What kind of underlayment do i need

Options range from standard padding to noise and moisture reducing options. Pre-Attached Laminate — Some laminate flooring comes with foam underlayment attached. In this circumstance, you do not need additional underlayment. If you are installing over a concrete subfloor, you can add a vapor barrier film. Click-Lock Vinyl — Vinyl flooring does not need flooring underlayment, but it is an option you can add. Engineered Hardwood — Engineered Hardwoods can be floated, glued, stapled or glued.

When installing a floating floor, you will need a foam underlayment. When gluing your engineered flooring, you will need a hardwood adhesive. Hardwood — Hardwood floors are nail or stapled down to the subfloor.

Hardwoods can use an asphalt underlayment, floor muffler or just a vapor barrier. Types of Laminate Underlayment. The basic types of floor underlayments include: Standard Foam Underlayment — This is the most basic type of underlayment available. It is best used on plywood or OSB subfloors where moisture is not a factor. Use this if there are few imperfections to your subfloor.

It is made up of 3mm polyethylene underlayment. The combination includes a standard layer and a moisture barrier. It is ideal for basic installations. With the 3-in-1 vapor underlayment you get protection against moisture, some sound, and minor subfloor leveling. There are many brands and varieties to choose from in this category. Vapor Block Film — This is used to block moisture. It is only suitable for flooring where underlayment is pre-attached, under a vinyl or hardwood floor.

You can also use this in conjunction with another underlayment if you would like. Cork Underlayment — This is a natural, hypoallergenic underlayment that is suitable for WPC vinyl, laminate and click-lock engineered hardwood. It prevents moisture, mold, mildew, offers thermal properties and cushion. How to Choose Laminate Flooring Underlayment.

Type of Subfloor The type of subfloor makes a difference in your flooring underlayment. Plywood: A plywood subfloor will not need as thick or sturdy of underlayment as concrete. You generally will not need to worry about a vapor barrier with this subfloor. Concrete: A concrete subfloor is porous and can hold moisture. It is recommended to use a vapor barrier underlayment with concrete subfloors to prevent any moisture coming up from the subfloor.

Location, location, location If you are installing your floors in a condo or apartment, sound is a big concern. Thermal ratings Your underlayment might also have a thermal rating. Budget Typically, underlayments will be sold by roll or square footage and range in pricing. Buying Your Underlayment. Installation Guides. Aquabar B Underlayment. Installing a vapor barrier over this can cause moisture to become trapped within the material, leading to the growth of mold or warping in the material.

The exception is when laminate flooring is being installed in a high moisture area, such as a bathroom or basement , where a moisture barrier underlayment is a good idea. There are any number of underlayment products to choose from when choosing an underlayment for laminate flooring, and it helps to know the features to look for.

R-value: This refers to the heat conductivity of a given material. The higher the R-value of the underlayment, the less heat will be able to move through it, while the lower the R-value is, the less insulation the underlayment provides.

A high R-value underlayment will make the floor feel warmer underfoot in the winter. Noise reduction: Some types of underlayment can act as a barrier to the transmission of noise. This can be important in certain working environments where silence is necessary, or in bedrooms where peace and quiet are preferred. Laminates can be noisy floors, and a good underlayment will help deaden the sound transmission.

A common mistake is to use carpet padding or another soft, thick underlayment, thinking that this will somehow increase the comfort of walking on a laminate floor. But this will serve only to make the floor flex notably in a manner that can loosen joints. The proper underlayments for laminate flooring are very thin foam layers that slightly cushion the flooring but don't allow noticeable movement underfoot. These products are applied over the subfloor by rolling them out and sealing the seams with adhesive strips, which are sometimes preattached to the underlayment.

Standard foam underlayment: This consists of a thin layer of foam material that acts as a cushion between the subfloor and the laminate flooring. This is the most common form of laminate underlayment, and it is often used in cases when installing laminate flooring over a plywood or OSB subfloor. However, this should not be used in high-moisture areas, as it does not provide any vapor barrier characteristics.

Standard foam underlayment is sold by rolling it out over the subfloor. Combination foam underlayment : As the name suggests, this type of underlayment combines standard foam with a vapor barrier layer that will protect the installation from moisture.

