Do You Need Underlay For Sheet Vinyl Flooring

Dry fit your vinyl and trim to size leaving an extra 1 for fudge factor.

Do you need underlay for sheet vinyl flooring. It is designed to create a smooth durable surface which is why it is so important for vinyl flooring. Underlayment goes on top of the structural support of your floor and under your actual flooring. If your subfloor had dips or damage it could show through the vinyl over time. If you re laying the lvp over an existing cushion backed vinyl floor or a below grade tile floor then you won t need to use an underlayment.

It may also be a requirement in certain hoa or apartment complexes to have a sound barrier with your flooring. A vinyl flooring underlayment will not be as thick as a laminate or hardwood underlayment. Sheet vinyl flooring provides a durable surface for high traffic areas in your home. Fold back one half of the vinyl do not allow the flooring to crease along the fold and start applying flooring adhesive using a 1 8 v notch trowel.

However you ll want to use one in every other application including covering existing hardwood floors vinyl flooring that isn t cushioned and concrete floors. Doing this will give you a nice smooth flat surface to lay the sheet vinyl over. Vinyl flooring is so thin that any imperfections underneath it like bumps grooves or cracks will show right through. For vinyl flooring installations over wood subfloors you will not need to worry about a moisture barrier but you may want an underlayment for added cushion or sound reduction.

While luan provides a smooth surface on which to install vinyl it s not suitable for all types of vinyl flooring. Vinyl flooring is usually not installed directly over the subfloor in residential applications. Cut the vinyl 3 inches wider than the floor area on all sides and then trim the excess after laying it in place. That doesn t mean you don t need underlayment for sheet vinyl however.

Allow the new vinyl floor to acclimate to the room by leaving it in the room where it ll be installed for at least 24 hours prior to cutting. In most cases 4 by 8 foot sheets of particle board or plywood must be installed in preparation for the vinyl floor install. Because you can install sheet vinyl over existing vinyl it offers the option of changing design without breaking the bank. There are two ways to measure and fit vinyl.

Before you install sheet vinyl the subfloor must be in good condition. You can measure the entire floor area. Luan as underlayment luan is 1 4 inch thick and it comes in 4 by 8 sheets.