Laminate floor underlayment Question

toolman33 · 02-12-2008, 01:01 PM

Greetings! I'm putting down Swiftlock Plus, laminate flooring in my living room. The flooring will be installed on top of concrete. The flooring I bought has a underlayment pad preattached to the back of each board. Since it is being installed over concrete I was thinking of putting down a traditional vapor barrier with underlayment pad underneath the flooring as well to give the floor a little extra give. This would give it two layers of pad underneath it. My question is... is it a mistake to do this? Would 2 thickness's of pad be to much? make the floor to spongy? An thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

Bud Cline · 02-12-2008, 03:36 PM

You should check with the flooring manufacturer on that one. Too much padding certainly could be an issue.

**AtlanticWBConst.** · 02-12-2008, 07:39 PM

I wouldn't suggest putting 2 layers of padding down. If anything, consider installing a 4 mil Poly layer (vapor barrier) over the concrete.

mcvane · 02-12-2008, 07:53 PM

If you feel that the concrete is cold on your feet (really cold), I would personally put the vapour barrier or any other layers that can warm things up.

Following the advice of 'experts' at some big box stores, they suggested I wouldn't need a vapour barrier below my laminate that I installed on a bedroom above a cold porch. I did install a 'foam type' of padding, but cold air still comes in very easily - the vapour barrier would've helped at least cut the wind-chill down in cold weather.

I'm not a pro-expert, but I would put the vapour barrier down.

toolman33 · 02-12-2008, 08:10 PM

Thank you for your thoughts, I think I am just going to go with a vapor barrier and just use the padding thats on the back of the boards. I would hate to have to rip the floor up because it was too spongy to walk on.

02-12-2008, 01:01 PM	#1
toolman33 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2	Laminate floor underlayment Question Greetings! I'm putting down Swiftlock Plus, laminate flooring in my living room. The flooring will be installed on top of concrete. The flooring I bought has a underlayment pad preattached to the back of each board. Since it is being installed over concrete I was thinking of putting down a traditional vapor barrier with underlayment pad underneath the flooring as well to give the floor a little extra give. This would give it two layers of pad underneath it. My question is... is it a mistake to do this? Would 2 thickness's of pad be to much? make the floor to spongy? An thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

02-12-2008, 03:36 PM	#2
Bud Cline Tileguy Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,104	Laminate floor underlayment Question You should check with the flooring manufacturer on that one. Too much padding certainly could be an issue.

02-12-2008, 07:39 PM	#3
AtlanticWBConst. Lic. Builder/GC/Remodeler Join Date: May 2006 Location: New England Posts: 7,554	Laminate floor underlayment Question I wouldn't suggest putting 2 layers of padding down. If anything, consider installing a 4 mil Poly layer (vapor barrier) over the concrete. __________________ - Build Well - Last edited by AtlanticWBConst.; 02-12-2008 at 08:08 PM. Reason: spelling

02-12-2008, 07:53 PM	#4
mcvane newer than a newbie... Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 130	Laminate floor underlayment Question If you feel that the concrete is cold on your feet (really cold), I would personally put the vapour barrier or any other layers that can warm things up. Following the advice of 'experts' at some big box stores, they suggested I wouldn't need a vapour barrier below my laminate that I installed on a bedroom above a cold porch. I did install a 'foam type' of padding, but cold air still comes in very easily - the vapour barrier would've helped at least cut the wind-chill down in cold weather. I'm not a pro-expert, but I would put the vapour barrier down.

02-12-2008, 08:10 PM	#5
toolman33 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2	Laminate floor underlayment Question Thank you for your thoughts, I think I am just going to go with a vapor barrier and just use the padding thats on the back of the boards. I would hate to have to rip the floor up because it was too spongy to walk on.

Laminate floor underlayment Question