Do I Need Floor Underlayment

If you re planning to install new flooring it s important to give some thought to the underlayment an intermediate surface lying between the structural subfloor and the surface flooring.

Do i need floor underlayment.

Laminate flooring is installed using a free float method where the flooring is not mounted to the sub floor. So an additional underlay is not really compulsory. Laminate is a wood product and will expand according to the climate of the room. There s a base layer in most cases when using the vinyl floor.

With these materials you do not need to purchase and install a separate foam padding underlayment. This is the finished visible flooring surface such as hardwood planks carpeting ceramic tile or vinyl. One of the most common laminate flooring questions is do i need laminate flooring underlayment laminate flooring underlayment is essential for installation as it allows to laminate flooring to expand and contract properly on top of the subfloor. This is the layer that you see and walk on.

The warranty may require it. You do not need foam padding under solid hardwood for many reasons but one reason is that hardwood is so dense that it limits the transmission of sound both within the room and to floors below. Do i need underlayment for laminate flooring over vinyl. Laminate flooring is designed for quick and easy installation over almost any flat smooth floor surface.

And it is enough to serve the purpose of an underlay. Due to the vinyl flooring design it s usually not necessary for an underlay. Just under the visible floor covering is a layer of some kind of material usually only about 1 4 or 1 2 inch thick. It needs a layer of underlay or underlayment to cushion the laminate planks and ensure a comfortable durable finished floor.

Its purpose is to provide a smooth flat surface for the floor covering. The underlayment is installed as a cushion and sound barrier between the sub floor and laminate flooring. Laminate flooring with attached underlayment. If you re laying the lvp over an existing cushion backed vinyl floor or a below grade tile floor then you won t need to use an underlayment.

The flooring is actually on top of the sub floor without the use of nails or fasteners. An underlayment is a necessity for any wood floor installation even on a plywood subfloor. But the hard laminate material doesn t lie directly onto that surface. Tip felt underlayment can be as much as twice as expensive as foam underlayment but it provides better sound absorption.

The easiest way to figure out if you need underlayment for your new vinyl plank flooring is to look at your current floor.