Before you decide on the flooring you'll want to do a moisture test. Vinyl floor will not allow any water vapor to escape the slab, so as moisture wicks up through the slab it will become wet below the vinyl. This can lead to mold issues and a breakdown of glues and patching compounds. There are plenty of effective ways to deal with a moisture in a slab, but without a test you won't know which to choose.

Now to the question of leveling the concrete, first step is to map out the slab to determine high and low spots. The easiest way to do this is to set up a rotating laser in the middle of the room, be sure it's sitting level and turn it on projecting a level line around the room (the height you set it at doesn't matter). Next take a straight stick, pole, broom handle, whatever as long as its straight, set it next to the laser and place a mark on it where the laser hits it. Then make your way around the room taking note where the laser is hitting the stick in relation to the first mark. Plot several points around the room (the more the better). Marks above the control line means the floor is low, below means high.

High spot are best ground down, low spots are best filled. Most jobs I've done require both grinding and filling. If you find more low spots than high the more leveler you need, more high then low the less you need. Remember to respect all control and expansion joints, and follow the manufacturer's instructions to the tee to insure a proper job.

Answer from user81381 on Stack Exchange
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Lowe's
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thespruce.com › how-to-lay-vinyl-sheet-flooring-5081253
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The Flooring Guys
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ARC Flooring Toronto
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January 30, 2025 - The flooring associate at The Home Depot Canada suggested using vapour barrier with tuck tape to seal the concrete. Done- we had both on hand. The rest of this post is about installing the vinyl plank over concrete.
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TITAN FLOORING INC.
titanfloors.ca › how-to-install-vinyl-flooring-on-concrete
How to Install Vinyl Flooring on Concrete
January 6, 2025 - Start by measuring your room’s ... on each side 📏. Roll out the vapor barrier across your clean, dry concrete floor, making sure to overlap the seams by at least 6 inches for complete coverage....
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Mr. Handyman
mrhandyman.com › home › blog › how to install sheet vinyl floor
How to Install a Sheet Vinyl Floor | Mr. Handyman
Install sheet vinyl flooring yourself with this guide from Mr. Handyman, including materials you need, how to prep the floor, and the step-by-step process.
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Better Homes & Gardens
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June 7, 2025 - Once you cut it to size and put it in place, it's installed. You can also roll it up and move it—something you might want to do if the washing machine overflows, for example. Consider loose-lay vinyl flooring on concrete which is a material ...
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thewcsupply.com › home › learning center › how to install vinyl plank flooring on concrete
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/flooring › installing vinyl on concrete in residential basement
r/Flooring on Reddit: Installing vinyl on concrete in residential basement
January 8, 2021 -

The back half of our basement is partially underground. When we had the house inspected, our inspector told us it was one of the dryest basements he had seen in a while, yet despite this, the old bag test (placing a grocery bag in the back) did have very small traces of moisture in it if you looked closely.

At the hardware store they told us vinyl with underlayment attached would be good enough but do I need to also buy a vapor barrier? Is that overkill?

We bought a small dehumidifier as well for the back area where it's wetter so hopefully that helps.

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YouTube
youtube.com › watch
DIY Quick and Easy Vinyl Sheet Install - YouTube
Are you thinking of buying easy DIY flooring and wondering, “Is sheet vinyl easy to install?” The answer is, yes! And you’ve come to the right place because ...
Published   April 21, 2020
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nielsenbrosflooring.com › blog › articles › a-step-by-step-guide-on-how-to-install-sheet-vinyl-flooring
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April 25, 2024 - Here's what you'll need: ... Ensure ... and remove any existing flooring if necessary. If the subfloor is concrete, make sure it's fully cured and dry....
Address   6812 196th St SW, 98036, Lynnwood
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Twenty & Oak
twentyandoak.com › TwentyOak › media › Documentation › AHF-Contract-Sheet-Vinyl-Installation.pdf pdf
COMMERCIAL SHEET VINYL INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
AHF floor coverings and adhesives do NOT contain asbestos. ... Use the recommended adhesive found in the chart above and follow the manufacturer’s instruction for the adhesive ... It is necessary to smooth out the adhesive trowel ridges using a 3/16˝ (4.8 mm) nap paint roller. ... Tape measure, chalk line, utility knife, pencil, straight edge, vacuum or broom, heat welding equipment, recess scriber; ... • Sheet vinyl should not be exposed to direct sunlight for prolonged periods.
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honeybuilthome.com › blog › how to install luxury vinyl flooring on concrete
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January 10, 2025 - If you are laying NuCore Performance ... luxury vinyl does require underlayment (check the packaging before purchasing). Prepare your concrete floor....
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baylandflooring.com › blog › articles › can-sheet-vinyl-flooring-be-installed-over-concrete
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August 27, 2021 - You can install vinyl sheet flooring over various subflooring or existing flooring, including concrete. However, some specific requirements make the process easier, and in today's post, we will share a few of them now, so read along with us. Vinyl flooring can be installed over a variety of subfloor materials The subfloor or existing floor covering you install your flooring materials over matters.
Address   2560, 54229, Scott Tower Drive New Franken
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DIY Home Improvement
diychatroom.com › home › forums › home improvement › flooring
What to put between basement concrete slab and sheet vinyl? | DIY Home Improvement Forum
Sometimes adding padding or the wrong padding will void a warranty and the flooring may not lay correctly. I'd dry lay it and secure the perimeter. ... We use to just glue the sheet vinyl down to the concrete with the mastic.
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FlooringStores
flooringstores.com › home › how to install vinyl plank flooring on concrete
Installing Vinyl Plank Flooring on Concrete: Complete Guide
June 13, 2024 - If your concrete floor has more ups and downs than a roller coaster, you’ll want to use a self-leveling compound. It’s like magic—pour it on, and it finds its way to the low spots, drying out to give you a nice, even surface. Don’t skip this step if your floor’s uneven; vinyl planks need a flat surface to avoid future problems.
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Aa Floors
aafloors.ca › home › blog › 6 tips to install sheet vinyl flooring like a pro
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September 19, 2021 - Let the professionals handle it If you don’t know how to install plywood underlayment. ... Before you install your vinyl sheet, make sure the subfloor is levelled perfectly and is free of gaps, gouges, or seams.