PSA: I quit laying plastic on every concrete slab

For a long time, I did what everyone else did and put down a plastic sheet before flooring on concrete. The common advice is to always use a moisture barrier. But I started skipping it when the concrete was fully cured and passed a moisture test. At first, I was worried about problems, but after many jobs, I haven't had any issues. The flooring sits better without that extra layer, and it cuts down on material costs. My clients don't see a difference, but I notice less movement in the planks over time. Maybe it's just me, but I think we use plastic too much. Now I only use it if the test says to, and it's working well.

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3 Comments

phoenixpalmer7mo ago

See, I used to be so strict about always using that plastic layer, no questions asked. Your post actually makes a lot of sense, because I've seen jobs where the adhesive just couldn't grab right with the barrier in place. If the concrete is bone dry and tested, skipping it probably is the smarter move. I'm going to be a lot more picky about using it from now on.

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coler897mo ago

But how much are we really overthinking this. Concrete specs have been around forever for a reason. Is a little seasonal moisture actually going to wreck a modern adhesive.

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avery3057mo ago

That "bone dry and tested" part worries me though. Concrete can test fine one day and pull moisture from the ground the next when the weather changes. I've seen planks cup and adhesive fail a year later on a slab everyone swore was dry. Maybe you get lucky, but skipping the barrier feels like a big risk for a pretty small saving...

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