Is A Moisture Barrier Necessary For Wood Floors

The original hardwood floors 2 1 4 white oak were installed on top of 5 8 plywood which sits on 15 felt as a vapor barrier.

Is a moisture barrier necessary for wood floors.

It insulates and cushions the flooring making it more comfortable to walk on. A vapor retarder is a material used to prevent water vapor from diffusing into the wall ceiling or floor during the cold winter. A moisture barrier may or may not be needed to insure good adhesion of your vinyl floor so do your homework to avoid problems later on down the road. When installing certain types of flooring such as sheet vinyl the.

A couple of the hardwood floor contractors recommended that a concrete sealer be installed prior to putting down new felt and plywood. 800 sq ft and have received conflicting information about where i should use a moisture sound barrier or glue down with nails w o the moisture barrier. The underlayment provides many benefits including moisture protection sound and thermal insulation and a cushion to make the floor more comfortable to walk on. Some debate still occurs over how necessary vapor barriers are but a consensus is growing closer.

In circumstances where conditions inside a home or office are much different than outdoor conditions water. When you live in a damp climate with a crawl space under the floor a lot of things have to be done to prevent moisture from the ground from entering the hardwood floor. Most authorities now agree that vapor barriers are important under certain conditions but not necessarily as a whole house solution for every home. I am in the process of laying hardwood floor on a subfloor approx.

In your case you don t need the vapor barrier. What is your thoughts on this. Resolution of the vapor barrier debate. But there are exceptions to this.

A moisture barrier is need to protect the flooring against moisture or moisture vapor. Whether or not you need a vapor retarder hinges on three main factors your climate your home and the location of the wall you re insulating. You absolutely do not use a vapor barrier over a wood substrate under a wood floor. The vapor barrier will prevent the moisture from coming through and protect your floor from mold and mildew.

To know if you need a vapor retarder ask yourself a few basic questions. For moisture barriers there are three basic methods of protection. And it is always the moisture difference between one side of the board and the other that cause warping. Anything else promotes dry rot.

An underlayment is a necessity for any wood floor installation even on a plywood subfloor. Asphalt felt or rosin paper as a slip sheet when on the second story of the residence. Along with the moisture barrier you may want to install an underlayment. The warranty may require it.

Is it necessary or would you just make sure the. Typically we recommend visqueen vapor barrier underlayment on a cement subfloor where there is a concern of moisture coming up from the subfloor.