Is QuietWalk underlayment recommended to be installed under engineered click hardwood flooring?
QuietWalk underlayment can be used under engineered click hardwood flooring. An engineered wood floor is constructed of layers of both hardwood and plywood, where solid hardwood is a solid piece of wood with no layers. Usually installed as floating floor installation type.
Can QuietWalk underlayment be installed under carpet?
QuietWalk underlayment is designed for floating floors meaning laminate and engineered hardwood. We do have a product QuietWalk Carpet Pad that has the same benefits and is made for carpet installations. You can find that product here: https://mpglobalproducts.com/carpet-pad/products/quietwalk-carpet/
Can QuietWalk underlayment be installed with luxury vinyl plank?
Do I need an extra vapor barrier when installing this on a concrete sub-floor?
We recommend to complete a calcium chloride test to find out the how much moisture your concrete floor is emitting. If the moisture results are equal to or less than 5 lbs / 1000 sq ft, then additional vapor barrier is not needed. However, installing an additional 6-mil vapor barrier provides complete protection from moisture and gives you ease of mind for your new flooring.
Can this be used with a radiant heat floor?
Yes, QuietWalk actually benefits a heated floor system. QuietWalk has an R-Value you 0.58 creating a thermal break between your sub-floor and flooring. This prevents heat from sinking into your sub-floor, sending more heat to your floors.
How often do I need to replace QuietWalk?
The only time you will need to replace QuietWalk is when laying down a new floor.
Can I use this with a laminate floor that has built in underlayment?
You can use this underlayment for laminate plank with built-in underlayment. QuietWalk’s compression resistance exceeds the requirement for pre-attached flooring that is greater than 29 psi @50% per ASTM D1667. The high compression resistance assures that the underlayment will not contribute to floor decoupling.
Does this have a built-in adhesive strip?
It does have a built in adhesive strip. No need to purchase additional tape.
Does this make the floor feel squishy or bouncy?
No, this product does not make your floor feel squishy or bouncy. It actually makes it feel and sound like a real wood floor.It actually makes it feel and sound more like a real wood floor.
Join Our Newsletter
You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
What is a good temp setting for radiant heat floor?
We find that 73 degrees is the right temperature to set your thermostat for floor heating. When your floor heats up, the warmth will transfer through your body compared to force air units. The temperature also depends on how you like your comfort.
Can the flooring get too hot?
With the QuietWarmth floor heating systems, the mats can not go past 85 degrees. This will not burn or heat up the flooring.
Can QuietWarmth be used in a bathroom?
Absolutely. QuietWarmth is the ideal place to install as it will make morning more tolerable with warm feet. The mats are however not regulated to be installed under running water such as shower pans, etc.
Can I connect multiple QuietWarmth units to 1 thermostat?
One thermostat can handle up to 150 Sq. Ft. at 120V and 300 Sq. Ft. at 240V. If you have more Sq. Ft., then a power module is needed to extend the power to the same additional square footage.
How much do heated floors cost?
QuietWarmth uses 12 watts per square foot, so 30 sq ft would be 360 watts per hour. Utilities bill in kilo-watt hours, so you would divide your kwh charge by 2.77 and multiply it by the number of hours you would run it each day. So if your electric company charges you $0.20 kwh and you run 8 hours a day it is: 0.20 / 2.77 = $0.07 per hour times * 8 hours = $0.56 per day.
Can these mats be used to heat a room?
Yes, it can in some situations. A Manual J heat loss calculation is required. Consult your HVAC technician for more accurate calculations.
Is there any vibrations noise when the film operates due to 60Hz alternating current.
QuietWarmth will not vibrate during operation.
Can I connect multiple units to 1 thermostat?
One thermostat can handle up to 150 sq ft at 120V and 300 sq ft at 240V. If you have more sq ft, then a power module is needed to extend the power to the same additional square footage.
What underlayment do you recommend using with QuietWarmth product?
You can use any underlayment however we recommend our Quietwalk underlayment. The reason being it has better R-Value which will help heat rise and the height of the underlayment is the same as the cables of QuietWarmth. When it comes to installation, you can create a channel or trench in the underlayment and not the wood/concrete subfloor. Makes it a much easier installation.
How long are the pre-attached wires? And how can you extend them?
