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What is Laminate Underlayment?
If you're a homeowner in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington DC you may have encountered the term "underlayment" and the option to use it. Using a laminate underlayment is actually a common practice nowadays, and in some situations, required for floating floors. Floating floors are floors that are not directly glued to the sub floor but glued or locked into each other. Laminate underlayment is a type of foam or cork placed between the sub floor and the laminate floating floor. It serves to cancel out the nuisances, such as noise, stability, or moisture after the floating laminate floor is installed.
There are several types of laminate underlayments, which serve a number of purposes and should be used in the proper situation. If you are planning to install a laminate floating floor and you have no idea what laminate underlayment to use, read on.
Without underlayment, a laminate floating floor will have severe problems, either in the present or in the future. There are two problems that will haunt you more than all the rest, the first being a problem with loud, hollow sounds while the second is possible destruction of the laminate floating floor due to moisture from below, especially if it is installed on concrete. Now that you know what will happen without it, let us browse the four types of underlayment to figure out what will work for you:
Standard Foam Underlayment
The most common type of underlayment is standard foam. There are many brands, thicknesses and roll sizes, but their purpose is basically the same. The function of standard foam underlayment is to reduce sound, provide for slight cushioning, and give minor added stability. Also, standard foam does not have any protection against moisture, so it should not be used in conjunction with a concrete floor that is not on the ground level. Foam can be used on cement slabs though as long as there is no chance for moisture, such as on the second floor.
Simple Moisture-Proof Underlayment
A simple moisture-proof underlayment may be used to simply prevent moisture from getting into and damaging the laminate floating floor. However, simple moisture-proof underlayments do not provide any solution for hollow or loud sounds. For a better result, you can just place this below standard foam to get a dual protective effect (both moisture and sound).
Combo Underlayment
Combo underlayment is simply a standard foam underlayment that has a built-in moisture barrier on one side. This moisture proof barrier prevents moisture from seeping into the underlayment and the laminate floating floor, thus preventing any serious damage due to moisture. The combo underlayments can be used on or below ground levels as well, especially on laminate floating floors above concrete slabs. However, combo underlayments provide little sound reduction, comfort and stability.
Cork Underlayment
Cork underlayment is the most desirable (and most expensive) laminate underlayment type. As the name implies, it is made of cork. With cork underlayments, not only do you get optimum sound reduction, you will also create the illusion of a real hardwood floor. Cork underlayments will give laminate floating floors almost the same sound and feel as a real hardwood floor. However, cork underlayments do not usually come with moisture-protective barriers, so you would want to use simple moisture-proof underlayments beneath cork underlayments for protection as well as comfort. Keep in mind also that cork underlayments will raise the height of the floor.
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