What Kind Of Underlayment Do You Use For Vinyl Flooring

Underlayment isn t a necessity but you might consider it to add noise reducing qualities or additional softness to the product.

What kind of underlayment do you use for vinyl flooring.

The type of vinyl flooring and type of subfloor you have will determine if you are able to use a vinyl flooring underlayment. Unlike laminate flooring most vinyl floors are designed to lay directly on top of the subfloor. Like plywood or osb flooring you can forgo the underlayment entirely if you prefer. If you re installing new vinyl flooring over an existing floor such as hardwood tile laminate or vinyl then cork or foam make good choices.

A vinyl flooring underlayment will not be as thick as a laminate or hardwood underlayment. Vinyl tile vinyl tile is available in three main styles with vct or vinyl composition tiles peel and stick tile and luxury vinyl tile. Vinyl underlayment is an optional add on to click lock vinyls that are 4mm or thicker. There are several types of underlayment for this type of flooring and we ve seen brands with a thin layer of foam pre attached as well.

In fact as a softer flooring adding an underlayment could mean too much cushion resulting in dents and more wear and tear sooner. Because you can install sheet vinyl over existing vinyl it offers the option of changing design without breaking the bank. The key to installing luxury vinyl over concrete is to ensure the floor is level and clean. 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.

A breathable foam type underlayment is generally used when installing laminate flooring over plywood or osb subfloors. Opt for a dense underlayment if you go for one. What about concrete should you use a special underlayment for laying vinyl on concrete. Vinyl flooring is usually not installed directly over the subfloor in residential applications.

However you ll want to use one in every other application including covering existing hardwood floors vinyl flooring that isn t cushioned and concrete floors. Before installing a vinyl floor you will need to make sure your subfloor meets these requirements. Plywood underlayment is a thin plywood material that is most commonly used under resilient flooring materials such as vinyl and linoleum sheets and tiles. 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.

In most cases you will not want to use a vapor barrier type underlayment when installing laminates on a standard plywood subfloor because wood is a natural material that needs to breathe installing a vapor barrier over this can cause moisture to become.