Does it Matter How Much Padding Is Under a Laminate Floor?

Purpose

• Because the subfloor and laminate flooring are not attached to each other, underlayment is needed to hide slight imperfections, such as uneven areas. Padding also mutes some of the sound of people walking on the floor, and it gives the floor a somewhat softer feel when walked on.

Types

• Standard foam underlayment is a 1/8-inch-thick padding that does not include a moisture barrier. It is the most commonly used type of underlayment but provides only minimal comfort, sound reduction and improvement in floor imperfections. Combination underlayment is standard foam insulation with a film moisture barrier attached to one side. Combo underlayment keeps moisture from getting into laminate flooring from the subfloor beneath. Modified or upgraded underlayment is made from rubber, fiber, high-density foam or closed-cell foam, which makes it thicker and denser than standard underlayment. It also offers better sound reduction. Solid cork underlayment is porous, so it won’t trap moisture. It comes in various thicknesses, up to 7/16 inch, and offers the best sound reduction. The thicker the cork underlayment, the better the sound reduction.

Uses

• Both standard foam and combo underlayment is thin, so they should be used in areas that need little or no sound reduction. Standard foam underlayment also does not include a moisture barrier, so it should be used with floors that will not encounter moisture. Combo underlayment is ideal for areas where moisture is possible. Because they are thicker, modified or upgraded underlayment is better in areas where the sound of walking needs to be reduced, such as second floors. The best option for sound reduction is solid cork underlayment.

Considerations

• Some laminate flooring comes with a standard foam underlayment already attached. For floors without it, the best method for choosing laminate flooring underlayment is to follow the manufacturer’s suggestion on the product packaging. While modified or upgraded underlayment is thicker and provides better sound reduction, the extra padding does make the floor more comfortable to walk on. Solid cork underlayment gives laminate floors a hardwood floor feel when walked on. Rooms with different types of flooring may be different heights, but cork can be used to even out subfloors and make rooms level.