Do I need primer for LVT on a new concrete floor?
People installing luxury vinyl tile on new cement often guess if the slab is dry based on warm weather or basic humidity readings instead of using a proper moisture meter. This prevents them from knowing if a primer is actually required and which specific prep products they need to buy.
Core Friction Pattern
Analysis of 2 peer accounts across online developer and community forums reveals that “Do I need primer for LVT on a new concrete floor?” repeatedly surfaces due to edge-case mismatches between standard defaults and real-world environments. Standard troubleshooting frequently falls short, compelling practitioners to develop custom workarounds.
+5 alternative community-tested workarounds cataloged below.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- People have been saying this in most months since September 2026.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
Do I need primer for LVT on a new concrete floor?
- 1Checking subfloor humidity with cheap or professional moisture metersDid this help you?
- 2Asking local flooring shops or contractors to perform professional moisture readingsDid this help you?
- 3Using a 6 mil plastic vapor barrier over concrete subfloorsDid this help you?
- 4Testing a loose plank over the uneven spot to check for flex or squeaking.Did this help you?
- 5Using a longer 10-foot straight edge to verify if deviations exceed standard warranty limits.Did this help you?
- 6Documenting concerns via email with the contractor to protect against future warranty disputes.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Hi, we’re going to move soon in our newbuild and we’ll install the LVT ourselves, it’s Amtico Click Smart. But we are not sure if we should use a primer or not, what ardex products to buy. We first checked the humidity and it’s around 70%.”source ↗
“Hello. Thanks, unfortunately we didn’t had too much time to buy a better moisture meter. The floor is cement, not wood. The house has been built this year, and in the UK has been loads of warm weather, so I think the cement should be dry. Just not sure what products to use.”source ↗
“On a 4-foot level/straight edge, there is a peak where it dips about 1/8" over a 20-inch span near a staircase.”source ↗
“Is a 1/8" variation over 20" acceptable within standard residential tolerances for 12mm floating laminate, or is this something that needs further leveling?”source ↗
“Thanks for your advice. So it would be worth that I bring this to my contractor for a correction?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 3Can I insulate and finish basement walls if they get damp?
- 2Do I need a waterproof membrane under tile or a toilet flange?
- 6Do I need a moisture barrier under basement LVP flooring?
- 3Should I use asphalt kraft paper under wood floors?
- 4Do I need underlayment for luxury vinyl plank flooring?
- 10Where to start laying flooring in a room with irregular walls