QuietWarmth floor heating is suitable for luxury vinyl plank if it is 5mm or thicker. We have not tested our product under 4mm and thinner, however have known customers to add a thin “lauan plywood”. This prevents the system from getting punctured if something is dropped on thin flooring and an insulation factor from the actual flooring getting to hot.
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You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
How do you choose the best underlayment for laminate flooring on concrete? With the various amounts of underlayment on the market, how do you know what to pick? In this article, we will go over what things you need to look for and what our recommendation is.
Concrete is porous and porous materials allow water to seep up into and through the flooring. This will cause adhesives to loosen, flooring to warp and mold and mildew to develop. To eliminate this concern, you will need a vapor barrier that is placed right above the concrete slab. So the first thing you want to look at does the underlayment have a built in vapor barrier? If not, you will have to look into purchasing a 6-mil vapor barrier first.
Concrete subfloor isn’t usually warm and can make your feet nice and cold. Thermal properties of underlayment can help keep your floor warm. The thermal properties are all considered by the material the underlayment is made up of.
Fiber/felt underlayment offers the best bang for your buck for thermal properties providing almost 200% more.
If you want more warmth, consider a radiant heat system. With today’s technology, more DIY can easily install electric floor heating system for their flooring. QuietWarmth is a popular choice as it is super thin and can be installed the same day as your flooring installation. Backed with 25-year warranty and maintenance free, homeowners consider this the easiest system to install.
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Another thing to consider is subfloor imperfections. Take this example:
Clearly not a good thing to hear when walking on. The main issue here is not the underlayment but the flatness of the flooring. When walking on your laminate flooring, it is bowing down and rubbing against the locking mechanism which is making that rice krispie popping sound.
It’s always best to fix the subfloor before installing any flooring. Some customers think having a new house that it shouldn’t have this issue. Home builders usually will do a good job making sure your floor is safe and acceptable level however 3/16″ difference within 10 ft can make a big difference in your floor. They are on time constraints and like to move to the next house as fast as possible.
Once the flooring is nice and flat, consider what the underlayment material is made of and how well it handles under weight. Will the underlayment decompress over time, and leave your flooring looking flat or have small dips? Small dips can also cause the issue displayed in the video above.
Basic foam underlayment has small air bubbles which air can escape when popped with little pressure of fingers.
Dense recycled fiber structure supports the click-together mechanism and will uphold its supportive configuration under the consistent traffic of the overlying floor.
Installing underlayment for laminate flooring can help reduce the sound from traveling to other rooms. This also helps make your floor sound like real hardwood and not laminate. The extra material sandwiched between the flooring and subfloor helps reduce vibrations transmistted from room to room. Condo associations like to meet certain sound ratings when tenants install new flooring.
Moisture Protection – Our recycled fibers allows over concrete to “breathe” – managing vapors from becoming bulk moisture. The attached vapor barrier protects the overlying floors from harmful moisture. If you are worried about mold/mildew, we implement anti-microbial chemical to eliminate that worry while meeting zero VOC’s. We like to present the following image to explain better how our system works.
Thermal Insulation – QuietWalk Plus has R-value of 0.58 which is 200% more than others. The recycled wool from jackets are consistent in our underlayment and explains why we have higher R-value than foam competitors.
Subfloor Imperfections – Firm and support but flexible enough to form around subfloor surface roughness, helps to cut down on extra subfloor surface prepping time. Our dense recycled fiber structure supports the click-together mechanism and will uphold its supportive configuration under the consistent traffic of the overlying floor.
Superior Sound Reduction/Absorption – Recycled fibers absorb sound and keep it from traveling to other rooms. Makes click-together floating floors sound solid underfoot. For our flooring underlayment sound ratings chart.
Hope this article explains what to look for in floor underlayment for your laminate flooring on concrete.
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You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
This really depends on the size of your room, how many windows, what year the house is. A good general rule of thumb is if you place mats all across the room, it can be equivalent to a small space heater. So if you want to know how well it heats up, place a small space heater and after an hour or two, thats what QuietWarmth can provide in your room.
The benefit of having QuietWarmth is no maintenance and no risk of space heater catching on fire.
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You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
You just purchased QuietWarmth floor heating system for floating floors and was wondering if you need to have QuietWalk? The answer really depends if you need underlayment at all.
