Do I Need Floor Underlayment

Laminate flooring is designed for quick and easy installation over almost any flat smooth floor surface.

Do i need floor underlayment.

So an additional underlay is not really compulsory. 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. Do i need underlayment for laminate flooring over vinyl.

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. Tip felt underlayment can be as much as twice as expensive as foam underlayment but it provides better sound absorption. 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.

The easiest way to figure out if you need underlayment for your new vinyl plank flooring is to look at your current floor. Laminate flooring with attached underlayment. Laminate is a wood product and will expand according to the climate of the room. Its purpose is to provide a smooth flat surface for the floor covering.

But the hard laminate material doesn t lie directly onto that surface. 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. An underlayment is a necessity for any wood floor installation even on a plywood subfloor.

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. Today you can find many laminate floors that have been manufactured with underlayment padding built into the underside of the material. Virtually every type of flooring except for some types of vinyl requires an underlayment and its purpose varies with the flooring material. The warranty may require it.

There s a base layer in most cases when using the vinyl floor. Laminate flooring is installed using a free float method where the flooring is not mounted to the sub floor. It needs a layer of underlay or underlayment to cushion the laminate planks and ensure a comfortable durable finished floor. 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.

And it is enough to serve the purpose of an underlay.