The two most important factors you need to consider when choosing an underlay for laminate flooring is the type of sub floor you have in the room on which the floor will be fitted and the kind of insulation you want to provide to it.
Best laminate floor insulation.
It s a luxury feeling product with a very high tog.
Buy laminate 3mm for wood or laminate.
Carpet underlays can be thicker than those used with laminate flooring so they have a higher tog rating because they are naturally more insulating.
Cork also provides additional insulation with an r value about 1 125 the highest of indoor hard surfaces.
Laminate flooring is designed for quick and easy installation over almost any flat smooth floor surface.
It needs a layer of underlay or underlayment to cushion the laminate planks and ensure a comfortable durable finished floor.
There are lots of different underlayments to choose from for your specific needs.
If you re set on having insulation under your floor if you are set on having the warmth and insulation under your flooring we would suggest switching to laminate flooring.
Like the standard underlayment this material will fill minor imperfections in the sub floor giving your laminate floor a smooth even surface on which to float.
Laminate flooring has to have underlayment in order to float the flooring.
Here are its top benefits.
While the subfloor provides the foundational support for the room the underlayment is what supports the flooring material itself intended to enhance and protect the flooring.
For laminate flooring we recommend the combat plus 3mm.
The best recycled flooring materials are bamboo and cork.
Flooring types with a waterproof non porous surface include.
Laminate 3mm has a built in damp proof membrane so works great when laying on concrete for example kitchens and other downstairs rooms.
This makes it a safe choice for installing your laminate floor over concrete sub floors.
But the hard laminate material doesn t lie directly onto that surface.
Usually the sub floor consists of either concrete or a wooden floor base.
Laminate flooring isn t usually advised for residences with poor sound insulation because the floor planks can be loud underfoot.
A cork or sheet foam between the floor and subfloor may help to minimize the noise but this may not be enough.
Laminate floors produce a loud hollow noise as you walk on it.
In laminate flooring installations the underlayment is the thin flexible sheet of resilient material that is installed on top of a subfloor in order to act as a base for the laminate planks or tiles you re installing.
The best diy option is a floating floor in vinyl or engineered hardwood.
Best diy floor coverings.
Carpenter midas 12mm underlay 3 26 tog rating.
Best carpet underlay for insulation.