Ask Tom & Leslie

Vapor Barrier For Carpet?

Hi  Guys,
Great show!   The carpet in my family room is a few years old now and it needs replacement. The problem here is that this carpet was installed directly over the concrete floor in the family room and I would like to change that.  I am planning to remove the carpet install some  1/2 inch  plywood and then install the new carpet over the plywood.
My question is: What is the best vapor barrier to install under the plywood, or what is the best material available to install under this plywood for our cold climate here in Ontario, Canada?
Dino Candelori

Dino,
There is no reason to install plywood over your concrete.  Carpet is designed to go right on top of concrete.  We would, however, recommend that you install the best quality foam padding you can afford.  This will help insulate the surface and provide a degree of vapor barrier as well.

Thanks for listening,
Tom & Leslie

Print Version

Search Related Topics: Flooring...