Be sure to prepare your subfloor before installation to assure a seamless and smooth surface.
Why do vinyl floor not require underlayment.
Why people use underlayment people turn to underlayment for comfort underfoot sound reduction and moisture barriers.
Laminate flooring is made out of composed resin and fiber board materials with a photographic applique layer under a clear protective layer.
The type of vinyl flooring and type of subfloor you have will determine if you are able to use a vinyl flooring underlayment.
Some products have it built into the product itself so it s not necessary to lay it separately.
Unlike laminate flooring most vinyl floors are designed to lay directly on top of the subfloor.
When installing vinyl plank flooring over existing floor materials underlayment may not be required but it can help with cushioning and sound reduction.
To break it down here are the main reasons you need.
Plywood underlayment is a thin plywood material that is most commonly used under resilient flooring materials such as vinyl and linoleum sheets and tiles.
Tip felt underlayment can be as much as twice as expensive as foam underlayment but it provides better sound absorption.
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.
It is important to know if you need underlayment or not with a vinyl flooring installation.
If your pergo floors do not come with underlayment then it s important that you purchase it and lay it over your subfloor before installing your new pergo floor.
The easiest way to figure out if you need underlayment for your new vinyl plank flooring is to look at your current floor.
Do i really need it.
You do not need foam padding under solid hardwood for many reasons but one reason is that hardwood is so dense that it limits the transmission of sound both within the room and to floors below.
If you are installing laminate flooring with pre attached underlayment on a wood subfloor you do not need any additional underlayment.
If moisture from your subfloor concrete or wood get to the fiber board material your flooring will absorb the moisture and start to bow or warp.
Vinyl flooring is so thin that any imperfections underneath it like bumps grooves or cracks will show right through.
If you don t add underlayment to your pergo floors you ll violate the floor s warranty.
It is designed to create a smooth durable surface which is why it is so important for vinyl flooring.
The attached underlayment will allow your flooring to float just as standard underlayment would.
Underlayment goes on top of the structural support of your floor and under your actual flooring.
