Do You Have To Put Padding Under Engineered Hardwood Floors

If you ve decided to install engineered hardwoods there are four possible installation methods depending on the subfloor.

Do you have to put padding under engineered hardwood floors.

Soft padded foam of the type that is regularly installed under laminate flooring is one layer installed between the subflooring and solid hardwood flooring. The underlayment provides many benefits including moisture protection sound and thermal insulation and a cushion to make the floor more comfortable to walk on. The only real alternate to the black felt is a red rosin paper which has some moisture barrier benefits. When it s done over and over again the marks will get worse and worse.

One of the issues with laminate flooring and other floating floors is the noise of footfalls. If a floor plank and underlayment or adhesive will not fit under the door remove the door and trim it with a circular saw about 1 8 inch above the level of the new flooring. We put proper padding under floating floors not under nailed or stapled down floors which is how solid hardwood gets installed. Glue nail staple and float.

The warranty may require it. Unlike padding under a carpet this type of underlayment padding is too thin for you to feel when you walk across a laminate floor. If you have a vinyl floor you may be able to install your flooring directly on top of it. Scott you re dead right.

How to protect hardwood floors from furniture weight. Whichever method you choose you. Made from layers of real wood compressed together engineered hardwood floors are better able to handle changes in moisture and humidity than solid hardwood. And stability as you know is what you re after if you want your floor to last.

Underlay helps to reduce noise. Carpet padding does not provide enough support for hardwood floors and is often too thick for nail installation. With proper cleaning and. However you can look for a glue that also offers a moisture barrier in order to reap at least one benefit of an underlayment for this installation.

Hardwood floors do not require underlayment padding but they may squeak and creak if you place the surface boards directly against the underlayment. Finally if you want to glue down your hardwood floor do not use an underlayment. This has improved as flooring products have evolved of course. If you want scratches and marks on your beautiful hardwood floors don t use furniture pads.

An underlayment is a necessity for any wood floor installation even on a plywood subfloor. Engineered wood flooring however offers far more options for the addition of the padding style underlayment. Any time you sit down on a sofa or chair that s right atop hardwood floors the piece will shift ever so slightly and the legs will mark the floor.