Which underlay to use for laminate flooring




















There are flooring underlays specifically designed to be used with underfloor heating. If you have further questions or concerns regarding how to choose underlay for your laminate flooring, leave me a message and I will reply to you as soon as possible.

Allow Cookies. How to Choose Underlay for Laminate Flooring. Recent Posts. August July May April March February January December November October September June RSS Feed. Here are six factors you should take into account:. Thickness is one quality most customers struggle with, in regards to underlayment. Otherwise, an underlayment with extra padding can cause laminate or vinyl flooring to flex too much, which may break the locking system.

Find an laminate underlayment that is around 2 — 3 mm thick; some distributors may falsely claim that a 6 mm underlay can double sound absorption. However, material and density are better indicators of soundproofing. Putting in a vapor barrier against the moisture released by a concrete floor is essential to prevent possible damages to your floor.

Instead of a vapor barrier, find an underlayment with better noise reduction and thermal ratings. Each type of underlayment is assigned an R-value, a number that measures its ability to insulate. A low R-value equals less insulation, while a higher R-value means less heat will move through the underlay.

Underlayments with a good R-value can also keep hot air out during the summer. As a reference, most underlayments have an R-value of 2 or 3. Laminate flooring itself is quiet to walk on, but it does have the potential to be nosy when it flexes against the subfloor. Without an underlayment, the noise can be transferred to the floor below.

A good underlayment would serve as a noise-reducing buffer between the two surfaces, sparing you from annoying creaks or squeaks when you walk by. An underlayment with sound absorption features are also a must if you have neighbors below. Apartments and condo communities require an underlayment with a minimum sound rating to prevent conflicts. For underlayments, there are two sound absorption ratings:. The higher the number is, the better the material can reduce sound.

A standard wood floor would have an STC rating of 40, while a hardwood floor without sound insulation would have an IIC of Floor underlayments are usually sold by square footage or in rolls, which accounts for a significant difference in pricing.

Rolls can be cost-friendly for larger projects, but it may be safer to buy in square foot to avoid excess. Certain materials like cork are naturally antimicrobial. However, there are some underlayments manufactured with antimicrobial benefits as a bonus.

Underlayment is not optional. Proper selection and installation of underlayments and subfloors is crucial to the proper wear and stability of any flooring. Underlayment does two things that are critical to a successful laminate flooring installation Underlayment takes out any minor deviations in the subfloor.

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 void your Swiss Krono warranty. According to homerenovations. Thicknesses range from 6 mm to 8 mm. If your installation is over concrete, we recommend a 6-mil-poly vapor barrier — even if the underlayment you are installing already has a vapor barrier attached.

Unintended nicks or tears during the installation process can violate the integrity of the attached vapor barrier.



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