Is underlayment necessary for solid hardwood floors?

Author: Ms. Kavon Durgan DVM  |  Last update: Saturday, March 29, 2025

Even so, underlayment can only improve the overall quality of your floor—offering added stability, noise reduction, moisture protection, and comfort. So, while it might not be strictly necessary, we recommend using it if your budget allows.

Do solid hardwood floors need underlayment?

When it comes to new flooring installation, it pays to invest in a quality underlayment for your hardwood floors. Wood is a beautiful product, but it requires extra support to provide the best outcome for residents of homes, apartments, office buildings, and more.

Do you need underlay for solid wood flooring?

Underlays are useful for stability, insulation, sound reduction, and moisture protection. Underlay is commonly used for floating wood floors. Fixed floors do not usually incorporate an underlay as they are fixed directly to the subfloor.

What goes under a solid wood floor?

A suitable underlayment for hardwood floors on concrete is a moisture barrier underlayment made of foam or rubber. It helps protect the wood from moisture damage and enhances soundproofing. Some options combine cushioning and vapor barrier properties. For specific product suggestions, visit my Quora Profile!

What happens if you don't put underlayment under flooring?

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.

What underlayment do you recommend for hardwood floors?

What flooring does not require underlayment?

Underlayment Not Required - Laminate Wood Flooring - The Home Depot.

What is the best underlayment for hardwood floors?

What is the Best Underlayment for Hardwood Floors? Felt is used as underlayment for hardwood floors. It forms a hard surface without making the planks wet, which can cause them to warp. Cork is also a good choice, as it resists moisture and supports heavy loads on wood.

What is the best subfloor for solid hardwood floors?

Plywood is the most common type of subflooring material and it's found in most residential homes. People like it because it's incredibly reliable—meaning it's consistent and does what it promises to do. Plywood is the best subfloor material if you are installing hardwood floors.

What is the purpose of felt paper under hardwood flooring?

The pros of felt underlayment under hardwood floors

In these situations, felt is a solid option that can add extra protection to the hardwood floor against water damage. Felt is also a good option if the client is looking to soundproof the space through the hardwood flooring.

Does hardwood go directly on the subfloor?

wood subfloor. Most engineered flooring can be installed using staples, full spread adhesive or a floating method over an approved subfloor. Make sure you have a sturdy subfloor: 3/4-inch CDX plywood is preferred and 3/4-inch OSB is acceptable.

Should you put plastic under hardwood floors?

Yes. Hardwood flooring is quite sensitive to moisture and it's always worth adding a moisture barrier during installation. It is a necessity with concrete subfloors and damp areas, but water-resistive underlayments should be considered with other subfloors as well.

What is the difference between hardwood and solid wood flooring?

Though both are made from 100% real wood, the major difference between hardwood and engineered wood is their composition. While hardwood flooring is constructed from solid wood with no layers, engineered wood flooring is made with layers of plywood and solid wood.

Can I lay laminate flooring over hardwood flooring without underlayment?

If you are installing laminate flooring to avoid tearing out an existing hardwood floor, underlayment will help protect the hardwood beneath it from moisture and scratches. You should put down a good underlayment if you ever intend to refinish the old, valuable wood.

What goes between subfloor and hardwood?

Simply put, underlayment is a layer of material between your subfloor and your floor. While some flooring comes with the underlayment attached, others will require you to install a separate underlayment. Most of the time, underlayment consists of rubber, cork, foam, or felt.

Can you put solid hardwood flooring on concrete slab?

With dry concrete and the right subfloors and vapor retarders, solid hardwood floors can be installed on slabs that are either on-grade (at ground level) or above-grade (above ground level).

Is floor underlayment necessary?

Flooring underlayment is not always necessary, primarily when you are using a flooring that has its own underlayment padding such as . But underlayment can help with a wide variety of issues, such as sound control in a cement floor application or cold floors in a basement for example.

Is felt the same as underlayment?

There are two different types of underlayment, felt and synthetic. Felt underlayment is the older of the two and comes in 15 lb and 30 lb rolls. The big difference between the two types of felt underlayment is that 30 lb is thicker, stronger, and less likely to tear than 15 lb.

Why did people put newspaper under flooring?

The newspapers found under the floorboards had been used as insulation between the baseboard and the flooring. Given their history, they were in remarkably good shape.

Do you need paper under a hardwood floor?

There is no great reason for putting paper beneath wood floors if you're building to modern standards – modern enclosure standards. You can skip the paper and be totally fine. In fact, if it's a wide plank floor that needs to be glued down you can't install paper.

Does solid hardwood need underlayment?

It is beneficial to install hardwood floors with an underlayment. Despite the slight increase in cost and time, the added protection will benefit your floor long-term by reducing moisture. Additionally, increasing noise and evening out minor subfloor flaws without requiring substantial rework.

Should you use pressure treated wood for subfloor?

Should I Use Treated Plywood for Subflooring? Using treated plywood for subflooring is generally unnecessary since the wood will be completely covered and hidden from access.

What hardwood flooring does Joanna Gaines use?

Throughout the Magnolia Homes new build, the rustic, natural qualities of Adela Rich Request pair perfectly with more contemporary design elements. Deceptively engineered, this LIFECORE hardwood floor makes it a perfect option throughout the home —from the kitchen and dining rooms to the bedroom and living rooms.

Do you staple underlayment for hardwood floors?

If you are stapling your floors, you'll still unroll the underlayment, then as you staple through your hardwoods during installation, you will staple right through your underlayment into the subfloor. We recommend using ¼” crown staples for this straightforward install.

What thickness underlayment for hardwood floors?

It depends on your situation, but 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick AC grade plywood tends to be the best flooring underlayment for many dry applications (under the hardwood, laminate, and engineered wood).

What is the difference between floor underlayment and subfloor?

Subfloor: Typically made from sturdy materials like plywood, OSB, or concrete, designed to provide long-term durability and support. Underlayment: Made from softer, more flexible materials like foam, cork, or specialized plywood, designed to address specific performance needs.

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