Yes. Comes standard with 15-foot lead wires but can be lengthened if needed. You can view the instructions by clicking here or to download PDF here
Can QuietWarmth be used in a travel trailer?
Yes, it can be as long as directions are followed and the flooring manufacturer’s recommendations on subfloor preparations are followed. We have heard stories it works great and actually heats the camper when temps drop down to 35-40 deg F.
Can this be used in a basement that sometimes get water?
We recommend to install a vapor barrier above the concrete subfloor to eliminate any moisture issues. We are also not approved to be installed under running water such as shower pans or faucets.
Can I cut it and turn direction on it. Such as a L-shape with one mat?
You can only cut the mats in length. You can’t cut one side of the mat and make it L-shape. You would be breaking the circuit at that point.
Looking to replace an electric baseboard by a bathroom. Can the existing power and thermostat lines be used?
Our system requires the following (In-Line thermostat, thermostat or circuit breaker with built-in GFCI, Dedicated 20 amp circuit). Confirming your existing power and thermostat includes these requirements, you should be good to go. If you want to read more about the installation, you can view the guide here: https://mpglobalproducts.com/_storage/_products/floating-floors/Qwarmth-Float.pdf
QuietWarmth Floor Heating System for Laminate, Luxury Vinyl (4mm or thicker), Engineered Harwood and Floating Floor Applications
QuietWarmth is a flexible radiant heating film that is installed below floating floor materials to create Warm comfortable floors. This is a simple installation video to illustrate how easy QuietWarmth is to install. For the complete guide to installing your radiant heat underlayment, please read the installation manual included with each roll of QuietWarmth.
While this product is used with many types of floating floors, Always check with your laminate flooring manufacturer for any restrictions or limitations they may have with use in conjunction with radiant heat warming systems.
QuietWarmth is packaged with everything you need to get installing your floor fast with minimal tools. From the factory, each roll of QuietWarmth has factory attached electrical connections on the ends as well as Kapton (CAP-TON) insulating disks for use when any cutting or customizing may be desired. You will need some duct tape, a pair of scissors, and a tape measure to help with the rest of the heated film mat install. For additional comfort and greatest operating economy, we recommend the purchase a floor sensing thermostat for temperature control.
First roughly map out the heating system configuration. It is good practice to plan your installation using a sketch, marking out your layout pattern of the mats, and planning the position for a floor sensor and main run of electrical connections, and thermostat. It is also important to plan the mat positions so the ends of the mats with the factory installed lead wires are located near the side of the room and wall where the Thermostat Junction Box is located.
When diagraming the system plan, care must be taken to ensure that proper clearance is maintained from fixtures which may be already part of the floor or other electrical wiring that is not used in this system (Graphic noting other electrical wiring must be 2 inches away from any heating mat). All electrical wiring that will not be accessible after the floor is installed must be completed first. Ensure the heating mats will not be covered by decorative trim, baseboard, or other building structure. Leaving at least 6 inches from the wall to the edge of the heating film mat will allow space to run the wires from the heating mat to the junction box. (Note graphic here: heating panels which are partly- covered by these structures may overheat).
Once you have a good plan established, thoroughly clean the existing subfloor of any objects or debris.
When installing over concrete, ensure a vapor barrier is install first before the underlayment and heating mat is installed unless you are installing an underlayment with a pre-attached vapor barrier on it. Roll out the radiant heat ready underlayment… covering the entire flooring area, ensure to have the pre-attached vapor barrier side up when installing it. Butt the seams of the underlayment edges together with duct tape. Using the diagram you made earlier, unroll the heating mats in the desired areas of the room. You may cut the mat to shorten the length in order to fit the layout of your plan.
When customizing the heating mats, cut through the clear area in between the heating stripes on the dotted lines. Never cut closer than ¼” to the heating stripes. And NEVER cut into the actual heating stripe themselves. Insulate the cut ends of the metallic bus bar strips with the Kapton discs that are provided with each roll.
Once the heating mat is rolled out, it should be free of any kinks or ripples or creases. Run the wires from each of the mats to the wall where you are planning to have a thermostat mounted. It is important to cut a thin, shallow, slot in the underlayment for the wires to rest in. This helps keep the flooring level with no high points.
