You can easily install it over any rigid and level surface, including concrete, wood or even up to one layer of other vinyl.
However, experts often recommend foam or felt underlayment for their sound reduction, protection from moisture, and insulation properties. Remember, what you put under your vinyl flooring can significantly impact the longevity, comfort, and performance of your flooring.
Vinyl flooring solutions are popular for numerous reasons, including their ability to go over many types of subfloors, like tile, wood, plywood, concrete, and (rarely) carpet.
Foam: Being one of the least expensive underlayments you can buy, foam fits as the perfect choice to be put under your vinyl floor, especially if your subfloor is made of plywood. However, make sure that you have no moisture issues as foam and water aren't a good combination when it comes to flooring.
Vinyl flooring can go over a plywood subfloor without a vinyl flooring underlayment as long as the substrate is sturdy, smooth, and flat. If your plywood subfloor is in poor condition, you may need a thin plywood underlayment to smooth the surface out.
When moisture penetrates your flooring, it can cause mold, mildew, and the potential for water damage. A moisture barrier helps control the water vapor's movement to help protect your floors. Therefore, if you're installing floors in an area that sees moisture, even a little, a vapor barrier is needed.
vinyl plank flooring in your kitchen or bedroom. You can easily install it over any rigid and level surface, including concrete, wood or even up to one layer of other vinyl.
Underlayment is not required if the vinyl flooring will be laid over a cushion-backed vinyl floor or a tile floor below grade. In all other applications, however, you should use one, such as covering existing hardwood floors, vinyl flooring without cushion, and concrete floors.
Grey Lino can be laid over most surfaces, including hardwood, but unique needs must be taken into consideration. The installer might have to sand any uneven areas since luxury vinyl, especially plank requires a smooth surface. Some even go so far as to cover the wood floor with a plywood board initially.
For residential spaces, 4-6mm vinyl planks are ideal for balancing comfort and durability. These are perfect for living rooms and kitchens where you spend most of your time. In commercial settings, go for 6-12mm to handle the heavy foot traffic of places like restaurants or retail stores.
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.
Underlayment sits between the subfloor and the finished floor covering. They can be made from a variety of materials like foam, cork, felt, and rubber.
Excess moisture and water under the flooring can deteriorate and soften vinyl planks. It can also lead to mold growth, setting up a potentially unhealthy indoor environment. Addressing surface-level moisture as well as any water damage under vinyl floors is essential to avoiding a worsening situation.
The disadvantages of vinyl floors
Cannot be repaired. Can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Shorter lifespan than wood floors.
Since most furniture will not go under just one plank, it is perfectly safe for bulky furniture and refrigerators to go on vinyl plank flooring. Vinyl plank flooring will not be damaged or cracked by home appliances' weight due to its strong durability.
Typically, you can expect it to last anywhere from 10 to 25 years. The estimated lifespan varies because the vinyl flooring's durability truly depends on the type, brand, and quality you choose to install. Additionally, how well the floor is maintained can significantly impact its lifespan.
When you walk on tile, you are pushing it down into the adhesive, and if the tile is not conformed, you are pushing it into contact with the adhesive which causes the clicking/crackling sound. To fix this, you can usually heat the area for at least a day, and then roll the tile using a 100-pound roller.
Choosing between felt or foam-backed vinyl flooring ultimately comes down to personal preferences, alongside the specific needs of the space where it will be installed. Felt-backed vinyl offers an enhanced underfoot experience that's warm, comfortable, and forgiving of minor subfloor irregularities.
When you're laying LVP over existing tile, the grout lines are one of the first things you'll need to address. Grout lines can create a slightly uneven surface, and if not smoothed out, they might become visible through the LVP, creating an unsightly “telegraphing” effect.