Do You Need Underlay For Vinyl Sheet Flooring

You can measure the entire floor area.

Do you need underlay for vinyl sheet flooring. It is designed to create a smooth durable surface which is why it is so important for vinyl flooring. A vinyl flooring underlayment will not be as thick as a laminate or hardwood underlayment. There s a base layer in most cases when using the vinyl floor. 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.

Vinyl underlayment is an optional add on to click lock vinyls that are 4mm or thicker. 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. Cut the vinyl 3 inches wider than the floor area on all sides and then trim the excess after laying it in place. Vinyl floors that are glue down or loose lay will not need a vinyl underlayment as these floors will be installed directly over the subfloor.

It may also be a requirement in certain hoa or apartment complexes to have a sound barrier with your flooring. Dry fit your vinyl and trim to size leaving an extra 1 for fudge factor. In most cases 4 by 8 foot sheets of particle board or plywood must be installed in preparation for the vinyl floor install. While luan provides a smooth surface on which to install vinyl it s not suitable for all types of vinyl flooring.

Frequently asked questions about underlayment. That doesn t mean you don t need underlayment for sheet vinyl however. Do i need underlayment for laminate flooring over vinyl. There are two ways to measure and fit vinyl.

Luan as underlayment luan is 1 4 inch thick and it comes in 4 by 8 sheets. 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. And it is enough to serve the purpose of an underlay. 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.

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. 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. If your subfloor had dips or damage it could show through the vinyl over time.

Because you can install sheet vinyl over existing vinyl it offers the option of changing design without breaking the bank. Vinyl flooring is usually not installed directly over the subfloor in residential applications. So an additional underlay is not really.