On Sat, 21 May 2005 13:03:25 GMT, Joe T wrote:

I'm about to replace a carpet (laid on concrete) with laminate flooring.

Instructions mention using an underlay with a vapour barrier. However, don't
concrete floors in houses already have a damp proof membrane incorporated?

Is the vapour barrier only required in a new house where the concrete has not
yet fully dried out? Or is there some other dampness factor I am missing?

I strongly suspect it's not necessary. I've just finished doing some,
using the combifloor with the built-in vapour barrier (and the rather
nifty arrangement for fastening the edges together). It didn't add
much to the overall cost of the project, but I did wonder - as you are
doing - that if my carpet never got soggy, mouldy or smelly, there
really is a need for it.
--
On-line canal route planner: http://www.canalplan.org.uk

(Waterways World site of the month, April 2001)