Quote:
Originally Posted by rnln
- Laminate can be float on concrete floor. Lay a thin foam layer between concrete and the laminate wood and you are ok. Why Laminate can stand moisture? Because it is floating?
- Bamboo, better than wood. No further information yet.
question: since laminate is 100% safe on concrete (with moisture) because it's is floating. Is clicking/floating engineer wood 100% safe with only a thin foam layer just like installing laminate?
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No, laminate must have a vapor barrier (
VB) not just the cheap foam underlay, which is meant only for wood subfloors.
The less expensive types of
VB underlay is just a foam with a plastic backing. Delta FM, the stuff I used, is a corrugated solid plastic sheet that I then used proper
VB tape (tuck tape) to seal all the seams, then you put the cheap foam underlay on top of it and last your laminate. The Delta leaves a small air gap so the moisture can slowly evaporate. I'm sure it's good for floating engineered wood floors as well, but I never checked that out.
Laminate flooring is nothing more than pressed cardboard or a more moisture resistant MDF. With no proper
VB moisture will eventually damage it.
I think the only thing better with bamboo is it's a renewable resource (can be grown like a crop) so the greenies like it.