If you are installing a laminate flooring on plywood or concrete subfloor, it is always a good idea to lay underlayment for sound absorption and moisture protection. The reason why MP Global Products recommends QuietWalk is at it is the same height as the wires attached to the mats. You are able to create “channels” to hide the cables in the floor to allow your floor to stay flat. You can go with another brand of flooring underlayment but their height might be different and you might have to create a channel in the underlayment and subfloor causing double the work.
If you choose to not have underlayment, you will have to create “channels” in the plywood/concrete subfloor to hide the cables.
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You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
We wanted to go over how to fasten underlayment to your subfloor in this article. Before starting, we recommend you to read your flooring underlayment installation instructions.
Most flooring underlayment is installed floating on top of your subfloor. Installers usually lay the underlayment on the floor and start installing the laminate flooring on top. There is no fastening the underlayment to the subfloor.
However, during installation some installers like to fasten underlayment to the subfloor to prevent the underlayment from moving. If your choose this route, staples are a good choice to fasten the underlayment. Staples usually have a coating which help increase the holding power.
Using a crown compression stapler, staple 2 inches on the seams and edges with 4-6 inches apart in the middle.
If your flooring is a glue-down flooring installation type, please refer back to your flooring manufacturers installation instructions on what they recommend for glue.
Some examples of glue in the flooring industry is Bostik’s BEST Urethane Adhesive or DriTac 5900 MegaBond.
You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
All wood and concrete subfloors must be flat within 1/8″ over a 6′ span, or 3/16″ over a 10′ span. All areas must be checked prior to installation.
Installation Instructions
* In geographic areas where concrete slabs are subject to excessive moisture, a calcium chloride moisture test is required. Vapor emission readings in excess of 5 lbs. per 1,000 square feet in 24 hours will require additional protection such as a concrete sealant or polyethylene sheeting.
NOTE: All rolls of QuietWalk Underlayment are cut to a minimum of 100 square feet. The average thickness of QuietWalk Underlayment is .125 of an inch. The average weight of a roll is 12 lbs.
Due to the nature of our manufacturing process and the use of recycled materials, the pad thickness may vary .02 of an inch plus-or-minus. Actual weight of each roll may also vary 1.2 lbs. plus-or-minus. While it may appear that one roll is slightly larger than another, we guarantee this slight variance DOES NOT affect the coverage area nor the sound absorption benefits of the product.
You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
The answer is no. We recommend to use duct tape as every hardware store carries this product. Some manufacturers sell specialized tape for underlayment but there is no extra benefit.
You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
QuietWarmth follows UL standards and can be installed outside of wet locations. QuietWarmth can not however be installed in wet areas.
What is considered a wet location?
A location in which water or other liquid can drip, splash, or flow on or against electrical equipment. A wet location luminaire shall be constructed to prevent the accumulation of water on live parts, electrical components, or conductors not identified for use in contact with water.
Answer:
Yes, if you are placing the mat in front of a vanity or outside of the shower and is not consider a wet spot.
No, if you are placing the mat below the shower pan, bath tub or in a suana. Antyhing that UL considers wet location
According to our instructions, we say no because the mat can not be placed under wet areas such as shower pans and bath tubs, suanas. Anything that UL considers wet locations.
You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
Red Rosin Paper is useful in many construciton applications, such as roofing, flooring, jobsite protective covering and landscaping.
Roofing industry uses red rosin paper for the first layer of protection. Keeping your roofing dry is key.
Building Construction typically use red rosin paper to help reduce air and moisture flow through a wall or floor. This creates a “slip sheet” so different materials can slip by each other as they expand and contract. Keeping dust from dust from working down the floor and minimizing squeaking.
Red Rosin paper can also be used to temporarily protect a work site during construction. The paper roll help help existing floors from scratches, paint spills, etc. Red rosin is known for improving moisture resistance and tearing.
Landscapers use red rosin paper to prevent weeds from germinating. Mulch is usually applied above the paper.
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You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
QuietWalk Plus Underlayment is designed for use with most nail, glue down and floating floor products and is flexible, easy to install and features a 1.8 mil moisture resistant top film layer. This sound reduction underlay system is suitable for use over most types of industry approved sub floors (3/4” plywood, concrete, OSB flooring, etc.). Consult with the flooring manufacturer for specific recommendations and requirements for your installation.
