The benefits of installing laminate flooring are pronounced, so it makes sense that you are ready to complete your home improvement project soon and to begin enjoying those benefits throughout your home. Laminate flooring is a practical and affordable alternative to hardwood flooring, and it also is easy to maintain with basic care requirements. In addition to being durable and having extensive longevity, laminate floor also is available in a wide range of styles and colors. Before you finalize your plans to purchase and install laminate flooring in any room of your home, a closer look at the installation process is in order. Specifically, you may need to install underlayment below the laminate flooring panels. This step is essential and beneficial in many cases, but it can increase the cost of your project and impact the time and effort required for installation. A closer look at what a laminate flooring underlay is and why you need it is a great starting point.
What Is a Laminate Flooring Underlay?
While you could install laminate flooring directly on top of the subfloor material, this is not usually recommended. Laminate flooring underlay is a thin sheet that is usually made out of cork, felt or foam. It is somewhat flexible and has essential benefits that can enhance your daily and ongoing experience with your new floor. The underlayment could have an attached vapor barrier or moisture barrier. In many cases, the laminate flooring underlayment reduces sound transmission, improves the home’s ambiance and even extends the life of the floor through its properties. Keep in mind that the specific benefits that you can enjoy when you install a laminate floor underlay vary based on the type of subfloor in your home and on the type of underlayment material that you select.
Why Do You Need a Laminate Flooring Underlayment?
In many homes, the subfloor is flawed by imperfections and may be uneven. For example, imperfections may be prevalent after removing old tile or vinyl flooring from the area. These imperfections can result in increased wear across the laminate floor. The resilient and flexible nature of the underlayment material smooths over the imperfections and may properly correct areas that are slightly uneven.
Because laminate is a hard floor surface, the effects of noise transmission can be problematic for some homeowners. While the cushioning underlayment material is not visible underneath the laminate planks, the laminate flooring underlayment may still buffer noises effectively. This offers vital noise control in the home, such as by minimizing the cavernous echoes that are common in homes with hard floors. The right underlay may improve ambiance dramatically as a result.
A common complaint that homeowners have about hard flooring materials is that they are uncomfortably cool to the touch compared to carpeting. This may be because the flooring is installed directly onto the subfloor material without any barrier. When you install underlay, you can take full advantage of the underlayment’s insulative properties. The exceptional cushioning of the underlay material also gives the laminate planks slight give when you walk across the floor. This makes the flooring more comfortable to walk across than other types of hard floor surfaces that are not installed with underlayment.
Another reason why you may need to install a quality laminate flooring underlay material is to protect your floor’s manufacturer’s warranty. Each product is sold with specific installation instructions. Fine print in the instructions often necessitates the need for a specific type of underlayment to be installed. If you fail to install this material or if you choose a substandard underlay material, your warranty may be voided.
When Is a Laminate Flooring Underlay Unnecessary?
You can see that the benefits of a quality laminate flooring underlayment material are pronounced and even essential in many instances, but there are a few situations when underlay may not be necessary. The most common reason why you may want to forego the installation of a laminate flooring underlay material is when the planks have a pre-attached underlayment. Laminate planks with a pre-attached underlayment are increasingly common, so you should carefully review the flooring specifications before you buy underlayment Be aware that laminate planks with a pre-attached underlayment should not be installed over another underlay material. This could have a negative impact on your floor’s stability and could potentially invalidate the warranty.
If you are comfortable with the possibility of your flooring warranty being voided, you may feel confident skipping the underlayment installation step in order to save money. While quality underlay is relatively affordable, this could save you a substantial amount of money when you are installing new laminate flooring across a large area. Some people also install laminate floor directly over vinyl flooring. This eliminates the need to remove the existing floor, and it may cover subfloor imperfections. However, vinyl is not a moisture-proof barrier. You may also be inclined to skip the installation of laminate flooring underlay material if you have recently installed a new subfloor material that is free of all imperfections and that is perfectly flat.
What Are the Most Common Laminate Flooring Underlay Types?
