Duralay Timbermate XL, foil which way up?

Newuser0

Hi guys,

I have had my bottom floor in my house laminated recently With Quickstep Laminate. I had ordered the Duralay Timbermate XL underlay which my laminate fitter has put down over concrete floor.

After the job was complete I realised the underlay was put down foil side up, from my understanding and that of Duralay the foil side should be facing down to act as a vapour barrier. I’ve asked my fitter and he’s said he has done 100’s of these - foil side up - and has never had a problem and is happy to write me a guarantee.

my question is, the foil side being up will that cause a problem?

Should I ask him to pull my laminate back up and put the laminate down correctly?

I’ve not yet paid him hence why I’m asking.

thank you everyone 

neilmcl

It's foil side down, I'm not even sure how he could get that wrong considering that this is the way it rolls out. The fitter is talking out of his backside.

See the instructions at the bottom of the page - https://www.interfloor.com/installation-methods/

Newuser0

Thank you Neil, I’ve also checked interfloors advice and it says foil side down.

I think it’s fair for me to ask him to pull it back up and put it back down the right way. 

However, will this damage my laminate?

neilmcl

Newuser0 said:

Thank you Neil, I’ve also checked interfloors advice and it says foil side down.

I think it’s fair for me to ask him to pull it back up and put it back down the right way. 

However, will this damage my laminate?

As he has to do the whole lot then yes this is always a risk that it may if he's not careful, and what's the betting that he won't be now. By the sounds of this I don't think he's going to take this lightly so you may have a bit of a fight on your hands to get him to do the right thing but as you've not paid him yet you do hold all the cards.

Newuser0

neilmcl said:

Newuser0 said:

Thank you Neil, I’ve also checked interfloors advice and it says foil side down.

I think it’s fair for me to ask him to pull it back up and put it back down the right way. 

However, will this damage my laminate?

As he has to do the whole lot then yes this is always a risk that it may if he's not careful, and what's the betting that he won't be now. By the sounds of this I don't think he's going to take this lightly so you may have a bit of a fight on your hands to get him to do the right thing but as you've not paid him yet you do hold all the cards.

Yes I can imagine he definitely won’t take this lightly but luckily I haven’t paid him yet. So either he puts right or I don’t pay him as harsh as that sounds.

i was making sure that I wasn’t being an idiot before I say anything lol 

theonlywayisup

Newuser0 said:

neilmcl said:

Newuser0 said:

Thank you Neil, I’ve also checked interfloors advice and it says foil side down.

I think it’s fair for me to ask him to pull it back up and put it back down the right way. 

However, will this damage my laminate?

As he has to do the whole lot then yes this is always a risk that it may if he's not careful, and what's the betting that he won't be now. By the sounds of this I don't think he's going to take this lightly so you may have a bit of a fight on your hands to get him to do the right thing but as you've not paid him yet you do hold all the cards.

Yes I can imagine he definitely won’t take this lightly but luckily I haven’t paid him yet. So either he puts right or I don’t pay him as harsh as that sounds.

i was making sure that I wasn’t being an idiot before I say anything lol 

Just throwing another scenario in; he leaves you with the job as it is and you have to pay for the laminate to be lifted, suffer the cost of any damages and also the refitting.

Not knowing anything about laminate, is it possible to find out what consequences there are (if any) on fitting the underlay the incorrect way.

Newuser0

theonlywayisup said:

Newuser0 said:

neilmcl said:

Newuser0 said:

Thank you Neil, I’ve also checked interfloors advice and it says foil side down.

I think it’s fair for me to ask him to pull it back up and put it back down the right way. 

However, will this damage my laminate?

As he has to do the whole lot then yes this is always a risk that it may if he's not careful, and what's the betting that he won't be now. By the sounds of this I don't think he's going to take this lightly so you may have a bit of a fight on your hands to get him to do the right thing but as you've not paid him yet you do hold all the cards.

Yes I can imagine he definitely won’t take this lightly but luckily I haven’t paid him yet. So either he puts right or I don’t pay him as harsh as that sounds.

i was making sure that I wasn’t being an idiot before I say anything lol 

Just throwing another scenario in; he leaves you with the job as it is and you have to pay for the laminate to be lifted, suffer the cost of any damages and also the refitting.

Not knowing anything about laminate, is it possible to find out what consequences there are (if any) on fitting the underlay the incorrect way.

That’s the problem, I may cost me more to re do than to pay him but I’d rather have a job done properly so I have peace of mind for the long term. 

I’d like to know the same in terms of potential problems if left upside down. I can imagine the vapour barrier won’t work as it should so if there is any moisture coming up the concrete it’ll cause the foam/rubber part to disintegrate and then in turn damage the laminate?

neilmcl

Newuser0 said:

theonlywayisup said:

Newuser0 said:

neilmcl said:

Newuser0 said:

Thank you Neil, I’ve also checked interfloors advice and it says foil side down.

I think it’s fair for me to ask him to pull it back up and put it back down the right way. 

However, will this damage my laminate?

As he has to do the whole lot then yes this is always a risk that it may if he's not careful, and what's the betting that he won't be now. By the sounds of this I don't think he's going to take this lightly so you may have a bit of a fight on your hands to get him to do the right thing but as you've not paid him yet you do hold all the cards.

Yes I can imagine he definitely won’t take this lightly but luckily I haven’t paid him yet. So either he puts right or I don’t pay him as harsh as that sounds.

i was making sure that I wasn’t being an idiot before I say anything lol 

Just throwing another scenario in; he leaves you with the job as it is and you have to pay for the laminate to be lifted, suffer the cost of any damages and also the refitting.

Not knowing anything about laminate, is it possible to find out what consequences there are (if any) on fitting the underlay the incorrect way.

That’s the problem, I may cost me more to re do than to pay him but I’d rather have a job done properly so I have peace of mind for the long term. 

I’d like to know the same in terms of potential problems if left upside down. I can imagine the vapour barrier won’t work as it should so if there is any moisture coming up the concrete it’ll cause the foam/rubber part to disintegrate and then in turn damage the laminate?

Exactly this. You could just about get away with it if it was on wooden floorboards but not on a concrete base.

EssexExile

Email the manufacturer asking what the consequences are of laying it upside down. It will either put your mind at ease if there are none, or give you a stick to beat the installer with if there are.

neilmcl

You also need to make sure he runs tape along the joints of the underlay where the meet rather than just lay them down loose, I'd guess he probably hasn't done this either.

neilmcl

Another bit of evidence on how to lay the underlay correctly:

https://oakflooringdirect.co.uk/download/Timbermate_Excel_Kraft_180_mm.pdf