Can I Glue Down Laminate in a Basement?

Laminate Flooring

• Laminated flooring materials, including engineered hardwoods and vinyl are good choices for basement flooring materials. They are resilient materials that are impervious to moisture, which is a common concern about installing laminated flooring in basements. Most basements have a pre-existing concrete subfloor, which is a good subfloor for laminates because of the even surface. You can also opt to install a float pad material on top of concrete and glue the laminate directly onto the float material. Pay attention to the manufacturer’s recommendations when shopping to confirm that the flooring material can be laid with glue.

Glue-On Laminate Flooring Choices

• There are two basic styles of glue-on laminate flooring -- manual glue-on and pre-glued flooring. Manual glue-on laminate flooring requires use of specially formulated glues based on manufacturer recommendations for the vinyl or engineered flooring you're installing. The glue is applied to the tongue and groove areas of the planks, versus the subfloor material. The glues are so strong that once they are applied it is virtually impossible to separate the planks or strips. As a result, the glue lasts for a long time. Pre-glued laminated vinyl and parquet have glue already applied to the back. On pre-glued engineered hardwood flooring, the glue is pre-applied by the manufacturer to the tongue and grove edges, as the name implies. You can use a rubber mallet or wood tapping block to secure the strips or planks once you position them to form a good connection and bond.

Subfloors

• While concrete is a good subfloor material for gluing laminated flooring, it can also be installed on other types of subflooring. Plywood and oriented strand board are good choices if you plan to install floating floorboards with an moisture barrier underlayment to get that cushioning feel when you walk on the laminate flooring. You can also lay it down directly on top of pre-existing vinyl flooring for a similar effect, or on top of ceramic tile if you want a more “hardy” feel under foot.

Gluing Benefits

• Gluing is a good technique to use when installing laminating flooring because it reduces the possibility that planks or strips will shift later on. You can even use glue on lock and fold style-laminating flooring to reinforce the connection between strips and further reduce the potential for strips and long boards to shift down the road. Gluing is also good for laminates because unlike genuine hardwoods, laminates don’t contract or expand. Therefore, the glue does not detach during humid weather or as the weather and temperatures change from hot to cold.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Gluing laminate engineered flooring keeps the flooring firmly in place. It also serves as a sealant in between the strips and planks to prevent moisture, dirt and dust from seeping through the flooring. However, you must be very careful when you apply the glue and do it conservatively. Avoid getting the glue too close to the top edge, because if it gets on the top surface it is difficult to wipe and remove.