Subfloor Over Laminate Flooring

In some instances you might be able to install your flooring over an existing floor but it is important to check prior to installation if it is a suitable material.

Subfloor over laminate flooring.

Laminate planks snap together and float above a subfloor which means tiny subfloor imperfections are okay although again a level subfloor will help prevent damage. If the existing subfloor is in poor condition you will need to add a secondary underlayment of thin plywood over the subfloor. Laminate flooring cannot ever be installed on a subfloor made of carpet or padding. From a distance osb flooring may look a little rough and uneven but when you get closer and feel the surface you realize that s just an optical illusion.

Inspect the moisture level check the moisture level of the subflooring using a moisture meter. Remember that laminate flooring like swiss krono usa s laminate wood flooring is a floating floor it will expand and contract as temperature and other conditions change. Wood and concrete are the idea subfloors. A floating floor laminate or locking hardwood shouldn t be installed over a wood subfloor that s adhered to a concrete slab.

Laminate flooring which can only be installed using the floating method can be installed over a plywood subfloor over the recommended foam pad. There s absolutely no problem laying a laminate floor over osb provided you take all the moisture preventative steps you would take for a plywood subfloor. Laminate flooring on an uneven subfloor can cause problems and needs to be addressed. To level a subfloor for installing laminate follow the directions above to remove high and low spots.

If you have a subfloor that consists of wood on top of concrete you ll need to test both floors. Laminate is a fairly thin material and is not forgiving when it comes to grooves dents and ridges. A breathable foam type underlayment is generally used when installing laminate flooring over plywood or osb subfloors. It s a bit confusing but a flat floor can still be slightly out of level and still create a good foundation for a long lasting floor installation.

As with hardwood laminate flooring is best installed on a 3 4 inch thick plywood subfloor. If you have a weak subfloor that flexes up and down when walked on i would recommended adding an additional layer of 3 8 or 1 2 inch thick plywood underlayment glued and screwed down over a 5 8 or. Check for cracks and crumbling. In most cases you will not want to use a vapor barrier type underlayment when installing laminates on a standard plywood subfloor because wood is a natural material that needs to breathe installing a vapor barrier over this can cause moisture to become.

This means that the choice of subfloor i e what you install laminate over needs to provide the right support.