Why You Should Install Underlayment For Laminate Floor
Although relatively new floor solution, laminate flooring is without doubt one of the most popular types of flooring today. Its versatility and ease of maintenance are the main features why many choose laminate loose lay flooring over the other hard-wood floors. Moreover, laminate loose lay flooring is easy to install and is one of the few hard-wood flooring types that doesn’t harbor bacteria and mold.
You can install laminate almost everywhere, from residential to commercial facilities. Also, you can install laminate loose lay flooring over the existing floor in your home or office. What you need to know about this flooring is that, with a good moisture barrier, there are almost no limitations where you can install this flooring and where to use it. Speaking of moisture barrier, the best way to protect the flooring from water is to install underlayment for laminate floor. In fact, here are the main reasons why you should install underlayment before you install your laminate loose lay flooring.
Moisture Protection – Prolonged moisture exposure is what can damage the loose lay flooring and reduce its lifespan. You certainly don’t want to replace the flooring in your home after a year or two. For this reason, you should provide a reliable moisture protection for the loose lay flooring, by installing a underlayment. It is the underlayment that can make a best moisture barrier and prevent water leeks or vapor from coming in touch with the under-surface of the flooring.
Thermal Insulation – The laminate flooring provides a good thermal insulation itself, but the underlayment can increase this functionality to great extend. The underlayment installed over a concrete sub-floor prevents cold air from circulating under the loose lay flooring, and with that provides increased level of thermal insulation. This is especially important if you live on the first floor. This said, by installing underlayment you will reduce the waste of energy and reduce the costs for heating your commercial or residential facility.
Sound Absorption – Sound is an important factor that comes into play when selecting a flooring solution. But did you know that in most cases, it isn’t the loose lay flooring material “responsible” for the disturbing sounds that are produced while walking, it is the poor insulation. You can hardly find a type of flooring materials that doesn’t produce sounds under pressure being installed without a decent underlayment. This is the reason why many of the flooring solutions offered in the retailing stores come in a combination with suitable underlayment.
