I am planning to install engineer wood floor over concrete in Corona, California without the moisture barrier. Anyone here done the same with no problem? thanks.
i live in va an i do not have one under my floor an it has been down four years now. it still looks new.
i would seal the concrete and then install.......check ur warranty it probably says u void the warranty with no barrier..... lic. gen. contractor
I wouldn't take the chance. Why would you risk it? Wood, especially engineered wood, is NoT impervious to moisture. And any moisture can/likely will cause some kind of damage. I would consider the cost of the flooring, versus the cost of the moisture barrier. And the moisture barrier isn't any big deal to install, is it? Like the other guy mentioned, what does your warranty say? To me, it's not so much an issue of losing the warranty, as it is an issue of knowing what the manufacturer recommends. They made/engineered the stuff; they ought to know its limitations.
Many of the wood flooring adhesives for concrete have a built in moisture resistance. Of course you should always use the adhesive recommended by the manufacture of the wood that you are installing. Or as was mentioned you can float the wood flooring. UA wood is a great floor for that, because it is single planks and looks like a standard floor once it is installed and you can install a plastic barrier very easily. We have sold many of these floors in CA with no call backs.
you can do it after you check the evapo tranmission rate of the floor (calcium chloride test) then when it comes back OK get a moisture reading making sure it is within spec. document them if found within spec then proceed to install as per instructions. you know that mohawk and others make a sealer that you can roll on and install within a couple of days, they are worth looking into. you can also go with deco-rez or duck seal by anderson. a couple of extra bucks and you can live worry-free.. by the way can also go with a floating engineered floor and install the polyurethane film as a barrier and if moisture hits, you only replace a small section.. just a thought.
