Installing laminate hardwood flooring in your home will give an expensive yet polished look of a hardwood floor without spending that much money. However, for the professional results to last, you will need laminate floors to be correctly installed with a high-quality underlayment beneath your laminate flooring. The underlayment for laminate flooring offers enough support for laminate flooring by protecting your laminate floor from moisture, absorbing sound and giving the best thermal insulation. So, which is the best underlayment for laminate flooring?
What Is Flooring Underlayment?
Underlayment is typically the cushion layer between the subfloor, or the surface you install the laminate flooring on top of , and the laminate. Laminate flooring is the thin material of roughly 12mm in thickness; it’s made for mimicking a polished wooden floor at a lesser cost but with a need for less maintenance.
A premium underlayment for laminate flooring is about 2mm-3mm, and the 3mm produce thick cushioning while not affecting your joints between the boards. One layer of felt is intended to provide a cushioning while the other layer is a moisture and mildew barrier.
Some underlayment are self-adhesive tapes while others require a separate tape to butt join in the row and thereby increasing the permeability of your floor. If you do not have specific information that your selected laminate or vinyl plank flooring comes with underlayment, you can be certain that you will need one for your home, especially for the kitchen, basement or bathroom.
Why is Flooring Underlayment Necessary?
Flooring underlayment is necessary for laminate flooring because it's a floating floor, and this means it locks the pieces together without gluing or nailing down to the subfloor. Furthermore, a laminate underlayment also serves as a shield to the subfloor and your new laminate floor can easily float since laminate floors are notorious for contracting or expanding due to fluctuations in temperatures.
Flooring underlayment supports your laminate floating floors by:
- Working as a vapor barrier and prevents moisture from seeping in your laminate floor through the sub-floor
- Adds thickness to be able to make it softer for sounds from people walking, as well as avoiding sounds like squeaking sounds.
- It provide more support to your laminate floor making sure that some of the locks used in joining the planks are strongly fitted.
- Prevents relative motion and holds the floor together when there are variations of temperature.
- Introduces some softness and warmth with a squish further with each step and this make falling easier.
- Insulates minor imperfections in the subfloor to guarantee that the vinyl plank flooring sits appropriately above it.
1. First Step 630-Square Foot Roll Underlayment
- Price per 630 sq.ft roll
- 3mm thick comes with overlap and tape to install
- Suitable for concrete and wood subfloors
- Use with engineered hardwood, solid hardwood, or laminate...
- Fast & Free Fedex Ground
A good but cheap underlayment for laminate floors is the First Step underlayment from Roberts. It comes with Styrofoam beads that you will clean after cutting them.
First Step 630 roll is among the better underlayment that have microbial characteristics; the microbial elements also have a role of guarding your sub-floors. Thanks to the Styro Foam beads, there is constant air movement and this moisture barrier underlayment flees formation of mold or bacteria on the flooring installed.
This underlayment functions based on the ability to lock in moisture in between the floor covering, below and above grade sub-flooring. The first step 630 roll is the superior laminate flooring underlayment and is perfect for multilevel homes and apartments having wooden or vinyl flooring. It also includes adhesive strips overlap film which is used to join several film rolls together.
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2. FLOORLOT Laminate Flooring Vapor Barrier Underlayment
- Coverage: 200 sqft per roll
- Includes Moisture/Vapor Barrier
- Extra Thick 3mm Foam Has Natural Sound Absorption
- For Laminate & Engineered Floating Floors
- 3mm Thick / Comes with overlap & tape for easy installation
FLOORLOT is a blue laminate flooring underlayment which offers you the most value for cash. For any person who does not require great sound attenuation but desires superior quality of the laminate underlayment, it is the best solution. The underlayment also helps to cover up any texture that might be on the sub-floor and other flooring anomalies in harmony with minimizing sound that is hollow made with laminate floating floors.
Despite the fact that FLOORLOT is not designed to be a noise reduction solution, FLOORLOT is one because of the 3mm foam that softens when one walks over it and also evens out uneven floors. It also contains a moisture barrier and a peel & stick tape that makes installation easy but stay away from this underlayment if you have a vinyl plank floor.
Moreover, FLOORLOT is suitable for use with other forms of flooring such as bamboo, hardwood, and vinyl plank flooring. This gadget comes in blue, blue max and gold which depending on which you want to go with.
