Do you need underlay for laminate flooring on wood?

Do you need underlay for laminate flooring on wood?

Underlayment for laminate flooring is a must. Since laminate is a floating floor, it must be evenly distributed across your subfloor. 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.

What’s the best underlayment for laminate wood flooring?

While there are a number of good options in the market, cork and foam are the usual favorites for a laminate floor underlay. Depending on your lifestyle, you may appreciate cork for its thickness and sound absorption; foam, on the other hand, is an excellent, cost-efficient material that works as a moisture barrier.

Do I need underlayment for laminate flooring on plywood?

So do we recommend an underlayment for laminate flooring on plywood? Yes, underlayment provides compression, sound absorption and insulation value. The moisture protection isn’t really a concern unless it is above a crawl space.

Is Thicker underlay better for laminate flooring?

We would recommend an underlay of 3 – 5mm for laminate flooring. It should be at least 3mm thick to provide comfort and ground levelling properties. But, it should be no more than 5mm thick. If it’s any thicker, you could experience problems with the laminate’s locking system.

Can you install laminate flooring over hardwood?

Laminate flooring can be installed directly over hardwood, often with no preparation necessary. If your laminate has a built-in underlayer, you may install it right on top of the hardwood.

Is foam underlay any good?

The best type of underlay for carpet is PU foam. It is the best option due its many advantages over alternative types of underlay such as its strong heat insulation abilities and the soft underfoot it provides. However, sponge rubber is another solid option.

Do I need a vapor barrier and underlayment?

Very often, particularly in a below-grade installation on a concrete basement floor, a vapor barrier is recommended in addition to the underlayment. That vapor barrier would go between the subfloor and the underlayment.

Can I install laminate over hardwood?