# How to Lay Down Vapor Barrier Flooring
Installing a vapor barrier between a concrete subfloor and hardwood or laminate flooring helps prevent water damage -- resulting from condensation beneath the floorboards. The vapor barrier will keep moisture leeched by the concrete from evaporating and coming into contact with the padding beneath the floorboards, or the bottom of the wood itself. Vapor barrier should never be placed over a wooden subfloor, as it will accelerate moisture damage by locking the vapor in the subfloor region.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- 6-millimeter polyvinyl vapor barrier
- Utility knife
Instructions
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1
Measure the dimensions of the concrete floor you will be covering. If it's a rectangular room, use the length times the width to get your square footage.
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2
Lay out the first piece of 6-millimeter polyvinyl vapor barrier underlayment with a 1-inch overhang at the edges.
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3
Lay down the second piece of vapor barrier. Every piece should overlap the others by a minimum of 8 inches.
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4
Cover the entire floor with the vapor barrier, making sure to keep a 1-inch overhang at each wall.
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5
Cut the edges of the vapor barrier with a utility knife, only after the flooring has been installed. This will prevent it from bunching up underneath the floor -- leaving an exposed bare floor in contact with the new floor.
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