Do I Need Underlayment For Vinyl Plank

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

Do i need underlayment for vinyl plank.

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 you are installing your vinyl plank flooring over a concrete subfloor you may want to use an underlayment for three reasons. Vinyl planks require hard thin underlay because the product itself is softer. An underlayment will help level out minor imperfections in your wood subfloor as well.

While underlayment for vinyl planks may be used under hardwood and laminate the reverse is not true. If you want to find out if you need underlayment for your vinyl plank flooring then keep reading. Vinyl underlayment certainly has a place in providing sound absorption thermal properties and extra cushion. Underlayment isn t a necessity but you might consider it to add noise reducing qualities or additional softness to the product.

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. Second you may want an extra vapor barrier above the subfloor to reduce any risk of moisture. If the concrete is uneven you will have to level it out. Underlayment is also instrumental in the acoustic performance of the vinyl floor.

However underlayment can still prove resourceful when used for sound reduction and cushioning. First it will give you some added cushion to help make the floor softer to walk on. For anyone considering a do it yourself approach to laying vinyl flooring this article provides all you need to know about flooring underlayments. In general luxury vinyl underlayment for any floor can provide many benefits.

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.