An underlayment can be beneficial for any type of flooring, including luxury vinyl plank flooring. It can improve sound absorption, increase comfort underfoot, and prevent potential problems. An underlayment can be installed on any type of subfloor, including concrete or wood.
Concrete subfloors are very hard, so they require additional cushioning from soft underlayments made from foam, felt, or cork.
Yes, vinyl plank flooring can be installed directly on concrete as long as the surface is clean and level. It is important to note that some manufacturers may require the use of a moisture barrier or adhesive during installation on concrete.
In short, vinyl flooring itself can be completely self sustainable and does not require an underlayment to function properly. Another reason underlayments may be suggested for vinyl flooring is if the vinyl flooring type is thin. When the vinyl flooring is thin, it becomes a lot easier to flex and bend.
Lay the Underlay
Simply put, underlay is a thin layer of foam that goes in between your flooring and your subfloor. It helps add insulation to your room and makes the installation process easier.
When you're installing a vinyl plank floor or any rigid type of new flooring, it's important for the underlying layer to be both level and flat. If you're installing vinyl planks on top of a concrete floor, the standard tolerance required is for the floor to be level to 3/16” within a 10' radius.
The best way to find out if you need underlayment for your new vinyl flooring is to look at the planks you're planning on installing. If your planks already have a pad-attached underlayment, you most likely won't need an underlayment.
An underlayment that offers a vapor barrier is essential to protect any flooring installed over a subfloor that emits moisture, like concrete. A thin foam underlayment made of polyethylene or polypropylene usually works best.
Therefore, because concrete is porous, it's a good idea to install a vapor barrier over your concrete subfloor before installing your flooring. This way you can stop the vapor drive of water upward to your floors, protecting them from any damage (source).
Applying vinyl tile over concrete can add beauty and warm decor to a utilitarian concrete surface. Because concrete is porous, you must first prepare the surface by sealing it. Use a primer designed for sealing concrete surfaces to ensure proper surface sealing beneath the vinyl tiles.
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.
Glue down vinyl plank flooring will not need an underlayment. You will install these planks by gluing them directly on top of the subfloor. It is very important to have a debris free and level subfloor for a glue down vinyl flooring installation!
Foam: Being one of the least expensive underlayments you can buy, foam fits as the perfect choice to be put under your vinyl floor, especially if your subfloor is made of plywood. However, make sure that you have no moisture issues as foam and water aren't a good combination when it comes to flooring.
Since vinyl planks are generally thinner than a laminate, the underlayment is also thinner. If too much cushion is beneath the vinyl planks, the locking system and joint integrity will be compromised. Most vinyl underlayments are 1mm to 1.5mm thick.
No. Rigid vinyl planks like Sound-Tec, Studio 12, and Foundations float over minor subfloor imperfections. They mask slight subfloor unevenness. However, because of the precisely milled clip system, a flat substrate is recommended for support.
The American Concrete Institute (ACI) also recommends a minimum of 10 mil polyethylene or thicker for vapor retarders under concrete. According to its Guide to Concrete Floor and Slab Construction ACI 302.1R-15, thicker poly provides a better barrier and is also more puncture resistant.
You may wonder—can you put vinyl flooring directly on concrete? Of course, you can! Just be sure to lay a moisture barrier when floating directly over concrete. We recommend 6 mil poly, or an underlayment with moisture mitigation properties.
Fibreboard Underlay
It works to smooth uneven floors, reduces noise, and acts as a thermal barrier. If the subfloor is uneven, fibreboard works to even dips and dents you can't level out. It's also necessary to add a DPM if you're installing fibreboard on top of a concrete subfloor.
You will need moisture-proof underlayment or vapor barrier when there is a chance of moisture migrating upward from a concrete slab, tile, or cement board. Even a wood subfloor or flooring over a crawlspace or other non-climate-controlled space can be subject to rising moisture.
Underlayments provide a smooth installation surface, give the floor a comfortable feel with a little flex and discourage sound transfer from one floor to the next.
The answer will vary depending on the material used for the floor and the way that the boards are constructed, but, as a general rule, both laminate and engineered timber floating floors do need some form of underlay to have optimal functionality and longevity.
Concrete isn't usually a good substrate for holding coatings because of its high porosity and alkalinity. “Without it (bonding primer), there's nothing for the coating to grab onto,” says Pachade. If the concrete substrate is not primed, “You'll see pinholes because the concrete is breathing.”
You need a dry, clean and flat surface before you can install finished flooring in a room built on a concrete slab. One of the simplest options is a sleeper-based subfloor. The result is a subfloor that protects finished flooring from cold and damp concrete-based floors.