This is the type of underlayment that should be used in moist locations, such as basements and bathrooms. Cork underlayment: This material is used in flooring installations where noise reduction is important. One of the most expensive underlayment choices, cork can sometimes add as much as 50 percent to the cost of laminate flooring installation. Be sure that it is in good shape and level. If it is floating vinyl, you will have to remove it and install over the subfloor.

Second, no, a sound dampening underlayment will not void a laminate warranty. You will need to use an underlayment with laminate, so just shop for one with added sound dampening! Two questions: 1. Can I install laminate flooring, click together, over existing vinyl or must I remove the vinyl and install on the wood subfloor? My condo association requires sound dampening underlayment but I see comments on other sites about how using that for click together laminate will void the warranty.

Is that true? If so, what can I do to fulfill the sound dampening requirements? Hi Jody, yes all of our underlayments can be used with radiant heat. To keep the air flow circulating and the heat moving through to the floors, we do have 2 underlayments that help with that. We have the Kronoswiss and Roberts.

Feel free to give us a call at if you have more questions on your project! The current floor is very level. Is the Blue that you are recommending good for that? Hi Jody, thanks for the question. The biggest issue with an un-level subfloor is that it can compromise joints and the laminate can sink, or feel hollow in places that are not level.

For underlayment, you will want to use a vapor barrier if your concrete sweats. You can find a combination like our Blue or if you want extra features, like sound reduction, you can go with a felt or Floor Muffler. Hi, I am installing an 8mm laminate over a ceramic tile. I understand that eventually, you might be able to see the grout lines.

By then I will be retired and the next owner can deal with it. We are installing the laminate over the tile which is secured to a heated concrete floor. My question is what would be the best underlayment to use? I feel like this is probably the most important step in my plan and I am totally confused. Thank you. Look forward to getting your answer. Whoops, error on our part! We have fixed it. Hi Perry, thanks for the question. I am not familiar with the SnapStone product, so you may want to reach out to them directly to see what they would advise.

Perfectly smooth. We are going to put porcelain SnapStone with Quietwarmth radiant heat underlayment. My question is,.. Hi Carolyn, thanks for the question. This will depend on what type of vinyl flooring you will be installing? For a standard LVT, I would recommend adding a plywood subfloor over the tiles or using the leveling agent. Depending on the amount of space, you can decide what will be the easiest for you. If you have anymore questions, let us know!

I am installing a vinyl plank floor in a kitchen. The issue is that there was carpeting down yes, I know, gross and when I removed the carpeting, there were linoleum tiles that were coming up with the adhesive that was used to put down the carpeting. These tiles were over another linoleum floor. In addition, some of the top layer of tiles has come up easily, others are still there and not budging. This top layer of tiles is very thin, fortunately.

So, the question is, what do I need to do? Do I have to put down an underlayment, a plywood subfloor, a leveling agent? Hi Michael, thanks for the question. Cork will be a good option for R-Value. Just make sure the cork is specified as laminate underlayment to avoid any warranty voids.

You may also want to check with the manufacturer what the limits on underlayment thickness are. Hi, I want to install a 12mm laminate on the ground floor of my townhouse which has a suspended conc.

This slab gets very cold in the winter months as there is no insulation below. I would like to use 6mm thick cork sheeting as an underlayment to provide some insulation value — 6mm cork has an r-value of approx. Is this a good choice for underlayment and would I still need a vapour barrier or is there anything better out there to use. What is the best solution for moisture barrier for a sunroom floor -wood as the base, not concrete?

Hi Zachary, thanks for your question! Most laminate underlayments start at 2mm as a standard. A mm underlayment will be fine for you. You can only go too thick with thinner laminates, but with a 12mm, you will be fine! Let us know if you have any other questions. What thickness would you recommend for the underlayment and is it possible to go to thick?? Need Help!!! We hired a contractor and remodeled our walk-out basement nearly 3 years ago. They took up berber carpet and ceramic tile and glued down engineered hardwood concrete slab in walk out basement.

We did not build the home so we are unsure if a vapor barrier was put under the slab when the house was built. Within a few weeks, the planks started separating and there is sever bounce in the flooring. We are still dealing with the issue and are getting ready to have it ripped out and start over again. Someone suggested luxury vinyl planks. We have teens, two big dogs and the pool is off of this area. Should we consider laminate, luxury vinyl or something else and what about underlayment?

