Getting hardwood flooring installed in your home brings an organic, beautiful design into the space. They are easy to maintain and a great option if you suffer from allergies and other respiratory issues. Hardwood flooring is a large investment that you want to make sure is protected. One of the ways to ensure your hardwood flooring is protected is with a moisture barrier. Mike’s Custom Flooring is here to talk about all the different types of moisture barriers and why they are important.
Moisture Vapor Barriers are Important
When you have hardwood flooring in your home, moisture is always a concern. You don’t want standing water anywhere on your hardwood for fear that warping and other damage may happen. Moisture barriers are important because they offer your hardwood protection from water below the surface. They protect your floors from moisture that you aren’t aware of until its too late.
Floating Hardwood Floor Moisture Barrier
Floating floor barriers are ideal for tile and laminate flooring. With tile that resembles wood and other cost effective laminate options, these flooring choices are popular. This barrier is usually made from plastic and is laid down on a cement subfloor prior to the flooring installation. If you have a wooden subfloor, you shouldn’t use it so the wood can breathe.
Nailed Hardwood Floor Underlayment
If you have chosen nailed flooring, you need to consider protection for the subfloor as well as your hardwood flooring. This will require the use of two materials to do so. You will need to use a plastic barrier as well as a barrier made from a special type of felt paper. They are laid underneath the flooring, on top of the subfloor and keep moisture from making its way to the top layer of your hardwood flooring.
Glued Hardwood Floor Moisture Barrier for Over Concrete
For people who live in places that have high humidity and lots of rain, moisture is always a concern. It is especially a problem with floors that are glued to a cement surface. This type of flooring needs the heaviest type of moisture barrier out of all the choices. Usually a heavy duty epoxy or resin is used to seal the cement subfloor and eliminate the problem of moisture accumulation. When using this type of barrier, it is incredibly important that you give the subfloor enough time to dry completely before laying down your glued flooring. It also requires the right tools to get the job done right.
Professional Hardwood Flooring Services in Charles Town & Eastern Panhandle of Berkeley & Jefferson Counties in WV | Winchester & Frederick County | Round Hill & Loudoun County | Fairfax County VA
No matter what type of hardwood flooring you have chosen for your home, you need to have the right moisture barrier installed first. Don’t make the mistake of skipping this crucial step and seeing damage happen when moisture makes its way to your flooring. The professionals at Mike’s Custom Flooring are here to help you select and install the right moisture barrier on your subfloor to offer the right amount of protection needed. With our extensive knowledge in custom flooring, you will find yourself in the right hands. Call us today!
