Laminate moister barrier/ pad question.

Hello, So I'm installing some laminate flooring over about 450sqf of concrete.

MP Global Best 400 in. x 36 in. x 1/8 in. Acoustical Recycled Fiber Underlayment with Film for Laminate Wood-QW100N1HD - The Home Depot

I bought this pad, thought it would make the flooring a little nicer to walk on. The bag says it can be used over concrete and to make sure that the vapor barrier is faced up. Will the underneath felt part hold moisture itself? That is what I'm worried about.

 

Not a pro in this subject but do the installation directions for the laminate say something like this is ok in the first place? Laminate tends not to work well on soft surfaces like a pad.

 

I would read the mill's directions. Is this going above grade? Laminate is not to be used in a basement.

 

That pad says it is for "laminate wood". Laminate is not wood, laminate is a picture of wood on a particle board or MDF backing.

 

It is just to be used in the living room and dining room area. The directions don't specify that I can or can't use a pad with a moisture barrier. The pad specifically says it can be used with laminate, the little bit of flooring I laid over it feels great, I'm just worried about moisture building up in the pad itself, seams like there should be a moisture barrier on both sides. I didn't want to just lay a vapor because I felt like it would feel off, like hollow.

 

There is a difference between laminate and laminate wood?

 

There is no such thing as laminate wood. It's just a term an advertising writer invented. Laminate is a picture of wood on plastic with either a particle board or MDF core. You would be better off with engineered. It is a thin layer of real wood on a plywood core. It can even be sanded and refinished once.
And yes, moisture could gather under the pad and grow mold. When you put plastic over concrete, if it gets any moisture it can't dissipate through the surface. A concrete slab floor should have a moisture barrier under the slab as required by code in most places. But it doesn't always happen.

 

I am familiar with laminate and engineered floors, I worked for a water/fire restoration company for about 5 years, I have ripped out an uncountable amount of floors. When it comes to putting stuff together, I'm a little lost. Would I be better off just using a vapor barrier? It would be cheaper that's for sure. I didn't think this thin of a pad would cause an issue, just thought it would make it feel more natural. I do know that concrete has moisture content and that is why I'm worried about the felt touching the concrete, don't want mold down the road.

 

anybody? Will this underlayment work over concrete without any problems?

 

How subject is your floor to moisture? You didn't answer if this was below grade or not. Have you done a moisture test on the concrete?

 

Looks like your underlayment is mostly for sound deadening on wood subfloors. As a foot note it says that it can be used over concrete. However, not all concrete is subject to moisture issues such as a slab on grade or basement situation. If it were my decision, I would not use this particular underlayment in the situation you have described. I would revert to a more traditional 3 in 1 underlayment that also is a vapor barrier.

 

It is not below grade, I live in north county San Diego but I have not tested the moisture content yet.