Year: 2018

While the marketing strategies across all hard surface segments always include the benefits of each particular product, the attributes of underlayment do not seem to garner the same attention. Many individuals in the industry do consider underlayment the unsung component of a successful flooring job, yet it often remains underappreciated and undervalued.

Underlayment manufacturers believe their products are just as important as the flooring itself and implore RSAs to pass along this philosophy to end users. The many benefits of a quality underlayment can make all the difference between a positive flooring experience and disappointment.

“The phrase, ‘It’s what’s underneath that counts,’ is not just a trademarked phrase of ours, it’s the core philosophy of products,” said Giovanna Carchidi, national sales coordinator, Diversified Industries. “Consumers are looking for innovation and quality, and we’re able to deliver a complete range of products for under most hard and soft surfaces.”

Sound control

The consensus among underlayment execs is that sound control is a critical issue for end users. “One of our product’s major benefits is sound control, which means sound is not heard in the room below where a wood floor is installed, such as two or three-story residential homes, condos, apartments or other high-rise buildings,” said Jim Wink, vice president of sales and marketing of Foam Products.

Foam Products’ underlayment offerings include Eco Ultimate Silencer, Eco Silencer HD FOF and Silencer LVT. According to Wink, they are all made with high-density polyurethane memory foam, which rebounds from applied pressure and lasts the lifetime of the laminate or wood flooring. “We hear from our customers that the density does more than just help deaden sound; it enables lightweight laminates to have a solid, real wood sound.”

Also highlighting sound abatement, Duane Reimer, technical director for MP Global Products, said the company’s QuietWalk underlayment for floating wood and laminate floors offers superior acoustic benefits, quieting impact noise and footfall, and dampening ambient sound traveling to the room below.

“It’s engineered to eliminate clicking noise and makes laminate floors sound more like real wood,” he explained. “QuietWalk is made from recycled fibers that smooth out little subfloor imperfections while suppressing impact sound and floor-to-ceiling noise.”

At Healthier Choice, noise reduction technology is featured in its OmniChoice Universal acoustical underlayment for wood, luxury vinyl and tile applications. “OmniChoice is a high-density acoustic underlayment specially designed to attenuate airborne and impact noise associated with hard surface flooring,” said Andy Stafford, marketing manager. “It is effective in reducing in-room noise levels and floor-through-ceiling sound transmission, such as footsteps in multi-level structures.”

Stafford also noted that the company’s Sound Solution premium acoustical underlayment offers better sound control in laminate, engineered wood or hardwood installation. With the strength of soy-based polyurethane, it performs over time without losing thickness or its contribution to a better sounding flooring system, he explained.

Moisture protection

Another benefit of underlayment is moisture control. According to Wink, providing moisture protection from the subfloor, which has the potential to damage installed flooring, is a main focus for Foam Products as the company features moisture protection technology throughout its entire product line.

MP Global’s QuietWalk also offers exceptional moisture protection and control, Reimer cited, by featuring a 1.5 mil vapor barrier that protects the laminate from moisture coming up from below.

Healthier Choice’s OmniChoice and Sound Solution products also feature a breathable moisture barrier and vapor protection.

Durability/performance

Durability is, of course, a No. 1 priority for any product, underlayment included. At Foam Products, the durability of a high-density product that doesn’t easily collapse enables lightweight laminate floors to perform decades beyond their wear warranties, Wink noted. “The firm support/cushion allows these lightweight floors and their joints to outperform their life expectancies, delivering value far beyond the average lightweight product.”

Another benefit appreciated by Foam Products customers is the ability to roll the underlayment out and have it lie flat, which helps installers use all 100 square feet of a roll. Comparatively, lighter weight, plastic foams often have so much memory at their roll cores that it only yields 90% to 95% of installable material.

“In addition to these necessary benefits,” Wink added, “our products are environmentally friendly and several contain recycled content for LEED credits when building a green building.”

QuietWalk is made by a patented manufacturing process that features randomly air-laid filaments of various lengths that lie across one another in layers, Reimer noted. This gives the underlayment greater tensile strength than underlayment made with fibers laid only in one direction and enables the underlayment to deliver premium sound control. “Plus, there are no needle-punch holes, eliminating risk of pockets of moisture that might collect in needle-punched underlayment.”

