Top 10 best Flooring Underlayments products

Flooring Underlayments: A Comprehensive Guide

While many perceive a home's floor as merely the topmost layer of a visible floor covering, it is, in fact, a complex system comprising layered components. Each of these layers plays a vital role in ensuring the functionality and longevity of the floor. Interestingly, one of the most critical layers, though seldom visible, is the underlayment.

Flooring underlayment is situated directly beneath the visible floor covering, contributing to the floor's stability, comfort, and soundproofing characteristics.

What is Flooring Underlayment?

Underlayment for flooring is a material, either hard or soft, positioned beneath the floor covering and above the subfloor. It serves to level out irregularities in the subfloor, add a degree of softness and cushioning to the floor surface for enhanced walking comfort, guard against moisture, and offer a degree of sound insulation. Soft underlayment options often include foam, cork, and rubber, while hard underlayment materials encompass plywood and hardboard.

Understanding the Placement of Underlayment in a Floor Structure

Residential floors typically comprise four essential layers, arranged from the top downward:

1. Floor Covering: This is the visible and final flooring surface, such as hardwood planks, carpeting, ceramic tile, or vinyl. It serves as the layer that people see and walk on.
2. Underlayment: Positioned just beneath the visible floor covering, the underlayment is a layer of material, usually 1/4- or 1/2-inch thick. Its primary function is to provide a smooth and even surface for the floor covering. Various materials, including plywood, hardboard, cement board, or even thin foam padding, can be chosen based on the specific requirements of the floor covering.
3. Subfloor: The subfloor, composed of OSB or plywood, is an integral part of the home's construction. It is already in place when the underlayment and floor covering are installed. These panels of OSB or plywood contribute to the structural integrity of the home and provide strength and rigidity to the floor system when affixed to the floor joists. Typically, the thickness of OSB or plywood ranges from 19/32 to 1 1/8 inches.
4. Joists: Positioned on foundation walls and beams, joists are horizontal wooden framing members that offer structural support to the entire framing system. Typically crafted from 2-by-10 or 2-by-12 lumber, or engineered microlam members, joists play a crucial role in the overall stability of the floor structure.

Benefits of Flooring Underlayment

Flooring underlayment, a thin layer situated between the surface flooring and the subfloor, comes in various forms depending on the type of flooring it supports. Unlike the subfloor, which is integral to a home's structure, the underlayment primarily contributes to creating a smooth and level surface, facilitating the seamless and aesthetically pleasing installation of the top flooring material.

Apart from its fundamental purpose of providing a flat foundation, underlayment offers additional benefits that enhance the overall flooring experience. These advantages include:

• Surface Smoothing: Underlayment ensures a smoother and more uniform surface for the final floor covering compared to the underlying subfloor, which primarily serves a structural role in the construction.
• Enhanced Adhesion: Particularly notable with materials like cement board, underlayment provides an optimal surface for certain floor coverings, such as ceramic tiles, to securely bond. Direct application of tiles to the subfloor can result in poor adhesion due to the subfloor's tendency to expand and contract.
• Improved Structural Stability: The use of a sturdy underlayment can contribute to the overall stability of the floor. This is particularly beneficial in older homes where the subfloor may consist of boards rather than modern OSB or plywood sheets. The additional structural support from the underlayment is especially valuable in these cases.
• Noise Reduction: Some underlayment materials act as sound insulators, reducing the impact noise generated by footsteps or other activities on the floor. This feature is especially advantageous in multi-story buildings or areas where noise reduction is a priority.
• Comfort Underfoot: Underlayment can add a layer of cushioning, providing a softer and more comfortable feel underfoot. This is appreciated in areas where people often stand or walk for extended periods.
• Moisture Barrier: Certain types of underlayment function as a barrier against moisture, protecting the floor covering and subfloor from potential damage caused by water or vapor. This is crucial in environments prone to humidity or moisture issues.

Types of Flooring Underlayments

Soft Underlayments

Foam and cork underlayments serve dual purposes. Firstly, they offer a subtle cushion between the top floor covering and any flaws in the underlying subfloor or existing floor (in cases where new flooring is installed directly over the old). These underlayments have the ability to even out imperfections, such as slightly protruding screw heads and small knot holes.

Soft underlayments, being loose and yielding, don't provide the same structural support as wood or cement board sheets, making them floating underlayments. This implies that they are not affixed to the subfloor in any way.

In most situations, these materials are not recommended as a substitute for a rigid underlayment directly applied over a subfloor. However, they can be an excellent choice when installing new flooring directly over an old floor in good condition.

For instance, a layer of foam or cork can work effectively as an underlayment when laying laminate flooring over an existing wood or ceramic tile floor. Additionally, placing a layer of foam or cork over a rigid underlayment can serve as an efficient sound-deadening cushion, reducing the hollow sound and feel associated with laminate flooring.

