In Some Homes Laminate Floor Underlayment May Be Needed
In Some Homes Laminate Floor Underlayment May Be Needed
Installing a new floor should be a quick and easy task and most manufacturers proclaim that their materials can be laid over just about any existing floor except for carpeting, without the need to flooring work. While most existing materials can be used as a laminate floor underlayment, the condition of the flooring materials as well as the floor itself, before installing a laminate floor, underlayment may be necessary.
A floor covered with linoleum, tile or wood can have a floating laminate floor placed on top without any trouble. However, if there are serious holes in the existing floor or areas where it is uneven, using a laminate floor underlayment will make sure the new floor does not take the shape of the floor underneath. If there is a dip in the floor, over time the new laminate floor will take the shape of the depression it is covering.
Depending on the amount of damage to the existing floor, the laminate floor underlayment can be anything from one-eighth-inch thick fiberboard to three-quarter-inch plywood. The secret to a successful laminate floor installation is having a smooth clean surface and it may be necessary, especially in older homes to use laminate floor underlayment to make sure the floor stays in the best shape.
Sub Floor Joints Run Opposite To Laminate
Before laying down laminate floor underlayment, determine the direction the laminate flooring is going to run. Typically, the joints in laminate flooring run parallel to the wall through which the most sunlight enters. If this is the case, then the laminate floor underlayment joints should run perpendicular to that direction, eliminating the possibility of the laminate floor joint being on top of the underlayment joint.
Preparing the surface of the laminate floor underlayment will need to be the same as the original floor. There can be no nails or glue puddles on top of the wood on which the laminate flooring is going to float. The laminate floor underlayment also needs to be clean and dust free to prevent the dirt from working up through any cracks and causing damage to the new flooring.
Laminate flooring is available in three, five or more layers and is generally treated to be water resistant. The locking tongue and groove sides enable it to be used without the need for glue or nails and if installed without laminate floor underlayment it will quickly duplicate the shape of the floor on which it sits. Carefully examine the existing floor to determine if a new underlayment is necessary.