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Rant: Homeowner insisted on vinyl plank over cracked concrete
Got a job laying luxury vinyl plank. The concrete slab has hairline cracks all over. Should I use a self-leveler or just roll with it?
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sanchez.sean5mo ago
Look at it from the homeowner's side though. They picked vinyl plank for a reason, probably cost and easy install. Pouring self-leveler adds a whole extra step, extra cost, and extra drying time. If those cracks are truly hairline, the underlayment is designed to handle that. I mean, you could be fixing a problem that might never even show up.
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olivia_anderson7mo ago
Why even bother with self-leveler for hairline cracks? Modern vinyl plank is crazy flexible and those underlayment pads hide minor imperfections. The cracks would have to be really deep or uneven to telegraph through. A good 6mm vapor barrier will bridge most of it anyway.
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lucas2067mo ago
Actually, hairline cracks can get worse over time even with flexible vinyl. Small shifts in the floor can make imperfections show through later. It's worth using self-leveler to avoid future issues.
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