Do I Need Underlayment for Vinyl Plank Flooring with Attached Pad?

If your vinyl floor has padding attached, it probably doesn't require an undercoat. However, the decision may vary depending on the thickness of the boards, the type of subfloor, and your personal preferences.

The subfloor

is a key factor in this preparation, and now that you have more knowledge about it, you can make the right choice. Additionally, if you are installing luxury vinyl tiles directly onto a concrete floor, a waterproof undercoat is essential.

Luxury vinyl tiles are more forgiving than other types of hard floors when it comes to installing them on a subfloor that isn't perfect. It can also be placed on rigid bases to reduce sound and make the new floor feel or sound less hollow underfoot. However, if you are laying vinyl flooring but are using a separate bottom layer, which is usually placed on top of the base floor as a whole, there is no need to install a moisture barrier. It also makes installing vinyl floors much easier and more organized, since you won't have to worry about incorrectly placing a separate underlayer before laying vinyl floors.

If water is allowed to pass through the concrete, a chemical reaction can occur that ruins the vinyl tile floor. Some of my lower layers have turned into a pile of yellow dust, which can't be good for the environment or for a person's lungs. In addition, it's much easier to install a subfloor than to do the work necessary to make the subfloor look absolutely perfect. The subfloor can also absorb some of the ambient noise in a room, such as music or conversation, just like carpets.

Apartment or condo residents may especially appreciate the value of sound damping. You don't want your neighbors to hear every step you take or the vibration of a chair moving across the floor. Installing an undercoat before laying the waterproof vinyl floor will help your floors be more protected against moisture. A subfloor will act as a sound barrier, offer additional insulation, provide greater comfort underfoot, act as a moisture barrier on concrete subfloors, and provide a cleaner, smoother surface to place the new floor.