The spacing of the joists governs the recommended thickness of the plywood subfloor. 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.
6mm Plywood is the ideal way to ensure uneven floorboards are level and suitable for the installation of vinyl as well as laminate/wood flooring.
Laminate floors can be installed directly over concrete, plywood, OSB, parquet, vinyl and tile. The underlayment must be applied to the original flooring surface first, and then the floating floor can be installed.
Plywood underlayment is typically needed when a floor material must have a very smooth, flat surface. For example, if you install resilient tiles or sheet flooring over a subfloor, any bumps, dips, or voids in the subfloor may be evident in the finished flooring.
Laminate ranges from 6-mm to 12-mm and, as a rule, it shouldn't be less than 8-mm. If, however, budget is an issue and if your subfloor is level and debris-free, you might be able to get away with 7-mm; keep in mind that subfloor imperfections can telegraph to the surface floor, so make sure it's okay.
A plywood subfloor generally uses 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch-thick sheets of plywood with one rough side (which faces down) and one smooth side, which faces up.
No matter which underlayment you choose, if you are installing on a moisture prone subfloor or concrete subfloor, you really need a moisture barrier underlayment. Protect your laminate flooring from moisture for years to come by installing moisture barrier underlayment.
Underlayment, or “padding” as it's often called, is the spongy, closed-cell plastic foam sheet that comes in rolls. It is rolled out between the actual laminate flooring planks and the subfloor.
While there are a number of good options in the market, cork and foam are the usual favorites for a laminate floor underlay. Depending on your lifestyle, you may appreciate cork for its thickness and sound absorption; foam, on the other hand, is an excellent, cost-efficient material that works as a moisture barrier.
3/4" Thick Solid Wood Flooring and most all other hardwood flooring including Engineered or Floating engineered wood flooring and Laminate floors can be installed directly over 5/8" or 3/4" thick CDX plywood sub floors.
Your plywood would most likely be on a sleeper system (floating wood planks on concrete). Having a vapor barrier below the sleepers is ideal as moisture will not get to the plywood. Regarding on-grade applications, if their is a basement underneath, then you will not need a vapor barrier on top of the plywood.
Don't install your laminate on any floor with a drain. Don't install laminate on any uneven subfloor or outdoors. Don't install your laminate over residential carpet. Don't install a second layer of laminate underlayment.
Underlayment is a special grade of APA plywood that is attached on top of the subfloor to provide a durable and resistant layer under finish flooring. Underlayment's special face and inner-ply construction resist dents and punctures from concentrated loads.
It should be at least 3mm thick to provide comfort and ground levelling properties. But, it should be no more than 5mm thick. If it's any thicker, you could experience problems with the laminate's locking system.
Quarter-inch lauan plywood is a popular choice as an underlayment among remodelers. It has a solid track record and is readily available. All resilient floor manufacturers allow lauan plywood under at least some resilient floor applications and some manufacturers recommend it as an underlayment for all applications.
We'd like to get one thing clear from the start – underlay thickness does matter. Getting it right can make a huge difference to the final look and feel of your new flooring, having a significant impact on its underfoot comfort, sound and heat insulation, and longevity.
Without underlayment to add a layer between these damp subfloors and the surface flooring, your laminate can quickly become wet, warped, and mildewy, harming its overall integrity. Moisture over time can also break down floor adhesive which causes the floor to start warping.
Laminate flooring can hold up to general wear and tear as long as you take proper precautions. Tightly seaming the boards to protect them from moisture is one such precaution. Installing padding is also necessary for laminate flooring in most cases.
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.
APA recommends a 1/8-inch space between panel edge and end joints. Plywood and oriented strand board (OSB), like all wood products, will expand or shrink slightly with changes in moisture content. If the wood structural panels are tightly butted, there is no room for expansion and buckling can occur.
Cover the floor area with either a 4mm or 6mm plywood - the thickness selected should be determined by the quality of the surface being covered. Ply should be of suitable quality, eg SP101. Wood should be fixed using screws, twisted shank or ring shank nails, serrated or divergent staples.
Water vapor can penetrate through the concrete subfloor and damage the main floor of builds, causing deterioration of flooring adhesive; bumps, ridges, or bubbles under flooring, color changes due to fading, mold, mildew, bacteria growth; peaking, curling, or warping of flooring; or efflorescence, also known as the ...
National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) recommended, the 6-mil thick polyethylene films acts as a moisture barrier to protect and extend the life of your floors.
For any flooring that requires a floating installation method, be laminate or vinyl planks, use a 6 mils (or thicker) plastic sheet as a moisture barrier.