LVP flooring no subfloor in basement?

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Jul 31st, 2021 10:54 pm

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Jul 28th, 2021 8:43 am

pancakemeow1 [OP]: Jr. Member; Mar 26, 2018; 142 posts; 560 upvotes; Niagara, Ontario

Jul 28th, 2021 8:43 am

LVP flooring no subfloor in basement?

Hi,
I had to rip up my floor and subfloor in my 1960's home due to a sewer issue in the basement. It's finally all fixed and now I want to put things back together. I had a flooring guy come and he said he recommends laying LVP directly on the concrete with no subfloor, that I just had to make sure it was level first. He said the new LVP has a cork backing that resists moisture and it's the way people are laying floor going forward. Does this sound right? I tried looking on youtube and didn't find any videos of people doing this. He said the original subfloor (about an inch from the concrete) would be very hard to match up and labour intensive as well as $$$$. I'm also worried about it being very cold on your feet. Any advice RFD? Thank you!

7 replies

Jul 28th, 2021 9:03 am

torontotim: Deal Addict; Nov 17, 2012; 4959 posts; 4522 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 28th, 2021 9:03 am

First I'd wait as long as you can (like a full year) to make sure there are no further moisture issues. But I'm a little more paranoid than others about basement moisture.

Then I'd put Dricore down, after using some self-levelling cement in any low spots. Then whatever flooring you like. You'll have a warmer floor and not have to worry about any condensation that would absolutely collect between the LVP planks and a concrete floor.

Invest in a subfloor and you can worry less about the flooring material. Put anything you like down so long as it's rated for below-grade use. I have engineered hardwood in my basement installed with cleats on a 3/4" plywood/2x4 subfloor I put in 20 years ago (before I knew about Dricore or maybe even before it existed).

Jul 28th, 2021 9:05 am

MrFrugal1: Deal Addict; Jan 2, 2012; 4489 posts; 3676 upvotes; KINGSTON,ON

Jul 28th, 2021 9:05 am

Are you sure it has a cork backing? I've never seen vinyl plank with cork. Doesn't mean that it doesn't exist though. Regardless, I would not put anything organic or anything containing organic material such as cork directly on a basement floor.
There is a trend to adhere vinyl directly to the concrete, and he was correct in stating that the floor must be super smooth. Any high spots or dips will telegraph through the material.

As for cold floors; you are 100% correct. A 1960 vintage home will have zero thermal break between the floor slab and the ground. You will definitely be wearing socks and slippers if you spend time in the basement.

Jul 28th, 2021 9:14 am

RCGA: Deal Fanatic; Dec 10, 2008; 5115 posts; 1859 upvotes

Jul 28th, 2021 9:14 am

I had a 60s home that I did half the basement with LVP directly on the floor and half with delta + engineered hw. The hardwood portion was a few degrees warmer (confirmed with a Flir) .

I'm now in a new build and again went LVP directly on the floor. Our basement isn't a main living space, so cold feet aren't really a big deal. It has a home gym and large rec room.

Yeah, it's colder on the foot for a few months of the year, but you don't really notice. No different than unheated tile on the main floor

Let's hug it out

Jul 30th, 2021 1:41 pm

Meibatsu: Member; Dec 29, 2019; 280 posts; 145 upvotes; Toronto, Ontario

Jul 30th, 2021 1:41 pm

MrFrugal1 wrote: ↑ Are you sure it has a cork backing? I've never seen vinyl plank with cork.

Some LVP like Torlys use something like "CorkPlus Blue with Microban" or built in foam backing.

I did my basement using Torlys LVP with "FoamPlus Blue with Microban", but the company still put down another layer of underlayment directly on the concrete first before installing the LVP.

Maybe have a read of this, OP:
https://residential.torlys.com/accessories/underlays/

"6 Mil Poly

CGSB Rated. Mandatory over concrete subfloors with cork underlay and cork backed products.

Installation Notes
TORLYS underlayment should be used for all installations involving TORLYS Laminate floors WITHOUT an integrated cork backing. For installations of cork underlayment overall concrete subfloors, a 6 Mil Poly must be used."

Seems like direct to concrete is not advised even with built-in cork (not sure if built-in foam is different).

If your installer REALLY meant cork-cork, definitely make sure there is some type of vapour barrier being used before the LVP is added on top.

Jul 31st, 2021 8:19 am

jacquesstrap: Deal Addict; Nov 9, 2008; 1852 posts; 877 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 31st, 2021 8:19 am

Meibatsu wrote: ↑ Some LVP like Torlys use something like "CorkPlus Blue with Microban" or built in foam backing.

I did my basement using Torlys LVP with "FoamPlus Blue with Microban", but the company still put down another layer of underlayment directly on the concrete first before installing the LVP.

Maybe have a read of this, OP:
https://residential.torlys.com/accessories/underlays/

"6 Mil Poly

CGSB Rated. Mandatory over concrete subfloors with cork underlay and cork backed products.

Installation Notes
TORLYS underlayment should be used for all installations involving TORLYS Laminate floors WITHOUT an integrated cork backing. For installations of cork underlayment overall concrete subfloors, a 6 Mil Poly must be used."

Seems like direct to concrete is not advised even with built-in cork (not sure if built-in foam is different).

If your installer REALLY meant cork-cork, definitely make sure there is some type of vapour barrier being used before the LVP is added on top.

Only other thing to add - if you have a vapor barrier beneath your concrete slab, you can forego the plastic between Torlys LVP and concrete. I did this and things have been great for the last 5 years

+1

Jul 31st, 2021 7:12 pm

tim-x: Deal Addict; Nov 8, 2005; 3234 posts; 2835 upvotes

Jul 31st, 2021 7:12 pm

I have 5mm lvp directly on my concrete slab in the basement. It's cold and hard. If I could go back in time and do it again I would 100% put in a subfloor like dricor. The cost to pull it all up and out dricor now with covid costs just isn't worth it to me. If you have kids, it makes the basement far more inviting and the floor less hard if they fall.

Jul 31st, 2021 10:54 pm

jayess: Newbie; Mar 13, 2006; 97 posts; 69 upvotes

Jul 31st, 2021 10:54 pm

I finished my basement in "steps" -- back bedroom with lvp on slab for in-laws visiting with we had our first kid, then the rest with dricore and laminate. I ended up ripping up the lvp and putting dricore under it later on because moisture was absolutely noticeable through it without the subfloor. Anything fabric left on the floor previously would end up smelling a bit musty. No such issues now that the dricore is on it.

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