Do you need underlay for vinyl flooring?

Vinyl flooring is a versatile, cost-effective option that can be used around your home. One reason that it’s so popular is that it’s easy to lay vinyl flooring than many other materials, and that it doesn’t require extensive DIY knowledge to install yourself.

Many of the most common flooring materials need an underlay to provide extra protection and cushioning against your subfloor, which can complicate the installation process, so do you put underlay under vinyl flooring? Our guide will highlight whether underlay is necessary for your vinyl floors and what the benefits of using it are. Read on to find out all you need to know about underlay and vinyl flooring:

Do you put underlay under vinyl flooring?

Unlike other flooring materials, underlay isn’t necessary when laying vinyl floors. There are exceptions to this, such as if your subfloor isn’t smooth or level, but sheet vinyl is the only major flooring material where underlay isn’t strongly recommended.

Underlay won’t negatively impact your vinyl floors if you do install it before laying your flooring sheets, so if you prefer to add underlay to your rooms, you can still apply it to suit your personal preferences.

Why does vinyl flooring not need underlay?

Many of the benefits that underlay provides are already covered by the properties of vinyl flooring. This means that while underlay can enhance these elements of your floors, it’s not required when installing sheet vinyl floors.

The first reason that vinyl flooring doesn’t require an underlay is that it already comes with a cushioned base. Underlay is often required to cushion flooring materials against the hard subfloor, but since vinyl sheets already come with a protective layer, it can be installed directly over a subfloor if the surface is level and even.

Underlay is also often installed to enhance the durability of flooring, but vinyl floors are resistant enough against heavy foot traffic that extra protection is unnecessary. Well-maintained linoleum floors can last for several decades, even without an extra layer of cushioning above the subfloor.

Finally, most vinyl sheets are specially designed to be installed directly over your subfloor. The water resistant properties of vinyl means that your floors won’t be affected by subfloor dampness like other materials.

What are the benefits of underlay for vinyl flooring?

While an underlay with vinyl isn’t often needed, there are situations where it could have upsides. For example, concrete subfloors can cause moisture and temperature issues for vinyl sheets, so you may need underlay for vinyl flooring on concrete.

The extra cushioning provided by underlay can also help if your subfloor has minor imperfections that may cause bumps in your surfaces. It also provides superior sound dampening, so footsteps and movement in your room are less likely to transfer through your floors, which can help with noise reduction in louder areas.

Underlay can also pair with the existing cushioned base layer of vinyl flooring to provide an extra soft underfoot feel, making your flooring especially soft to walk on.

Do luxury vinyl tiles need underlay?

Although underlay isn’t required to install sheet vinyl flooring, you should still use an underlay for LVT flooring, which doesn’t have the same cushioned base layer. Without an underlay, your LVT is prone to subfloor imperfections and moisture damage, which can affect the quality of your flooring over time and make the need for repairs more likely.

As with sheet vinyl, an underlay for your LVT will also help to reduce noise and cushion your tiles, leading to less movement over time and a more gentle feeling as you walk on your floors. Underlay can also help regulate the temperature of your floors, so if you’re installing your tiles over concrete or stone subfloors, an underlay will prevent your rooms from feeling too cold.

Some LVT options also come with an underlay pre-attached to the bottom of each tile, so be sure to read the details of your chosen materials to see whether buying a layer separately is necessary.

Conclusion

In summary, underlay isn’t required for installing sheet vinyl in most cases, as its resistant qualities mean it’s designed to be laid directly over a subfloor. However, if you prefer the comfort of an underlay layer, or if you’re installing on a concrete subfloor, you may want to invest in extra protection. If you’re wondering what to put under vinyl flooring to cushion against concrete, you can browse the Flooring King range of underlay online.

You’ll also find a wide range of vinyl sheets to suit your needs in our collection, from non-slip vinyl flooring, to waterproof vinyl for use in bathrooms and high-moisture areas. Browse our range today to find the right materials for your flooring projects, or read our guide for all you need to know about vinyl flooring.