Roberts AirGuard also provides long-lasting support and comfort, Miller said, scoring a 96% on its original thickness after seven days.

With OmniChoice, Stafford said its heavyweight construction ensures it will remain resilient and functional as an acoustic membrane, outperforming lightweight acoustic underlayments, “which crush and fail from the weight of flooring, furniture and the dynamic forces of foot traffic.”

Sustainability

With underlayment, manufacturers know that being green is important to architects, designers and consumers. MP Global is achieving a certain level of sustainability with QuietWalk, which is VOC-free, odorless, hypoallergenic, third-party certified and made from at least 94% pre-consumer recycled textile content, according to Reimer.

And over at Healthier Choice, Stafford noted that both OmniChoice and Sound Solution are UL GreenGuard Gold certified, free of harmful chemicals, such as formaldehyde, latex and PBDEs, and made in part with natural resources. It is 100% recyclable and eligible for LEED credits.

Original Article: Floor Covering Weekly – March 9, 2015

Posted on: Friday, March 13, 2015

When specifying replacement flooring in a commercial, retail, office, hospitality, or multifamily housing renovation, facility managers can choose from a wide range of hard surface materials that may match aesthetic and life-cycle requirements, with options including hardwood, engineered wood, laminate, luxury vinyl tile, and ceramic and porcelain tile. But flooring choices should not stop there. What lies beneath – over the subfloor and under the new flooring – can make a big difference in the long term performance of the installation. Rather than going with one-type-fits-all generic underlayment, specifiers should aim to pair the new flooring choice with underlayment designed, specifically, to enhance performance of that particular type of flooring. High performing underlayment for various types of hard surface flooring is made from materials such as natural, synthetic, or wood fiber, rubber, foam and cork.

Here are seven ways that quality underlayment matched to the type of finish flooring can add long-lasting value to the replacement floor.

1) It can improve the installation process – Underlayment should be flexible enough to compensate for a slightly uneven subfloor and other subfloor imperfections, ensuring that the finished flooring lays down flat.

2) It can improve acoustics in the room – One key advantage underlayment can provide is the ability to improve acoustics. Underlayment with sound-suppressing capabilities will quiet the impact noise of occupant footfall, dampen ambient sound in the room in which it is installed, and inhibit voices, music, TV, and other airborne sound from traveling to the floor below. Fiber, cork, and foam underlayment, in particular, can offer strong sound deadening qualities. When evaluating underlayment for acoustic performance, sound consultants and others frequently interested in sound abatement often rely on certified lab tests of the performance of a floor/ceiling assembly to measure how well it insulates against impact sound and airborne vibration. For installations where quiet between floors is an important consideration, it is a good idea to specify underlayment that carries sound ratings that meet, or better yet beat, minimum local building code requirements, which are typically set quite low.

3) Good compression resistance supports more comfortable walking – Compression resistance is the measurement of force required to produce a specified percentage of compression over the entire top area of a specific sample. Underlayment that provides firm, yet flexible, compression resistance (and holds its shape over time) will disperse the impact energy of footfall, reducing stress on occupant knees and hips, and supporting more comfortable walking over the life of the floor, a welcome attribute in installations where people are on their feet for much of the day, as well as in senior housing.

4) Moisture management helps protect wood, engineered wood, laminate, and luxury vinyl flooring from moisture – Underlayment may address unwanted moisture from spills or other intrusion of water from seeping in from above and/or coming up from the subfloor in a variety of ways. Some products include a thin vapor barrier that can prevent moisture from migrating in either direction while others also incorporate absorbent padding under the vapor barrier that can wick away incidental moisture from the subfloor and, through evaporation, disburse that moisture at the perimeter of the padding. Depending upon where it is used, underlayment for laminate should carry a water vapor transmission rating that matches recommendations from the North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA). Moisture management can also reduce the possibility of mold growth under a finished floor.

5) Insulating properties add to occupant comfort – Underlayment that incorporates a generous insulating R-value of at least 0.50 acts as a thermal break and will contribute to greater occupant comfort by helping make the floor warmer in the winter and cooler in summer.

