Do You Need Underlay For Sheet Vinyl Flooring

Dry fit your vinyl and trim to size leaving an extra 1 for fudge factor.

Do you need underlay for sheet vinyl flooring.

While luan provides a smooth surface on which to install vinyl it s not suitable for all types of vinyl flooring. That doesn t mean you don t need underlayment for sheet vinyl however. Sheet vinyl flooring provides a durable surface for high traffic areas in your home. Vinyl underlayment is an optional add on to click lock vinyls that are 4mm or thicker.

Because you can install sheet vinyl over existing vinyl it offers the option of changing design without breaking the bank. You can measure the entire floor area. It may also be a requirement in certain hoa or apartment complexes to have a sound barrier with your flooring. Underlayment goes on top of the structural support of your floor and under your actual flooring.

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. Vinyl flooring is usually not installed directly over the subfloor in residential applications. In most cases 4 by 8 foot sheets of particle board or plywood must be installed in preparation for the vinyl floor install. There are several types of underlayment for this type of flooring and we ve seen brands with a thin layer of foam pre attached as well.

If your subfloor had dips or damage it could show through the vinyl over time. Cut the vinyl 3 inches wider than the floor area on all sides and then trim the excess after laying it in place. Allow the new vinyl floor to acclimate to the room by leaving it in the room where it ll be installed for at least 24 hours prior to cutting. There are two ways to measure and fit vinyl.

Before you install sheet vinyl the subfloor must be in good condition. Fold back one half of the vinyl do not allow the flooring to crease along the fold and start applying flooring adhesive using a 1 8 v notch trowel. 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. Doing this will give you a nice smooth flat surface to lay the sheet vinyl over.

Luan as underlayment luan is 1 4 inch thick and it comes in 4 by 8 sheets. 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. A vinyl flooring underlayment will not be as thick as a laminate or hardwood underlayment.