What should I put down under vinyl flooring?

Any type of flooring can benefit from an underlayment — even luxury vinyl tile. This holds true no matter what type of subfloor it will be installed on, including concrete, wood flooring, or any other type of flooring. Underlayment can improve the vinyl tile's ability to absorb sound.

What do you put down before vinyl flooring?

Vinyl flooring is usually not installed directly over the subfloor in residential applications. In most cases 4-by-8-foot sheets of particle board or plywood must be installed in preparation for the vinyl floor install.

What is the best material to put under vinyl flooring?

Underlay. Most vinyl floors don't need an underlay. If the surface you're laying on is level and smooth, a well-cushioned vinyl floor should be fine on its own. Our Luxury Vinyl Click flooring is laid using the same as technique as laminate options in that it's loose laid creating a "floating floor".

What is typically under vinyl flooring?

Today, subfloors are typically made from plywood, OSB, particleboard or another affordable, durable and easy-to-install material.

Is underlayment necessary for vinyl flooring?

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. 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.

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What is the difference between subfloor and underlayment?

Basically, subfloors are a structural part of your home that provide strength and rigidity to your home's flooring. Underlays, on the other hand, protect your floor covering from moisture, help soundproof your floor, and offer cushioning and comfort underfoot.

How thick should underlayment be for vinyl flooring?

Most vinyl underlayments are 1mm to 1.5mm thick. When dealing with a click lock vinyl of 4mm or thicker, an underlayment has several benefits: It can help smooth over minor subfloor imperfections. It will add extra cushion to the floor, creating a softer feel under foot.

What type of plywood is used for underlayment?

Lauan Plywood, when used as an underlayment, should be Type 1 (Exterior). The best grade is BB and the next best is CC, while OVL (overlay grade) is the minimum acceptable face grade. There is a wide variety of quality and species classed as lauan.

How do you prepare a floor for vinyl plank flooring?

Prep your subfloor so that it's clean, dry and level within 3/16-inch change per 10 feet. Use a self-leveler on low spots and/or sand high spots of wood or concrete. Don't sand vinyl flooring as it may contain asbestos.

Do I need underlayment for vinyl flooring on plywood?

For wood subfloor, a moisture barrier is unnecessary, but underlayment can provide cushion. When installing vinyl plank flooring over existing floor materials, underlayment may not be required, but it can help with cushioning and sound reduction.

How do you prepare wood subfloor for vinyl?

Can I lay vinyl over underlay?

The simple fact is this is not good practice as a vinyl is designed to lay directly to a suitably prepared wood or concrete floor. Laying vinyl onto an underlay, even a very dense product, will cause problems. The primary issue is that it is likely that the product will be prone to being punctured.

What type of underlayment do you use for vinyl planks on concrete?

If you're installing it over concrete and you have a question about moisture issues, consider adding a vapor barrier underlayment first that will product against water problems. Just ensure any underlayment you add is thin, so it doesn't impact the locking process of the vinyl planks.

What is the best subfloor material?

Plywood. Plywood is considered the most popular material used for subflooring, it has been used since the 1950s and remains one of the top choices for contractors. Standard plywood works perfectly fine as a subflooring material, but the best option is ¾” tongue-and-groove plywood subflooring.

Is it better to use OSB or plywood for subfloor?

OSB has a lower resale value than plywood due to its lower strength. For this reason, few homeowners prefer OSB in their homes. Apart from costs, plywood is superior in all the other areas, such as the strength of the structure. For this reason, it's a superior material for use on the subfloor.

What thickness plywood should I use for flooring?

Some experts suggest that 15/32-inch plywood should be standard if the underlying floor joists are spaced 16 inches apart or less, but you should use slightly thicker 3/4-inch plywood for joists spaced further apart. However, check with your local code authorities for the official recommendations.

Can you use laminate underlay for vinyl?

No, this is not possible. The main reasons for this are the difference in compressive strength and the thickness of the underlay. For a vinyl floor, you need an underlay with a high compressive strength, because the vinyl floor on top is soft and flexible.

Do I need underlayment and subfloor?

If your subfloor is wood and you want to put down tile, you're going to need an underlayment. As Bob Vila points out, the industry standard is a concrete backer board. A common tile installation method starts with a layer of thinset (a mortar adhesive) going over the subfloor.

Can I use cement board as subfloor?

No, Hardie cement board is not meant to be structural, and it will not work in place of a subfloor. The board is very strong in compression and very stable so that the tiles applied to it do not crack, but it has very little shear strength.

Can mold grow under vinyl plank flooring?

Although vinyl plank flooring is well-known to be waterproof, it does not mean that liquids can seep through the cracks, grooves, or edges and become trapped under the planks, allowing mold to grow underneath your floors.

Does waterproof vinyl flooring need an underlayment?

Furthermore, if you are installing luxury vinyl tile directly over a concrete floor, a waterproof underlayment is essential.