Unless your flooring includes an attached underlayment, you probably need a separate underlayment. Underlayment adds warmth and softness, and more importantly, increases the life expectancy of your new flooring. Let's take a moment and discuss more about the advantages of underlayment.
Underlayment is the layer between your subfloor and your new floor. Yes, it's actually that simple. Underlayment is typically made out of rubber, cork, rubber cork, felt or foam.
Unless your flooring includes an attached underlayment, you probably need a separate underlayment. Underlayment adds warmth and softness, and more importantly, increases the life expectancy of your new flooring. Let's take a moment and discuss more about the advantages of underlayment.
Underlayment isn't just something we tell you to throw down under your carpet or laminate. It has multiple functions:
The flooring underlayment functions as a protective barrier between your floor and subfloor. Floating floors are particularly susceptible to expansion and contraction as the temperature changes. Underlayment offers a barrier from the friction of motion, keeping your flooring totally together throughout moving.
Rubber is among the best choices for underlayment because it is incredibly versatile. It protects your flooring from mold and mildew and also protects your ears from hollow sounding floors. In fact, it is one of the most sound absorbing and insulating underlayments out there.
Rubber underlayment is most commonly used under wood, tile or carpet, but can not be used under vinyl due to staining.
Rubber is an excellent choice over wood and concrete subfloors and is very easy to install underneath almost any kind of floor. Since it's commonly made from recycled rubber products, it's environmentally friendly, also!