6) Special accommodations for laminate, luxury vinyl tile, and ceramic and porcelain tile improve performance of the floor – Because laminate is not nailed or glued down but rather “floats,” there is, unavoidably, a void between the laminate and the subfloor that, unless addressed, resonates as hollow when walked upon. Underlayment designed to be used with laminate features padding that fills the space and helps eliminate the “click click click” commonly associated with laminate floors. It also enables the floor to sound more like real wood. New tile flooring also benefits from underlayment formulated specifically to help inhibit concrete subfloor lateral cracks from telegraphing through to the tile or grout above.

7) Earth-friendly formulations can help preserve the environment, indoors and beyond – Underlayments made with zero VOCs can contribute to healthier indoor air quality and may, in addition, meet LEED standards for low emissions and contribute to the overall project total in the LEED category of Indoor Environmental Quality. Some manufacturers even have their underlayment tested and third party certified to meet high standards for low emission, such as California 1350, which is the most stringent clean air regulation in the U.S. Companies that take this extra step usually share the information on their packaging and website. In addition, underlayment manufactured from recycled content can divert recyclable discarded materials from landfills and may contribute to the overall percentage of pre-consumer content for LEED certification in the category of Materials and Resources.

Jack Boesch is director of marketing at MP Global Products, reach him at (888) 379-9695.

Original Article: Buildings.com – January 30, 2015

Posted on: Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Last modified on: Tuesday, February 24, 2015

From the beginning, laminate products have had a reputation of having a “hollow” sound when walked upon. To their credit, manufactures have spent many hours and dollars on research and development to create ways to make their floors sound more “natural.”

Nonetheless, when it comes to selling laminate flooring, retailers should automatically include underlayments as part of the selling process. Why? As Bob Cummings, sales and marketing manager at Pak-Lite (PLI), said, “Laminate flooring always requires underlayment-there is no option. At least if you want your floor to look, sound and perform as it was designed. Quality laminate flooring underlayments provide a number of benefits that allow your laminate floor to perform as expected.”

According the North America Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) underlayment has many uses and serves many functions as part of a laminate flooring system. Depending on the product these can include:

• Providing support for the locking system of the laminate flooring panels.
• Providing impact resistance and shock absorption.
• Protection from substrate water vapor.
• Buffering the trans-mission of ambient and impact sound.
• Providing thermal properties.
• Helping to address minor subfloor imperfections, which allows for optimal performance of the laminate floor itself.

While each of these reasons is an important factor in helping to ensure a consumer’s laminate floor will provide her and her family with years of enjoyment, Cummings feel the most important benefit of a quality laminate flooring underlayment is providing water vapor protection. “It will act as an essential protective barrier between the cement subfloor and your laminate floor. A laminate floor exposed to excessive water vapor molecules over time can cause your floor to swell. This could cause buckling or warping. Buckling or warping are almost always a result of moisture and/or water vapor damage.”

Matt Heil, national sales manager for Pregis Corp., said, “Moisture management is important because a significant portion of laminate floors are placed over concrete. Concrete continues curing for a very long time and it releases water vapor during that process. Laminate floors are susceptible to damage when water is absorbed into them.”

Cummings added, “When installing laminate flooring over a concrete subfloor you need to read the manufacturer’s installation instructions very carefully. Those instructions will ‘call out’ the maximum allowable moisture content of the slab. Most often it is indicated by pounds of moisture in the slab. This can be measured using a calcium chloride test kit. The manufacturer may even specify a relative humidity (RH) reading be conducted using a probe that measures the RH in the slab. RH testing is considered more accurate than calcium chloride testing. A good quality underlayment equals or exceeds the protection offered by a 6mil visqueen barrier, which is the industry standard in protection.”Duane Reimer, technical director of MP Global Products, noted, “Moisture management should address moisture that can come from either below or above the underlayment. Quality underlayment for laminate flooring should be able to absorb incidental moisture coming up from a concrete subfloor without swelling or deteriorating and should feature an attached vapor barrier on the top side that keeps harmful moisture away from the laminate floor.”

He added there are some quality fiber underlayments that include the capability to handle moderate amounts of water from accidental spills onto the laminate floor through dissipation over time by perimeter or subfloor evaporation-provided that the source of the moisture is stopped, of course.

