Different types of flooring require different types of underlayment. Underlayment will ensure that the type of flooring you purchased will definitely last longer. Underlayment in general makes your flooring more durable, reduces sound, absorbs falls, and provides plenty of other benefits. Underlayment may not look as desirable and good as you wish but there plenty of different styles for the underlayment to choose from with many different benefits and features. That’s why we are providing you with a complete guide to help you choose from the different underlayment with different designs and features.

Floor underlayment can change the durability and maintenance need of your floor, so it’s extremely important to choose the right one so you receive the right benefits. You might be asking yourself, what type of underlay I need according to the floor I purchased. How much underlayment do I need? Do I have to install the underlayment with the flooring? What are the different features available? This guide will provide you with an answer to all of your questions. It may be hard to understand at first but after having this quick review the decision will be easier.

Definition of an underlayment

Before you proceed on with the guide, you need to understand what an underlayment is. An underlayment is the layer that is right under the flooring surface. It’s the thin layer made of different materials like sponge rubber, foam, felt or crumb rubber, it is placed to provide comfort under foot, reduce wear and maintenance and provide a more durable flooring. It also provides insulation against sound, moisture and temperature variation.

Why do I need to install flooring underlayment

As mentioned above, flooring underlayment can be extremely essential to install to help make your flooring more durable. Underlayment is technically what protects your flooring. It helps the flooring last long in many different ways; it keeps the moisture away from your flooring, it reduces noise produced from stepping on the flooring, it’s more comfortable to stand on so you can imagine how important it is to install it in places that need a lot of comfort when walking on: for example the kitchen where a lot of work is being done. It can also provide warmth and heating.

Here are the following features simplified:

• Moisture barrier
  Underlayment protects your flooring by creating a moisture barrier between your floor and subfloor making it last longer for sure. This can be extremely useful when wanting to install your flooring in a bathroom, kitchen or even the basement.
• Noise reduction
  The sound that comes from stepping on a floor, laminate for example, can be reduced or removed by installing an underlay. This noise can be annoying especially when installing the flooring in an office, on stairs, at home where are there are kids playing.
• Comfortable Cushioning
  Some types of underlayment provide comfortable cushioning which makes it more comfortable to walk on the flooring you have installed. This can be extremely useful when you want to install your flooring in an area where you work for long hours, the kitchen for example providing a soft feel when walking on the flooring.
• Heating
  Underlayment can provide insulation to the flooring therefore providing extra heat to the room. This insulation layer can help the floor not being affected by the different temperature variations.
• Smooth consistent floor
  Sometimes the floor expands or contracts depending the different environmental factors by a small factor. The underlayment can help your floor stay at a constant even surface providing a better walking experience and reducing the time needed to maintain your flooring when these changes occur.

Not only does it provide all these features but it is also completely easy to install, you don’t have to glue or stick you need to just place it which makes it extremely easy to install. The importance of installing an underlay can’t be ignored. Underlayment is the most critical important feature when it comes to installing flooring both at home and commercially. So it’s extremely important to make the right decisions when choosing the right underlayment.

Laminate flooring Underlayment 

 Installing underlayment under your laminate floor is extremely essential. Laminate floors when installed are glued down on the floor and so they need underlayment to support it. With climate changes and environmental factors laminate floors tend to shift from place therefore there must be a supporting underlayment. Underlayment is placed between the laminate floors and the subfloors.

In order to prevent your flooring from being ruined by any moisture or vapor you must install the flooring underlayment. Check if your laminate floor doesn’t come already with underlayment if not you need to install the underlayment separately. Underlayment are the most important feature to consider whether you were installing the floor at home or commercially. The underlayment does two things go ensure that the laminate experience is successful:

• Underlayment in laminate floors ensures that the subfloor and floor are at an even surface.
• It provides extraordinary quality to the flooring.

For laminate floors it’s extremely recommended to add a vapor barrier even though the underlayment usually comes with a vapor barrier. This will help in adding extra protection to the laminate floor. There are different qualities for the underlayment. It is recommended to purchase the highest quality underlayment as it is worth since it directly affects the laminate floor.

• Standard foam
  This type of underlayment is made of a foam material that is placed between the subfloor and the laminate flooring. It’s used most widely but doesn’t provide a moisture/vapor barrier.
• Combination foam underlayment
  It’s made of a combination of both foam and a vapor barrier that will protect the laminate flooring from any moisture. As it consists of more features it’s more expensive but will definitely help make the laminate floor last longer especially in areas where there is high moisture.
• Cork Underlayment
  This type of underlayment is used in areas where your main focus is to reduce the sound coming from stepping on laminate floors.

Carpet Flooring Underlayment 

 It’s extremely important to take into consideration installing carpet underlayment. It will improve your carpet feel in so many different aspects: it will definitely last longer, provide extra protection against environmental factors, feel softer and more comfortable, can provide extra heating and insulation, and reduce noise.

Carpet underlayment are an extra layer under the carpet that provides soft feeling underfoot and reduce any stress from the fibers by absorbing the impact. Before you purchase the carpet underlayment make sure you check which one matches with the carpet you purchased. It depends on both the carpet and subflooring. It’s an important part of installation when installing your carpet that is why you need to make sure that you are careful when you choose it. There are different types of carpet underlayment depending on the density and thickness, traffic level and subfloor.

There are different qualities to purchase depending on the different uses of the carpet. If you wanted to install the carpet in an area where there is heavy traffic then make sure you purchase a denser higher quality carpet underlayment. Other rooms may require you to purchase carpet underlayment that provides extra comfort, cushioning and soft feel underfoot.

Make sure you make the right choice because if you purchased the wrong carpet underlayment that does not match with your carpet it can affect your carpet by causing uneven surfacing and might damage the fibers underneath. At the end of the day you want to add the carpet underlayment to increase the comfort and increase the durability.

Vinyl Flooring Underlayment 

Just like other types of floorings you need to check if your vinyl floorings need any type of underlayment. Vinyl floors are different than laminate floors in installation so you need to understand the reason of having to install underlayment for your vinyl floors and the different types that you might require to install.

The main reason why you need to install vinyl floor underlayment is that you want to make the sure that the final look for your product looks well finished and provides an even surface. You also want to make sure that your vinyl floors are stable and protected from any factor that might affect it. The other features, just like any other type of flooring underlayment, the vinyl floor underlayment will provide protection against moisture, reduce sounds and provide extra durability making it last longer.