No, it is not recommended to install a thick or double layer of underlayment with laminate flooring.
Underlayment is manufactured and meant to be used as only a single layer to allow your floor to be balanced and float properly. If you install any additional underlayment, the base for your flooring will end up being too soft and could jeopardize the integrity of the locking system.
Your Options
What you can do is install a premium underlayment that gives you exactly what you need. The reason why we get asked this questions is because people are worried about having proper sound reduction or enough cushion for accidental falls.
If these sound like your concerns, here are some options:
Roberts Silent 3 in 1 Vapor Underlayment
This 3mm three-in-one underlayment is one of the most premium underlayment options. With sound reducing properties, a thick core to improve minor subfloor imperfections and airflow technology, this underlayment will not disappoint. The airflow technology within the underlayment gives your floor the proper exposure to air and to keep it mold and mildew free.
Floor Muffler Ultraseal 2mm Underlayment
Floor Muffler is known to be one of the best sound reducing underlayment options on the market. It has been selected by award winning researchers as “The World’s Greatest” underlayment and is popular among Bestlaminate customers. In addition, the polypropylene advanced cell technology protects the structural stability of your floor. This underlayment is also moisture proof, so you can install it over cement subfloors and not have to worry about mold or mildew!
ProVent Silent Vapor 3-in-1 Underlayment
Let your floor breathe! This multifunctional underlayment from Kronoswiss provides heavy duty sound insulation underlayment. Optimized through extensive test series and laboratory tests to provide high-level, lasting impact sound insulation. Kronoswiss ProVent not only effectively minimizes the noise level when walked on, but also the sound level transmitted through the floor into adjacent rooms. Rated STC67 and IIC 71 provides great noise insulation; perfect choice especially in condos and other multi-floor constructions. Unique Micro-pumping System supports air circulation. ProVent underlay is shaped to allow the formation of a system of air channels which ensures a constant exchange of air when walked on and also eliminates water vapor from the floor.
There are plenty of premium, high performance underlayments available at Bestlaminate. If you have any questions as to which underlayment will suit your needs, you can write in the comments below or give us a call at 1-800-520-0961!
Learn More:
- Can You Put Down Two Layers of Laminate Flooring Underlayment to Reduce Noise Pollution?
- How Much Underlayment Do I Need to Buy?
- Can I install underlayment under laminate with attached padding?
*This post was updated from 2014 to give you a better reading experience!
10 comments
I removed the vinyl flooring that was sitting on top of a subfloor. Under that subfloor was newspaper and what looks like tar as the glue. I have tried really hard to get the tar substance up, but I just can’t. I don’t really want to replace the floor since my cabinets are built on top of them. My questions are:
1) Can I place the laminate w/ builtin underlayment on top of whats left of the tar?
2) Can I cover the tar like substance with vapor barrier, another sheet of underlayment or primer?
3) Please help, I don’t think I will be able to get that substance off, what is a good work around?
Hi Chris, thanks for the question. I am not sure how high and low places are with the tar, but the best work around may be to add a leveling compound over the tar to ensure you have a flat, smooth subfloor to begin your installation. Not having a smooth surface can affect the joints when you go to float the floor. Underlayment can smooth out minor imperfections, but not when it comes to a large area of uneven flooring. Hope this helps!
I have a problem Im hoping you can have a solution for. I want to put a flowting floor on my basement cement floor, my problems are, 1 the cement floor has a drain in it so the floor slopes towards the drain. a good 1/2 inch. I presently have a plastic mesh type of flooring with a carpet on top. Im stumped on how to put a wood floor down. I cant cement the floor to make it even do to the drain and i need the present plastic floor for the space incase theres a water leet, the water will run under the flooring to the drain…..any ideas? hope you can understand my explanation
thanks in advance
Hi Ronald, thanks for the question. With laminate or vinyl flooring, it is not recommended to install over any floor with a drain. It would need to be a completely sealed and level concrete space. Any moisture leaks could create mold or mildew beneath the floating floor. Your best bet here may be a tile product that is waterproof and grouted to the floor.
I am getting ready to renovate a home I just brought. My question is I have tile in the livingroom but not in the hallway or my bedroom. The floor is uneven where the tile end. I want to do laminate flooring throughout the home is there a way to continue from room to room without breaking up the tile. I have set a strict budget
Hi Sonya, thanks for your question. If you don’t want to do a transition molding from one height to another, you could add a plywood subfloor overtop of the tile. You will need to make sure it is sturdy, level and within the requirements of the manufacturer.
I own a 2nd floor condo in Florida and the Condo by -laws won’t allow anything but carpet on the upper floors due to noise transmission. We use this as a rental unit part of the year to defray costs. I am trying to convince the board members to allow condo owners to have multiple options for flooring options other then carpets on the upper floors.
I would like to know what is the best sound pad underlayment available to use with either luxury vinyl plank or floor laminate to achieve superior sound proofing equal or better then carpet.
My goal is to provide recommendations to the condo owners with more floor options and a longer lasting product then carpet.
Our condos have 6″ concrete flooring with no acoustical ceilings in the apartment below.
Hi Thomas, thanks for reaching out. We would recommend Floor Muffler underlayment, which has the highest and most effective sound barrier for floating floors. An IIC rating 65+ is a high level of impact sound transmission absorption and includes superior sound reduction materials like carpet and cork.
Here is the Floor Muffler for laminate flooring (IIC 74): https://www.bestlaminate.com/floor-muffler-ultraseal-2mm-underlayment/
Here is the Flor Muffler for vinyl flooring (IIC 71): https://www.bestlaminate.com/floor-muffler-lvt-ultraseal-1mm-underlayment/
I have a house built in 1930 ,with floors that need to be leveled due to wall removal. I don’t need a premium floor that will last a very long time but one that is nice looking and somewhat durable and seals out any imperfections in the sub floor. The house has a small crawl space under it with diagonal wood then sub floor. Which underlayment do you think I should use. The house is in North Carolina and can get some high humidity days
Hi Pat, thanks for your question. With a crawl space and humidity as a factor, you will want to look at an underlayment with a vapor barrier. All underlayments will address minor subfloor imperfections, but it is important to have a repaired and proper subfloor before installing a floating floor, as this can cause damage down the road.