Do I Need Underlaiment On My Lamited Floors

Do i need underlayment for laminate flooring over vinyl.

Do i need underlaiment on my lamited floors. Laminate is a wood product and will expand according to the climate of the room. The underlayment provides many benefits including moisture protection sound and thermal insulation and a cushion to make the floor more comfortable to walk on. It needs a layer of underlay or underlayment to cushion the laminate planks and ensure a comfortable durable finished floor. Laminate flooring is installed using a free float method where the flooring is not mounted to the sub floor.

In laminate flooring installations the underlayment is the thin flexible sheet of resilient material that is installed on top of a subfloor in order to act as a base for the laminate planks or tiles you re installing. 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. The flooring is actually on top of the sub floor without the use of nails or fasteners. And it is enough to serve the purpose of an underlay.

Underlayment does two things that are critical to a successful laminate flooring installation 1. There s a base layer in most cases when using the vinyl floor. So an additional underlay is not really compulsory. But the hard laminate material doesn t lie directly onto that surface.

While the subfloor provides the foundational support for the room the underlayment is what supports the flooring material itself intended to enhance and protect the flooring. An underlayment is a necessity for any wood floor installation even on a plywood subfloor. Laminate flooring underlayment benefits laminate flooring underlayment benefit icons moisture protection. Extra padding poses a risk.

Underlayment delivers superior acoustical performance if your laminate flooring planks already have an underlayment pad attached do not use additional underlayment because doing so will. The warranty may require it. Why do you need to worry about moisture for your flooring. How do i know if i need underlayment.

The easiest way to figure out if you need underlayment for your new vinyl plank flooring is to look at your current floor. Due to the vinyl flooring design it s usually not necessary for an underlay. The underlayment is installed as a cushion and sound barrier between the sub floor and laminate flooring. It s natural to wonder what you should do to maximize your floors longevity when the underlayment comes pre attached.

When this additional padding is combined with the pre installed padding on your laminate flooring it poses a risk and should be avoided. Laminate flooring is designed for quick and easy installation over almost any flat smooth floor surface. 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.