Please help — we would really like this resolved so we can on with enjoying our home and our lives. Hi Bib, thanks for the question. You should never use double the underlayment. Hi Lisa, thanks for the question. You will cause even more issues by gluing down the planks.

We would not recommend this. We are going to take up the carpet in our living and installingl laminate flooring. We put laminate in our hallway an 2 bedrooms about 9 years ago and never used extra underpayment. Hi I have an old Mobil home with floors that are not even. I know planks were intended to floor but can I glue them down anyway.

This will cause too much flezing and cause the floor to buckle. I would definitely recommend checking with the manufacturer though! Is there a vapor barrier that provides some additional thermal insulation that can be used in this case? Hey Shelly thank you so much for reaching out. So therefore yes you would need an undrlayment in this situation.

Please let us know if you need any other assistance. Can laminate be installed over cork flooring and if so would I still need an underlayment? If not could I use one anyway for added comfort?

I have neuropathy which makes it hard to stay on my feet for long but I love to cook. If this would work, which underlayment would be best? I would be doing all of the house except bathrooms. Hey Paul, thanks for the question. The HOA requires sound proofing underlayment. Any suggestions? Thanks much. Very impressed with your site. Hello Ash, thank you so much for reaching out to us! The Roberts Super Felt has a vapor barrier attached already the greenish side that is uniform is the vapor barrier.

All orders leave within three business days with a transit time of two days to Virginia via FedEx. Please feel free to contact us if you have any other questions. If I am installing this under the laminate in the lower-level on concrete, do I need a vapor barrier also along with this underlayment? What is the cost of this underlayment for sq feet. How quickly will you be able to ship it if I order it today? My zip code is Hi Betty, thanks for reaching out.

On a wood subfloor, we recommend Super Felt Premium Felt Underlayment, which will provide a vapor barrier, insulation, and sound reducing properties.

We are installing laminate flooring in 2 bedrooms on wood subflooring. I want as quiet and as warm underlayment as possible. Which would be best — felt or the thin foam? Hi Eric, thanks for reaching out. Here are three of our best options for laminate flooring installation. Please let us know if you have any other questions! HI, 3 story townhouse on plywood sub-flooring.

Can you please recommend your top 3 options? Let me know so I can make the purchase today. Thanks in advance! Hi Angel, thanks for your comment. Laminate flooring is a floating floor, and it floats on top of the underlayment you have installed. Depending on the flooring and thickness, it is possible for laminate to have a slight give, when compared to flooring such as hardwood or tile that is permanently secured to the subfloor.

We hope this helps! There is a vapor barrier under it and it was installed in my basement over concrete. Hi Samuel, great question! I would recommend the floor muffler underlayment or the felt. Both have a vapor barrier and great sound reduction. We are doing our bedrooms in Kronoswiss Laminate. It will be laid over a concrete slab. What would be the BEST underlayment for sound reduction? Hi Denise, thanks for your question! You should put the luan down before the felt. Your subfloor will need to be sturdy and in good condition before starting your installation.

You will put the underlayment on top of the subfloor and the laminate directly over it. Be sure to get a copy of the manufacturer instructions to follow!

I will be laying laminate flooring in my living room. It will be placed on plywood subfloor. I have the Super felt premium for underlayment. My question is should I put Luan down first before the felt? I cannot find an answer anywhere on this? I have been told both. Hi Christina, thanks for your question!

In this case, you should be fine. Regardless, it will keep any moisture out, whether the barrier is on the bottom or top. If it was going directly on concrete, I may re-install it with the moisture barrier down. Hope this helps! This website is excellent and I have learned so much! I have learned the people currently installing my laminate floor, have laid the underlayment upside down. It is similar to the Silver 3in1. So the silver side is up and the moisture barrier film is down.

But it is being installed over linoleum. Should they stop and fix the underlayment or continue? The area in which they are working on is the kitchen, hallway, and living room. Thank you, Alana. Appreciate your advice!

Hi Erika, thanks for your question! I am sorry to hear about your moving situation. To remove mold on concrete, you need to scrub the mold off with bleach. Waiting for the concrete subfloor to dry will be the longest part. You will need to wait until the concrete no longer is holding any of the moisture, hopefully within 1 to 2 weeks the moisture reading will be acceptable — 4.

