Vinyl flooring is usually not installed directly over the subfloor in residential applications. Read on. Glue down the underlayment to the subfloor (adhesive must be dry to touch, use a broom to push the S-1841 into the adhesive) or float underlayment over subfloor Subsequently, question is, how do you install vinyl plank flooring over uneven concrete? Throughout the living room + bedrooms there are various types of other flooring that I plan on ripping out down to the plank subfloor … This is a subreddit dedicated to the practice of carpentry in all its forms. Flooring Over Plank Subfloor Whether or not you need plywood underlayment under engineered wood flooring depends on the condition of the original subfloor. Should I install some kind of paper / moisture barrier above the planks? Doug. Now I had a very stout floor about 2" thick.... Ditra over that, tile over that. I've read that deck screws are appropriate, but there are so many different types/sizes. For your other questions, yes attach the ply to joists, and glue it with subfloor adhesive. Plywood underlayment is typically needed when a floor material must have a very smooth, flat surface. Just ensure any underlayment you add is thin, so it doesn’t impact the locking process of the vinyl planks. Installing plywood OVER old plank subfloor that has left over cutback glue I am prepping an old plank subfloor from the 60's for a new layer of 3/8" plywood. Install a layer of at least ½” or preferably 5/8” ply over the existing planks. ... Also, only install a vinyl specific underlayment over the subfloor. Concrete can also become heated up and heat transmitted to the vinyl planks. Then I got decking screws and screwed the planks down everywhere they were already nailed. I would just fasten with ring shank 8d nails. Vinyl floors that are glue down or loose lay will not need a vinyl underlayment, as these floors will be installed directly over the subfloor. What Underlayment is Suitable on Concrete? Cut off any excess and use a transparent tape to tape down any exposed part. On-grade — An on-grade floor is in direct contact with the ground or over a fill in direct contact with the ground. Underlayment help achieve a perfect, smooth, sound resistant, classic flooring.Underlayment should help to overcome subfloor imperfections. One with a built-in vapor barrier to prevent moisture entering from the concrete to the vinyl plank. There are a wide variety of types and makes of underlayment out there serving several purposes like flooring for bedroom, flooring for hall room, flooring for bathroom, kitchen and so on . Either install 1/2-3/4" t&g ply over it (glued & nailed), or cut it out and install new t&g 3/4 subfloor, glued and nailed. They go well with any good and quality underlayment that is waterproof. A vinyl flooring underlayment will not be as thick as a laminate or hardwood underlayment. Also consider this before you make a purchase. generally underlays are useful to buffer the impact of sounds that results from the friction of the soles of the feet and the top floor and flooring. This underlayment acts like a shock absorber for your hardwood floors, distributing the load more evenly to prevent noticeable wear and tear. The floor has tons of squeaks currently, so while I've got the planks exposed I want to take care of that. Like few bumps and holes, making the final layout of the top floor smooth and level. The type of underlayment you should use depends on the subfloor and whether it's concrete, plywood, or an existing flooring material. No wonder an underlayment not just any type, one that is waterproof is highly needed in a concrete subfloor. Roll out underlayment over the concrete floor, give at least two inches up the wall for moisture protection, and tape down the underlayment to the subfloor smoothening with your hand to avoid any air gaps while you do so. One that can smoothly go over concrete hiding small imperfections. Who Makes The Best Chainsaw In The World? If you want to screw rule of thumb is take the thickness of the subfloor and double it, you want something at least that long. Throughout the living room + bedrooms there are various types of other flooring that I plan on ripping out down to the plank subfloor to start from a clean slate. Suspended — A suspended floor is one with a minimum of 18" of well-ventilated air space below. Want to know more about underlayment for vinyl plank flooring on concrete? Get all about Sawzall Vs Reciprocating Saw: Explore Deference, Milwaukee Chainsaw Review [Special for M18 Fuel Chainsaw]. Your underlayment is now ready for the layout of the vinyl plank. I had concerns about it being slippery but vinyl planks are staying in place. In most cases 4-by-8-foot sheets of particle board or plywood must be installed in preparation for the vinyl floor install. Regarding floor level + flatness, what should I consider? Any advantage over screws, or just quicker/easier? Regarding 90% fasteners in joists, when attaching the ply underlayment, should I only really be trying to hit the joists (not some in between the joists at all just in the subfloor? It reduces noise and helps to insulate your floor to keep it—and the entire room—warm. Chapter 3 — Subfloors and Underlayments Subfloors and Underlayments A. GRADE LEVELS 1. This difference may seem subtle, but having a softer floor can make the difference when it comes to peoples back and feet hurting from standing on their feet all day. Calculate the dimension of the space rightly to get the right amount of underlayment needed. Should be thick enough to cover up minor unevenness in the subfloor to give a smooth and seamless finish when the flooring is installed. I glued and nailed ply over the entire floor using shanked dipped nails. Floating vinyl floors are best recommended for concrete floors. Want to know more about underlayment for vinyl plank flooring on concrete? You ask. In the winter time this can be quite the annoyance because who likes cold feet? Much has been said, to wrap things up; let's hit on some final points: we have talked about the properties of concrete and how moisture seeps in. For wood subfloor, a moisture barrier is unnecessary, but underlayment can provide cushion. Other times, some use waterproof underlayment for the flooring. Particle board underlayment, plank subfloor, hardwood floor installation concerns We have ripped out the carpet throughout our new to us house and have solid hardwood 3/4 inches, red oak, pre-finished 3 1/4 wide planks ordered to install. I have listed a couple of forgiving flooring materials – carpet and vinyl – to use over uneven concrete floors. Although underlayment is often still called subfloor, in reality the subfloor is the thick wood layer that is screwed directly into the floor joists. My experience is no, too much bounce. It's best to go for something that is not super complicated to install. Well, underlayment is like butter or the sandwich to your two pieces of toast (speaking in cooking terms). It is one reason why using underlays is perfect for your concrete subfloor. This means if you want something like laminate or vinyl planks, the concrete sub-floor will actually make your planks colder as well. We decided then to remove the plywood underlayment, as this was at the same level of the existing installed hardwood floors, and laying new 3/4in hardwood floors over that playwood would have created an eyesore of a step off. 3. There are several types of underlayment for this type of flooring, and we’ve seen brands with a thin layer of foam pre-attached as well. Or open spaces to make it level what type/size screws should i to. Areas the underlayment is designed with built-in moisture barrier others are not on-grade floor is one with a built-in barrier... 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