Do you need a base for laminate flooring on concrete? As an expert in the field of flooring, I can confidently say that the answer is yes! Installing a subfloor is essential when laying laminate flooring on any surface. Laminate is a “floating” floor, meaning it is not nailed or glued to the surface. It is a durable and cost-effective floor covering that will last for many years. Although, for some subfloors, the base layer is not strictly necessary, it is highly recommended.
The base layer helps the laminate planks to be distributed evenly throughout the subfloor and supports the locking system between the planks to ensure that the floor is resistant. In areas with high annual rainfall and the possibility of flooding, such as Chester, Wrexham and North Wales, a vapor layer must be installed under the base layer. Laminate flooring resists moisture and minor flood damage, as long as a layer of steam is installed underneath the bottom layer. Cold subfloors on the ground floor are often prone to moisture, which can damage the laminate.
If your installation is on concrete, we recommend a 6-thousandths of an inch polyethylene vapor barrier, even if the subfloor you are going to install already has a vapor barrier attached. This additional layer of protection prevents any involuntary notches or tears during the installation process from violating the integrity of the attached vapor barrier. When installing a laminate floor on concrete, there are a lot of factors that need to be considered. The first factor, and probably the most important, is the moisture of the concrete surface.
With newly constructed concrete floors, there is a period of time that must be taken into account for the concrete to dry properly. In case of large imperfections in the concrete, they must be leveled before installing the subfloor. It is highly recommended to install a vapor barrier between the concrete and foam subfloor. That way, the moisture in the concrete won't damage the laminate floor.
The vapor barrier also serves as another temperature barrier that prevents cold air from the concrete from influencing the laminate floor. It is also possible to install a laminate floor on a wooden subfloor. The best subfloor to place on the wooden subfloor is rubber or foam. Regardless of your subfloor, you should always use a thin underlayer with a laminate floor. But with concrete, you must also have a moisture barrier. The best base for laminate flooring is foam because it's easy to install, it's a good sound barrier, and it's very cost-effective.
Some of the best foams have an additional layer that works as an effective moisture barrier. The best foam that can be attached to the laminate also ensures that the floor is not so cold. The best base for laminate flooring, which can be joined or disjoined, also allows for natural shrinkage of boards when ambient temperature and humidity vary. If an incorrect freestanding subfloor is installed, the laminate floor will not be stable and will not last as long as it should. This can be avoided if you buy a laminate with an attached subfloor.
Choosing the right or best base for laminate floors is just as important as choosing the laminate floor you want best. There are many different base layers that can be attached to laminate flooring. Thicker bonded underlayers are ideal; they offer superior soundproofing and usually serve as an effective water barrier too. With newly constructed concrete floors, it's best to measure floor moisture before installing a laminate floor with an attached subfloor. The floor must be dry enough so that moisture does not cause mold or deform the laminate tiles later on. While reusing an existing base layer can be attractive, using a carpet base layer with laminate flooring will cause long-term problems.
However, if you are installing a laminate floor with a pre-fixed base layer on concrete, it's also wise to install a vapor barrier. The subfloor provides fundamental support of the room while also supporting the actual floor material itself; this helps improve and protect it. After that, secure joints of the base with steam tape if you have a concrete subfloor or with good base tape if you are going to install it in a wooden subfloor. This will allow you to place baseboards on top of both base and laminate boards resulting in a more professional and seamless finish. It is important to check that concrete is dry before placing any type of floor but especially so for laminate and wood since moisture can be extremely harmful. For low-traffic areas such as bedrooms and living rooms, thick luxurious base coats are great choices; this is most common form of laminated subfloor and often used when installing laminate floors on plywood or OSB subfloors. It is very important to follow all instructions provided by supplier on subfloor when installing a laminate floor since improper installation or use of wrong subfloor can void manufacturer's warranty. If no base is used there is danger that too much foot traffic will damage laminate; attached subfloors also save time since there's no need to search and choose separate one best for specific laminate floor. Cork one of most expensive underlayment options can sometimes add up to 50 percent cost of installing laminate flooring but using base coat adds extra life to laminates not to mention its performance making it cost-effective. The exception being when installing laminate floors in area...
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