After that, it should only take days to acclimate and install the laminate if skilled workers are hired to lay it in one day. Hello, I recently rented a condo in Houston TX. Move in date was pending due to the installation of new laminate flooring being installed on the first floor.

There is 2yr old laminate in the entire condo but the first floor was originally incorrectly installed without the use of vapor barrier over the concrete subfloor. The laminate was just glued straight to the concrete. All the planks are warped and pulling up. This is a warranty issue and the owner of the condo has been working with the store to remedy the situation. The flooring was delivered on Saturday. Today the installer came and told the owner there is mold under the old floor. Needless to say, the owner is quite upset and called to tell me move in will be delayed… was to move on July 1st.

My question is what is the process to remove the mold, reinstall the floor and how long should I expect this to take? Any insight is appreciated!

Thank you! Hi Ron, thanks for the question! It does not make a difference. All of our underlayments can be laid the same direction of the flooring. And yes, we recommend working lay as you go. Unroll one strip of the underlayment, add flooring, repeat. Just be sure to read the manufacturer directions before getting started and follow those. I had heard The laminate should be installed perpendicular to the underlayment. Is there any truth to this or does it not make a difference?

We have a house full of too much furniture and gutting the living room to completely cover the floor with underlayment before laying the laminate will be nearly impossible. Hi Lisa!

Luckily, laminate can be uninstalled and re-installed! We have a wide array of flooring underlayments. Me, again. This is for the ground floor of a single-family home, if that matters. If felt is the best for shock-absorbing comfort, is it practical for use in warm, humid South Florida? Actually feels harder than walking on the bathroom tile floor or even directly on the concrete garage floor! PLEASE tell me — what is the best underlayment for shock-absorbing comfort for the 8mm Mohawk Carrolton laminate being installed over a concrete subfloor?

That 2mm rubber underlayment is the only one the flooring company uses, but I know there are other choices out there. Hi Jim, thanks for your question. Yes, you will still need to use an underlayment. We offer a standard cushion that would work well for this application.

Do I need to use underlay if I am going to install laminate over existing vinyl sheet flooring, there is no need for moisture or noise reduction in this installation. Hi Mike, thanks for your comment. That is a good idea, you can go ahead and install a vapor barrier such as Visqueen beneath your laminate, this will prevent the tackiness from getting on your laminate, and provide additional moisture protection for you.

I am installing a laminate floor with the pad attached. The subfloor is plywood. Normally I would place it right on the plywood. However, the floor was previously carpeted and glued down. The glue remnants are very level but still slightly tacky. I need to separate the tackiness.

Can I use 6 mil poly over the tacky plywood and then place the laminate on top of that? I know this is an acceptable method for laminate over concrete as a vapor barrier. I am just wondering over plywood if the poly sheeting would cause a moisture problem. Hi John, thanks for your comment. Although cork underlayment was not discussed in this blog post, it is an excellent and popular option for laminate flooring that will provide sound dampening qualities like you mentioned.

We currently do not carry any cork underlayment, however we can definitely assist you in finding the right underlayment with sound dampening features for your project. I know the cork wont provide much softness or bounce but I am wondering why it isnt listed as I would think cork would provide excellent sound dampening, hopefully reducing some of the hollow noise laminate tends to leave. Hi Karoline! Thanks for your question.

You should not need a vapor barrier in this circumstance, as the tile and wood will not be emitting moisture. You will want to level your tile and wood floors before you lay a laminate. Hi, Wonder about underpayment…? I know it is not recommend to add another padding if the laminate have one pre-attached..

Installing the laminate over tile …. Hi Larry, thank you for your comment! Laminate flooring is a great option for a home with children — it is scratch, stain, slip, static and moisture resistant. Thanks for mentioning that underlayment is essential because it allows a floor to float.

I have multiple children, and I would like to have my floors be kid-friendly. Hi Alice, unfortunately, we do not ship to Europe. We only ship to the contiguous 48 United States. Hello Ashley, thanks for your quick response and your help was valuable. I have been looking all over the place for bestlaminate 3in1 felt underlayment to buy direct online in EU, UK or Ireland but it does not exist. You seem to be the only one who has it. Have you a shop in Europe, or UK? I live in Ireland.