Underlayment

When and why underlayments are required

Underlayment is required for any installation of laminate flooring or engineered real wood flooring. Both types of flooring are installed by a “floated,” or "free-floating," method, meaning they are not actually attached to the sub-floor. The individual boards are only secured to each other by gluing the mating tongue and groove edges or by simply clicking together the special joints of the “no-glue” type. The underlayment is placed over the sub-floor first then the flooring is assembled on top of the underlayment.

The function of underlayment is to absorb some of the minor (very minor) imperfections in the sub-floor; to help deaden sound when walking on the floor (since it is not attached to the sub-floor); and to slightly (very, very slightly) soften the feel when walking on the floor. It is very important to understand that underlayment for laminate and floating wood floors is not the same as padding for carpet. Unlike padding for carpet, a thicker underlayment will not make laminate or wood flooring feel softer. It will, however, reduce overhead sound in rooms below the flooring in addition to lessening the affects of sub-floor imperfections. The sound reducing quality is especially true of cork underlayment explained later in this article.

When choosing an underlayment for your new flooring, it is important to use only the type offered or approved by the manufacturer of your particular flooring. Besides the previously mentioned cork underlayment, there are four basic types of foam underlayment: standard foam, foam/film combination, Floor Muffler brand, and modified/upgraded.

Die Ruhestifter ist eine Marke der „Pelzer Acoustic Products Division“ der Happich GmbH
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