Vinyl Plank Flooring on Carpet padding?

Question

Has any of you heard of putting Vinyl Plank Flooring on top of the carpet padding?

One of the contractors I was speaking with about replacing carpet asked me if I wanted to have the flooring installed on top of the carpet pad. I thought it strange, but he said that he worked on an apartment complex and they did just that on about 10 units. Said it made it soft to step on.

Strange, or something that people prefer?

Jeff C. · Answer

I'll take "signs that you need a new contractor" for $500, Alex!

Alex Craig · Answer

Maybe your contractor is talking about laminate flooring as that type of flooring does require a underlayment for the floor to float.  Laminate hardwood and vinyl plank can look similar, but they are completely different.

On a different topic, I find tenants like carpet more in the bedrooms, which is less expensive too.  In theory, since most bedrooms have furniture taking up space in the bedroom, the carpet will last longer then carpet installed in high traffic areas.  Vinyl plank should always be installed in high traffic!!!

Kent Nielson · Answer

Don't do it lol. Unless it's full on tongue and groove flooring, it will fall to pieces. I'd like to see the other floor the contractor did after a few months. Actually, I wouldn't even do tongue and groove over it now that I think about it. He's crazy.

As far as the vapor barrier @Jason D. mentioned...if it's over wood and there isn't any living space below it you probably don't need it. Sometimes it can help level out any indifferences and seams. A lot of the flooring has a little padding on it anyway. If there is living space below I would use it. If it's concrete slab, definitely use it. Not just for the vapor barrier, but the flooring will be much colder on the feet. I put some down in the main floor of my house and ran out with a little 3x5 half bath to go. I was too lazy/cheap to get some more so I installed it anyway. That section of floor is FREEZING compared to the rest. Good luck friend!

Jason D. · Answer

@Alf Holst strange... carpet padding is far too thick and the planks (if they're click type) will separate when walked on for any period of time. I prefer no padding under vinyl plank flooring, but some people will put a very think pad/vapor barrier underneath

Ned J. · Answer

The guy is a moron..... the 10 units he just did will be redone within 2-3 years, guaranteed. Carpet padding is too thick and spongey and will allow the piece too much movement and they will eventually start to fail due to the stress on the joints.

I used the HD Lifeproof LVT and the instructions specifically state NO UNDERLAYMENT.....at all. I was doing an upstairs and thought about adding some underlayment for extra sound deadening, but didn't after I read that statement on their instructions

Alf Holst · Answer

Thanks for the advise. I did find it unusual. He may have been mixing up LVT with Laminate flooring when speaking with me about the bid to do the flooring.

I have decided to continue the renovations, and decided to get a quote from a flooring company that I am buying the vinyl planks from.

Keith Lewis · Answer

ABSOLUTELY POSTIVELY NOT. As a rep for LVT products  for over 30 years I'm telling you that one it voids the warranty to use carpet padding under it; two any pad put under a click lock floor MUST have an ULTRA high denisity and be very then, nothing of which you are going to find in the realm of carpet padding. You want to pay for a pad under the product? Then realize that it only makes sense and is probably required by ordinance to be done under product installed on second story and higher living areas for sound proofing NOT to make it soft to walk on. It may be required if the living area on the main level is over basement apartments as well. Omnichoice by Healthier Choice would be my only choice because it has a 70+ sound rating and is a closed cell urethane which is moisture resistant.

It sounds like this installer has installed Laminate flooring which is not the same as LVT. A very dense and thin carpet pad MIGHT work with that but I would check the installation instructions and warranty before doing so.

Alex Craig · Answer

Let me jump in here and clarify my comments. Not all painters and carpet installers are stoners--just an observation that over my 12 year career of doing this, I have found these 2 traders to rank 1 and 2 though.

Matt M. · Answer

@Alf Holst

Absolutely not, and your contractor is just plain lazy and stupid.

Jason Ensign · Answer

Don't let them do it! I had a place once that I had this same thing done prior to me getting it. The floor felt really spongy under your feet. The previous owner said the contractor convinced them it would be okay because it was a floating floor. Needless to say, it totally fell apart over the course of two year. This is purely a contractor being lazy.

Vinyl Plank Flooring on Carpet padding?

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