Yes, mold can grow under vinyl flooring if moisture becomes trapped underneath the flooring material. Vinyl flooring is not a breathable material, which means that moisture cannot escape through the flooring.
Dehumidifiers and regular room ventilation are the two most powerful ways to prevent mold under your vinyl. Other than preventative measures, react to any water issues immediately. Leaky pipes, water coming in through gaps, and any other water spills or pools need to be fixed as soon as you see them.
Signs of Mold Under Vinyl Plank Flooring
Musty Odor: One of the first indicators of mold under your flooring is an unmistakable musty smell. This odor is a strong sign that mold is present, even if you can't see it. The scent is often described as damp, earthy, or like rotting leaves.
A moisture barrier is required by the manufacturer to keep your warranty, anytime you are laying a vinyl plank on concrete that is on or below grade.
And what is above a concrete slab? Flooring! The plastic shield that sometimes goes underneath floating floors traps moisture between the slab and the floor, creating a great place for mold to grow. The same can happen with laminate or vinyl floors that are place right on top of the slab - trapped moisture!
Borax is highly recommended as a mold remediation product. To get rid of mold using borax, you'll need to mix it with one gallon of hot water. Then, apply the solution to the area affected by mold beneath the flooring. Next, scrub the area with a brush until the mold cannot be seen anymore.
Concrete floors or screeds need sufficient time to dry before you can start installing your Quick-Step laminate floor on top. As a rule of thumb, you should wait one week per cm of screed(thickness) up to 4 cm.
Compatibility: Luxury vinyl can be installed directly over concrete using various methods, including glue-down, click-lock, or loose-lay.
If unprotected, moisture can build up underneath your laminate flooring and cause warping of the planks.
One of the primary consequences of water seepage is the warping and buckling of vinyl planks. When exposed to water, the core material of the flooring can expand, causing the individual planks to warp and lift. This not only compromises the aesthetics of the floor but also poses a tripping hazard.
The best solution is to scrub and clean the affected areas with a mold-killing detergent, like RMR-86 Instant Mold & Mildew Stain Remover, or a simple solution of household bleach and water. Be sure to scrub aggressively to get down into the pores of the concrete.
When removing old linoleum or vinyl flooring, you might be surprised to see smears of black adhesive between the tiles and the subfloor. Those smears and streaks just might be black mastic, a discontinued building product that often contains asbestos.
Smell. A musty odor is a tell-tale sign that mould may be growing beneath your vinyl flooring. This smell is distinctive, often described as earthy, like rotting wood or wet socks. If a specific area of your home starts to smell odd, especially around vinyl floors, it's time to investigate.
Start by thoroughly cleaning the concrete to remove dust, debris, and any grease or oils. Next, check for moisture levels; a moisture barrier, such as a vapor barrier or moisture-resistant underlayment, may be necessary to prevent dampness from seeping into the vinyl.
To dry out vinyl surfaces, you can use fans, a heater, towels, or a mop. If the water gets under the flooring coming from an area below the floors (like a pipe leak), then you need to fix that first. Then you should follow up with a shop vac and/or dehumidifier to eliminate excess moisture.
Moisture is always moving within the concrete, and the material can secrete from it over time. This may result in mold that can be particularly damaging to your home. If installing over concrete, use a underlayment that has a moisture barrier built in.
It's all caused because of the low vapor permeability of the LVF material combined with the building methods that allow for the presence of condensation buildup due to the transfer of humid air from warm to much cooler surfaces such as luxury vinyl flooring.
You'll typically need a vapor barrier if you're installing flooring over concrete.
Second, if installing over an existing concrete slab, make sure it has been properly sealed and primed before laying down the new planks. Finally, make sure to use waterproof underlayment between the concrete slab and the planks; this will help protect against moisture seeping up into the planks and causing damage.
Carpet, vinyl flooring, hardwood flooring, or ceramic tiles are some of the ideal flooring options to go over concrete substrates.
Moisture resistance is another key feature that makes luxury vinyl planks the perfect flooring solution for basements. Basements often have higher humidity levels and are susceptible to occasional water leaks or moisture seepage.
Concrete is porous and porous materials allow water to seep up into and through the flooring. This will cause adhesives to loosen, flooring to warp and mold and mildew to develop. To eliminate this concern, you will need a vapor barrier that is placed right above the concrete slab.
Floating floor underlay is a layer of foam or rubber that protects your floors. It is installed between the subfloor and the floating floor that acts as an insulation that will both dampen sound (acoustics) and protects your beautiful floors from mould, mildew, and any potential moisture.
As you don't have to install underlay for Vinyl Flooring or LVT, this can go directly onto the concrete subfloor. However, allow 24 hours for your flooring to acclimatise by leaving it out of its packaging. When it's ready, unroll your vinyl flooring and cut to size after measuring your room.