Do You Need Padding Under Vinyl Flooring

There are three primary reasons why vinyl flooring owners should have underlayment installed beneath the surface.

Do you need padding under vinyl flooring.

Putting a soft product under vinyl plank will result in an unstable floor that is much more inclined to being damaged and even punctured or torn over time. Vinyl and pvc do not need moisture protection. For vinyl flooring installations over wood subfloors you will not need to worry about a moisture barrier but you may want an underlayment for added cushion or sound reduction. If you do lay a separate underlay they are in general thinner than what you would install with laminate or carpet.

X 1 5 mm premium silent underlayment for vinyl plank laminate hardwood and tile model 22491 125 00. To allow for a smoother exterior along the finish floor to provide added stability and protection and to enhance the acoustic capabilities of the floor. Nance carpet and rug versapad 180 sq. There are several factors to consider when it comes to vinyl flooring underlayment.

And you shouldn t use padding to even out your subfloor as that will allow the floor seams to move more you should level mechanically or with a compound. It may also be a requirement in certain hoa or apartment complexes to have a sound barrier with your flooring. 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. While underlayment for vinyl planks may be used under hardwood and laminate the reverse is not true.

Again this is for minor imperfections. Placing underlayment padding can help with covering up minor imperfections and slight unevenness with a subfloor. Vinyl underlayment is generally an option if you re looking for extra cushion sound absorption or thermal properties. Laminate flooring is so thin that it needs underlayment s extra help to feel and act like real wood.

Consider the issue of sound transmission. 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. Why would you want to install an lvt underlayment too. Most floors require a slope or change of no more than 1 8 across any 6 foot span and underlayment will not correct subfloors that do not meet that.

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.