Best Underlay for Laminate Floor (Our 3 Favorite Brands) (2023)

FAQs

Which laminate floor underlayment is the best? ›

If you're wondering what's the best underlay for laminate or wood flooring, Fibreboard is a brilliant choice. It helps smooth uneven floors, reduces noise and acts as an excellent thermal insulator. Not to mention, it's also the number one choice of underlay for laminate and wooden floors.

Synthetic Underlayment

This is currently the most popular choice for roof underlayment, and with good reason. Made with an asphalt-saturated basemat and fortified with a mix of fiberglass, this product is not only extremely water-resistant, much stronger and more resistant to tears than other types of underlayment.

Cork. Cork is a premium underlayment for laminate flooring as it is used to reduce noise. It also has natural antimicrobial properties that prevent mold growth between the laminate flooring and the subfloor. Cork underlayment also provides ample cushioning, is a good insulator, and absorbs sound well.

For maximum soundproofing, as is desired for apartments, a thick underlay is almost always required (from 5 mm) when laying floating laminate or wooden floors. The disadvantage of these underlays is that they cannot be used in combination with underfloor heating.

Thickness, density and composition dictate the tog rating of a carpet or underlay, much like they do for a mattress. A lower rating will let more heat escape, which is good if you have an underfloor heating system, as it allows the heat to rise and warm the rest of your room.

Underlayment. Underneath the top flooring layer is often (though not always) an underlayment. It comprises padding materials and is typically about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in thickness. The purpose of the underlayment is to provide a sturdy yet comfortable layer for your outer flooring to sit on.

DRICORE Insul-Armor is the most premium subfloor. With an R-value of 4.1, DRICORE Insul-Armor provides one of the highest R-values in the market, meaning maximum warmth and comfort for your family.

If it cost an extra $200 for the underlayment for your flooring, it will last for years longer compared to lower quality made underlayment. Basically it will cost a couple of pennies each day for you to have your floor looking nice and staying strong.

To avoid disturbing your neighbour you should install a resilient underlay under your laminate floor. Extensive use of rugs in areas where you walk a lot will also help. Wearing soft soled shoes, such as slippers, will also reduce the amount of noise you generate.

Carpets are effective in reducing both impact and airborne noise. Carpet underlay can greatly improve the performance of carpet in deadening noise.

How do you quiet a noisy laminate floor? ›

The quickest and easiest way to fix a squeaky floor is to put some talcum powder down into the joints surrounding the area that is squeaking. This will buffer the pieces as they flex under foot traffic; rather than rubbing against each other and thus squeaking and creaking, the pieces rub against the powder.

Extra Padding Poses a Risk

By adding unnecessary cushioning, you could actually be causing more harm to your floor than good. The added friction could cause the underlayment to wear down quickly and make your floors less stable over time, causing stress on the floating floor's locking system joints.

We would recommend an underlay of 3 – 5mm for laminate flooring. It should be at least 3mm thick to provide comfort and ground levelling properties. But, it should be no more than 5mm thick. If it's any thicker, you could experience problems with the laminate's locking system.

Yes. Unless your flooring planks have pre-attached underlay, you will need to buy separate laminate underlay for your project. The extra layer of cushioning can provide a wide range of benefits, protecting your new floor from damage. This will significantly improve your new floors look, feel, and overall performance.

Foam underlay – Typically made of PU foam, this is one of the most versatile types of underlay. It's soft and lightweight as well as being good for insulation and noise reduction. Foam is also a very easy underlay to fit, making it fantastic for difficult areas like staircases or hallways.

There are three primary grades of comfortable underlays: Luxury (premium comfort), General Domestic (very good everyday comfort) and Light Domestic (good comfort, usable around the home, but not recommended for stairs).

There are two different types of underlayment, felt and synthetic. Felt underlayment is the older of the two and comes in 15 lb and 30 lb rolls. The big difference between the two types of felt underlayment is that 30 lb is thicker, stronger, and less likely to tear than 15 lb.

