Is Underlayment Needed For Laminate Flooring

Why laminate flooring needs underlayment.

Is underlayment needed for laminate flooring.

This is basically a supplementary pad installed right below the laminate flooring. It is rolled out between the actual laminate flooring planks and the subfloor very often particularly in a below grade installation on a concrete basement floor a vapor barrier is recommended in addition to the underlayment. But the hard laminate material doesn t lie directly onto that surface. The underlayment is installed as a cushion and sound barrier between the sub floor and laminate flooring.

General idea on laminate underlayment. It needs a layer of underlay or underlayment to cushion the laminate planks and ensure a comfortable durable finished floor. Underlayment for laminate flooring is a must since laminate is a floating floor it must be evenly distributed across your subfloor. Underlayment is what allows the floor to float gives it stability support noise reduction and supports the locking systems in between planks to assure the sturdiest flooring project.

That vapor barrier would go between the subfloor and the underlayment. If you re installing laminate or engineered flooring that snaps together and floats over the subfloor without nails you need underlayment even more. The laminate planks need to be smooth and connect better. 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.

Besides all the other benefits underlay helps support a floating floor. And all of these are possible with laminate underlayment. Laminate flooring is designed for quick and easy installation over almost any flat smooth floor surface. Without this support the boards can buckle when you walk on them and the seams may separate.

Laminate flooring is installed using a free float method where the flooring is not mounted to the sub floor. The subfloor is wood and it s above a concrete basement the man where we bought the laminate said we needed a underlayment but the flooring already has it we put laminate in our hallway an 2 bedrooms about 9 years ago and never used extra underpayment. It could be availed in a distinct roll of polyethylene. The flooring is actually on top of the sub floor without the use of nails or fasteners.

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. 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 is thin and is constructed of a type of fiberboard rather than solid hardwood or even plywood as with engineered wood flooring.