Hi. I am putting new flooring (Trafficmaster Allure) into my bathroom. I’ve laid down 1/4″ thk lauan underlayment (using ring shanks) before putting the flooring on top. Is it wise to paint the underlayment with Thompson’s waterproof sealer, since this is a bathroom with a tub, toilet, and sink?
I’m concerned that using the sealer will warp/ bubble the underlayment perhaps and not stay flat.
The Allure flooring is a floating type of floor where the pieces are planks 6″ x 36″ with an upward facing adhesive tab on two sides of it. They stick one to the next. The adhesive faces upwards and doesn’t stick to the floor. It is supposed to be waterproof. In the end, after you’ve attached one plank to the next, you end up with essentially a floating floor.
My other concern is that if I have to remove this floor for some reason later, like it isn’t any good or the adhesive tabs are not sticking or whatever, then the waterproofing might interfere with an adhesively applied floor later or even with those self stick tiles I might use down the line. Am I thinking this way too much?
Thanks.
Replies
Waterproof.
Ask for a sample and throw it in a bucket of water. That should answer your question fairly quickly as to the durability of the flooring.
Floating floors around toilets are an issue. They never seem solid enough to prevent the toilet from wiggling. As time passes a little wiggle allows for leaks and you can guess the rest.
Is this stuff cheaper than tile or prefinised hardwoods?
Bruce
I would seal it, but NOT with Thompsons. That is a thinned wax product that oxidizes off rapidly. Good for maybe six months in the weather, but certainly longer under a floor, but still it will go away long before the flooring does.
If this product is installed perfectly, the surface might be waterproof, but in a bathroom, water is likely to find a way in at the edges, especially at the tub area and behind the throne.
Use a sanding sealer or maybe you have some leftover polyurethene or even linseed oil
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Would boiled linseed oil be OK? I happen to have a can of that.
Thanks!
Yes, thin it down with about 20% mineral spirits for penetration.Of the three I mentioned, linseed oil is slowest cure time.
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Thanks. I applied a sanding sealer on the underlayment last night.
Thanks to all
Wouldn't this stuff work? Remembered it from that thread Andy did on the outdoor bar/kitchen.http://www.thegreathardwarestore.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=769176&click=2744
You can get water resistant underlayment. For future reference
Got it thanks to others mentioning that here in BT in other discussions. I'm sealing it for extra protection since it's a bathroom.
Thanks!! Much appreciated for all the advice!
"Am I thinking this way too much?"
yes you are, just put down the Trafficmaster Allure and seal around the tub and you will be fine, trafficmaster allure is a good product for the price and ease of installation and it is waterproof-i have used it many times and i am satisified with the product
Many of todays "floating floors" come with a moisture barrier underlayment that goes down on top of the subfloor.
Have you checked with the manufacturer for such a product?
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