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3. MP Global Products QuietWalk Laminate Flooring Underlayment
- FOR FLOATING FLOORS: Acoustical floating flooring underlayment...
- LARGE ROLL: Comes as a 6-by 60-foot roll for 360 square feet of...
- SUPERIOR SOUND REDUCTION: Recycled fibers absorb sound and keep...
- MOISTURE PROTECTION: DriWick technology prevents moisture damage...
- GREAT, ALL-YEAR FLOOR SUPPORT AND PROTECTION: Provides...
MP Global Products underlayment is among the best when it comes to sound insulating underlayment for click-together floating laminate. It is made with dense fiber which render it less compressible and holds high capability of handling higher traffic.
This underlayment is the best for laminate over concrete sub-floors because fiber lets the underlayment ‘breathe’, and saves the interior laminate flooring from potentially ruinous moisture. Besides, it can also function well with radiant heat systems. For those who reside in cold climate regions this will be ideal for you since it will give room to heat penetration while not hurting your floor coverings through the heat shock.
A way to provide an even surface temperature is with MP Global Products and it works with laminate wood with glue or nail down installation. If this one is still too large for you, feel free to select the model available for 100 square feet only.
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4. Roberts 70-193A Super Felt 360 sq 60 in. x 72 ft. x 3 mm Cushion Underlayment
- For use with engineered wood and laminate flooring
- Provides cushion over concrete and wood subfloors
- 360-Feet square roll.The IIC and STC tests measure sound...
- Sound Transmission Lost Test (STC) rating of 66
- Impact Sound Transmission Test (IIC) rating of 67
Roberts 70-193A Super Felt cushion underlayment is intended for use on or above grade sub floors for all laminated floors and the engineered hardwood floating floors. It is the proper underlayment for absorbing sound because it is made of recycled fibers that gives an excellent radiant heat floor with a highly real R-value and no sound deflecting. More importantly, it does a perfect job of insuring that sound cannot pass from one floor to the other.
The Roberts 70-193A Super Felt is of adhesive strip and 3 inches overlap film which connects numerous rolls of coverage for extensive areas. The 360 ft square roll offer a good cushion over the standard wooden floor and concrete floor and that in turn keeps the floor warm during the cold winter seasons and cool during the hot summer seasons.
Roberts 70-193A Felt underlayment has a film overlay that will give your floor an added protection from moisture this will eliminate mold or mold. More than that, this underlayment can be installed without the need of gaps through the standardized joints which are 3” overlap between the pieces.
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5. Roberts Serenity Foam Wood & Laminate Underlayment
A moisture barrier may not be necessary for homes with a wood subfloor making this Roberts Serenity Foam Wood the best underlayment. This is the best underlayment for floors in particular the laminate floors for those shoppers in need of the cheapest option in the market.
Roberts Serenity Foam Wood underlayment is in 400 sq ft rolls and uses a 2.4mm poly ethylene foam. The foam gives more spring to the flooring as it also hides minor imperfections on the sub-floor hence providing a better and even surface for the laminate flooring. It can also be used over radiant heated floors and concrete floors, if combined with an insulating vapor barrier below.
Roberts Serenity Foam is incredibly cheap but it lacks an attached adhesive strip to make it convenient to apply on the wall. Furthermore, the roll of this product is available in 48 feet by 100 feet dimensions. Last but not the least, do not forget that you can use this underlayment only above a concrete slab with more additional barrier against moisture.
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What are the Different Types Of Underlayments
Deciding on which type of underlayment is suitable is important if you want to put laminate flooring properly. There are three types of underlayment and all are designed for a particular type of subfloor. Nonetheless, do not forget that some of the sub-floors have this underlayment installed on it and in case you find yourself in this category you will not need to spend on an underlayment or even install one on your own. The vapor barrier adherent to the adjacent surfaces prevents subsequent laminate floor covering from being affected by any moist contents.
There are several basic types of underlayment for laminate flooring, and they include:
1. Standard foam underlayment
Polyethylene foam is the most affordable material you could use as underlayment and with the correct type of floor, the underlayment can be extremely efficient. Living up to its name, this foam underlayment type has a thin foam layer that functions as a buffer between a sub-floor and laminate flooring and has about 1/8 inches thick foam padding.
