Should I use a vapor barrier on a wood sub-floor when installing vinyl plank flooring? We get this question a lot! It is not required, but we recommend using the Visqueen Vapor Barrier with all vinyl plank flooring installations.
The Visqueen acts as a barrier between the flooring and the sub floor, and allows the vinyl planks to float above the sub floor, and smoothly expand and contract with the temperature and humidity changes in your home. This is also an extra piece of protection if you have any water leaking underneath the vinyl planks. Vinyl is waterproof, however, if water is unable to escape under the planks, you could see mold and mildew begin to form. We see this happen often with sliding glass and patio doors!
Most manufacturers of the vinyl planks flooring will request installation of Visqueen PE film underlayment, so make sure to read manufacturer installation rules and requirements before installing your floor to avoid any potential problems.
Learn more about preparing your subfloor, and get a step-by-step guide to installing you vinyl flooring here.
12 comments
I have vinyl flooring , I want to put laminate flooring on top of that do I have to put a vapor barrier between that
Thanks for your question, Linda. If your vinyl flooring is a glue down floor, we would suggest just using underlayment with an attached vapor barrier to go underneath the new laminate. If you have any other questions, please reach out to our customer service department and they will be happy to help!