When two hard surfaces come in contact with each other, then friction is created and due to the friction wear and tear happens. The same thing happens when you bring laminated flooring in contact with wood or concrete subfloor.
To avoid this a stuff is added in between the subfloor and the laminated flooring and this stuff is called Underlayment which is basically a thin sheet that provides cushioning effects to the laminated flooring and also protects your flooring & subfloor from damage.
So whenever you think about installing laminated flooring over concrete or wood subfloor then you must think about the underlayment.
Nowadays underlayment is not only used for protecting the subfloor and laminated flooring but also protecting from vapor, thermal, and noise pollution.
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So let’s see what is underlayment, the types of underlayment, the purpose of underlayment, and then we will switch to our main topic “best underlayment for laminate flooring to reduce noise”.
What Is Underlayment
Underlayment is a thin layer of sheet sandwiched between the subfloor and the new flooring. This sheet is generally made from rubber, cork, felt, foam, or rubber cork.
This sheet is mainly used to reduce the wear and tear between the two hard surfaces as well as also provide the cushioning effect to the laminated flooring.
Nowadays laminated flooring came with attached underlayment, if you use this type of attached underlayment laminated flooring then you do not need another one.
But if this attached underlayment doesn’t full fill your requirement then you will need to install another underlayment as per your requirement.
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Types Of Underlayment
There are a number of types available in the underlayment. From those, here we are covering some of the major types of underlayment.
If you go through these types then you will get a little bit of idea that which type of underlayment to use for which flooring? So let’s see each type in brief,
✔ Foam Type Underlayment
Foam type is the most famous type of underlayment which is generally used for laminated flooring. It is made out of polyethylene.
It is inexpensive and also has some sound absorbing as well as thermal insulating properties. This type of underlayment is non-toxic, non-dusting, and effectively evens out minor floor imperfections.
This underlayment is mostly suitable for laminated flooring because it provides a cushioning effect to the laminated flooring. It easily absorbs any shock and protects your flooring from any damage.
This foam-type underlayment is not only suitable for laminate flooring but also for vinyl and wood flooring also.
But this regular foam type underlayment is not suitable for the concrete subfloor.
If you want to use foam type underlayment over the concrete subfloor then you can go with damp proof membrane foam type underlayment or you can use a vapor barrier over a concrete subfloor first and then install regular type foam underlayment over this vapor barrier.
If you want to use regular foam type underlayment over the concrete subfloor then you can go with damp proof membrane foam type underlayment or you can use a vapor barrier over your regular foam type underlayment.
Recommended Uses: This type of underlayment is most suitable for floating floors such as laminated and hardwood or engineered flooring but you can also use it under linoleum, bamboo, vinyl, carpet flooring, and much more.
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✔ Damp Proof Membrane Underlayment
Damp-proof underlayments are those underlayments that come up with damp proof membrane or you can say it vapor barrier also. In some cases, you can not go with regular underlayment.
For example, if you want to install underlayment over concrete subfloor then, in that case, you can not go with regular underlayment, you have to go with damp proof membrane type underlayment, especially it is when you are living on the ground floor, hope you will be understanding my point.
Damp-proof membrane underlayment protects your laminated flooring from moisture or vapor, and also they have some sound reduction and thermal insulating properties by which they help you in reducing the sound and stopping the heat
Recommended Uses: This type of underlayment is mostly used where there are wetted areas, like bathrooms, basements, and also on the concrete subfloor.
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✔ Rubber-Type Underlayment
Rubber-type underlayment is generally made from recycled rubber. It is mainly used below the wood, tile, and carpet flooring but it is not used below vinyl due to staining.
It is one of the good sound blockers, heat, and electric insulator underlayments. It also even out the minor imperfections of the subfloor.
Rubber is the most popular and trending product due to its endless possibilities. It is a durable and extremely water-resistant product. Its perm rating is very less which is less than 0.1 so we can say it is impermeable for water vapor.
