What Is Under Vinyl Flooring

This guide will give you the basics on how to install vinyl plank flooring in any room easily and efficiently.

What is under vinyl flooring.

It s extremely beautiful flooring that mimics natural hardwood and sometimes even stone. All types of vinyl flooring luxury vinyl flooring or lvt rigid core hybrid flooring vinyl sheet and vinyl tile are manufactured in layers. If you ve chosen luxury vinyl plank flooring as a replacement for your current flooring you ve made a very smart choice. One of the advantages of luxury vinyl flooring is its resiliency.

While underlayment for vinyl planks may be used under hardwood and laminate the reverse is not true. In standard sheet vinyl and vinyl tiles the base layer is usually fiberglass which is then coated in pvc vinyl and a plasticizer. The first step to proper installation is to get the subfloor in order. Its purpose is to provide a smooth flat surface for the floor covering.

Vinyl flooring is a 100 percent synthetic material. Next is the image layer which can look like hardwood or stone or a pattern or solid color. Putting a soft product under vinyl plank will result in an unstable floor that is much more inclined to being damaged and even punctured or torn over time. If you re unsure whether installing underlayment for your vinyl flooring project is.

The top wear layer is a finish such as urethane that protects floors from scratches and stains. This is the finished visible flooring surface such as hardwood planks carpeting ceramic tile or vinyl. That means it s ideal for bedrooms bathrooms living rooms and kitchens along with playrooms or entryways. Vinyl planks require hard thin underlay because the product itself is softer.

Always refer to individual manufactuer instructions for specific installation directions. Vinyl flooring can either be glued to the subfloor or it can float on top of it and either way moisture underneath it causes problems. This is the layer that you see and walk on. Just under the visible floor covering is a layer of some kind of material usually only about 1 4 or 1 2 inch thick.

To keep this type of flooring resilient against wear and tear you must install it correctly before it s used. Vinyl flooring underlayment is the best way to get the most out of your floor acoustically does vinyl flooring need underlayment. Vinyl is one of the most durable types of flooring. It can also be installed in below grade rooms but some vinyl flooring is built for that whereas others are just sufficient in that regard.

Vinyl flooring costs a fraction of the price of hardwood making it a great option for beginner home improvers. It stands up to dents dings and scratches from normal daily abuse.