You’ve done your research and you’re sold on the benefits of vinyl plank flooring, but there’s one thing you’re still not 100% clear on—does vinyl plank flooring need an underlay?
Don’t worry, you’re not the first person to ask the question, and you probably won’t be the last. That’s why we’ve pulled this blog to explain the purpose of underlay and when you might want to use it when laying vinyl plank flooring.
What is underlay used for?
The floor in most properties usually consists of:
● Joists - the frame that forms the foundation of your floor.
● Subfloor - a material such as floorboards, plywood or oriented strand board which create a flat surface over the top of the joists. Concrete can also form the subfloor without the need for joists.
Depending on the type of flooring, an underlay made from rubber, felt or foam may then be laid over the subfloor, before the finished floor surface is laid over the top.
The underlay is typically designed to:
● reduce acoustics and vibration
● provide protection against moisture
● provide resistance to compression
● smooth any imperfections on the subfloor
● improve thermal insulation.
Do you need to use underlay with vinyl plank flooring?
One of the many benefits of vinyl plank flooring is that most products include an in-built comfort layer, which replaces the need for a separate underlay.
Depending on the condition of the floor you’re laying the planks on, in most cases, you should be fine to lay the vinyl plank flooring directly onto the sub floor or the existing floor surface.
This is great news from a budgetary perspective as you’ll only need to pay for the cost of the planks themselves, with the need for an underlay entirely optional. If you’re installing your new flooring yourself, it’s also one other step you won’t need to worry about.
When might you want to use underlay with vinyl flooring?
As we’ve just outlined, in most cases, you can get away without using an underlay. However, there are some circumstances when it could be a good idea to also use an underlay with your vinyl plank flooring, such as:
● Very uneven floor surface - If the floor surface you’re laying the planks on is uneven or damaged with lots of indentations, it might be worthwhile using a levelling compound and/or underlay to create a smoother floor surface.
● The vinyl planks don’t include an in-built comfort layer - Many products such as our self-stick vinyl planks include an in-built comfort layer which provides the same benefits as using a separate underlay. However, products like our loose lay vinyl planks that don’t include an in-built comfort layer can benefit from being laid over a rubber underlay.
● You need a moisture barrier - The waterproof properties of vinyl planks ensure they won’t be prone to water damage, however, if you’re laying vinyl planks in a property with moisture issues (such as rising damp), underlay can be used to form a solid moisture barrier.
● Acoustics are a major concern - Noise issues can be a real issue in some homes and apartments. Underlay can help to absorb more noise and improve the acoustic performance of the space.
Ustik self-adhesive rubber underlay
If you do decide to use an underlay when laying vinyl plank flooring, the Ustik rubber underlay is ideal because of its:
● self-adhesive design and easy-to-remove protective film that makes installation simple, without the need for messy glues or nails
● quality recycled rubber foam construction which provides optimal cushioning and acoustic insulation
● dual moisture barrier design which protects against water from above and below the floor surface
● suitability for use with most types of flooring (not just vinyl plank flooring)
● affordability, costing only $17.95 per sqm.