Rigid Flooring Underlayments

Several floor coverings are best installed over a rigid underlayment applied to the subfloor. Common rigid underlayments include plywood and hardboard, such as luan. Subfloor panels like DRIcore, cement board, and OSB, although stretching the definition of underlayment, are sometimes considered in this context.

• Plywood: A/C grade plywood, cut to size in 4-by-8-foot sheets, is an excellent choice for underlayment. A/C grade plywood has one relatively smooth face and one rough side (intended for the bottom). Depending on the situation, 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick AC grade plywood is often the preferred flooring underlayment for various dry applications (beneath hardwood, laminate, and engineered wood). The A-graded side is smooth enough for even the thinnest vinyl flooring. Shiplap or tongue-and-groove plywood sheets can be used as underlayment, but straight-edge sheets are perfectly acceptable.
• Underlayment panels: These interlocking panels, available in 2-by-2-foot tiles, offer a convenient option. DRIcore is a well-known brand of underlayment panels. Although relatively costly, they expedite the installation process and serve as an effective moisture barrier. They are particularly suitable as underlayment when installing carpeting or laminate flooring on a concrete slab, lifting the flooring slightly off the concrete.
• Cement board: Sheets of cement board, such as Wonderboard, or fiber-cement-board sheets like Durock, are typically used for mortared flooring, such as stone, porcelain, or ceramic tile. Cement board is smooth, easy to cut, and resistant to mold.
• OSB: While Oriented Strand Board (OSB) may be used as underlayment for certain floor coverings, plywood is generally preferred for flooring that requires a hard underlayment.

When Underlayment Is Unnecessary

While flooring underlayment is typically required for most floor coverings, there are situations where it is not necessary and may even be detrimental to the floor system.

Pre-Attached Laminate Underlayment

An illustrative case of when additional underlayment is unnecessary is when the underlayment is already affixed to the underside of the floor covering. In the case of laminate flooring, it has become a prevailing trend for the underlayment to be pre-attached. Not only is an extra layer of underlayment unnecessary, but adding one could compromise the floor's stability. Manufacturers of laminate flooring generally advise against using loose underlayment when the underlayment is pre-attached.

New Construction

In newly constructed, well-built structures, the subfloor might be sufficiently robust and smooth. In such cases, carpeting can be directly laid on carpet padding attached to the subfloor, or hardwood flooring can be installed on a basic layer of rosin paper spread over the new subfloor.

Old Floor Covering as Underlayment

It is also plausible that the existing floor covering can adequately serve as underlayment. For instance, laminate flooring is often installed directly over existing sheet vinyl, and new luxury vinyl can be laid over old vinyl without complications. In certain scenarios, carpeting is placed directly over existing hard floors with no additional underlayment, aside from the carpet padding. Refer to the instructions for your new flooring material to determine the appropriate underlayment.

Rebuilt Subflooring

More commonly, especially in remodeling projects, a more substantial underlayment may need to be added over the subfloor to address deficiencies. In cases where the subfloor is in poor condition, it may be necessary to remove the subfloor entirely and install a new subfloor layer before adding underlayment and installing the floor covering.

For instance, in a bathroom with water damage, the old plywood or OSB subfloor may need removal down to the joists. Subsequently, a new subfloor is laid, followed by a cement board underlayment, and finally, the installation of new ceramic tile floor covering.

Considerations When Choosing Flooring Underlayment

Choosing the right flooring underlayment is crucial for the longevity and performance of your flooring. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when choosing flooring underlayment:

• Type of Flooring: Different types of flooring materials may require specific types of underlayment. For example, laminate flooring might require a different underlayment than hardwood or carpet.
• Subfloor Type: The type of subfloor you have (concrete, plywood, or particleboard) can influence your underlayment choice. Some underlayments are designed for specific subfloor types.
• Moisture Resistance: Consider the moisture levels in your area. If you're installing flooring in a damp or humid environment, choose an underlayment with moisture resistance to prevent mold, mildew, and floor damage.
• Sound Reduction: If noise reduction is a concern, select an underlayment with good sound-dampening properties. This is especially important in multi-story buildings or in rooms where noise control is important, such as bedrooms or living rooms.
• Thickness: The thickness of the underlayment can affect the feel of the floor and its ability to smooth out minor imperfections in the subfloor. Thicker underlayments may provide more cushioning and insulation.
• Installation Method: Some underlayments are designed for floating floors, while others are meant to be glued or nailed down. Make sure the underlayment is compatible with the installation method of your flooring.
• Heat and Moisture: If you have radiant floor heating, ensure that the underlayment is compatible with this type of system. Additionally, consider whether the underlayment provides any insulation benefits.
• Compression Resistance: In high-traffic areas, it's important to choose an underlayment that can withstand compression. This is especially true for areas with heavy furniture or appliances.

In conclusion, the inclusion of flooring underlayments is crucial for a successful flooring installation, offering advantages such as noise reduction, comfort, insulation, and moisture protection. By selecting the appropriate underlayment and adhering to correct installation procedures, homeowners can elevate the durability and performance of their floors, thereby crafting a more pleasant and comfortable living environment.