Putting Down Underlayment For Vinyl Floor

Vinyl underlayment is an optional add on to click lock vinyls that are 4mm or thicker.

Putting down underlayment for vinyl floor.

Things needed scrap vinyl duct tape carpenter s level floor patching compound paint stirring stick putty knife medium grit sandpaper belt sander wet dry vacuum tape measure 1 4 inch plywood circular saw 1 inch deck screws drill with screwdriver bits household floor cleaner or dish detergent. 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. The underlayment has a plastic strip on one end that goes along the wall and up the wall that will be covered by the baseboard and the other end has a strip of adhesive tape.

The process of installing underlayment for a new floor project begins with one crucial action. Tape the template to the vinyl flooring and transfer the marks with the framing square and compass. Vinyl planks require hard thin underlay because the product itself is softer. One common underlayment for vinyl floors is 1 2 inch particle board.

It s inexpensive flat smooth and bonds well to the vinyl adhesives. A vinyl flooring underlayment will not be as thick as a laminate or hardwood underlayment. Some manufacturers will not warranty their vinyl product if you install it over luan especially. From there the installation of an underlayment is fairly easy.

It can also be used under hardwood laminate and carpet but this is much less common these days because subflooring is typically smooth enough for these materials many of which are installed with a different type of underlayment or pad. On the downside particle board underlayment has very little structural strength. While underlayment for vinyl planks may be used under hardwood and laminate the reverse is not true. Make sure every bit of dust dirt and other debris are removed and that the surface has been washed and is completely dry.

You must clean the subfloor or existing flooring thoroughly. Unroll the vinyl flooring on a clean surface and tap the template to it. Plywood underlayment is a thin plywood material that is most commonly used under resilient flooring materials such as vinyl and linoleum sheets and tiles. Vinyl flooring manufacturers list the types of underlayment that are compatible with their product.

Second you may want an extra vapor barrier above the subfloor to reduce any risk of moisture. If the flooring has a pattern in it align the template for the most desirable layout. 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.