After you've selected your luxury vinyl flooring you might ask yourself if an underlayment is required? It really depends on the subfloor type along with the product you'll be installing. Some luxury vinyl flooring products have a built in underlayment which adds an additional cushion to your floor along with reducing noise.
Why would you want to install an underlayment?
- One of the biggest reason would be for noise reduction. If you have thin walls and live close to your neighbors, this may be a problem. Having an additional underlayment can help reduce noise from traveling from room to room.
- It compensates for imperfect subfloors. All subfloors are not created equal and some have flaws. Minor imperfections are common and an underlayment can cover up minor problems. It's important to know that they will not solve major subfloor imperfections.
- It can provide a moisture barrier. Even waterproof vinyl flooring can benefit from an underlayment. When installing in a room close to a bathroom or kitchen where moisture is common might require an additional underlayment. Having that layer of moisture barrier means protecting your subfloors for the long haul.
It's best to talk to one of our flooring consultants when deciding if an additional underlayment would be necessary for the product you are choosing.