For NALFA, the organization points out just like it is important to select the proper floor covering for the job, it is equally important to select the appropriate type of underlayment-especially when it comes to installing a laminate floor. With regards to the moisture issue, the association notes some underlayment products may require a separate moisture barrier be used at time of installation and other products may have a vapor barrier integrated with the underlayment.

Regardless of the type of house or the area of the country, all retailers and salespeople who have been selling flooring for more than a week know there is no perfect subfloor. In fact, the subfloor can and will vary from room to room.

As such, that is another reason why underlayments are so important to laminate floors.

“The underlayment needs to be soft enough to absorb irregularities in the flatness of the subfloor as well as nail-heads and seams,” Heil noted. “On the other hand, it needs to be firm enough to keep the tongue-and-groove locking system from bending, and possibly breaking, when the seams are being compressed under heavy load.”

Reimer agreed with Heil that an underlayment should be both firm enough to support the laminate flooring for the lifetime of the installation and flexible enough to form around subfloor roughness that could, if not addressed, cause laminate tiles or panels to rock or lay unevenly.

When laminate flooring first came on the market in the mid 1990s it required installers to glue the tongue-and-groove to keep the panels in place. Those days are long gone as laminate flooring now comes with a mechanical locking system that allows for a faster, cleaner installation. While it was important to have a quality underlayment even in the early days, NALFA points out “the integrity of today’s laminate flooring is dependent on the locking system remaining intact. The underlayment keeps the amount of deflection to a minimum to support the locking system. Underlayment that is too soft, too thick, or installed in multiple layers could cause the locking system to fail.”

Reimer added, “A carefully calculated compression resistance will also address and help eliminate the ‘clicking’ sound laminate can elicit when walked upon, helping it sound more like glue-down or nailed down wood flooring.”

Quality underlayment that addresses sound can quiet impact sound, dampen ambient sound, and inhibit noise from traveling to the room below,” he explained. “This can be especially important for installations in rental units, condos and multi-family housing. Quality underlayment can also muffle the hollow sound and undesirable clicking noise that laminate can have when walked upon, enabling laminate to sound more like real wood. If the project owner or contractor is specifically concerned with acoustic performance and building codes, check sound ratings of the underlayment. Manufacturers that test their products and get good results typically include them in company literature, on product packaging, and/or on the company website.”

NALFA points out, underlayment can provide sound control for impact sounds (IIC) and air borne (STC) sounds by acting as an isolation break between the laminate flooring and the subfloor. “This breaks the transmission of vibrations being transmitted from one surface to the other, thus improving sound reduction in applications such as multilevel residences.”

In the area of acoustics and buildings this science is narrowed down to impact sound-such as footsteps-and air borne sound-such as speaking.

The association is quick to note, though, “an underlayment is only one component of a complete floor/ceiling assembly. The STC and IIC values stated for an underlayment are typically determined by testing it as part of a complete floor/ceiling assembly according to standards set forth by ASTM International.”

Nonetheless, knowing what STC and IIC and what they stand for is important when helping a customer choose the correct underlayment to go with the laminate floor being purchased.

STC is a single number rating system used to qualify the performance of a floor/ceiling assembly’s ability to reduce airborne sound-speaking, laughing, etc.-transfer within established frequencies. Generally, the higher the STC rating, the better the floor assembly blocks noise from transmission through a wall or floor assembly.

IIC is also a single number rating but it tells how well a floor/ceiling assembly deadens or absorbs impact sounds such as footsteps. The IIC value of underlayment plays the largest role in sound control within buildings. As with the STC rating system, the higher the IIC number, the better the sound is deadened.

Quality underlayments also play a role in keeping the flooring, and therefore the people walking on it warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer as it can provide a form of insulation. These are noted just like the insulation used in walls with an “R-value.”Heil said, “R-value is important because the underlayment provides a barrier between the colder concrete subfloor and the laminate.”

Reimer added, “Incor-porating an underlayment with a good R-value will boost thermal insulation, helping keep floors warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.”

There are also underlayments that work in conjunction with radiant heating systems. Heil noted, “Prior to installation, we suggest you review your application with the laminate flooring manufacturer. Following its recommendations will ensure the underlayment being used is compatible and will not void the laminate floor warranty.”

