|
Resource Center
Dear Bob and Betsy,
I live in northern Michigan and it can get cold in the winter. Can I use underlayment under vinyl flooring as insulation to keep my house warm? If so, what kind of underlayment is best?
Thanks! Silvia O.
Dear Sylvia,
BRRR! Winters in Michigan don’t sound fun! We can understand why you would be concerned with warmth and insulation in any place you can get it. There is some good news and bad news when it comes to underlayment and vinyl flooring. We have compiled more information for you to help to decide what’s best for you. Cheers! Bob & Betsy
Underlayment is a popular option under many types of floating floors to help with warmth, cushion, sound, and smoothing subfloor irregularities. The rule for vinyl flooring used to be that underlayment should not be used, due to the unstable and flexible structure of LVT, however, you can find engineered core vinyl now that are allowed to have underlayment due to the stability of the planks.
No matter the type of vinyl flooring chosen, it needs to have a sturdy, stable sub-floor with very little cushioning regardless of the installation type. Even today’s engineered vinyl should only have an underlayment of 1mm or less thickness. When choosing a standard LVT, not needing underlayment is both a savings in your pocket and time with installation, however, this means no thermal insulation.
With today’s technology, you can find many vinyl floors that come with attached underlayment, usually 1mm or less. These floors are typically engineered core vinyl (*insert article about this) with more stability than classic LVTs. These will be referred to WPC, SPC, Engineered Core or Hybrid. If you’re looking for a warmth factor, you will need to look up the manufacturer specifics on the underlayment attached.
Standard laminate and engineered wood flooring underlayment will have sound and thermal ratings. These are STC, ICC and R-Value. You will want to look for the R-value if you are investigating an attached vinyl underlayment for warmth. This refers to the underlayment’s ability to conduct heat.
The higher an R-value is, the less heat will move through it. Many homeowners prefer an underlayment with a higher R-value to keep their feet warm in the winter months, however, if you have any kind of radiant heat system, a high R-value can inhibit its effectiveness. Learn more about R-Value here.
When it comes to warmth under your foot, a subfloor will also play a role. If you’re installing over a concrete subfloor, the flooring will generally be colder than a wood subfloor. If you’re installing over a concrete subfloor, we’d recommend going with a thicker vinyl that has attached underlayment. If you’re open to another type of floating floor, like laminate, you would be able to get a thicker underlayment with R-Value.
Unfortunately, adding insulating underlayment under vinyl flooring will cause the flooring to be unstable. Because vinyl flooring isn’t made from wood products, it does not have the same structure that laminate flooring does. Vinyl flooring needs to have a sturdy, stable sub-floor with very little cushioning regardless of the installation type: glue-down, click-lock, or loose lay. However, if you are installing vinyl flooring over a concrete sub-floor, you will need a very thin vapor barrier, such as Visqueen Vapor Barrier underlayment to protect your flooring from moisture.
If you are set on having the warmth and insulation under your flooring, we would suggest switching to laminate flooring. Laminate flooring has to have underlayment in order to float the flooring. There are lots of different underlayment to choose from for your specific needs. If you’re looking for insulation, we recommend Robert’s Super Felt Premium Underlayment. The felt adds lots of insulation and sound dampening properties that will keep you warm and your floors quiet!
Do you still have questions about vinyl flooring or underlayment? Feel free to comment in the space below and we will be happy to help!
Contact the Bestlaminate Flooring Experts today! Call us at 1-800-520-0961 or send us a quick message to get expert advice and answers.
We are here to help. Schedule a free consultation with our friendly experts or call us today at 1-800-520-0961.
Can linoleum flooring be used over radiant heated floor ? If yes, up to what degree of temperature is safe or recommended.
Hi Gurmukh, thanks for reaching out. There are many types of radiant heating solutions, and a large variety of linoleum and vinyl flooring options. When purchasing your radiant heating, we recommend finding an option that is made specifically for your type of flooring. Here at Bestlaminate, we offer vinyl plank flooring. It is safe to use most radiant heating solutions beneath vinyl plank flooring; however, we always recommend checking with the manufacturer of the heating. Hope this helps!
Our living room is 12′ x 33′. we plan to put down vinyl plank. What size plank would recommend? Would this be the same size plank for the bathrooms and bedrooms?
Hi Jim, thanks for the question! It all depends on what style you’re going for. If you want the same look throughout your home, you would want to put the same plank in all the rooms. Most commonly, you’ll find vinyls from 5mm to 8mm in width. If you want more of a rustic or modern look, a wider plank would be nice. A more traditional look, a thinner plank. Keep in mind, if you go with a wide plank, a smaller room may be harder to accommodate. Anything between 5-7mm, you should be fine!
Thanks much
Can you install Lifeproof flooring over an electric floor heat the floor heat recommend underpayment to stop heat lose the electric floor needs to be set in thin set
Hi Lester, thanks for the question. Most vinyls can be installed over an electric radiant heating system. We do not sell this particular brand, so you would need to refer to the manufacturer instructions or ask the store for more details on this particular brand.
Can you use foam insulation as an ubderlayment for laminated floors and How would you do this?
Hi Normand, thanks for the question! You cannot use spray foam insulation. You will need to get a laminate specific underlayment that floats above the subfloor. You can shop the options here: https://www.bestlaminate.com/accessories/underlayment/
Dear Bob and Betsy I have a friend who used siding underpayment for their laminate flooring.Although it looks just like the insulating you use under laminate, it says it is combustible..can you use this?
Hi Martha, thanks for the question. We would NOT recommend using siding underlayment. Flooring underlayment is specifically manufactured to support your floor, aid in moisture prevention and other variables. By using non-flooring underlayment, you run the risk of potential flooring damage with moisture, buckling and more. It will also void your warranty by not using correct materials. Let us know if you have any additional questions!