Do I Need Underlay for Vinyl Flooring?

Due to luxury vinyl flooring’s minimal maintenance needs, waterproof design, durable construction and affordability, it is the highest-regarded resilient flooring available on the market. It also has the ideal amount of giving – or movement – as you walk on it for a comfortable feel. There are many variations of vinyl flooring, such as Karndean Click vinyl flooring and Luvanto luxury vinyl flooring, and they can be used for many different purposes. Vinyl can be used for bathrooms, hallways and kitchens as much as living rooms and bedrooms. Occasionally, traditional flooring in these rooms experiences difficult circumstances that result in your floor seeing deep scratching and stains – which makes vinyl flooring the best solution available. If your home is prone to mess, a darker colour vinyl design is recommended. You will need to make sure that safety is put into vinyl underlay to ensure you’re able to keep it in good condition for a longer period of time.

Underlay Types

Underlayment acts as a thin layer between the finished floor and your subfloor – even as a cover for underfloor heating systems. It reduces noise, helps your moisture management and even makes your flooring a bit more forgiving underfoot.

Foam is a good place to start and the most affordable option and an ideal choice if your subfloor is made of plywood. You should ensure your subfloor is fully dry before laying this as water and foam do not mix well. Felt is another option that aids with noise reduction due to its density and makes for a great insulator. However, felt thinness makes it not as effective for comfort.

Additional Underlay Options

Cork is another substance that is good for sound insulation and can take a small amount of moisture if unavoidable. It also is excellent for fending off mould and mildew as an underlay. Particleboard is a more hybrid version of foam and wood which is cheaper, but also more brittle so it requires a top-notch subfloor before installation.

Plywood is very similar to particleboard but has a much stronger density and is fully water resistant. It cannot support weight at one point and will require that weight to be dispersed evenly on top of it.

Other Considerations

Before adding your chosen underlay, your subfloor will require a thorough cleaning to safeguard against future issues. Debris left on the flooring can slowly begin to affect your flooring stability and make your beautiful floor uneven.

Over time these components may also show signs of degradation and begin to leave a space between the underlay and the subfloor, which will allow for audible movement, cause the floor to squeak or allow fasteners to protrude.

If you are buying vinyl flooring, you will need to gauge which vinyl underlay is ideal for your requirements. Discuss your requirements with the team at Floorbay today.