Choosing The Best Underlay For Laminate Flooring

Installing laminate flooring is an affordable way to achieve a polished and elegant look in your home. To get the best out of your new floors, you’ll need the correct underlay — but how do you know which type to go for? In this guide, we’ll help you choose the best laminate flooring underlay for your home.

What is laminate flooring underlay, and why is it important?

Laminate flooring is a solid choice for most homeowners. Hardwearing and cost-effective, it comes in a vast range of wood effects and finishes to help you achieve your desired look. 

Of course, you can lay your laminate floor boards directly on top of the subfloor. But the short-term saving is quickly outweighed by the effects of wear and tear. Like carpet underlay, laminate flooring underlay provides a protective barrier that helps your floor perform better, last longer and give you a look you love. 

A good-quality underlay is essential because it supports the floor and keeps it locked and stable, even when the temperature changes. A layer of foam, boards, or cork also levels out any imperfections in the subfloor to make laying your flooring easier. 

Other benefits of using underlay include:

• Reducing friction so the flooring stays locked together
• Creating a barrier so damp can’t penetrate from the subfloor
• Acting as soundproofing so your floor doesn’t squeak or clack
• Providing that all-important ‘squish’ underfoot so your new floor feels warm and comfortable.

If you want to keep your costs down, look for laminate flooring with underlay built-in. However, it’s worth noting you may need a separate vapour barrier to lay your flooring on a concrete subfloor. 

Even a cheap laminate flooring underlay will protect your new floor — and it’s an affordable option for low-traffic areas. But if you want to keep your laminate flooring looking crisp and polished, only the best quality laminate flooring underlay will give you that premium finish.

How thick should laminate flooring underlay be?

Ideally, your laminate flooring underlay will be 3-5mm thick. At least 3mm is recommended if you have an uneven floor, whereas thicker underlay will provide premium comfort underfoot.

There are a couple of things to think about. First, if you have underfloor heating, check whether your underlay is compatible and has a low tog rating so the heating can penetrate easily. Conversely, if you don’t have underfloor heating, a high tog rated underlay will act as effective insulation.

Never be tempted to reuse carpet underlay, which is much thicker than specialist laminate flooring underlay. This measures around 10mm, and the extra thickness can interfere with your floor’s locking system, causing it to over-flex. As a result, the locking mechanism won’t connect properly, and your finished floor will be unstable.

Top five tips for choosing the best laminate flooring underlay

1. Always start with the subfloor

Choosing suitable laminate flooring underlay all depends on the subfloor. If you’re laying your flooring on concrete, it’s essential you look for an underlay with a built-in vapour barrier. This barrier will prevent moisture from the concrete from ruining your new floor. 

On the other hand, if you have a plywood subfloor or are laying directly over wooden planks, you’ll need to allow the wood to breathe. In that case, choose a thicker underlay without a vapour barrier. A 5mm underlay provides the sound reduction you need to prevent annoying clacking sounds without trapping moisture that could warp your floor.

Finally, are there any imperfections in the subfloor? If there are significant cracks or the surface is uneven, you’ll need to choose a thicker underlay to even out the flaws.

2. Think about sound reduction

Laminate flooring can sound loud if you’re used to walking on carpet. So whether you’re laying new flooring in a bedroom or have downstairs neighbours, look for a laminate flooring underlay with good noise reduction properties. Choose a product rated to reduce airborne noise by up to 30dB for the best results.

3. Do you need thermal insulation?

If you don’t have underfloor heating, look for an underlay with the highest possible TOG rating. This material will trap as much heat as possible, keeping your rooms warm and reducing your heating bills.

Conversely, if you’re laying laminate flooring on top of an underfloor heating system, you’ll need to look for a specialist underlay with a low tog rating. Otherwise, your underlay will create a heat barrier that minimises heat transfer from your heating system to the room.

4. What’s the footfall?

Do you intend to use laminate flooring in a light-traffic space like a bedroom or office? Or are you laying your floor in a busy area like a kitchen or hallway? The type of installation has a significant impact on the underlay you need. 

For example, choose an underlay that provides thermal and sound insulation for a bedroom and a durable and hardwearing material for high-traffic areas. In addition, if your flooring is likely to be exposed to moisture in a kitchen or bathroom, a vapour barrier is essential.

5. Pay attention to materials

If you’re on a budget, opting for cheap laminate flooring underlay is tempting. But you could be wasting your money if it doesn’t meet your needs. For the best results, consider the essential features you need and then buy the best quality laminate flooring underlay you can afford.

Choosing between boards and underlay can be easier than you think. Foam underlay comes on a roll and is a great entry-level choice. It’s suitable for all subfloors and often comes with a built-in vapour barrier for use with concrete. However, if you need to level out a subfloor or sound and heat insulation is an important factor, fibreboard is a solid choice — especially for high-traffic areas with plenty of wear and tear. Foamboard underlay is also available as a good middle ground.

A Wood Idea for the best in laminate flooring

At A Wood Idea, our laminate flooring options combine quality and affordability for the clean, crisp interior look you will love. We have a range of flooring accessories, including high-quality laminate flooring underlay to help you get the best results from your new floor. Feel free to contact the team if you have any questions.