But if you want to use it in a high moisture area then you can also add additional protection such as a polyethylene vapor barrier or you can directly go with rubber underlay with a vapor barrier.
Rubber is a good shock absorber, also durable, water-resistance, stylish, eco-friendly, quiet, easy to install, and easy to clean product that’s why it has more demand in the market.
Recommended Uses: This type of underlayment is mostly used under hard surfaces such as natural stone, and hardwood, but you can also use it under laminates, bamboo, engineered wood, real wood, pavers, bricks, marbles, and carpet flooring.
Of note, Rubber type underlayment is not recommended for vinyl and linoleum.
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✔ Cork Type Underlayment
Cork is a 100% natural, organic material made from the bark of the cork oak trees so cork is eco-friendly plus its antimicrobial nature prevents the growth of mold, mildew, and fungi, which makes it a great choice.
Cork also has sound absorbing and thermal insulating properties that’s why it helps to reduce noise as well as to protect from heat.
But on the other hand, cork is not waterproof it is a water-resistant product only that’s why you can not use it in wetted areas like bathrooms or any other flood-prone areas.
Recommended Uses: This type of underlayment is mostly used under the hardwood, and laminate flooring but you can also use it under linoleum, bamboo, engineered wood, natural stone, vinyl, tiles, planks, and carpet flooring.
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✔ Felt Type Underlayment
Felt-type underlayment is generally made out of recycled fibers, and it is compressed by using a high heat manufacturing process.
This type of underlayment is not only reduced noise but also helps to protect your home from heat as well as provided cushioning effect to your laminated flooring.
This type of underlayment also comes with a vapor barrier so that it could protect your flooring from vapor damage. It is environmentally friendly, and it is mostly used below the laminated and wood flooring.
Recommended Uses: This type of underlayment is mostly used under the hardwood, and laminate flooring but you can also use it under linoleum, bamboo, engineered wood, vinyl, planks, and carpet flooring.
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✔ Rubber Cork Type Underlayment
As its name indicates that it is made up of a combination of two materials cork and rubber, so you will get all the qualities of both rubber and cork in it and it makes this product versatile.
This underlayment helps to reduce noise as well as helps to reduce the transmission of heat also. It is suitable for any hard surface flooring application.
This underlayment is made out of recycled material that’s why it is an environmentally friendly product that offers to reduce airborne as well as impact noise. It is mainly designed for providing crack suppression with superior comfort.
This type of underlayment should not be used with vinyl flooring as it could potentially stain these materials. Do not use this underlayment without a vapor barrier in wetted areas so that it could protect your flooring from vapor or moisture.
Recommended Uses: This type of underlayment is mostly used under the hardwood and tiles, but you can also use it under laminates, bamboo, engineered wood, and cork flooring.
Of note, Rubber cork type underlayment is not recommended for vinyl and linoleum.
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Do You Need Underlayment For Laminate Flooring? Or
Purpose Of Underlayment
Yes, you need underlayment for laminated flooring unless and until you do not use preattached underlayment laminated flooring. It means if you use preattached underlayment laminated flooring then you do not need to use another underlayment.
Here we are elaborating the reasons why do you need underlayment for laminate flooring so have a look,
👉 Laminate flooring is a floating floor and the underlayment is the product that helps laminated flooring to float, provides it stability, cushioning effect, and supports the locking systems in between planks.
👉 Underlayment takes out the minor imperfections of the subfloor.
👉 Underlayment does not allow both laminated flooring and subfloor to come in contact with each other, from this it reduces the friction between the two hard surfaces such as laminated flooring and subfloor and protects your flooring as well as subfloor also from wear and tear.
👉 It absorbs the shock and provides the cushioning effect to the laminated flooring and ultimately it softens your footfall.
👉 It helps to reduce noise.
👉 It protects your flooring from water damage.
👉 It also protects from mold and mildew.
👉 It provides support to the locking systems in between planks to ensure the sturdiest flooring project.
