Unpopular opinion: glue-down LVP isn't always better than floating click-lock in basements

I laid glue-down planks in my basement in Akron last spring and three months later a corner popped up near the sump pump where moisture sneaks in. Floating click-lock would have let me replace a single plank instead of scraping adhesive off the whole slab, so which method holds up better over time for you?

3 comments

3 Comments

henryr453d ago

Man I don't know if that's really worth stressing over. One corner popped up near a sump pump where you know moisture is an issue. That's kind of an edge case. Most of the slab stays dry and flat unless you've got real drainage problems. Floating floors can buckle too if the subfloor isn't dead level. I've seen click-lock joints snap from uneven concrete. Both systems have their headaches.

ryan_hart383d ago

Took me a while to figure that out too. Had a buddy who laid floating floor in his basement, looked great for six months, then the seams started separating near the bathroom. Turns out the concrete wasn't perfectly flat, just had a slight dip. The click-lock joints couldn't handle that little bit of movement. Glue-down on a properly prepped slab just sits there and takes whatever moisture comes its way, at least in my experience. Your mileage may vary but I'd rather deal with a popped corner than a whole floor that starts shifting apart.

drews553d ago

Huh, that "seams separating near the bathroom" thing @ryan_hart38 mentioned makes me wonder - was the concrete actually tested for moisture before that floor went down? Or was it just a "looks dry" kinda deal.