Moisture barrier underlayment acts as a blockade between the subfloor and laminate to protect your floor from any moisture damage. It really is as simple as it sounds!
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.
Underlayment does two things that are critical to a successful laminate flooring installation:1. Underlayment takes out any minor deviations in the subfloor. 2. Underlayment delivers superior acoustical performance.
Water vapor can cause serious damage to your home. For instance, if your flooring gets wet, it could cause mold and mildew, and even destroy your floor (source). No one wants that, so vapor barriers are there to help prevent the floor from getting wet.
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.
The best approach is to lay a sheet (also called a membrane) of PE plastic 0.2mm thick beneath laminate flooring. Sheets are available in different sizes.
Laminate flooring cannot ever be installed on a subfloor made of carpet or padding. Wood and concrete are the idea subfloors. In some instances, you might be able to install your flooring over an existing floor, but it is important to check prior to installation if it is a suitable material.
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.
Moisture barriers are usually installed on the warm side of the wall. In warm climates the vapor barrier is placed on the exterior, while in colder climates the vapor barrier is placed on the interior, to prevent water and vapor from entering the wall cavity.
Unlike vinyl, laminate's water resistance works from top to bottom rather than bottom to top. If you have moisture issues with your subfloor, you'll still need a vapor barrier.
In the end, it's your decision if moisture protection and getting higher sound absorption is your goal. If not, then pre-attached underlayment will do it's job but at the minimum.
Extra Padding Poses a Risk
By adding unnecessary cushioning, you could actually be causing more harm to your floor than good. The added friction could cause the underlayment to wear down quickly and make your floors less stable over time, causing stress on the floating floor's locking system joints.
An underlayment will still be required over top of a glue down vinyl subfloor.
Underlayment Not Required - Vinyl Plank Flooring - Vinyl Flooring - The Home Depot.
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.
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.
Cons: This material is fairly flimsy and can be easily damaged during installation. It incorporates limited resistance to punctures and tears. Any penetrations, such as for an electrical junction box, must be taped and sealed in order to form an effective barrier.
You may find that vapour barriers are often not required in warmer climates. And, if installed in the wrong climate or on the wrong side of building materials, a vapour barrier can cause more harm than good. This circumstance may prevent water vapour from drying, which in turn can cause rot and mold.
“Without a vapor barrier, concrete will deteriorate much faster through water vapor intrusion which degrades the quality of the concrete over time and can lead to foundation and building failures, like Surfside Condominium Collapse in Miami, Florida,” says vapor barrier plastic sheeting expert and Americover account ...
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.
Usually, the major problem isn't water on the laminate floors' core surface. When the liquid leaks into the locking mechanism around the edges, the problem occurs.
Water damages laminate planks by soaking into the layers. Once inside the boards, it causes them to swell and warp. It also weakens the glue that holds them together and they can eventually fall apart.
The subfloor must be level before installing laminate flooring. If the subfloor is leveled, the laminate planks will not lay properly, causing uneven and unsightly floors. If the subfloor is not level, you can use a self-leveling compound to level it out.
You absolutely cannot use carpet underlayment underneath laminate flooring. As much as you want to cut down costs on a new floor, this is not the way to do it. Installing laminate flooring over carpet underlayment will do more harm than good in the long run.
While laminate tends to be more forgiving of subfloor imperfections compared to other types of flooring, it is still important to level your flooring to avoid future damage if you are installing laminate flooring on an uneven subfloor. A level subfloor ensures a more attractive and long-lasting finish.