It helps to act a barrier between floors to reduce noise created through making the floor slightly more flexible for those treading on it. Furthermore, foam underlayment does not offer a vapor barrier that is why it should not be used for samp areas. The foam underlayment is actually quite easy to install and especially for those who have never laid laminate floors before.
One of the prime reasons that most people have a preference for this type is that it is generally available in rolls that can be cut into predetermined dimensions as desired. It is the best kind of underlayment for plywood and an OSB subfloor: the materials cost about $0.22-$0.30/SF and $0.30/$.45/SF respectively for moisture blocking/sound eliminating foam.
2. Felt underlayment
Felt underlayment is considered a gold standard for the underlayment, and it's the most picked choice. This type is made from recycled fibers with thickness of 3mm, slightly heavy than cork or foam underlayment and easier to flatten if indented. Flooring felt underlayment provides good sound insulation, so your floor will be pleasant for your feet. Also, the underlayment has a vapor barrier that you should help you to protect the hardwood or laminate floors from moisture.
Felt underlayment also serves well as an insulator and there is no gain of your cooling and heating systems, which makes the house perfect for all seasons. It also does an incredible job of protecting your floor surface and provide additional comfort when standing as well as walking.
Since it is also made of recycled fibers, it is LEED certified, and is considered an environmental friendly product. The Felt underlayment for laminate floors will cost you between $ 0.75 – $ 1.25 per sq.ft
3. Cork underlayment
Cork is actually an underlayment type of natural material that comes from cork bark trees, and majority of the superior cork that can be found on the market comes from Portugal. It is designed as a premium underlayment, and will have some inherent natural antimicrobial properties that will help to limit mold growth between the laminate and the sub-floor.
Cork is available either in 3mm or 6mm thicknesses. If you consider a moisture barrier to be important it will be adequate in preventing your laminate floor from being harmed by the cork underlayment. Furthermore, this type allow adding insulation into your space and the cork underlayment works in trapping the cold and hot air in the house so that the hot or cold air will not flow through the floor.
Cork underlayment also provides plenty of padding, good sound barrier, and it will effectively catch noise on an upper level or a tenant below. But it is costlier than foam or combination underlayment and cost up to twice the price of those two types.
Cork underlayment is incredibly resilient and won’t become worn or damaged enough to require replacement very frequently, and it’s hypoallergenic, which is important for homes with individuals with allergies. Further more since cork is an anti microbial material the growth of such things as mildew, molds and bacteria is eliminated, thus making the home healthier.
Finally, cork is fire resistant; it brings in extra value for safety and the price of cork flooring differs from $0.5 to $ 0.75 per square metre.
4. Combination Foam Underlayment
The combination foam underlayment is a combination of foam underlayment and vapor barrier underlayment used in the protection of your sub-floor from moisture. Several types of underlayment can be installed on areas of OSB/plywood subfloor and concrete sub-floor in basement or bathroom. Nevertheless, this is slightly expensive in comparison to the simplistic foam underlayment utilized for laminated structures.
5. Vinyl-Backed Underlay
Vinyl underlayment for laminate is best for noise reduction, but its key feature is that if seams aren’t properly sealed, moisture could be a problem.
Factors to Consider Before Purchasing the Best Underlayment for Laminate Flooring
When installing laminate flooring, you should remember that it needs an underlayment. Underlayment for laminated floor installation reduces the noise that comes with walking on the floor and make your floor feel warmer. Secondly, it is a subfloor for laminate flooring underlayment which enables installation of the planks and eradicates any little unevenness on your sub-floor.
Some underlayment are self-adhesive; others require a separate tape to install in the next row, thus enhancing your floor’s permeability. Thus, be sure to install the most appropriate underlayment for laminate flooring in order to get the best of it.
Here are some factors you will need to observe when shopping for your laminate underlayment:
1. Type of Sub-floor
The sub-floor you plan to use or the one installed plays a significant role in decision making of the underlayments for laminate flooring. For example, for the plywood subfloor you require a different kind of underlay than for the concrete subfloor. With regard to the plywood subfloor, the presence of the vapor barrier can be traded for the sound and thermal performance of the underlay.
With concrete subfloor, there is always a challenge of moisture, and concrete subfloors are always absorbing and hence retain moisture. As for the underlayment for this it would be the one that would not allow any form of moisture from the sub-floor and the underlayment for a basement floor.
