What needs to be under vinyl flooring?

Author: Nasir Kub  |  Last update: Friday, June 27, 2025

The most used types of underlayment for vinyl are cork, foam, felt, rubber, plywood, and OSB.

What should I put down before laying vinyl flooring?

Get some 1/8" Hardboard, Lauan or birch plywood (one side smooth) and lay it down without gaps over the sub floor. At this thickness, you can staple it down. smooth any edges/fill any gaps. Lay your vinyl.

Do you need anything under vinyl flooring?

Most LVP flooring is durable and does a good job defending against scratches, dents, and stains. To get the most out of your LVP you will want to consider what is underneath the flooring. An underlayment provides the proper support to make sure your LVP makes it the long haul.

What base do I need for vinyl flooring?

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.

Can you put vinyl flooring directly on a subfloor?

Most modern vinyl flooring comes with an attached underlayment or pad, often with a built-in moisture barrier—unless the pad is cork. If the vinyl flooring product you choose doesn't have an attached underlayment, you can almost always install directly over the subfloor without one.

Do I Need Pad Under My Vinyl Plank? and 4 Other COMMON ?'s Answered

What happens if you don't put a moisture barrier under vinyl flooring?

When moisture penetrates your flooring, it can cause mold, mildew, and the potential for water damage. A moisture barrier helps control the water vapor's movement to help protect your floors. Therefore, if you're installing floors in an area that sees moisture, even a little, a vapor barrier is needed.

What is the best underlayment for vinyl flooring?

Felt underlayment is a popular choice for vinyl plank flooring due to its affordability and ease of installation. It is made from recycled materials and offers excellent noise reduction properties. Felt underlayment also provides a slight cushioning effect, making your floors more comfortable underfoot.

How to prep a subfloor for vinyl?

Preparing a Concrete Subfloor for Luxury Vinyl Flooring
  1. Test the moisture content of your concrete subfloor. ...
  2. Thoroughly clean your subfloor. ...
  3. Check your subfloor to make sure it is level. ...
  4. Level your floor by filling low spots with patching compound and a putty knife. ...
  5. Use a belt sander to reduce high spots.

What should vinyl flooring be laid on?

What do you put down before vinyl flooring? As discussed in this guide, it's important to create a completely flat and level surface before laying vinyl flooring. In most cases, this means adding a layer of thin plywood on top of your floorboards, secured with small tack nails.

What thickness plywood under vinyl flooring?

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.

What is the best backing for vinyl plank flooring?

Choosing a vinyl flooring with rubber backing is ideal. Rubber features several properties that make it a quality choice for a long-lasting floor. Rubber is a strong option that can withstand heavy loads. It also offers valuable shock absorption that can help to make your floor more comfortable to walk on.

What are the requirements for vinyl flooring?

The subfloor surface must be smooth, flat, dry, clean and solid. Carpet staples or adhesive residue must be removed to ensure proper installation. Subfloor should be flat within a tolerance of 1/8” over a span of 4 feet. Any unevenness over 1/8” must be sanded down or filled with a floor leveler.

Should I put something under my vinyl flooring?

You may wish to use an underlayment with some additional cushion when installing vinyl flooring over a concrete subfloor. In addition, you may want one that provides some additional moisture protection, as well as some insulation. With concrete subfloors, a cushiony underlayment, such as foam or cork, is recommended.

Can a beginner install vinyl plank flooring?

This project can be done in as little as an afternoon and is easy enough that even first-time home renovators can tackle it with relative ease. In this article, we'll take a look at how to install vinyl plank flooring in your house, step by step.

How soon can you walk on vinyl flooring after installation?

After you've installed brand-new vinyl flooring, you should wait at least a day before walking on it because: The seams need to cure: The adhesive under your vinyl plank or tile flooring needs at least a day to acclimate to the floor underneath it after installation.

What is the best insulation under vinyl flooring?

The best material to put under vinyl flooring depends on your needs. Foam underlay is popular for comfort and insulation, while cork provides excellent soundproofing. A thin plywood layer is often recommended for uneven subfloors to create a smooth surface before installing the vinyl​.

Will vinyl flooring work on an uneven floor?

Can it be installed on an uneven floor? When it comes to the basic question of whether luxury vinyl is suitable for uneven floors, it is really a matter of exactly how uneven they are. If any unevenness is relatively minor, then the installation should not present much of a problem.

Can you put vinyl flooring directly on plywood?

Vinyl flooring can go over a plywood subfloor without a vinyl flooring underlayment as long as the substrate is sturdy, smooth, and flat. If your plywood subfloor is in poor condition, you may need a thin plywood underlayment to smooth the surface out.

How can I level my floor cheaply?

Cut and Place Shims – Shims are thin strips of wood you can stack under the plywood to bring everything up to level. Start placing shims in the low spots, adding them in layers until each section reaches level. This can take a while, so get comfortable.

Does the floor have to be perfectly level for vinyl plank flooring?

A flat and level floor is key so that the adjoining vinyl plank flooring doesn't have varying heights. It is absolutely essential that the subfloor is completely level.

What happens if you don t put underlayment under vinyl flooring?

Moisture Barrier

Even though vinyl flooring is waterproof, your subfloor isn't. That's why an underlayment acting as a moisture barrier is essential.

How smooth does subfloor need to be for vinyl plank?

Flat: All wood and concrete subfloors must be flat within 1/8” over a 6' span, or 3/16” over a 10' span. All areas of the subfloor must be checked prior to installation. High spots can be sanded or grinded down and low spots filled with appropriate patching compounds.

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