For the environmentally conscious consumer, there are underlayments that not only contain recycled materials they are third-party certified. Meaning if you happen to be using laminate on a home or commercial project interested in utilizing a green rating system, such as LEED, there are underlayments out there that can help earn credits because of their earth-friendliness.

In the end, though, it is all about education. The salesperson should know about the various properties of the different underlayments available and explain them to the end user as to why a particular product would work better.

Put simply, a sales associate should inform buyers that installing high-performing underlayment matched to the finished floor will bolster performance and durability of the new floor installation.

Original Article: Floor Trends – December 4, 2014

Posted on: Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Often considered a throw-in, an afterthought, underlayment for new hard surface glue-down, nail-down and floating floors in residential and commercial installations is anything but. Underlayment that is well matched to the floor covering contributes benefits during installation and for the life of the floor.

The following are six reasons why specialty retailers and contractors should use premium underlayment under new wood-engineered and solid-laminate, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and ceramic or porcelain tile:

1. During installation, a proper underlayment can help compensate for an uneven subfloor, smoothing out little imperfections and enabling the finished flooring to lie flat.

Premium underlayment is generally denser and has greater compression resistance than entry level products. The underlayment, while firm enough to support the floor, should also be flexible enough to form around the subfloor surface roughness.

2. Improved acoustics. Premium underlayment can provide strong sound deadening qualities that help prevent noise from impacting the room below and help quiet sound in the room in which it is installed.

Look for IIC (Impact Insulation Class) and STC (Sound Transmission Class) sound ratings that meet or exceed your local code. The higher the numbers the better they are at improving acoustics.

IIC tests the ability of a particular floor/ceiling assembly to block impact sound by measuring the resistance to the transmission of impact noise or structure-borne noise. The typical range for an IIC rating is between 20 and 80, with the International Building Code minimum standard for multi-family dwellings at 50 for new construction tested in a controlled lab environment, and at least 45 when tested in an actual building after the floor installation is completed.

The STC test rates the ability of a specific construction assembly (i.e., a floor) to reduce airborne sounds such as from TVs, voices and stereo systems. A rating above 50 would be good. If it’s above 60, it’s that much better.

Manufacturers that test their products and get good results typically post them on company literature, on the company website, and/or on the packaging, making it easy for both the salesperson and buyer to see them.

3. Protection against moisture. Quality underlayment should incorporate a vapor barrier and provide protection against moisture. There are underlayments now available that incorporate a vapor barrier in conjunction with absorbent padding, enabling the wicking away of incidental moisture from a damp concrete subfloor and the disbursing of that moisture through evaporation at the perimeter of the underlayment. Built-in moisture protection helps protect the overlying floor covering.

Floating laminate or engineered wood floors are especially susceptible to damage from moisture coming up from below, such as from a concrete slab on grade. If installed properly, vapor barriers situated on the top side of the underlayment (over the padding) can also help remedy moisture from incidental spills that might flow to the perimeter of a room at the floor’s edge. Although the pad may wick in the spill, the attached vapor barrier keeps the harmful moisture from reaching the bottom surface of the overlying floor, protecting it from potential warping or buckling.

4. Add thermal insulation. Some premium padding provides a measure of insulation and adds an R-value that enables the underlayment to act as a thermal break, contributing to greater occupant comfort by helping make the floor warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Similar to the acoustics ratings, manufacturers that provide products with strong R-values will showcase them on their literature and packaging so both the salesperson and buyer can easily see it.

5. Improve comfort during walking and standing. Underlayment with good compression resistance disperses the impact energy of footfall, reducing strain on knees and hip joints and affording more comfortable walking over the life of the floor.

Also, underlayment made specifically for use under glue-down or floating floors may provide the proper compression resistance to help minimize impressions and indentations that can occur. In addition, these underlayments can help laminate flooring sound more like real wood or tile when walked upon.

6. Some premium underlayments are made using recycled materials, helping preserve the environment by diverting post-industrial materials from landfill. In projects aiming for LEED certification, underlayment made from recycled content can contribute to the earning of LEED credits under the category of Materials and Resources.

There’s so much more a properly matched underlayment can do to help make the flooring system work for the end user’s benefit. These six examples, though, are key reasons why it is important for retail and commercial salespeople to better understand the properties of the various underlayments on the market so they can help their customers select the one that is best suited for the floor covering they are purchasing. A properly aligned flooring assembly will benefit everyone, especially end users who you can bet will share their experience with family, friends and colleagues.

