Do I Need Underlayment For Vinyl Plank

Vinyl planks require hard thin underlay because the product itself is softer.

Do i need underlayment for vinyl plank.

If you want to find out if you need underlayment for your vinyl plank flooring then keep reading. Underlayment isn t a necessity but you might consider it to add noise reducing qualities or additional softness to the product. An underlayment will help level out minor imperfections in your wood subfloor as well. Underlayment is also instrumental in the acoustic performance of the vinyl floor.

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. However underlayment can still prove resourceful when used for sound reduction and cushioning. If you re laying the lvp over an existing cushion backed vinyl floor or a below grade tile floor then you won t need to use an underlayment. 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.

For anyone considering a do it yourself approach to laying vinyl flooring this article provides all you need to know about flooring underlayments. First it will give you some added cushion to help make the floor softer to walk on. If you are installing your vinyl plank flooring over a concrete subfloor you may want to use an underlayment for three reasons. In general luxury vinyl underlayment for any floor can provide many benefits.

If the concrete is uneven you will have to level it out. If your subfloor is very even and smooth you do not need an underlayment under your vinyl plank on hardwood. 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. While underlayment for vinyl planks may be used under hardwood and laminate the reverse is not true.

The key to installing luxury vinyl over concrete is to ensure the floor is level and clean.