Although reaching a decision on what sort of flooring you want to lay throughout your home is undoubtedly going to be your primary focus, it’s also vital that you choose the correct type of underlay for whatever flooring you may choose.
Different types of flooring have different properties which make them more or less susceptible to certain weaknesses or weak points, and underlays ensure that these weaknesses never become an issue.
In this article, we will be going through a few of the most popular types of flooring options and stating which type of underlay is best suited to each individual flooring type.
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Laminate Flooring
Say, you were looking at grey wood flooring at https://www.woodfloorwarehouse.co.uk/laminate-flooring, you would head to the accessories section to find their underlay options.
Luckily, laminate flooring only requires a simple foam underlay, so said people will not have to look too far.
This is due to the fact that laminate flooring is susceptible to absorbing water, which can become an issue and cause problems. However, the foam underlay is able to prevent the vast majority of problems from occurring.
Nonetheless, there are other options that you can choose from. Fibre board, Comfort Green underlay, Traffic Excel underlay, Techni-Board Insulating underlay, Silent Gold Plus underlay, and Acousta underlay are also excellent options. Each has its own perks: sound reduction, suitable to sit on concrete floors, and insulation, for instance.
LVT flooring is slightly more complex as it has a much simpler selection pool for you: specific LVT underlay. While laminate flooring, and engineered wood flooring, have great versatility, in terms of what underlay accompanies it, LVT flooring needs a specialist product.
Carpet
Carpets have a diverse array of underlays that can be used ranging from foam, felt, rubber, and many more.
However, different underlays are better suited to certain situations and environments, so even though you can really get away with using any underlay for carpet, it’s best to do your research and find out which one would be the best for you.
The most widely used types of underlay for carpets is that of the backer board or a crumb rubber underlay.
Tiles
Many people seem to think that tiles do not require an underlay, but this is simply not true. If you attempt to install tiles without having an underlay you will face a plethora of problems, and that even goes without mentioning the fact that getting them level will be next to impossible.
Choosing the correct underlay for the flooring of your choice is such a simple thing, all be it one that many people tend to overlook. However, once you know which type of underlay is right for your type of flooring, things are so much easier, and you will save yourself a lot of hassle down the line just by simply knowing this information. When you’re doing your flooring yourself, being prepared by reading installation guides will give you a good head start in understanding how best to fit your underlay and it impacts the installation of your flooring. Otherwise, with carpeting and tiling, the professionals will know what they’re doing.
Read also: 5 Tips To Keep Your Flooring Safe