Do I Need Foam Under Laminate Flooring

It needs a layer of underlay or underlayment to cushion the laminate planks and ensure a comfortable durable finished floor.

Do i need foam under laminate flooring.

The flooring is actually on top of the sub floor without the use of nails or fasteners. Laminate flooring is installed using a free float method where the flooring is not mounted to the sub floor. Vinyl planks require hard thin underlay because the product itself is softer. Vapor barriers and laminate flooring underlayment.

Vapor barrier 2 in 1 underlayment. With these materials you do not need to purchase and install a separate foam padding underlayment. 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. Underlayment for laminate flooring is a must since laminate is a floating floor it must be evenly distributed across your subfloor.

The underlayment serves as an insulating cushion for the laminate flooring. Today you can find many laminate floors that have been manufactured with underlayment padding built into the underside of the material. If your installation is over concrete we. But the hard laminate material doesn t lie directly onto that surface.

Laminate flooring with attached underlayment. Perfect for under laminate flooring with pre attached pad or luxury vinyl plank flooring where you don t need the extra padding. Take off the pre attached underlayment and install separate underneath floor. Thicknesses range from 6 mm to 8 mm.

Consider the issue of sound transmission. This 2 in 1 underlayment will allow your laminate flooring to float while correcting any minor subfloor imperfections and will protect your floors from moisture. Please refer back to your flooring manufacturer before proceeding. Underlayment is what allows the floor to float gives it stability support noise reduction and supports the locking systems in between planks to assure the sturdiest flooring project.

While underlayment for vinyl planks may be used under hardwood and laminate the reverse is not true. Laminate flooring is designed for quick and easy installation over almost any flat smooth floor surface. 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. Doing either one of the mentioned above methods you will probably break the warranty of the flooring.

The easiest way to figure out if you need underlayment for your new vinyl plank flooring is to look at your current floor.