Hardwood floors are a beautiful and durable choice for any home, but they require proper installation to ensure longevity. One important aspect of hardwood floor installation is underlayment. Knowing whether or not to use underlayment for your hardwood floors is an important decision for a homeowner.
Hardwood floors do not strictly need underlayment. However, it offers various benefits that make it a worthwhile investment, such as moisture protection, sound insulation, and added comfort.
This article explains why your hardwood floors may need underlayment, which underlayment you should choose, and the associated costs.
Is Underlayment Necessary for Hardwood Floors?
Underlayment is not necessary for hardwood floors, but it is highly recommended, especially if you live in a humid climate, have children or pets, or have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home.
It is a relatively inexpensive investment that provides many benefits for hardwood floors.
Benefits of Underlayment for Hardwood Floors
Underlayment for hardwood floors offers several valuable benefits that can enhance the performance and comfort of your flooring. Here’s a detailed look at these advantages:
It Acts as a Moisture Barrier
Moisture is one of the biggest enemies of hardwood floors, as it can cause them to warp, buckle, and crack. Flooring installed over a moisture barrier is less likely to experience moisture damage. Underlayment creates a moisture barrier between the subfloor and the hardwood flooring, which can prevent this damage.
Liquid moisture will bead up on the surface of the underlayment and can be easily wiped away. Vapor moisture will be absorbed by the underlayment and prevented from reaching the hardwood flooring.
Underlayment also improves the air quality in your home. Moisture can trap mold and other allergens in the air. Underlayment reduces the amount of moisture in the air, which improves your indoor air quality.
It Absorbs Excess Noise
Hardwood floors can be quite noisy, especially when walking in hard shoes. Underlayment can reduce two main types of noise: impact noise and airborne noise.
Impact noise is the sound of footsteps and other objects hitting the floor. Airborne noise is the sound of voices, music, and other noises that travel through the air. Underlayment reduces impact noise by absorbing the energy of the impact and airborne noise by reflecting the sound waves back into the air.
It muffles the sound of footsteps and other impact noises, reduces the transmission of airborne noise, such as the sound of voices and music, and decreases the vibration of the hardwood flooring, which reduces noise levels in adjacent rooms.
It Stabilizes Floating Floors
Floating floors are hardwood floors that are not nailed or glued to the subfloor. Instead, they are held in place by their own weight and friction between the planks. They are more susceptible to movement than traditional nailed-down hardwood floors. This is because they are not attached to the subfloor.
Underlayment can stabilize floating floors and prevent them from shifting or squeaking, especially in high-traffic areas. It also distributes the weight of the floating floor more evenly, reducing the risk of the floor sagging or buckling.
It Can Cover Up Subfloor Imperfections
Subfloors often have minor imperfections, such as unevenness, cracks, and gaps. Subfloor imperfections can cause problems for hardwood flooring.
For example, an uneven subfloor can cause the hardwood flooring to creak and squeak. Cracks and gaps in the subfloor allow moisture to reach the hardwood flooring and cause damage.
Underlayment covers these imperfections and creates a smooth, level surface for the hardwood flooring. It is a flexible material that conforms to the contours of the subfloor. Underlayment can also fill in cracks and gaps to create a smooth, level surface for the hardwood flooring.
It Provides Heat Insulation
Underlayment can also provide heat insulation for your home. This is especially beneficial if you live in a cold climate or have a concrete subfloor.
Concrete is a good conductor of heat, so it can easily transfer heat away from your home. Underlayment insulates your concrete subfloor and prevents heat from escaping.
Heat insulation keeps your home warmer and reduces your energy bills. Underlayment also makes your hardwood floors more comfortable to walk on in the winter.
What Underlayment Should You Choose
Many different types of underlayment are available for hardwood floors, each with unique benefits and drawbacks. Here is a brief overview of the most common types of underlayment:
- Felt: Felt is a relatively inexpensive and easy-to-install underlayment made from recycled materials, such as wool and polyester. It provides some moisture protection and sound insulation but is less durable than other types of underlayment.
- Cork: Cork is a natural material known for its excellent sound insulation and moisture resistance. It is also relatively soft and comfortable underfoot. Cork underlayment is more expensive than felt underlayment but also more durable.
- Rubber: Rubber underlayment is a durable option well-suited for high-traffic areas. It is also good at absorbing sound and vibrations. However, rubber underlayment is more expensive than other underlayment types and can be difficult to install.
- Foam: Foam underlayment is a lightweight, budget-friendly, and easy-to-install option. It provides some sound insulation and cushioning but is not as durable as other types of underlayment.
- Modified: This underlayment is made from a combination of materials, such as cork, rubber, and foam. Modified underlayment provides the benefits of all of these materials in one product. It is more expensive than other types of underlayment, but it is also more durable.
How Much Does Hardwood Floor Underlayment Cost?
Hardwood floor underlayment costs between $0.50 and $2.00 per square foot, depending on your chosen underlayment. The most common types of underlayment are felt, cork, rubber, and foam. Felt underlayment is the least expensive, while rubber underlayment is the most expensive.
Here is a breakdown of the cost of each type of underlayment:
- Felt underlayment: $0.50-$0.75 per square foot
- Cork underlayment: $0.75-$1.00 per square foot
- Rubber underlayment: $1.00-$1.50 per square foot
- Foam underlayment: $0.50-$0.75 per square foot
- Modified underlayment: $1.00-$1.50 per square foot
In addition to the underlayment cost, you will also need to factor in the installation cost. You can install it yourself, but it is recommended to have it installed by a professional flooring contractor. Professional installation will cost around $0.25-$0.50 per square foot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Lay Hardwood Directly on the Subfloor?
You can lay hardwood directly on the subfloor, but it is better to install an underlayment first. Underlayment provides a moisture barrier, sound insulation, and added comfort. It also stabilizes floating floors and covers up subfloor imperfections.
What Happens if You Don’t Use Hardwood Floors Underlayment?
If you don’t use hardwood floor underlayment, your hardwood floor is more likely to be damaged by moisture, noise, and movement. Walking on won’t feel as comfortable, and any subfloor imperfections may show through, affecting the appearance.
Conclusion
If you are considering installing hardwood floors, it is highly recommended that you also install underlayment. It is a wise decision that can help to protect your floors and extend their lifespan.
Underlayment is a relatively inexpensive investment that can benefit hardwood floors, especially if you live in a humid climate and have children or pets.
Click here to buy underlayment for hardwood floors today to protect your investment and enjoy the benefits of a more comfortable and durable floor.
