best underlayment for vinyl plank flooring

If you already have flooring in mind, it’s always a good idea to refer to the manufacturer to see what they recommend beforehand. Unfortunately, that can be a problem as vinyl can be a very finicky product. While it also often comes with underlayment pre-attached, we’ve seen plenty of installers and salespeople recommended an additional layer of underlay.

The important thing to remember with LVP is that it can be a bit noisy unless your subfloor is completely level. You’ll also find two variants of luxury vinyl flooring with SPC and WPC planks, which are unique in their own right Flooring in this class is usually waterproof and made entirely from vinyl, although some boards are billed as water-resistant as well. Most vinyl plank flooring produced today falls into the luxury vinyl plank category. It simplifies the installation but will add more to the price. While more expensive than your other two options, LVT often comes with an underlayment already attached. LVT stands for luxury vinyl tile, and it’s the most popular style of tile that is made from synthetic materials. Just like with the peel and stick variety, you’ll want to refer to the experts if you’re dead-set on putting something beneath them as underlayment generally isn’t needed. VCT are tiles that are made with a percentage of limestone, which adds to their appeal, but makes them porous unless properly sealed. If you’re going to use peel and stick tiles, just follow the directions and make sure the surface you are sticking the tiles to is clean and level – you don’t need underlayment. Vinyl tile is available in three main styles with VCT or vinyl composition tiles, peel and stick tile, and luxury vinyl tile. There are several types of underlayment for this type of flooring, and we’ve seen brands with a thin layer of foam pre-attached as well. If your subfloor had dips or damage, it could show through the vinyl over time. That doesn’t mean you don’t need underlayment for sheet vinyl, however. Sheet vinyl is still popular today, and manufacturers have used new techniques to give it a much more modern feel. It’s something you’ve likely experienced in an older home and may have even covered up or removed during a remodel. It’s also available in a wide variety of form factors as well with sheet, plank, and tile-based vinyl flooring.

It can handle stains and scratches that would damage other styles of flooring in seconds and is ideal in areas where moisture can be a problem. Vinyl is a unique material in more ways than one.

What type of vinyl floor will you install? In this guide, we’re going to discuss the best underlayment for vinyl flooring based on your budget and floor style. Wear layers and topcoats can protect the surface of your floor, but underlay adds a layer of protection to the bottom of your boards or tiles. With certain types of flooring, the underlayment can be just as important as the floor itself. While vinyl flooring is known for its resiliency, it would be a major mistake to overlook the underlayment. It’s easy to overlook little things when considering shades or finishing techniques, especially if you plan on handling the installation yourself. Choosing new flooring for your home can be exciting, but also stressful.

Best underlayment for vinyl plank flooring