Does Laminate flooring laid over an existing cork floor need a plastic liner?

Question

I have an existing cork floor on a concrete slab i want to lay laminate on top of. Is a plastic water protective liner between them still necessary? Surely the polyurethane coating on the cork tiles will prevent any moisture affecting the laminate.

Answer 1

The cork flooring should serve the same purpose as a plastic liner would... I checked into laminate flooring before and they told me that any type without the attached cork bottom would need a plastic liner installed.  So I'd assume that cork would do the same thing since it would also absorb sound and be resilient :)

Answer 2

The cork tiles will act as an insulation barrier, I don't think that you had moisture coming through the cork tiles, so the laminate flooring will be fine on top of it .

Answer 3

The cork flooring will not act as a vapor barrier. Hopefully there was installed a vapor barrier before the cork floor was installed. If not it is like a can of worms. Check to see if there is a plastic vapor barrier under the cork flooring and if not you may have to remove the cork to properly lay the laminate. It is really important to follow the proper guidelines for the installation of laminates over a concrete slab. The molds and mildews that can result may affect your health as well as expensive remediation in the end.

Answer 4

  The "plastic" you refer to isn t for moisture in particular although it helps.. It made for the laminate to properly float, move and expand and contract so yes you need it..