Laying Underlayment Under Laminate

Plywood is only one type of underlayment.

Laying underlayment under laminate.

Underlayment for laminate flooring is a must. The underlayment helps the laminate planks lay smoother connect better and for the flooring to feel slightly softer underfoot. The underlayment cushions the floor thus preventing bends and cracks and it also protects against moisture. Unroll any required underlayment and moisture barrier in long strips joining each row with tape.

Simply roll the material out beginning in a corner shiny side up to the other side of the room. Underlayment is what allows the floor to float gives it stability support noise reduction and supports the locking systems in between planks to assure the sturdiest flooring project. Make sure to leave 2 around the edges on all sides this will be trimmed off after the flooring is installed. You ll trim the length after the floor is installed.

Other common types include cementboard or tile backer used under ceramic or stone tile foam underlayment used under laminate and engineered wood floating floors and rosin paper used under solid hardwood flooring. As you unroll each roll the clear plastic end lies on top of the end with adhesive strip and two white pieces of foam will be butted up against each other. Laminate flooring for example is usually installed in a floating format and any underlayment is usually foam padding that simply protects against noise. Be careful not to overlap the edges.

The underlayment attached is meant to save you time from installing underlayment. Underlayment is either pre attached to the bottom of the laminate flooring by the manufacturer or it is installed separately by the user. The underlayment has a plastic strip on one end that goes along the wall and up the wall that will be covered by the baseboard and the other end has a strip of adhesive tape. Leave it long at each end of the room.

These two functions are combined in plastic coated foam underlayment available from. Hardibacker or concrete boards for. If your laminate flooring already has underlayment attached you would not use another underlayment.