👉 It also helps to reduce the heat transfer rate.
Here you came to know what is underlayment, the types of underlayment, and why do you need underlayment for laminate flooring. Now let’s move to our main topic best underlayment for laminate flooring to reduce noise.
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Best Underlayment For Laminate Flooring To Reduce Noise
There are a number of underlayments are available in the market but here we are presenting some most selective, effective, and sound-reducing underlayments, so have a look.
1. Roberts 70-193A Super Felt 3mm Thick Cushion Underlayment
Roberts 70-193A underlayment is made out of recycled fiber. It is a 3mm thick insulating underlayment designed for reducing noise and heat transmission as well as it also helps to provide a cushioning effect to your flooring.
There is a vapor barrier film overlay to protect the laminated flooring from any water damage coming from your subfloor. This 3mm thick underlayment also helps to correct minor subfloor imperfections.
During installation, the felt side of this underlayment goes on the subfloor and the vapor barrier film side goes to the upper side, which will adjacent to the laminated flooring.
Now when you place its felt side on the subfloor then it absorbs the moisture coming from the subfloor and its vapor barrier film protects laminated flooring from this moisture.
On the other hand whenever there is a spillage on the top of the flooring then sometimes that spillage may come down through the periphery of the flooring and it disperses through the fibers (felt) and hold it there.
And this trapped moisture will eventually escape through the subfloor or evaporate over time as soon as the source of the leak is stopped.
Key Features
- Thickness: 3mm
- Vapor Barrier: Yes
- Subfloor: Concrete/Wood
- Density: 14.5 lbs/ft3
- Weight/Roll: 45.5 lbs
- STC: 66
- IIC: 67
- R-Value: 0.59
- Coverage: 360 sqft
- Data Sheet: Click Here
Pros
- The topside of this underlayment is coated with a vapor barrier film.
- Provides a good cushioning effect.
- It helps to reduce the transmission of sound and heat.
- It hides out minor imperfections of the subfloor.
- No additional tape is required for covering seams due to the preattached adhesive strip.
- It is mostly used under the hardwood, and laminate flooring but you can also use it under linoleum, bamboo, engineered wood, vinyl, planks, and carpet flooring.
Cons
- This underlayment is not for the nail-down process.
- This underlayment is not for walls otherwise you will spoil its warranty.
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2. MP Global Quiet Walk Plus (QW100Plus) 3mm Thick Vapor Barrier Underlayment
Quiet walk plus is a felt type underlayment same as Roberts 70-193, made from recycled fiber. It is quite less dense than Roberts 70-193.
It is a 3mm thick insulating underlayment that helps to provide a cushioning effect to your flooring as well as your footsteps.
It helps you in acoustic treatment for reducing noise as well as it reduces the rate of flow of heat transfer. Also, it manages the minor irregularities of the subfloor.
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The top side of this underlayment is equipped with a vapor barrier film so that it protects your laminated flooring from any water damage coming from the subfloor.
During installation, the felt side of this underlayment goes on the subfloor and the vapor barrier film side goes to the upper side, which will adjacent to the laminated flooring.
Now when you place its felt side on the subfloor then it absorbs the moisture coming from the subfloor and its vapor barrier film protects laminated flooring from this moisture.
On the other hand whenever there is a spillage on the top of the flooring then sometimes that spillage may come down through the periphery of the flooring and it disperses through the fibers (felt) and hold it there.
And this trapped moisture will eventually escape through the subfloor or evaporate over time as soon as the source of the leak is stopped.
Key Features
- Thickness: 3mm
- Vapor Barrier: Yes
- Subfloor: Concrete/Wood
- Density: 11.52 lbs/ft3
- Weight/Roll: 13 lbs
- STC: 66
- IIC: 71
- R-Value: 0.58
- Coverage: 100 sqft
- Data Sheet: Click Here
Pros
- The topside of this underlayment is coated with a vapor barrier film.
