what goes under laminate flooring

Underlayment is recommended to be installed under laminate flooring. Underlayment is a thin, padded layer of material that sits below the laminate flooring and helps to protect it against damage and wear and tear. It also helps to even out any minor deviations in the subfloor, delivers superior acoustical performance, and cushions the flooring from shocks and impacts caused by general use like footsteps and moving furniture. Underlayment can come in different materials like foam, cork, felt, and rubber, and it is usually installed by unrolling it out onto the subfloor and then placing the floor covering on top. Some laminate flooring planks come with the underlayment attached to each plank, and if this is the case, additional underlayment should not be used because it will void the warranty. If the subfloor is concrete, a vapor barrier is recommended in addition to the underlayment, and it should be placed between the subfloor and the underlayment. The best underlayment for laminate flooring depends on personal needs, but foam and cork are usually the favorites for a laminate floor underlay.