How to avoid common problems when installingLaminate flooring increase home value, or will it never live.
One of the most frequently asked questions is "Do I need laminate flooring underlayment?"According to the climate of the room, the wood product will expand.Proper underlayment will help protect your flooring from the weather and warping due to expansion.
There are different thicknesses of underlayment.The type of your floor is the main factor in choosing the right underlayment.Only the type specifically designed for this purpose will be used when selecting underlayment.Don't use carpet underlayment for laminate flooring installation because it may damage the locking system and make it unstable.The maximum 3mm thick underlayment is recommended by most manufacturers.All you have to do is measure, cut and lay down your padding to install the flooring.
You should know how to install it after selecting it.You can check out our installation instructions.
How much underlayment do I need to buy?Is it possible to install under laminate with attached padding?Installation of underlayment on the stairs.
Thanks for your question!If your plywood subfloor is in good shape, you don't need any extra protection.The attached underlayment is what you will be fine with.Let us know if you have any other questions.
I bought a floor with a backing.I am installing plank flooring on the second floor of my home.I don't know if I need to put a barrier before sub-flooring.
I would recommend getting a foam pad with a vapor barrier if you want to put down laminate flooring regardless of what is done to the subfloor.
I am about to install flooring over a smooth basement concrete floor.I sealed it with a concrete sealer that containedsiloxanes to prevent water from moving through the concrete.Is the visqueen vapor barrier still needed?Thank you, Jay.
Thank you so much, Jen, for reaching out to us.The silver by Feather Step may be the only one that has latex in it, but I still don't think so.Thank you for reaching out.
I have a latex allergy and am trying to find an alternative.I want to know if your product has rubber in it.Thank you!
Thank you for your question!If your vinyl flooring is in good condition, you can install laminate flooring on top of it.If you want the laminate flooring to expand and contract properly, you need an underlayment between it and the vinyl flooring.
If your vinyl flooring is concrete, you should install an underlayment that has a Vapor Barrier attached to it.Standard underlayment can be used if your subfloor is wood.
You can email us at support@bestlaminate.com or give us a call at 800-520-0961 if you need help.
I want to put flooring in my kitchen.It has vinyl flooring.Is it possible to put laminate over the vinyl without removing it?Do I need to put a barrier on top of the flooring or do I just lay it down?
Hi,Vickie!The Perfect Mat LVT is an underlayment that you would be looking for.If this is the case, you don't need to purchase any extra underlayment.If you are installing in a wet area such as a bathroom or kitchen, you might want to consider getting a Visqueen Vapor Barrier to help protect your subfloor from any mold or damage, should there be any leaks from the joints of the floor.If you have a question, you can either call or visit our Help Pages.
Do I need to put anything under the sheet vinyl floor I want to use?My main concern is the noise.What is the best way to reduce the hollow sound when walking?
Thank you for your question.If your laminate is too thick, it will eventually cause it to buckle, so we don't recommend anything above 3mm.The plastic visqueen vapor barrier is all you need if you are going over concrete.If you go over a wood sub-floor with your laminate and it already has the pad attached, no more underlayment is required.I wouldn't worry about it too much if it's not a big deal.You would want to level the spots with concrete mix or self leveler if the imperfections are more than 1/2′′.Best of luck.Brittany.
We have purchased a new floor to be installed this week in our house, which comes with a pad at the bottom of the pieces, but do we really need the extra?Is there concrete level flaws?Does the extra padding make up for the lack of consistency or levelness of the floor?Thank you for letting me know your thoughts.The city of Savannah.
Here is a link to our Underlayment, we don't carry any rubber.I hope you find what you are looking for.Brittany.
I only need 2m x 450 to buy thin flooring foam rubber.I need to know your address.My ph is 09.
Hi!Thank you for your question.If the carpet is thin and glues down to cement and there is no padding underneath, then you don't have to remove it, but if it is normal carpet with padding, you should use the recommended underlayment.I hope this helps.Good luck.Brittany.
Is it necessary to remove the carpet before installing flooring?If it's not necessary to remove it, can I install on top of the carpet?
Thank you for your question.If it is a sturdy subfloor, the noise level will depend on what you are putting down on.If it is not a sturdy floor you will want to purchase a thicker floor if you can get it.If you are laying the laminate in a room with a lot of humidity, you should get a barrier to protect it.I hope this helps.Brittany.
I am buying flooring for a second floor bedroom.The carpeting will be ripped out.I'm not sure what's under it, but I know there aren't hardwoods underneath.There is an attached pad on the flooring I am looking to purchase.I am not concerned about excessive noise because this will be a guest room and not used all the time.I am worried because I'm also reading about it.Is this a concern for a 2nd floor bedroom?Thanks!
If you're hearing noises, there isn't really a way to quiet them down.You would still hear some noises even if he used the best padding.If you want to make sure that your neighbors use padding that exceeds the sound rating required for your building, you should call the apartment/condo association.
Our neighbor put down flooring.Is there a fix to this or what kind of sound barrier should the unit owner have used?
In most cases the use of an additional underlayment underneath of laminate with pre-attached padding will not only void the warranty but it will also most likely cause your floor to feel flimsy because of too much cushion underneath.I don't think it's a good idea to put underlayment underneath your laminate.If you install your flooring on a concrete slab subfloor, you will need to lay down a Visqueen Vapor Barrier underneath to act as a vapor barrier.Thank you for the question.Fred.
I have a rubber pad.Can I use 3mm foam to reduce noise?
Visqueen is a 6mil plastic underlayment that you need underneath your flooring.The padding attached to your flooring isn't suitable for a moisture barrier.
The pad is attached to the flooring.Should I lay it over the plastic?
I don't know which manufacturer made the underlayment, so I would check with the manufacturer on that issue.It's usually caused by a small expansion gap.The entire perimeter of your flooring installation should have an expansion gap of at least 1/4′′ along the wall.If the total area is over 500 sq.ft.The expansion gap should be at least 3/8′′.I hope they can figure it out, but I believe it's related to the expansion gap.Good luck.Fred.
I had my flooring installed in a room that was built on a concrete floor.Twice I had to call the flooring company to have the floor fixed.They are confused by the problem.There is a plastic substance on one side and a heavy felt material on the other side of the barrier.Which side should lay on top of the concrete or the plastic?I need a quick response from this company before they tear up my flooring.Thank you, Jackie.
6 easy steps how to prepare sub floor for flooring installation
Bruce Hardwood Floor Cleaner has 6 easy steps to prepare subfloor for flooring installation.