SMARTCORE Lexington Oak Vinyl Planks

8 years ago

Hi,

We are thinking of putting the SMARTCORE vinyl planking from Lowes using the Lexington Oak color. The other choice is the thinner STAINMASTER from HD in the Handscraped Retreat color. It will be going over a concrete floor in our walk-out basement. Do I need the vapor barrier with the SMARTCore? If anyone has pictures of this color to share, I would love to see them.

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Comments (2)

SJ McCarthy
8 years ago
You will notice on the installation instructions that both of these floors require a vapour barrier over concrete. That's because the PLANKS might be water proof, but the floors still have to be protected from the moisture moving up through a slab (which is very, very, very common and the thing most likely to ruin a floor in a basement).

I suggest going with the industry standard that also happens to be the CHEAPEST option: 6mil polyethylene sheeting properly taped at the seams (Red Duct tape = moisture resistant tape). This option should cost around $0.12/sf.

Do NOT use anything that is considered an "under pad". Vinyl HATES UNDERPAD. And it voids the warranty. Feel free to read the installation instructions. It will tell you all you need to know.
dinahd08 thanked SJ McCarthy
dinahd08
Original Author
8 years ago
Appreciate the info!
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