The higher the number, the higher the resistance – the better. To meet International Building Code – both IIC and STC need to meet the minimum of 50 to pass. Many larger luxury condo associations and municipalities are now looking at the higher 50's and lower 60's range.

Felt: Perhaps the simplest type of underlayment, felt offers basic sound absorption and moisture barrier capabilities. Foam: This material is one of the easiest and most affordable types of underlayment to install.

When selecting underlayment, be certain to use only the type specifically designed for this purpose. You can not use carpet underlayment for laminate flooring installation- too thick padding may damage or make unstable locking system, so stay away from it.

Is thicker underlayment better? ›

Keep your underlayment as thin as possible. Thicker underlayments will begin to pose problems since they can create offset issues between rooms with different flooring materials. Transitions can be problematic if the floor level is substantially higher in one room than in the adjacent room.

Insulation and Noise Reduction Considerations

The higher the R-value of the underlayment, the less heat will be able to move through it, while the lower the R-value is, the less insulation the underlayment provides. A high R-value underlayment will make the floor feel warmer underfoot in the winter.

If you choose to insulate under your floors, the typical recommendation is: R-25 for cold climates. R-19 for mild climates. R-13 for warmer climates.

Which is the best thermal carpet underlay? Generally speaking – when looking for thermal underlay – the higher the TOG rating, the better. That's why, for most projects, we typically recommend the Plushwalk 12mm Carpet Underlay. This is the best thermal carpet underlay to date.

In addition to the STC and IIC ratings, some underlayments may also have a thermal rating, or R-value. This refers to the underlayment's ability to conduct heat. The higher an R-value is, the less heat will move through it.

Synthetic underlayment lasts longer than traditional roofing felt, which makes it a better investment for homeowners. It's also more water-resistant, which means greater protection for the roof deck should the primary roofing material fail.

Underlayment is manufactured and meant to be used as only a single layer to allow your floor to be balanced and float properly. If you install any additional underlayment, the base for your flooring will end up being too soft and could jeopardize the integrity of the locking system.

Underlayment, or “padding” as it's often called, is the spongy, closed-cell plastic foam sheet that comes in rolls. It is rolled out between the actual laminate flooring planks and the subfloor.

If a floor has too many humps or depressions, a filling compound needs to be used to get the floor flat. Laminate flooring will snap and pop as you walk on it if it's bridging across hollow spots under the flooring. Your weight stresses the interlocking tongues and grooves in the flooring, causing the noise.

If your laminate floors are creaking, the most obvious culprit is an uneven subfloor. If your flooring is a relatively recent installation, consider whether the previous flooring in the room had a little squeak as well.

Why is my new laminate floor bouncy? ›

Expansion gap issue

If no gap was included, then there's nowhere for any expansion in the boards to go but up, causing the bouncing sensation when you walk on the floor. The good news is that this issue can be fixed by trimming away a narrow strip of laminate at the very edges of the floor to create an expansion gap.

PU foam is the most recommended underlay for carpet given it's luxurious cushioning and comfort underfoot. It's great for keeping in the heat, reducing sound levels and available in different types of thickness, density and quality which suits all budgets.

Underlay for laminate flooring is usually 3 mm thick. This may seem thin, but using thick underlay will create too much bounce when people walk on it and cause the floor to move underfoot.

To get the cleanest, most professional sounding recording, you want the noise floor low. In other words, you just want to be able to record without any unwanted noise. For home recordings, the noise floor is going to be most influenced by background noise and not so much the noise of our gear.

When it's installed with a suitable underlayment, laminate is more comfortable and quieter than vinyl. That's why it's great in bedrooms and living areas.

If you have an edge-glued floating floor that is making a lot of noise, chances are the issue is either floor prep or moisture. Let's take a look at each one. Moisture testing your subfloor is key so you don't install a floating floor where it will absorb too much moisture, expand and make noise.

Without an expansion gap 'buckling' is a common problem. The expanding laminate floor has no gap to allow for movement. This will cause laminate floorboards to be forced up, often causing a bounce. In extreme cases, it can damage the click system.