Generally, you can choose between three types of laminate flooring underlayment. These materials are foam, cork and felt. For each material available, you can find several options that may vary in price, thickness and overall quality. You will also find that each material has unique benefits and drawbacks. While you want to choose laminate flooring underlay material that is affordable for your budget, the material should also be practical for the environment that you are installing it in and provide you with practical benefits. You can narrow down the scope of your search by deciding which material you want to focus on, but read through consumer reviews before finalizing your flooring underlayment selection.
What Should You Know About Foam Underlayment?
Foam underlayment is one of the most common materials on the market, and you can find it in thicknesses that range between 2 and 3 millimeters. One of the many benefits of foam underlayment is that it is usually sold in large rolls. Because of this, installation is generally fast and easy. Some foam underlay products have special features that improve sound absorption and that provide the moisture barrier that you may need. Compared to the other options on the market, foam is usually the most affordable material overall.
Most Commonly Used Foam Underlay
Basic 2 mm PE (Polyethylene Foam) Underlay
Waterproof, moisture-proof
IIC (Impact Sound Transmission Test) rating 25 db
Aging resistance 50 years
Water absorption 0.5%
Premium 2 mm EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) Underlay
High Density Structure, moisture, mold and mildew resistance underlay material
IIC (Impact Sound Transmission Test) rating 55 db
Aging resistance 50 years
Water absorption 1%
Premium Plus 3 mm EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) Underlay
High Density Structure, moisture, mold and mildew resistance underlay material
IIC (Impact Sound Transmission Test) rating 72 db
Aging resistance 50 years
Water absorption 1%
Is Cork Underlay Right for Your Home?
Cork is less common than foam underlayment, so you may have fewer options available to choose from. In addition, it may cost approximately twice as much per square foot as foam underlayment costs. However, this type of underlay comes with exceptional benefits that you may be eager to take full advantage of. Cork is derived from the bark of cork trees, so it is considered to be an eco-friendly option. Cork underlay material is usually available in thicknesses that range between 3 to 6 millimeters, and it has exceptional sound control properties that are often superior to foam. If you intend to install laminate flooring on the second floor in a home, cork underlayment can reduce transmission in the main room as well as in the room below. It also has excellent insulating properties, which makes it practical for homes that are located in very cool or very warm climates. The benefits of cork continue with its anti-microbial and fire-retardant properties. This material is not naturally moisture-proof, but some cork underlay products are available with a moisture-proof barrier.
When Should You Consider Felt Underlayment?
Felt underlay is the most expensive type available overall, but there are some price variations from brand to brand and based on the features in the underlayment. Felt is usually available in sheets that are 3 millimeters thick. Despite the fact that the material is thinner than other underlayment options available, felt underlay has profound benefits that you may prefer in your home. Felt is usually made out of recycled fibers, which makes it an eco-friendly option. The material is very heavy, which can improve ambiance and promote sound control in the home. Felt also is an excellent insulator and could make the laminate floor more comfortable to stand and walk on. Generally, felt is the premium type of laminate flooring underlay material on the market. While its features are advantageous in many home environments, you should examine its benefits in relation to your specific needs to determine if felt is a cost-effective solution.
What Are Other Factors You Should Consider When Selecting Laminate Flooring Underlay?
You should first determine if you need to install a laminate flooring underlay material. This will be based on the laminate floor planks that you purchase as well as your budget and the environmental factors in your home. You should then look at the subfloor material. Generally, a concrete subfloor dictates the need for underlayment that has a vapor barrier and a moisture barrier. This is because moisture can penetrate through the concrete. This could damage the laminate, such as by causing warped planks. In addition, it could lead to mold or mildew growth. The other common type of subfloor material is plywood. Plywood is treated wood, so this natural material should not be used with underlayment featuring a moisture barrier or water vapor. This is because the plywood needs to be breathe in order to maintain its integrity. There is one caveat to this. When a plywood subfloor is present in a room that may easily be exposed to moisture, such as a basement or a bathroom, the installation of underlay with a moisture or vapor barrier is important.
You can see that environmental factors in the home as well as your budget and even the type of laminate flooring that you select will affect your need for the installation of laminate flooring underlay material. You also should consider the specific underlayment benefits that you need or want to enjoy in your home and how important those benefits are to you. Take time today to learn more about the laminate flooring materials as well as the underlay materials that are available for installation in your home.
