When it comes to installing flooring underlayment in bathrooms and kitchens, there are a few special considerations to keep in mind. Generally, any vinyl flooring larger than 4 mm can have a vinyl-specific underlayer. However, if the vinyl is thinner than 4 mm, it should be installed directly on the subfloor. In areas with moisture problems, it is recommended to use a base layer with a vapor barrier that does not add any cushioning to the boards.
LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) can be placed directly on an old terrazzo floor or sealed concrete. Vinyl plank floors are floating floors, so it is important to have an undercoat on the entire surface of the floor. When installing vinyl floors in a basement, it is not necessary to place a vapor barrier as long as the subfloor is level and there is no subfloor between the subfloor and the vinyl floor. For best results, it is recommended to use a floor adhesive made specifically for vinyl floors.
This can be purchased at any hardware or home improvement store. The Redupax subfloor from Sound Seal's Impacta flooring division can help reduce “hollow sound” when used under laminate floors. In humid areas, it is good practice to apply glue only to the tab of the laminate floor “since this limits the amount of glue and retains it where topical moisture will try to enter.” When deciding which type of flooring to install in bathrooms and kitchens, it is important to consider how the floor will look from other rooms in the house. For example, if you want the floor behind the doors looking out into the living room to match the ceramic tile, you may want to install a subfloor on top of the concrete and then install a vinyl plank floor (with a rubber backing) on top of everything.
