Do You Put Padding Under Vinyl Plank Flooring

If you are installing your vinyl plank flooring over a concrete subfloor you may want to use an underlayment for three reasons.

Do you put padding under vinyl plank flooring. This is why it is the easiest to install. All of that said definitely check the specific instructions for the flooring you have to see if they list any requirements allowances or restrictions. You also do not need an underlayment if your vinyl plank flooring has underlayment installed however you may need a vapor barrier. In general you do not need any padding under a vinyl plank floor.

A vinyl flooring underlayment will not be as thick as a laminate or hardwood underlayment. While underlayment for vinyl planks may be used under hardwood and laminate the reverse is not true. Knee pads are also a good idea. First it will give you some added cushion to help make the floor softer to walk on.

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. 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. We recommend using safety goggles and work gloves during installation. Vinyl and pvc do not need moisture protection.

Because vinyl flooring isn t made from wood products it does not have the same structure that laminate flooring does. Unfortunately adding insulating underlayment under vinyl flooring will cause the flooring to be unstable. Vinyl is quite resilient after all. If your room has a baseboard or moulding at the bottom of the wall use a pry bar to temporarily remove it.

And you shouldn t use padding to even out your subfloor as that will allow the floor seams to move more you should level mechanically or with a compound. Underlayment for vinyl flooring if you already have flooring in mind it s always a good idea to refer to the manufacturer to see what they recommend beforehand. 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. Vinyl underlayment is an optional add on to click lock vinyls that are 4mm or thicker.

Putting a soft product under vinyl plank will result in an unstable floor that is much more inclined to being damaged and even punctured or torn over time. If you are installing glue down vinyl planks make sure you have vinyl floor adhesive and a notched trowel. No thick underlayment under vinyl flooring. If you want one though you should only use a pad which has been made for vinyl plank or lvt different terms same stuff.

Second you may want an extra vapor barrier above the subfloor to reduce any risk of moisture. Also there is no need to leave expansion gaps or put in an underlayment.