Best Underlayment For Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring – If you are new to the flooring world, you may not even have a clue what an underlay is. Someone probably told you that you needed it, and you went to look it up but were totally confused.
Today, we’ll answer all your questions including when/if you need a subfloor, which types are best for your specific floor, and how much it will cost you.
Best Underlayment For Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
A sub-layer is the layer between your sub-floor and your new floor. Yes, it really is that simple. The underlayer is usually made of rubber, cork, rubber cork, felt or foam.
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Unless your flooring came with an attached underlay, you will probably need a separate underlay. Underlayment adds warmth and softness, and more importantly, increases the longevity of the new floor. Let’s take a moment and talk more about the benefits of subversion.
The underlayment is not just something we tell you to throw down under your carpet or laminate. It has several objectives:
The floor underlayment acts as a protective barrier between your floor and sub-floor. Floating floors are particularly prone to expansion and contraction as the temperature changes. Underlayment provides a barrier to the friction of movement, keeping your floor completely together during a move.
A sub-floor is often the layer under your flooring and can be installed anywhere in your home. If your floors don’t come with an attached underlay, assume you’ll need one.
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In addition to underlayment, you often install a vapor barrier in basements, kitchens and bathrooms. These help protect your new floor from moisture. Wherever you are installing flooring, expect to need an underlayment or barrier.
The thickness of the underlayment seems to be the issue most customers struggle with. That’s because thickness isn’t the most important consideration when it comes to underlayment. Other factors such as type, sound ratings, and density matter just as much, if not more than thickness.
Having said that, most underlays are 2-3mm thick, but sometimes they are thicker for carpet or to smooth an uneven sub-floor.
A 6mm underlayment is often advertised as offering twice the sound absorption of a 3mm underlay. I’m going to skip the science and tell you that’s not true. In addition, sound absorption is altered by other factors, such as material and density, and not just thickness.
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Keep in mind, it’s a good idea to check with your manufacturer to find out what they recommend. Some thinner products benefit from a thinner underlay such as felt.
The most basic variety of underlayment is called foam. Although it comes at such a low price, foam underlayment still provides plenty of sound reduction. You’ll also find that you have many options for foam underlays from basic foam to 2-in-1 underlays that have a built-in vapor barrier.
It is one of the most versatile underlays and can be used under a variety of flooring types including laminate, some vinyl, and wood. If you are buying carpet, foam “carpet pad” is best for carpet rolls.
It is very easy to install foam underlayment – in fact, some options even come with an adhesive strip, making it as easy as sticking on a post-it note!
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Rubber is one of the best choices for underlayment because it is extremely versatile. It protects your floor from molds and midges and protects your ears from noisy floors. In fact, it is one of the most sound absorbing and insulating underlays out there.
Rubber underlayment is commonly used under wood, tile or carpet, but cannot be used under vinyl due to staining.
Rubber is a great choice for wood and concrete sub-flooring and is extremely easy to install under any floor. Since it is often made from recycled rubber products, it is also environmentally friendly!
Subversion in Cork is common among apartment and condo owners. There is a reason for that! Cork picks up sound better than most subs. Adding insulation to your home is also great.
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Cork is also an eco-friendly option for subs. In addition, the natural antimicrobial nature of cork also prevents the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew. Cork is therefore a great choice for allergy sufferers.
A warning on cork – although you can install it under any floor, it is not the best choice for every environment. Water can damage a cork floor, so for basements, bathrooms and other areas prone to flooding, you may want to go with rubber instead, or cork with a vapor barrier.
The best of both worlds! In a shocking turn of events, a rubber cork underlay is an underlay made from both rubber and cork. I know, I know. Try to keep your surprise.
A rubber cork underlay is an expert at preventing cracks in your tile from your home’s settlement and natural movement over time. You can think of this underlay as an invisible guard that keeps your floor looking good even though it’s out of sight.
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Cork Rubber can stain vinyl, but is great under other wood and tile floors. Like cork it is resistant to mold and mildew, but we recommend installing a vapor barrier with the underlayment.
A felt underlayer is usually made from recycled fibers and is often denser than foam. Density is what makes an excellent sound absorber. Not only is it great at absorbing sound, it’s also great for insulating your home and cushioning your step. Some say better than other underlayments!
Since felt fibers are made from recycled materials, it is also an environmentally friendly underlayment option. Some of the felt underlays come with a built-in vapor barrier for added durability. Felt underlayment can be used under a variety of floors including hardwood, laminate, vinyl, and more.
This is the most commonly asked question about subversion. We’ll make this easy-peasy with a handy chart. However, if you want to know more, keep reading. We’ll take an in-depth look at each floor subversion below.
Find The Right Underlayment For Your Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Foam is best for laminate flooring and is what we recommend the most. You are in luck! Foam has the most options for underlayment and provides plenty of sound reduction.
If laminate flooring is being installed in any areas prone to moisture such as basements, bathrooms or kitchens, it is recommended that you purchase a foam underlay that includes a vapor barrier.
On the other hand, if your main concern is sound transmission (such as between apartments or condos), then another great recommendation would be cork underlayment, which may offer a little more sound absorption.
The answer to this question can be a bit tricky. The first step vinyl buyers should take is to look at the manufacturer’s instructions and warranties. Use of certain sub-versions will void some warranties.
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If you can buy an underlayer, we recommend cork. With cork, you don’t have to worry about staining or damaging the vinyl. If underlayment is not recommended, you will probably still need a vapor barrier underneath.
The good news is that tons of vinyl flooring comes with an attached cork underlay, so this might not even be a concern for you! Waterproof vinyl flooring like TritonCORE offers a bonded underlayment, saving you time and money.
Is Underlayment Safe for Vinyl? The rubber underlayment and cork rubber are not safe for vinyl because of the possibility of rubber staining. Cork, foam and felt are generally safe for vinyl unless the manufacturer states otherwise.
For carpet, you will almost always use a foam or rubber carpet pad. These pads come in many different thickness options in terms of properties and prices. Thicker pads (usually) wil
l make your floor softer and more comfortable to walk on. We recommend using a foam carpet pad for broadloom carpet, and rubber for carpet tiles.
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Be sure to pay attention to the properties of the carpet pad you are looking at, not just the price and thickness. While you can find some thicker options at lower price points, they don’t do all the things you want them to do (like absorb sound), or at least they might not do them very well. them.
Be sure to check out the specs! The Carpet Padding Council (yes, that’s a thing) recommends at least ¼” of padding under residential carpet, although most people buy ½” padding.
For tile floors where thinset is used, the best solution is a rubber cork underlay. You can also install ceramic tiles directly over plywood or cement board. Rubber cork underlay is designed to prevent cracking.
However, foam has more gifts than cork so although it is the most popular choice, we recommend cork. Cork has fewer gifts, making you less likely to open up about your plans. There are some extra dense grades of foam that can work under wood floors, but they are usually not as durable as cork.
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Installing underlayment is much easier than most people think. In fact, I can outline the process in a few simple steps:
That’s it! With a few tools and a little labor, your underlayment is ready to go. Of course, it’s always a good idea to check with the manufacturer to see if your product has more specific instructions.
The average price goes by material from the holiday to the most expensive generally foam, rubber, and then cork. However, there can be some fluctuations based on features of the sub-layer (eg, built-in moisture barrier), thickness, and construction.
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