Original Article: Floor Trends – December 5, 2014

Posted on: Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Often considered a throw-in, an afterthought, underlayment for new hard surface glue-down, nail-down and floating floors in residential and commercial installations is anything but. Underlayment that is well matched to the floor covering contributes benefits during installation and for the life of the floor.

The following are six reasons why specialty retailers and contractors should use premium underlayment under new wood-engineered and solid-laminate, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and ceramic or porcelain tile:

1. During installation, a proper underlayment can help compensate for an uneven subfloor, smoothing out little imperfections and enabling the finished flooring to lie flat.

Premium underlayment is generally denser and has greater compression resistance than entry level products. The underlayment, while firm enough to support the floor, should also be flexible enough to form around the subfloor surface roughness.

2. Improved acoustics. Premium underlayment can provide strong sound deadening qualities that help prevent noise from impacting the room below and help quiet sound in the room in which it is installed.

Look for IIC (Impact Insulation Class) and STC (Sound Transmission Class) sound ratings that meet or exceed your local code. The higher the numbers the better they are at improving acoustics.

IIC tests the ability of a particular floor/ceiling assembly to block impact sound by measuring the resistance to the transmission of impact noise or structure-borne noise. The typical range for an IIC rating is between 20 and 80, with the International Building Code minimum standard for multi-family dwellings at 50 for new construction tested in a controlled lab environment, and at least 45 when tested in an actual building after the floor installation is completed.

The STC test rates the ability of a specific construction assembly (i.e., a floor) to reduce airborne sounds such as from TVs, voices and stereo systems. A rating above 50 would be good. If it’s above 60, it’s that much better.

Manufacturers that test their products and get good results typically post them on company literature, on the company website, and/or on the packaging, making it easy for both the salesperson and buyer to see them.

3. Protection against moisture. Quality underlayment should incorporate a vapor barrier and provide protection against moisture. There are underlayments now available that incorporate a vapor barrier in conjunction with absorbent padding, enabling the wicking away of incidental moisture from a damp concrete subfloor and the disbursing of that moisture through evaporation at the perimeter of the underlayment. Built-in moisture protection helps protect the overlying floor covering.

Floating laminate or engineered wood floors are especially susceptible to damage from moisture coming up from below, such as from a concrete slab on grade. If installed properly, vapor barriers situated on the top side of the underlayment (over the padding) can also help remedy moisture from incidental spills that might flow to the perimeter of a room at the floor’s edge. Although the pad may wick in the spill, the attached vapor barrier keeps the harmful moisture from reaching the bottom surface of the overlying floor, protecting it from potential warping or buckling.

4. Add thermal insulation. Some premium padding provides a measure of insulation and adds an R-value that enables the underlayment to act as a thermal break, contributing to greater occupant comfort by helping make the floor warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Similar to the acoustics ratings, manufacturers that provide products with strong R-values will showcase them on their literature and packaging so both the salesperson and buyer can easily see it.

5. Improve comfort during walking and standing. Underlayment with good compression resistance disperses the impact energy of footfall, reducing strain on knees and hip joints and affording more comfortable walking over the life of the floor.

Also, underlayment made specifically for use under glue-down or floating floors may provide the proper compression resistance to help minimize impressions and indentations that can occur. In addition, these underlayments can help laminate flooring sound more like real wood or tile when walked upon.

6. Some premium underlayments are made using recycled materials, helping preserve the environment by diverting post-industrial materials from landfill. In projects aiming for LEED certification, underlayment made from recycled content can contribute to the earning of LEED credits under the category of Materials and Resources.

There’s so much more a properly matched underlayment can do to help make the flooring system work for the end user’s benefit. These six examples, though, are key reasons why it is important for retail and commercial salespeople to better understand the properties of the various underlayments on the market so they can help their customers select the one that is best suited for the floor covering they are purchasing. A properly aligned flooring assembly will benefit everyone, especially end users who you can bet will share their experience with family, friends and colleagues.

Original Article: Floor Trends – December 5, 2014

Posted on: Friday, December 12, 2014