Dear Bob and Betsy,
I’m laying a laminate floor in a room with no insulation below or above. There’s a basement beneath the room and a ceiling without insulation above it. I’m worried about noise. Can I put down two layers of laminate flooring underlayment to increase the sound absorption?
– Patricia A.
Dear Patricia,
Underlayment is an essential part of any flooring project. Not only does it add a barrier of protection between your subfloor and the planks of laminate, but it also reduces noise. Some types of underlayment even help to keep moisture out of your room. We have compiled more information for you to help to decide what’s best for you. Cheers! Bob & Betsy
Dear Patricia,
Underlayment is an essential part of any flooring project. Not only does it add a barrier of protection between your subfloor and the planks of laminate, but it also reduces noise. Some types of underlayment even help to keep moisture out of your room.
In rooms where noise is a concern, such as yours with a basement below and a ceiling without insulation above, it makes sense that you’d like to take extra steps to reduce sound. However, adding a double layer of laminate flooring underlayment isn’t the ideal solution.
Manufacturers of underlayment say that adding two layers of this essential product can actually do more harm than good. The underlayment can shift while you’re walking on it. Over time, this can also cause the planks of laminate flooring to shift. As they do, you’ll start to hear squeaking sounds from the flooring rubbing against each other. Over the lifetime of your flooring, this can cause further damage, reducing the quality of your laminate.
Since noise is a concern, we suggest getting a three-in-one underlayment. This is the thickest style of underlayment, so it provides the maximum level of sound absorption.
Three-in-one underlayment products also block moisture. This could prove extremely helpful to you because there is a basement below without added protection against leaks or spills.
For more help choosing the best underlayment for your product, talk to one of our flooring experts. We’re available by chat, email or phone.
Check out three-in-one underlayment installation tutorials:
16 comments
Which is a better way to install vinyl to reduce impact noise to the floor below, glue down or underpayment ? Trying to get my upstairs neighbor to do something to stop the running and banging. They finally agreed so trying to find the best possible solution.
Thank you.
Thanks for your question, Jon. We would suggest using a vinyl plank flooring with attached underlayment. Most underlayment has sound dampening qualities that can absorb sound. If you have any further questions, please reach out to our customer service team!
Hello – We have just removed all the wall to wall carpeting from the main rooms of our recently purchased condo. The floors are all concrete. We want to install a VLT with an STC rating of 62 (cork back), and an IIC rating of 62 over a foam underlayment with an STC rating of 67, and IIC of 68.
The Condo board requires an STC of 72, IIC of 71. Can you tell me if this combination would meet the Condo STC and IIC requirements?
Hi Andrea, thanks for the question. I am going to take a guess that they will require a product that meets those requirements solely. Adding products together will not make a higher STC rating.