No, carpet underlay is not a suitable underlay for laminate flooring. The carpet underlay is too thick and will be too bouncy underfoot.
Carpet underlay is usually much thicker than laminate underlay. It's usually around 10mm thick, whereas laminate underlay is usually around 3mm thick. If you install laminate on top of a carpet underlay, the floor will be too bouncy and spongy, which can damage the locking system and provide an uncomfortable feel.
You cannot lay wood floor over carpet underlay because this underlayment is soft, bendy, and thick. Installing wooden planks over carpet underlay can make your floor bouncy, which damages the locking system. Use a layer of plywood between the carpet and the wood for stability instead.
Using underlay does add extra costs to installing laminate flooring, but in the long term, underlay adds extra life to laminate flooring, not to mention its performance, so is cost effective. Make sure that you buy enough underlay to cover the room.
The most common type of floors floated over carpet are vinyl and laminate, given they are budget-friendly and feature a simple interlocking system of installation.
This is usually 3mm thick, or 1/8” thick. Standard underlayment. This is the most commonly used underlayment. It is also 3mm thick (1/8” thick) and is best installed over wood subflooring.
Hybrid floors are also unsuitable for installation over carpet.
As carpet underlays are generally thicker than what is needed, reaching up to 10 mm in thickness, it would not be advisable to install vinyl over it. Having this thick underlay under the vinyl will make the flooring unstable.
You can lay your vinyl planks over your carpet if you cannot strip it off your floor for one reason or another. Depending on what type of carpet you have on your floor, you can lay your vinyl planks directly on top of it, or you can put a wooden board over the carpet first before laying the planks.
The normal choice is a thin foam pad material made of polyethylene or polypropylene, which rolls out in sheets. Plywood subfloors: A breathable foam-type underlayment is generally used when installing laminate flooring over plywood or OSB subfloors.
Impact Resistance
12mm is much more impact resistant than 8mm. Sharp items that accidentally fall on a thicker base will have very little effect on it. That's the reason why people prefer 12mm laminate in high traffic areas.
The answer is no. We recommend to use duct tape as every hardware store carries this product. Some manufacturers sell specialized tape for underlayment but there is no extra benefit.
Warmth and thickness – 5mm is the thickest you can go for laminate which means this product will provide the ultimate cushioning and warmth. Noise reduction – the rating of 22db allows this product to greatly reduce the sound of impact noise in your home.
It is not recommended to use more than one layer of underlayment under laminate flooring as it can make the flooring too soft and unstable, and can cause the joints to dislodge, or its locking system to break. You also risk voiding the warranty of the laminate flooring.
Laminate can be installed on an uneven floor; however this can degrade the quality of your new laminate. The finished product may become warped as a result, causing the floor to shift and become damaged when walked on. For this reason, it is best to level the subfloor prior to installing laminate.
Underlayment for laminate flooring is a must. Since laminate is a floating floor, it must be evenly distributed across your subfloor. 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.
No expansion gap needed with the underlay.
On wooden and other types of floor lay the underlay with the rubber side down, and again tape the seams with an appropriate underlay tape. When fitting the underlay leave a 5-10mm gap around pipes.
Can Duct Tape Be Used for Underlayment? Duct tape can be used for underlayment and benefits from advantages, such as the fact that it's cheap and readily available.
AC4 rating is the first level specifically intended for commercial usage. AC4 rated laminate is suitable for moderately trafficked commercial spaces such as boutiques, offices, salons, and cafes. AC5 rating is the highest durability rating.
AC4 Laminate Flooring - Moderately busy residential areas such as living room, hallways and small commercial spaces such as offices, salons etc. This is a commercial range and therefore covers any residential use with ease of mind.
Most manufacturers recommend sealing the perimeter of the laminate floor, at least in areas where spills might occur. Sealing the perimeter prevents water from reaching the edge of the floor and making its way underneath the laminate boards, where it might be absorbed by the core.
If the subfloor in your home or property is uneven, then your laminate floor could move and shift if it doesn't have an underlayment for support. As a result, the floor will be more prone to wear-and-tear and could even warp. The more stability, the less likely you'll have to pay out of pocket for costly repairs.
What Is Laminate Underlayment? Laminate underlayment is a soft pad that is installed under laminate flooring. The underlayment helps the laminate planks lay smoother, connect better, and for the flooring to feel slightly softer underfoot.
8mm laminate floor is one of the most popular flooring options. It seems to be the happy medium between thick and thin laminate flooring options and provides ideal stability and easy installation. The 8mm thickness is enough to overcome any subfloor imperfections and create a sleek flooring solution.