Best Underlayment For Vinyl Plank Flooring In Basement

Vinyl planks or tiles 2 7 sq.

Best underlayment for vinyl plank flooring in basement. Vinyl planks require hard thin underlay because the product itself is softer. If you ve chosen luxury vinyl plank flooring as a replacement for your current flooring you ve made a very smart choice. Vinyl tile and vinyl plank flooring are easy to install thanks to interlocking joints. This is a fancy durable moisture proof and informal floor that makes good sense for basements especially.

Most vinyl underlayments are 1mm to 1 5mm thick. While rosin and tar paper are common options aquabar b underlayment from fortifiber is a top option. It s extremely beautiful flooring that mimics natural hardwood and sometimes even stone. Some luxury vinyl planks have an extra thick top layer that s even more durable and resistant to scuffs and minor scrapes.

This basement flooring option offers great value for the money. We recommend using a vapor barrier on a cement subfloor to prevent moisture from seeping up and sitting beneath your flooring. Putting a soft product under vinyl plank will result in an unstable floor that is much more inclined to being damaged and even punctured or torn over time. Most lvp flooring is water resistant some types are even waterproof and it s also very durable able to resist dents dings scratches and stains.

Since vinyl planks are generally thinner than a laminate the underlayment is also thinner. We ll cover those features and our recommendations on what underlayment is best for your basement. A vinyl flooring underlayment will not be as thick as a laminate or hardwood underlayment. Basement floors present one issue that most other sub floors do not moisture.

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. If you re installing new vinyl flooring over an existing floor such as hardwood tile laminate or vinyl then cork or foam make good choices. If too much cushion is beneath the vinyl planks the locking system and joint integrity will be compromised. When looking for basement floor underlayment you will need to look out for key features.

When installing hardwood choose a floor underlayment that provides a smooth surface over the subfloor. Like plywood or osb flooring you can forgo the underlayment entirely if you prefer. While underlayment for vinyl planks may be used under hardwood and laminate the reverse is not true. Vinyl plank flooring is more durable than either cork or bamboo making it a great choice if your basement floor gets a lot of foot traffic.