Do You Need Underlay For Sheet Vinyl

It s a common misconception that you would need underlay for vinyl flooring.

Do you need underlay for sheet vinyl.

However you ll want to use one in every other application including covering existing hardwood floors vinyl flooring that isn t cushioned and concrete floors. When it comes to vinyl floors or underlay for vinyl click flooring this is not required. Repair any holes or cracks. Underlayment goes on top of the structural support of your floor and under your actual flooring.

You also do not need an underlayment if. Any minor bumps can be removed with a masonry chisel and small sledgehammer. If the surface you re laying on is level and smooth a well cushioned vinyl floor should be fine on its own. The planks do not have an attached padding or underlayment.

For installation of vinyl flooring you need a smooth even surface for the underside of the flooring to achieve the best contact for adhesion. Vinyl underlayment is an optional add on to click lock vinyls that are 4mm or thicker. Most vinyl floors don t need an underlay. If your subfloor had dips or damage it could show through the vinyl over time.

Vinyl floors that are glue down or loose lay will not need a vinyl underlayment as these floors will be installed directly over the subfloor. If not will it be okay and not have problems in the future. This type of flooring has been designed in such a way that underlay is no longer needed gone are the days when you d have the thinnest sheet of vinyl to waterproof your room. A concrete floor with a too high moisture content can wreak havoc on a vinyl floor.

Our luxury vinyl click flooring is laid using the same as technique as laminate options in that it s loose laid creating a floating floor. A vinyl flooring underlayment will not be as thick as a laminate or hardwood underlayment. Avoid using materials with distinct raised grain patterns which can affect the finish texture of the sheet vinyl. A concrete floor seems like the perfect base for a vinyl floor installation.

If you re laying the lvp over an existing cushion backed vinyl floor or a below grade tile floor then you won t need to use an underlayment. Sheet vinyl can be installed over concrete if the surface of the concrete is clean smooth and dry. Vinyl flooring is so thin that any imperfections underneath it like bumps grooves or cracks will show right through. There are several types of underlayment for this type of flooring and we ve seen brands with a thin layer of foam pre attached as well.

Plywood used as underlayment for sheet vinyl flooring should also have a sanded smooth surface on the topside. We want to install the planks on top of the sheet. Do you need to have an underlayment. That doesn t mean you don t need underlayment for sheet vinyl however.