Moisture: All sub-floor assemblies should be tested for moisture before installing your flooring products.
Wood subfloors: Using a species specific moisture meter (Tramex, Lingo-Mat, or Delmhorst) determine if conditions are dry before installing. Wood subfloor moisture reading must not exceed 12%; the ideal moisture content within new solid wood flooring is 6%-9%. The differential balance between the wood flooring and subfloor must not exceed 4% or 2% for board widths over 2 1/4”. If moisture readings are too high, postpone the installation, find the moisture source and correct. Raise heat and increase ventilation, holding off installation until proper conditions are met.
Concrete subfloors: Prior to installation the moisture content of concrete must be measured. Concrete must be 60 to 90 days old. Moisture testing only establishes the presence of moisture at the time of measurement. Of greater concern is future moisture transferring up through the slab into the surface, therefore the use of a moisture barrier is necessary.
Calcium chloride test ASTM F 1869, a quantitative test used to determine the amount of moisture in the slab. The emissions of moisture must not exceed 7 lbs per 1000 sq ft, in 24 hrs for QuietWalk Plus Underlayment. Testing kits are available at most flooring tool supply distributors.
Rapid (RH) testing method ASTM F2170: a test for relative humidity within the slab. The results shall not exceed 75% at the time of testing.
QuietWalk Plus Underlayment is designed to be installed in enclosed areas where temperatures will not fall below 55°F or go above 100°F. The underlayment and adhesives must be conditioned at 70 degrees Fahrenheit with the relative humidity between 25 % and 65% for at least 24 hrs before and 72 hrs after installation. Product is NOT recommended in areas subjected to heavy rolling loads.
*In order for any isolation barrier to be effective a certain amount of compressibility/deflection is required and to be expected when installing any flooring over an underlayment. This deflection may cause mild squeaking or “floor noise”, especially in nail-down applications. “Excessive squeaking or Floor Noise” can result from; loose or unlevel subflooring or improper installation methods and is not considered a product defect.
For Mechanically Fastened Solid Wood, Engineered Wood Floors, and solid bamboo products:
* Low profile Floors: Wood flooring products need to be a minimum of 3/8” thickness in nail down applications over QuietWalk Plus Underlayment
For low profile solids, engineered, and bamboo flooring. Surface must be clean, dry and free of contaminants and sealers.
* Prior to installation of finished flooring. Due to the various subfloors in structures, please consult with the flooring manufacturer for adhesive specifications and approved subfloor recommendations. Only use manufactured recommended adhesive types for adhesion of this underlayment to substrate and flooring product to the underlayment.
* Installations over concrete:
• Wood floor adhesives alone are not moisture barriers.
• For the best results, do not mix adhesive products. Use moisture barriers and adhesives from the same manufacturer.
For installation of click together, edge-glue floating engineered wood, click bamboo, laminate (including those with attached cushions)
* Installations over concrete in high moisture areas (The emissions of moisture must not exceed 7 lbs per 1000 sq ft, in 24 hrs for QuietWalk Plus Underlayment. Testing kits are available at most flooring tool supply distributors) will require additional protection such as our 6 mil poly moisture barrier.
Underlayment may be added as an isolation barrier to a free-floating plywood underlayment installation. Floating Plywood Nailing Base: Install a floating plywood nailing base over concrete to receive nail-down wood flooring:
RADIANT HEAT SYSTEMS:
Please refer to the flooring manufactures and the radiant heat product installation instructions when installing over radiant heat systems.
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You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
QuietWalk is designed for the following applications:
If you have a floor that needs to be glue or nail down, then we suggest QuietWalk Plus. QuietWalk Plus underlayment was engineered to be used for floating, glue down or nail down flooring applications. If you are wondering what the difference between QuietWalk and QuietWalk Plus, then this article will explain.
Another flooring underlayment for nail or glue down is Insulayment. Insulayment doesn’t offer the built-in vapor barrier for the extra protection of moisture.
You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
The plastic side faces up and the fiber faces down. Two benefits are provided:
The fibers can actually allow the vapors to evaporate through the gutter system of the underlayment. The fibers are treated with a safe anti-microbial to inhibit mold and mildew.
Spills, leaky plumbing, faulty ice-makers can cause floor damage. QuietWalk underlayment fibers can absorb up to 5 times it’s own weight, drawing harmful moisture in while protecting the overlying floor.
You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