- Provides a good cushioning effect.
- It helps to reduce the transmission of sound and heat.
- It hides out minor imperfections of the subfloor.
- No additional tape is required for covering seams due to the preattached adhesive strip.
- It is mostly used under the floating engineered wood, luxury vinyl plank (5mm and thicker), and laminated flooring. But you can also use it for nail-down and glue-down wood.
- No VOC
- No petrochemical smell
- Easy to install
Cons
- This underlayment is not used under the carpet, ceramic tile, vinyl sheet & Vct.
- This underlayment is not for walls otherwise you will spoil its warranty.
- Installation over concrete in over wetted areas an additional vapor barrier is required
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3. Floorlot Gold 3mm Thick Vapor Barrier Underlayment
Floor lot gold is a 3mm thick foam type vapor barrier underlayment that is mostly used under the laminated and hardwood flooring but you can also use it under linoleum, and bamboo.
Its foam material is IXPE which stands for Irradiation Cross-Linked Polyethylene foam with a self-sealing lip & tape system. The performance of IXPE is good as compared to the other foam materials. Especially for sound insulation, heat insulation, moisture resistance, and shock absorption.
IXPE is basically a lightweight, low-density closed-cell foam that strongly resists water and it also helps to reduce impact noise. It also hideout the minor imperfections of the subfloor very effectively.
As you know Floorlot gold is a closed-cell foam and closed-cell foam is a very effective product for heat insulation and water resistance as compared to open-cell foam but it is slightly less effective to reduce noise as compared to open-cell foam.
During installation, the foam side of this underlayment goes on the subfloor and the vapor barrier film (Gold) side goes to the upper side, which will adjacent to the laminated flooring.
Now when you place its foam side on the subfloor then it resists the moisture coming from the subfloor but if the rate of flow of moisture is high then some of the moisture enters into the foam and tries to go up towards laminated flooring but its vapor barrier film protects laminated flooring from this moisture.
On the other hand whenever there is a spillage on the top of the flooring then sometimes this spillage may come down through the periphery of the flooring and foam resist this spillage but if the spillage is continued then it enters into the foam and hold there.
And this trapped moisture will eventually escape through the subfloor or evaporate over time as soon as the source of the leak is stopped.
Key Features
- Thickness: 3mm
- Vapor Barrier: Yes
- Subfloor: Concrete/Wood
- Material: Foam IXPE
- Use Under: Laminate, Hardwood, and Engineered Wood Flooring
- Weight/Roll: 6.19 lbs
- IIC: 72dB
- STC: Not Mentioned
- R-Value: Not Mentioned
- Coverage: 200 sqft
- Data Sheet: Click Here
Pros
- The topside of this underlayment is coated with a vapor barrier film.
- Provides a good cushioning effect.
- It helps to reduce the transmission of sound and heat.
- It hides out minor imperfections of the subfloor.
- No additional tape is required for covering seams due to the preattached adhesive strip.
- It is mostly used under hardwood, laminate, bamboo, and engineered wood flooring.
Cons
- This underlayment is not suitable for gluing down vinyl planks.
- This underlayment is not used under carpet, ceramic tile, vinyl sheet, peel & stick flooring, and LVT flooring (under 7mm thick) otherwise you will spoil its warranty.
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4. Floorlot Blue 3mm Thick Vapor Barrier Underlayment
Floorlot blue is the same as Floorlot gold but the only difference is that it is made up of Expanded Polyethylene (EPE) and the Floorlot gold is made up of Irradiation Cross-Linked Polyethylene foam. But both are closed-cell foam which strongly resists water as well as heat.
Floorlot blue provides good cushioning to the laminated flooring and helps to avoid friction between the subfloor and laminated flooring. And also it hideout the minor imperfections of the subfloor.
Floorlot blue is a 3mm thick foam type vapor barrier underlayment that is mostly used under the laminated and hardwood flooring but you can also use it under linoleum, and bamboo.
