The subfloor is wood and it s above a concrete basement the man where we bought the laminate said we needed a underlayment but the flooring already has it we put laminate in our hallway an 2 bedrooms about 9 years ago and never used extra underpayment.
Best underlayment for laminate flooring in basement.
Choose the right materials.
Laminate basement flooring precautions.
Always install basement carpet on top of a vapor impervious subfloor this will raise the temperature of the floor in winter make your carpet more pleasant to walk on and most importantly prevent humid air from cozying up to the concrete and triggering mold growth.
The exception is when laminate flooring is being installed in a high moisture area such as a bathroom or basement where a moisture barrier underlayment is a good idea.
The best basement underlayment protection for floating laminate and engineered hardwood flooring.
Most traditional laminates are made with a waterproof surface layer a decorative layer and then fiberboard backing this backing is what is susceptible to moisture and if it comes in contact with liquids it can warp twist rot and start to grow mold and mildew.
We ll cover those features and our recommendations on what underlayment is best for your basement.
Choose a combination product when installing laminate flooring in the basement or any area such as a bathroom where high humidity is often produced.
Moisture and height enemies of basement subfloors.
Strong flexible mesh layer elevates the pad and promotes ventilation so moisture doesn t become trapped.
Clearly not a good thing to hear when walking on.
Underlayment for concrete basement floors.
Even if you do not expect catastrophic events such as flooring moisture can and probably will invade your basement since basements are nothing more than holes in the ground lined with concrete and moisture is pervasive in the ground water vapor will gradually work its way upward through concrete basement flooring and will condense.
The airguard 5 in 1 floor underlayment is an ideal option if you re shopping for floor underlayment for laminate.
There are two types of foam underlayment combination laminate underlay with an included moisture vapor barrier and foam with no barrier.
Helps protect the floor from moisture damage and inhibits mold growth.
When walking on your laminate flooring it is bowing down and rubbing against the locking mechanism which is making that rice krispie popping sound.
The main issue here is not the underlayment but the flatness of the flooring.
It s always best to fix the subfloor before installing any flooring.
This is a fancy durable moisture proof and informal floor that makes good sense for basements especially.
Most laminate flooring includes a fiberboard core that must be protected from moisture otherwise swelling and mold can wreak havoc on your flooring.