The easiest way to figure out if you need underlayment for your new vinyl plank flooring is to look at your current floor.
Why do vinyl floor not require underlayment.
Vinyl flooring is so thin that any imperfections underneath it like bumps grooves or cracks will show right through.
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.
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.
The attached underlayment will allow your flooring to float just as standard underlayment would.
Underlayment goes on top of the structural support of your floor and under your actual flooring.
Tip felt underlayment can be as much as twice as expensive as foam underlayment but it provides better sound absorption.
It is designed to create a smooth durable surface which is why it is so important for vinyl flooring.
Why do you need to worry about moisture for your flooring.
A luxury vinyl tile lvt underlayment is a specially formulated underlayment for installing underneath luxury tiles.
Laminate flooring is made out of composed resin and fiber board materials with a photographic applique layer under a clear protective layer.
Be sure to prepare your subfloor before installation to assure a seamless and smooth surface.
Plywood underlayment is a thin plywood material that is most commonly used under resilient flooring materials such as vinyl and linoleum sheets and tiles.
When installing vinyl plank flooring over existing floor materials underlayment may not be required but it can help with cushioning and sound reduction.
To break it down here are the main reasons you need.
If moisture from your subfloor concrete or wood get to the fiber board material your flooring will absorb the moisture and start to bow or warp.
If you don t add underlayment to your pergo floors you ll violate the floor s warranty.
It is important to know if you need underlayment or not with a vinyl flooring installation.
If you are installing laminate flooring with pre attached underlayment on a wood subfloor you do not need any additional underlayment.
If your pergo floors do not come with underlayment then it s important that you purchase it and lay it over your subfloor before installing your new pergo floor.
Do i really need it.
Unlike laminate flooring most vinyl floors are designed to lay directly on top of the subfloor.
Some products have it built into the product itself so it s not necessary to lay it separately.