As you know Floorlot blue is a closed-cell foam and closed-cell foam is a very effective product for heat insulation and water resistance as compared to open-cell foam but it is slightly less effective to reduce noise as compared to open-cell foam.
During installation, the foam side of this underlayment goes on the subfloor and the vapor barrier film (Blue) side goes to the upper side, which will adjacent to the laminated flooring.
Now when you place its foam side on the subfloor then it resists the moisture coming from the subfloor but if the rate of flow of moisture is high then some of the moisture enters into the foam and tries to go up towards laminated flooring but its vapor barrier film protects laminated flooring from this moisture.
On the other hand whenever there is a spillage on the top of the flooring then sometimes this spillage may come down through the periphery of the flooring and foam resist this spillage but if the spillage is continued then it enters into the foam and hold there.
And this trapped moisture will eventually escape through the subfloor or evaporate over time as soon as the source of the leak is stopped.
Key Features
- Thickness: 3mm
- Vapor Barrier: Yes
- Subfloor: Concrete/Wood
- Material: Foam EPE
- Use Under: Laminate, Hardwood, and Engineered Wood Flooring
- Weight/Roll: 3 lbs
- IIC: Not Mentioned
- STC: Not Mentioned
- R-Value: Not Mentioned
- Coverage: 200 sqft
- Data Sheet: Click Here
Pros
- The topside of this underlayment is coated with a vapor barrier film.
- Provides a good cushioning effect.
- It helps to reduce the transmission of sound and heat.
- It hides out minor imperfections of the subfloor.
- No additional tape is required for covering seams due to the preattached adhesive strip.
- It is mostly used under hardwood, laminate, bamboo, and engineered wood flooring.
Cons
- This underlayment is not suitable for gluing down vinyl planks.
- This underlayment is not used under carpet, ceramic tile, vinyl sheet, peel & stick flooring, and LVT flooring (under 7mm thick) otherwise you will spoil its warranty.
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5. Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) Sound Blocker Versatile Stuff
Mass-loaded vinyl is a versatile product you can use anywhere, it is mostly used for wall, ceiling, floor, over doors, windows, fences, around pipes, ductwork, in vehicles, and virtually anywhere additional noise control is required.
Mass-loaded vinyl is a good sound blocker that is made up of vinyl and barium sulfate where vinyl provides them the flexibility and barium sulfate makes them denser which is used to block sound effectively.
There is a number of mass-loaded vinyl alternatives are available in the market but MLV is MLV. It is not only used for residential and commercial purposes but also in industrial applications.
Mass loaded vinyl is strongly water resistant or you can say it is waterproof because its perm rating is less than 0.1 which indicates it is vapor impermeable.
During installation you can place any side of MLV on the subfloor, when the moisture is coming from the subfloor then MLV strongly resists this moisture and protect your laminated flooring from any water damage.
On the other hand whenever there is a spillage on the top of the flooring then sometimes this spillage may come down through the periphery of the flooring and MLV resists this spillage and due to this it comes and hold in between subfloor and MLV or flooring and MLV.
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And this trapped moisture will eventually escape through the subfloor or evaporate over time as soon as the source of the leak is stopped.
Key Features
- Thickness: 3mm
- Vapor Barrier: No
- Subfloor: Concrete/Wood
- Density: 2 lbs/ft2
- Weight/Roll: 16.57 lbs (Weight, varies according to the size)
- STC: 32
- IIC: Not Mentioned
- R-Value: Not Mentioned
- Coverage: 9 sqft (Coverage, varies according to the size)
- Data Sheet: Click Here
Pros
- Provides a good cushioning effect.
- It helps to reduce the transmission of sound and heat.
- It hides out minor imperfections of the subfloor.
- Easy to install
- You can use it under hardwood, laminate, bamboo, engineered wood, and tile flooring.
- It is suitable for the nail-down process.
- Versatile product
Cons
- Additional tape is required for covering seams
- It is very heavy
- Handling tough