When buying underlayment, the question of how thick it should be is one that frequently comes up. How can you know for sure what thickness your floor needs? The answer may seem simple, but is it really?
Laminate underlayment should be between 3 and 5mm if you want comfort and ground leveling properties. Using thicker underlayment may lead to having problems with the laminate’s locking system.
People are often unsure about what thickness of laminate underlayment to use, and this can lead to them making the wrong decision. Many people think that all laminates need the same thickness of underlayment, but this isn’t actually true.
Does the thickness of the underlay matter?
People tend to think that thickness is what matters most when it comes to underlayment. However, the density is actually much more important. Thickness is only very important when things such as decibel rating and thermal resistance are important.
How thick should laminate underlayment be?
In general, it’s advised to go for 3mm underlayment in most cases. However, there’s a lot of misinformation out there about laminate underlayment. The truth is, not all laminates need the same underlayment thickness.
Also, too thick underlayment may lead to having problems with the laminate’s locking system. To figure out what thickness you’ll need for your flooring project, we must first identify some key facts:
Are you installing on the second floor?
Are you installing laminate flooring on the second floor? You’re probably going to need underlayment with noise reductions. Unfortunately, laminate flooring transfers noise quite easily, even if you’re trying to be quiet. Many, if not most, apartments and condos require a minimum sound rating from the underlayment, so, unfortunately, there is no way around it.
Your Sub-floor:
Some subfloors, such as concrete, must have an extra vapor barrier to prevent moisture damage. Simple thin plastic material will be enough to stop any moisture from being absorbed into your new install.
The good news is most underlayments come with a vapor barrier these days, so this means you don’t necessarily need to buy this separately. However, if you already bought yours and did not have the vapor barrier included, you can buy them for quite cheap on Amazon.
If you’re planning on installing on wood or an existing subfloor, moisture should not be an issue. This means you should be fine using standard foam underlayment.
Is 2mm underlay enough for laminate flooring?
The difference in the acoustic insulation effect between 3mm and 2mm is minimal. However, when installing laminate floors, it’s essential to level out any slight irregularities by using a 3 mm underlay so that your floor looks smooth for a more professional finish.
Is 3mm underlayment good?
3mm underlayment is the standard and most commonly used underlayment currently on the market. The only downside to it is that it doesn’t offer anything but basic sound reductions and in case you want to keep moisture out, you’ll need to buy the extra vapor barrier.
What about a 5mm underlay? Is that good enough?
The 5mm thickness of this acoustic insulation provides excellent soundproofing, noise reduction, and impact resistance. It also has a very low thermal conductivity, so it is ideal for use with any Underfloor Heating system you may have!
What is the thickest underlay for laminate?
When it comes to laying down the thickest underlay on today’s market, Super Gold wins. This product not only offers great warmth and water resistance but also protects your floors from any potential moisture that may seep through the ground above them with its special “damp-proof membrane.”
The best part? You can find this amazing stuff at an affordable price.
Conclusion
The thickness of your underlayment varies greatly depending on your subfloor but also if you need to have an extra layer of moisture protection or noise reduction. But in general, you should be able to do fine with just 3mm underlayment for most subfloors.