Description

Laminate Flooring Underlay – The Right Foundation for Your Floor

A successful laminate installation starts below the boards. Our laminate flooring underlay creates a suitable base between the laminate and the prepared subfloor while adding comfort and helping with everyday sound reduction.

However, after more than 20 years of flooring installation experience, we believe underlay should never be used to compensate for an uneven or damp subfloor. Correct preparation comes first. You can view our complete laminate flooring range or visit Laminate Floor World to learn more about our supply and installation service.

What Does Laminate Flooring Underlay Do?

Underlay is installed between the subfloor and a floating laminate floor. It provides a consistent layer beneath the boards and adds a degree of cushioning and sound reduction.

More importantly, the entire flooring system needs to work together. A quality laminate product, correctly prepared subfloor, suitable moisture protection, expansion gaps and professional installation all contribute to the long-term performance of the floor.

• Creates a consistent installation base beneath floating laminate planks.
• Adds comfort underfoot without making the floor excessively soft.
• Helps reduce everyday impact sound from footsteps and movement.
• Supports moisture management when the correct moisture barrier system is used.
• Separates the laminate from the prepared subfloor as part of the floating installation system.

Product Specifications

• Type: 2mm closed-cell foam underlay.
• Coverage: Approximately 10m² per roll.
• Application: Floating laminate flooring installations.
• Suitable Subfloors: Properly prepared concrete, screed and tiled surfaces.
• Installation: Installed beneath click-lock laminate flooring.

Underlay Cannot Fix an Uneven Subfloor

This is one of the most important things homeowners should understand. Underlay is not a substitute for proper subfloor preparation.

The surface underneath laminate needs to be sufficiently flat and stable. If the floor has significant high and low areas, the laminate can move excessively when walked on. Over time, this places unnecessary pressure on the locking system and can contribute to broken joints or open gaps.

Our installation teams therefore inspect the subfloor before laying the boards. Where preparation is required, we address the underlying problem instead of attempting to hide it with thicker underlay.

Underlay forms an important part of the flooring system, but it cannot correct an ongoing moisture problem in the building. See how water underneath laminate flooring can spread and damage an installation.

Learn more about how we approach professional flooring installation.

Moisture Protection Is More Important Than Expensive Underlay

Moisture is one of the biggest causes of flooring problems we encounter on site. Before installation, the subfloor should be checked for moisture rather than simply covered and assumed to be dry.

At Laminate Floor World, our installers use a moisture meter where required before installing laminate or vinyl flooring. If the subfloor has a moisture problem, laying expensive underlay over it does not solve the underlying issue.

This is why we place greater importance on proper moisture protection, a level subfloor and correct installation than marketing claims surrounding premium underlays.

Does More Expensive Underlay Make a Big Difference?

Customers often ask whether they need the most expensive underlay available. From our installation experience, once you have the correct moisture protection and a properly prepared subfloor, the difference between suitable underlay products can be relatively small.

Some products advertise improved acoustic performance. However, the real-world difference can be difficult to notice in an ordinary home. We therefore prefer recommending an underlay that suits the flooring system and installation conditions rather than automatically selling the most expensive option.

Why the Laminate Locking System Matters

Underlay forms only one part of a good installation. The quality of the laminate itself is equally important.

Experienced installers can often identify a weak locking system during installation. Poor systems may break while boards are being fitted, leave fine gaps or fail to close evenly. This is one reason we recommend choosing a quality laminate floor rather than selecting a product based only on colour or price.

Where Can Laminate Underlay Be Used?

Underlay is commonly used beneath laminate flooring in bedrooms, lounges, studies, passages and offices. It can also be used on suitable concrete, screed or tiled subfloors once the surface has been properly assessed and prepared.

We do not recommend installing laminate directly over carpet. Carpet creates a soft and unstable base, which can allow excessive movement and place additional strain on the laminate locking system.

We also assess existing parquet floors carefully rather than simply covering them. Trapping an existing timber floor beneath another floating floor can create future problems, particularly where moisture is present.

Professional Laminate Flooring Installation

Choosing good flooring is only part of the job. Correct installation plays a major role in how the finished floor performs.

Our teams check the installation area, assess the subfloor and ensure the laminate has the expansion space it needs. Expansion gaps are particularly important because laminate naturally expands and contracts. Without sufficient expansion space, the floor can lift or push against surrounding walls and fittings.

Once the floor has been installed, laminate skirting and suitable profiles provide the final finish around walls, doorways and transitions.

Laminate Flooring Underlay Supplied Throughout Gauteng

Laminate Floor World supplies flooring products and provides professional installation throughout Gauteng, including Johannesburg, Randburg, Roodepoort, Midrand, Centurion, Pretoria and the East Rand. Selected products can also be delivered nationally.

Whether you need underlay for one bedroom or flooring materials for a larger residential or commercial project, our team can calculate the quantities required and recommend the appropriate installation system.

Why Buy Your Flooring System from Laminate Floor World?

We started as an installation-based flooring company, so our recommendations are influenced by what we see on actual installations and repairs. We do not look at the laminate board, underlay and accessories as unrelated products. They need to work together as one flooring system.

That means considering the quality of the HDF core, locking system, board thickness, AC rating, water resistance, subfloor condition, moisture protection, expansion gaps, underlay and finishing profiles before installation begins.

Explore our laminate flooring prices or browse our main laminate floor buying guide for more practical advice.

Continue Your Flooring Research

Compare our laminate flooring ranges, learn about laminate flooring prices, read our laminate floor guide or find out more about our installation service.