An expansion gap is essential when it comes to laminate flooring installation. The recommended expansion gap is a minimum of ¼ inch. Expert installers say that the larger the space, the larger the expansion gap should be, as the floor needs more space to expand and contract with temperature.

You absolutely cannot use carpet underlayment underneath laminate flooring. As much as you want to cut down costs on a new floor, this is not the way to do it. Installing laminate flooring over carpet underlayment will do more harm than good in the long run.

Foam underlay comes in rolls and is a great entry-level choice for your new floors. It's affordable and is ideal for laying over all types of subfloors. For concrete subfloors, make sure you opt for an underlay that has a vapour barrier to prevent damp from affecting your floors.

Which is better 8mm or 12mm laminate flooring? ›

Impact Resistance

12mm is much more impact resistant than 8mm. Sharp items that accidentally fall on a thicker base will have very little effect on it. That's the reason why people prefer 12mm laminate in high traffic areas.

Laminate ranges from 6-mm to 12-mm and, as a rule, it shouldn't be less than 8-mm. If, however, budget is an issue and if your subfloor is level and debris-free, you might be able to get away with 7-mm; keep in mind that subfloor imperfections can telegraph to the surface floor, so make sure it's okay.

Good-quality laminate floorboards should lock together seamlessly and create a flat surface – if the edges seem rough or uneven it may cause installation issues, so look for a precision-machined edge. Take a close look at how thick the laminate is.

Nätura foam underlay is ideal for use with laminate or wood flooring. The 2mm thickness P.E poly foam underlay offers some sound reduction and thermal insulation, but doesn't come with a DPM. This underlay is ideally used over wood or chipboard subfloors.

You can not use carpet underlayment for laminate flooring installation- too thick padding may damage or make unstable locking system, so stay away from it. Generally all manufacturers are recommending use of maximum 3mm thick underlayment.

Underlayment. Underneath the top flooring layer is often (though not always) an underlayment. It comprises padding materials and is typically about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in thickness. The purpose of the underlayment is to provide a sturdy yet comfortable layer for your outer flooring to sit on.

DRICORE Insul-Armor is the most premium subfloor. With an R-value of 4.1, DRICORE Insul-Armor provides one of the highest R-values in the market, meaning maximum warmth and comfort for your family.

The four most common types of laminate flooring underlay materials include: basic foam, combination style, felt, and cork. Basic foam underlayment is ideal for plywood subfloors. It is usually made of polyethylene or polypropylene. Polypropylene does not have a vapor barrier, making it ideal for plywood subfloors.

EVA Foam. EVA foam is another safe foam. Compared to polypropylene and polyethylene it does have slightly more of an odor. EVA foam underlayment can be used under floating floors like engineered wood, laminate, bamboo, and vinyl as well as carpet.

12mm is much more impact resistant than 8mm. Sharp items that accidentally fall on a thicker base will have very little effect on it. That's the reason why people prefer 12mm laminate in high traffic areas.

Is thicker underlay better? ›

The main purpose of carpet underlay is to enhance underfoot comfort and improve insulation. Therefore, as a general rule of thumb – the thicker it is, the better.

“The best underlayment to use for vinyl flooring is Whisper Step. The reason we sell so much of it and recommend it is that it is basically universal – you can put it under floating floors, nail-down floors, or glue-down floors; vinyl, laminate, engineered wood or solid wood.

Generally speaking, there are four types of underlayment: standard foam, combination foam, upgraded, and cork. Standard foam is the cheapest and usually comes in 1/8-inch thick rolls, but provides minimal protection. Combination foam is similar to standard; however, it comes equipped with a moisture barrier.

3 in 1 underlayment is typically a thin foam pad used under floating floors, usually created from either polyethylene or polypropylene. It most often comes in rolls of 100 to 200 square feet and is rolled out onto the sub-floor before the hardwood, laminate, and vinyl tile flooring is laid down.