It depends on how uneven the old plank floor is.
With leveling compound, you can create a perfectly flat subfloor.
Anything else will “float” and will give way more or less.
Have you considered adhesive installation for the vinyl?
Fill the floor with reinforcing mesh, sanding roughly beforehand and don’t forget to prime. It’s extra work but definitely worth it.
With leveling compound, you can create a perfectly flat subfloor.
Anything else will “float” and will give way more or less.
Have you considered adhesive installation for the vinyl?
Fill the floor with reinforcing mesh, sanding roughly beforehand and don’t forget to prime. It’s extra work but definitely worth it.
Hello Sven,
What is really worthwhile is to think carefully!!
According to your information, there is a clay subfloor beneath an old wooden plank floor (according to the photos).
This means that the humidity level between the clay and the wooden planks is around 100% relative humidity (no calculations or reference tables are necessary for this).
Currently, the old planks absorb moisture and release it through their cross-section into the indoor air, without anyone noticing.
Now comes the idea of installing a click vinyl floor.
Regardless of whether you install a vapor-tight floor covering on a substrate or a sheet material: this vapor barrier will interfere with and hinder the water vapor movement between the clay subfloor and the indoor air.
This means that quite quickly, moisture will accumulate throughout the entire cross-section of the wooden planks. The result will be that the planks will rot within the next few years.
No, this is not an unnecessary worst-case scenario, but experienced construction practice!
There are now three possible approaches:
a) Remove the wooden planks, level the clay floor, and apply a waterproofing layer on top,
b) refurbish or remove the old wooden planks and replace them with new ones, or
c) sand the old planks, level them with a suitable (!) leveling compound, and install a vapor-permeable floor covering.
--------------------------------------------
Anything else will more likely cause serious structural damage sooner rather than later.
Best regards and good luck,
KlaRa (professional)
What is really worthwhile is to think carefully!!
According to your information, there is a clay subfloor beneath an old wooden plank floor (according to the photos).
This means that the humidity level between the clay and the wooden planks is around 100% relative humidity (no calculations or reference tables are necessary for this).
Currently, the old planks absorb moisture and release it through their cross-section into the indoor air, without anyone noticing.
Now comes the idea of installing a click vinyl floor.
Regardless of whether you install a vapor-tight floor covering on a substrate or a sheet material: this vapor barrier will interfere with and hinder the water vapor movement between the clay subfloor and the indoor air.
This means that quite quickly, moisture will accumulate throughout the entire cross-section of the wooden planks. The result will be that the planks will rot within the next few years.
No, this is not an unnecessary worst-case scenario, but experienced construction practice!
There are now three possible approaches:
a) Remove the wooden planks, level the clay floor, and apply a waterproofing layer on top,
b) refurbish or remove the old wooden planks and replace them with new ones, or
c) sand the old planks, level them with a suitable (!) leveling compound, and install a vapor-permeable floor covering.
--------------------------------------------
Anything else will more likely cause serious structural damage sooner rather than later.
Best regards and good luck,
KlaRa (professional)
bauenmk202012 May 2020 21:46@KlaRa
What about using a "standard" screed under click vinyl flooring? Do you also need to be concerned about moisture in the subfloor?
What about using a "standard" screed under click vinyl flooring? Do you also need to be concerned about moisture in the subfloor?
@ "bauenMK":
If we assume a floating screed installed on an insulation layer and refer to a so-called "click system," at least a PE foil should be installed as a separating layer, even with a heterogeneous structure.
PVC itself is moisture-resistant and waterproof. If it is not glued to the substrate, we would not need an intermediate layer because of moisture, but I would still recommend it as a sliding or separating layer.
Best regards, KlaRa
If we assume a floating screed installed on an insulation layer and refer to a so-called "click system," at least a PE foil should be installed as a separating layer, even with a heterogeneous structure.
PVC itself is moisture-resistant and waterproof. If it is not glued to the substrate, we would not need an intermediate layer because of moisture, but I would still recommend it as a sliding or separating layer.
Best regards, KlaRa
We are building a mid-terrace house from a developer. Throughout the entire house (basement, ground floor, upper floor, and attic), a floating screed consisting of thermal insulation, a separating layer, and cement screed will be installed. Construction will start soon, and after handover, we will carry out the flooring work ourselves. We also plan to install click vinyl flooring on top of the screed.
The purchase contract/building specification states that “leveling the screed with suitable leveling materials and filler compounds is not part of the flooring work. The standard construction height of approximately 10mm (0.4 inches) must be observed.”
What does this specifically mean for the following future scenario? If there is, for example, a 2cm (0.8 inches) difference in height between or within the individual rooms at the end, do we have to accept that? Is this not taken into account during the screed installation?
Regardless, we want a building inspector to supervise the new build. Could they also put more pressure on defect resolution in this context? We would prefer to avoid additional leveling work on the screed...
The purchase contract/building specification states that “leveling the screed with suitable leveling materials and filler compounds is not part of the flooring work. The standard construction height of approximately 10mm (0.4 inches) must be observed.”
What does this specifically mean for the following future scenario? If there is, for example, a 2cm (0.8 inches) difference in height between or within the individual rooms at the end, do we have to accept that? Is this not taken into account during the screed installation?
Regardless, we want a building inspector to supervise the new build. Could they also put more pressure on defect resolution in this context? We would prefer to avoid additional leveling work on the screed...
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