What Is Vinyl Flooring Underlayment

There s no need for a moisture barrier underlayment on plywood.

What is vinyl flooring underlayment. Vinyl floors that are glue down or loose lay will not need a vinyl underlayment as these floors will be installed directly over the subfloor. If you ve chosen to go the vinyl path you re probably wondering about the best underlayment for vinyl plank flooring. If you already have flooring in mind it s always a good idea to refer to the manufacturer to see what they recommend beforehand. Its purpose is to provide a smooth flat surface for the floor covering.

Most types can be installed over concrete or over a subfloor. Vinyl plank flooring is a floating floor so it is important to have underlayment across the entire surface of your flooring. Find flooring underlayment at lowe s today. We recommend using a vapor barrier on a cement subfloor to prevent moisture from seeping up and sitting beneath your flooring.

Installing a vinyl tile or vinyl plank floor is easier than installing sheet vinyl and any damage to the floor can be repaired easily simply by replacing a tile or two. A vinyl flooring underlayment will not be as thick as a laminate or hardwood underlayment. It s more important that the underlayment dampens sounds and feels comfortable. Absorbing the sounds of people walking over it and enhanced comfort underfoot are is just a couple of the advantages of having flooring underlayment.

Installing new flooring is a costly enterprise so you want to get it right the first time around. Meaning if you re going to install vinyl plank flooring over tile vinyl flooring and even. Most laminate flooring includes a fiberboard core that must be protected from moisture otherwise swelling and mold can wreak havoc on your flooring. Just under the visible floor covering is a layer of some kind of material usually only about 1 4 or 1 2 inch thick.

If the vinyl has a backing layer or pad already attached 95 of the time they will not suggest anything at all aside from a vapor barrier. Flooring underlayment is essential for a range of surfaces including many vinyl flooring options please note thinner vinyl flooring styles aren t usually compatible with underlay. Underlayment for vinyl flooring. Vinyl underlayment is an optional add on to click lock vinyls that are 4mm or thicker.

The airguard 5 in 1 floor underlayment is an ideal option if you re shopping for floor underlayment for laminate. This flooring can be made to look like different wood species or to resemble ceramic tile.