Laminate flooring is thin and is constructed of a type of fiberboard rather than solid hardwood or even plywood as with engineered wood flooring.
Thin laminate underlay.
This type of laminate floor can be walked on immediately after installation.
Laminate is a very thin material usually 6mm to 10mm in width.
Laminate flooring underlayment is at most 4mm thick.
While the subfloor provides the foundational support for the room the underlayment is what supports the flooring material itself intended to enhance and protect the flooring.
Unfortunately the only two options are to either.
In laminate flooring installations the underlayment is the thin flexible sheet of resilient material that is installed on top of a subfloor in order to act as a base for the laminate planks or tiles you re installing.
There is underlay for many different requirements such as fibre underlay for carpet to foam underlay which is suitable for wood laminate and carpet.
Why laminate flooring needs underlayment.
Laminate flooring underlayment cannot be too thick or it will compromise the joint integrity and be too bouncy causing the joints to fail and your floor s locking system to break.
It s always a necessary step to include with your laminate flooring installation.
Because laminate flooring can be difficult to install on surfaces that are even the least bit imperfect underlayment is a recommended supplement.
An underlay is a thin layer of a cushioning material placed underneath your flooring.
Laminate floors require a thin underlayment which feels softer underfoot and creates the realistic sound of walking on a hardwood floor.