2. Sound Absorption
Laminate flooring on itself is quiet to walk on, but if it is flexing against a sub-floor there is noise which is transmitted through the floor without an underlayment for laminate. The best underlayment will in fact create a barrier between the two surfaces and it shall save you from squeaky floor noises each time you pass by.
Laminate flooring is said to have a hollow-like sound, and its Sound Transmission Class(STC) ratings and Impact Isolation Class (IIC) ratings are important when considering the laminate underlayment. The IIC ratings are useful for understanding the number of decibels certain underlayment could attenuate and the kind of sounds laminate flooring underlayment can minimize. STC ratings indicate the number of airborne noises & IIC ratings are & demonstrate the echelon of footsteps & drops & sound isolation capacity.
The STC and IIC ratings are between 15 and 80 , and the greater the number, the better will be the attenuation of sound by the material. For instance, a standard wood flooring with no STC rating was established to have an STC of 40 while hardwood floors with no sound isolation has an IIC of 45.
You should choose a product with STC and IIC ratings of 60 and above in order to provide maximum sound absorption. However, ensure you look at the sound ratings especially if you are installing your new laminate floor at the apartment and commercial buildings.
3. Thermal Ratings
Most laminate underlayments carry a thermal rating referred to as R-Value; this rating actually determines the underlayment heat conductivity capacity. The lower the R-value the better heat conductivity or, in other words the higher the heat will run through it.
In case you finding yourself in a cold area where you intend to put the floor heat system, be sure to pay attention to the R-value of the underlayment being used. The underlayments with good R-value can also prevent the hot air from coming inside the house during summer and most of the underlayments will have R-value of between 2 &3.
4. Cost of Underlayment
Underlayments for laminate flooring come in square footage or rolls and vary from one another in terms of cost and based on the project being done. Laminate floor underlayment comes packaged in square feet and if you are involved in large project you will benefit by buying the laminate floor underlayment in squares as this saves your money as compared to when you buy small amounts of buy excess.
One more thing which also plays an important role is the brand, number of features that your laminate underlayment will have. As a result, it is advisable to take some time and compare your budget to the prices of the laminate underlayment for you toering a conclusive decision. The pricing of underlayment will vary depending on where you are, however, it does range round about $1.5 per square feet.
5. Thickness of the Underlayment
This is mainly the main question you will have in mind where the underlayment thickness is what most customers will struggle with. What refers to density, type or sound ratings it is also equally as important but not more than the thickness of underlayment materials. An extra thick underlayment is needed only if you would install carpeted floor or even the smooth uneven subfloor.
If an underlayment is to be used with additional cushioning, it will make the laminate or vinyl flooring material too flexible and may well damage the locking mechanism. The generally recommended laminate underlayment thickness should be in the range of 2 to 3 mm but be on the alert because some sellers will tell you that 6mm underlayment for a laminate can actually double the sound absorption. However, when it comes to soundproofing the quality is actually defined by two components: the material and the density.
If you’re working on a laminate floor that has an attached underlayment then you won’t need additional underlayment installing as this form of underlayment is basically used for time saving purposes. Nevertheless, they might require a vapor barrier if you intend to fit laminate flooring above a concrete substrate but with an underlayment already bonded to it which you won’t include.
6. Antimicrobial properties
Some underlayments for laminate, such as cork underlayment, have additional benefits including being an antimicrobial material. That should not be a big issue and should be relied on based on the specific flooring need and specifics of the environment where the flooring is be placed. Such microbial properties make your laminate floor healthier.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How thick should laminate underlayment be when installing laminate flooring on high traffic areas?
When installing laminate flooring in bedrooms, living room or any other place with high traffic, or you simply wish to increase the underlay thickness, your best bet is 6mm laminate underlayment. However, the standard underlayment is 3mm or ⅛ inch thick and usually the thickness of any underlayment will suffice for any subflooring type.
2. What is the best underlayment for concrete floors with laminate flooring?
The best underlayment for a concrete slab is foam or cork underlayment, as concrete is tough on your feet. That is why these materials will assist to create some sort of barrier between the laminate and concrete flooring. More importantly, the vapor barrier will still be necessary if the underlayment that was attached does not have one.
Image Credit: builddirect.com
