Tried a new underlayment for a big glue-down job and the difference was huge

I had this 1,200 square foot vinyl plank glue-down in a condo building last month, and the specs called for a 6 mil vapor barrier. I've always just used the basic plastic sheeting you roll out (you know, the stuff that tears if you look at it wrong). This time, the supplier was out and gave me this thicker, fiber-reinforced stuff instead. It cost about 15 cents more per square foot, which I grumbled about. But man, laying it down was a different world. No more fighting with it tearing every time my knee hit it, and it stayed perfectly flat without a million pieces of tape. The real win came during the glue spread. The reinforced layer didn't get soggy or wrinkle up from the moisture, so the planks went down super smooth with no telegraphing. Has anyone else made a switch like that and been surprised by how much easier it made the install?

3 comments

3 Comments

skylercooper2mo agoProlific Poster

Totally get what you mean about it not getting soggy from the glue. I used that basic stuff once and it puckered up so bad we had to pull a whole section up. That thicker stuff is a game changer, right?

martinez.anna2mo ago

Which brand of thicker glue did you end up using?

miam111mo ago

3M's tacky glue in the pink bottle is what saved my project last month. The regular stuff made my paper curl up like crazy around the edges, but that thicker formula stayed flat and smooth even overnight. Did you try the one from ArtMinds or the Aleene's tacky glue? I'm wondering if the extra thick version holds up better on heavier cardstock or if it's just a gimmick.