Do You Need An Underlayment For Vinyl Plank Flooring

While underlayment for vinyl planks may be used under hardwood and laminate the reverse is not true.

Do you need an underlayment for vinyl plank flooring. Second you may want an extra vapor barrier above the subfloor to reduce any risk of moisture. Inspect the underlayment one thing that hasn t changed about installing vinyl flooring or any type of flooring for the matter is the need for a perfectly smooth and level underlayment. A vinyl flooring underlayment will not be as thick as a laminate or hardwood underlayment. In allure s case an underlayment is simply not needed since the product is flexible enough underfoot and acts as its own cushioning.

Vinyl floors that are glue down or loose lay will not need a vinyl underlayment as these floors will be installed directly over the subfloor. If you are installing your vinyl plank flooring over a concrete subfloor you may want to use an underlayment for three reasons. The only thing that will happen if you decide to purchase it in that case is that the warranty will become null and void with the manufacturer. If your subfloor is very even and smooth you do not need an underlayment under your vinyl plank on hardwood.

Since vinyl planks are generally thinner than a laminate the underlayment is also thinner. However underlayment can still prove resourceful when used for sound reduction and cushioning. The key to installing luxury vinyl over concrete is to ensure the floor is level and clean. Underlayment isn t a necessity but you might consider it to add noise reducing qualities or additional softness to the product.

Vinyl is quite resilient after all. First it will give you some added cushion to help make the floor softer to walk on. However you ll want to use one in every other application including covering existing hardwood floors vinyl flooring that isn t cushioned and concrete floors. Vinyl planks require hard thin underlay because the product itself is softer.

One thing is certain with underlayment and vinyl plank flooring though and that s the fact that when it s recommended it must be thin and it must be dense. The only other time that you don t need to purchase an underlayment is when there is already one built in to the vinyl plank flooring. If the vinyl has a backing layer or pad already attached 95 of the time they will not suggest anything at all aside from a vapor barrier. You also do not need an underlayment if your vinyl plank flooring has underlayment installed however you may need a vapor barrier.

If the concrete is uneven you will have to level it out.