[suevwbug]

4 room cinderblock house with interior cinderblock walls and concrete floors in NC. concrete slab floors are built directly on ground.
i pulled up the carpet and would like laminate plank floors due to allergies BUT concerned about moisture being an issue.
this will also be a rental eventually so may be unoccupied some months with no controlled temperature during that time.
what are your thoughts on laminate in this situation?
thanks bunches!!!

 

[rusty baker]

First thing to do is a moisture test.

 

[suevwbug]

hey rusty!
thanks for mighty quick response.
how do i perform a moisture test myself?
thanks!

 

[rusty baker]

Not the most accurate, but you can tape down a 3' square piece of plastic sheeting, like you would put over a window to keep out the cold, let it stay for a few days and see how much moisture gathers under it.

 

[suevwbug]

will try that this week and let you know what results are.
if i see any drops does that indicate moisture, or is a drop or two here & there normal? guess i better just do the test and see what i see...
i'll report back before end of week to let you know how it goes.
thanks!

 

[suevwbug]

no moisture from the plastic i taped down in all 4 rooms.
what do you recommend me putting down between the concrete and the laminate?
i know i have to acclimate the laminate in the house at least 48 hours before installing it, but will it matter that 6 months or a year from now if the house is empty for months at a time with no temperature control - i am just afraid under those circumstances it may buckle.
thanks again for your time!

 

[suevwbug]

?laminate or allure vinyl plank flooring?

?laminate or allure vinyl plank flooring?
4 room cinderblock house with interior cinderblock walls and concrete floors in NC. concrete slab floors are built directly on ground.
moisture test turned out fine - did my own plastic taped down test & had moisture test done by home depot.
this will also be a rental eventually so may be unoccupied some months with no controlled temperature during that time.
now the big question - laminate or allure vinyl plank flooring???
i've read horror stories in this forum about the allure plank on concrete, but then again isn't there a possibility of laminate buckling. the money isn't an issue i just don't want what i do put down to cause me headaches or more money down the road...
thanks for any recommendations!!!