Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - moisture barriers?
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : moisture barriers?
mgoogs
01-25-03, 08:22 PM
Hi everyone,
i live in Houston and am considering laying hardwood floors on a concrete slab. I know houston is ripe with moisture concerns and have been told that linoleum can be used as a moisture barrier. I have found a 3/8" solid hardwood brazilian cherry that i really like and want to know if linoleum will suffice as a moisture barrier providing the slab has been tested and does not reveal a moisture problem at this time.
any input will be greatly appreciated.
thanks, mgoogs
i live in Houston and am considering laying hardwood floors on a concrete slab. I know houston is ripe with moisture concerns and have been told that linoleum can be used as a moisture barrier. I have found a 3/8" solid hardwood brazilian cherry that i really like and want to know if linoleum will suffice as a moisture barrier providing the slab has been tested and does not reveal a moisture problem at this time.
any input will be greatly appreciated.
thanks, mgoogs
twelvepole
01-26-03, 05:11 PM
The linoleum can serve as a moisture retarder, provided, as you say, all other precautions are taken regarding moisture in the concrete subfloor. If installing solid hardwood flooring, you will need 3/4" exterior grade plywood subfloor installed first. Solid hardwood can be installed above grade on concrete, not below grade in basements.
Go to www.installingwoodfloors.com for the Technical Manual for wood floor installation.
Go to www.installingwoodfloors.com for the Technical Manual for wood floor installation.
Hardwood Man
01-26-03, 06:18 PM
Mg:
Why this forum won't let me use my regular name is beyond me when I'm on another PC but here goes. If you use vinyl and any urethane based adhesive for the hardwood I would strongly suggest using the same product for the vinyl. I've seen these types of failures far too many times as a common vinyl attached with an ordinary latex adhesive will not hold with the stronger urethane adhesives used today.
If you need a professional in the Houston area feel free to contacts us at www.hardwoodinstaller.com.
Regards,
"Hardwood Guy"
Ken Fisher
Why this forum won't let me use my regular name is beyond me when I'm on another PC but here goes. If you use vinyl and any urethane based adhesive for the hardwood I would strongly suggest using the same product for the vinyl. I've seen these types of failures far too many times as a common vinyl attached with an ordinary latex adhesive will not hold with the stronger urethane adhesives used today.
If you need a professional in the Houston area feel free to contacts us at www.hardwoodinstaller.com.
Regards,
"Hardwood Guy"
Ken Fisher
twelvepole
01-26-03, 07:05 PM
If you plan on gluing down 3/8" hardwood to vinyl on concrete, then, as Hardwood Guy indicated, there may be issues regarding adhesive. Sometimes adhesive can cause a migration of plasticizers between the vinyl floor and the mastic, that will not permit the mastic to set up. Primers designed to provide a barrier between the mastic and the vinyl floor, as well as an improved bonding surface. This is a precaution when using chlorinated mastics as well as emulsion formulations over vinyl.
Read and follow wood installation directions carefully as well as adhesive and surface prep instructions if doing a glue down installation over vinyl. If in doubt, contact the adhesive manufacturer as well as the hardwood flooring manufacturer's technical department. Using old or the incorrect adhesive and/or poor surface prep tend to result in bonding failure.
Read and follow wood installation directions carefully as well as adhesive and surface prep instructions if doing a glue down installation over vinyl. If in doubt, contact the adhesive manufacturer as well as the hardwood flooring manufacturer's technical department. Using old or the incorrect adhesive and/or poor surface prep tend to result in bonding failure.