gloss


https://www.armstrongflooring.com/pro/en-us/rigid-core/nexpro-x/item/411PX.html

Armstrong must have a racket. Looking online, the only place I found that had a price was a Home Depot. Not for the exact item I wanted but it Armstrong and at least they had pricing.

I'm thinking around 4 bucks a foot but could be more. You can get a price from a retail flooring store over the phone unless it's a home depot exclusive item, then you'd have to buy it there. Armstrong doesn't make junk, in sure you'll be happy with it.
That's a good looking floor. The grey distressed with saw kerf and planer chatter always looks good. Even though it's made to look like old wood it's a contemporary look.

Shop around.
I’ve found the prices, for the same material, can vary wildly.

I put Armstrong flooring in my guest bathroom. The stuff I wanted was only available at an Armstrong store and they absolutely wouldn't sell to me. I had to have my contractor buddy buy it.

I didn't try the trick a tile store executive pelican told me years ago: Tell the store you're the maintenance manager for your company and give them your business card.

LVT is great stuff. I put it in my rentals replacing most of the carpet. The thing I don’t like about it is the repeating pattern. Most have four combos. You have to be careful and try not to put the same pattern next to each other. That’s pretty much me though. It’s a great product.

You'll probably need some floor leveler.

Is ‘engineered wood’ floor the same thing as ‘hardwood’?

I don’t think so.

Same way that engineered leather, aka vinyl is not the same as real leather off the back of an animal.

Not saying the new engineered products aren’t better, more durable, etc. but they aren’t the same thing.

Actually many engineered floors are better. They are much more stable and come in wider widths. Also more expensive. I have done a bit of research and have paid the bill.
As always, you get what you pay for though.

^ you right
The one thing that man has improved upon over mother nature's design.
Plywood

For years all I used was oak sand in place wood. It was not until about 2000, we started using engineered wood, nailed in place. I wasn’t a fan of it, but got used to it.

My flooring guy said it was $4.09 a square foot including taxes.

Instructions say to use three or four boxes at a time to keep the color match different. And obviously you have to work on your butt joints to have a random pattern.

I may buy enough to do our foyer, which is about 4 x 12 to see if we like it.