Our recommended thermostats come with a convenient floor sensor so route lead of the floor sensor to the thermostat junction box. Again, cut a thin shallow slot into the underlayment and push the sensor wire and sensor down so it is level with the heating mat. Duct Tape the floor sensor and lead wire in place in an area at least 2 inches from any heated black stripe of the mat. Do not allow the sensor to contact the black stripes of the heating mat. Cut an area of the underlayment and push the connectors down so they are completely level with the heating mat and then duct tape in place. Cut a thin slot into the underlayment and push cold leads down into the slot for routing to the junction box.
Once all of these components are in place, the system is should ready to be hooked up and ready to perform a resistance test with an OHM meter. There is more information on this in the full instruction manual that comes with the Kit. After you have the QuietWarmth film fitted and ready, it is time to connect it to the thermostat for maintenance free use. All electrical work must be performed to the national electrical code or by a licensed electrician. A few additional accessories are needed to complete this final stage: A 4×4 junction box, a 2×3 junction box, length of ¾” conduit, Romex wire, wire nuts and OHM meter.
In preparation for wiring, mount a 4×4 blind plate junction box approximately 18” above the wall base. This junction box needs to be accessible through the wall. Do not cover the junction box with sheet rock after installation. Locate and mount a 2×4 junction box for the thermostat control device approximately 60” above the wall base. Drill or notch a ¾” channel at the wall base so the wire can enter the wall. Install ¾” conduit from the notch to the 4×4 junction box for the lead wires. Install a length of 12 AWG 2 conductor Romex wire between the junction box and the thermostat box.
Run the lead wires through the wall base channel and through the conduit into the 4×4 junction box. Group the black wires together and using wire nuts connect them to the corresponding black wire from the Romex cable coming from the thermostat junction box. Then, do the same for the white wires.
Wire the thermostat to the service panel following national and local electrical codes. Follow the thermostat manufacturer’s instructions for installation and connections or call your favorite licensed electrician to complete this task.
Join Our Newsletter
You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
With the rise of waterproof and scratch resistant flooring such as luxury vinyl plank or luxury vinyl tile flooring over the last 5 years, underlayment manufacturers are now offering underlayment to help noise reduction. Flooring manufactures offer consumers waterproof and scratch-resistant flooring which is ideal for consumers. The only reason to choose underlayment for LVP or LVT is for noise reduction.
Most commonly condo associations or hoa’s are looking for the best sound reduction an underlayment can provide and use that to setup guidelines for the tenants.
Luxury Vinyl Plank Underlayment Made In USA
If you are looking for quality underlayment that offers superior sound reduction, QuietWalk LV has the best sound rating in the industry. Made in the USA (Nebraska), we take pride and care when making our underlayment. All our recycled fibers are post-industrial and come from inside USA. This allows us to receive Green Guard certification and insures that our underlayment doesn’t provide harmful off-gas chemicals.
Consider Flooring Manufacturers Recommendations
Luxury vinyl plank manufacturers mention only vapor barrier in their installations. They recommend this due to not allowing (concrete subfloor) getting moisture or alkalinity to your flooring choice. This will eliminate any potential for claims or damages to the manufacturers flooring.
Industry Concerns
You might read that installing underlayment underneath flooring can cause the click-lock mechanism to be compromised. This is true if you install the incorrect underlayment. You would want an underlayment that is thin and dense. This will prevent any click-lock joint mechanism to not become compromised.
Additional Benefits
R Value – underlayment can offer comfort to your floor. Offering a thermal rating can help you determine how well the underlayment can keep warmth underfoot and conduct heat. Particulary helpful with concrent and basement applications.
Indoor Air Quality – With post-industrial recycled fibers that make up QuietWalk LV, you can be certain the underlayment won’t provide any off-gassing. Some individuals are sensitive to chemicals and looking for a healthy choice of underlayment.
What You Need For Your Flooring Application
We recommend for you to read the flooring installation instructions for proper installation. 95% of the time, they will recommend a 6-mil vapor barrier to be installed underneath the flooring. If you are concerned about noise reduction, we recommend for you to take a look at the QuietWalk LV as it offers the best Delta IIC rating in the industry. The fibers make it dense and thin enough to not compromise the click-lock joint mechanism.
[thrive_leads id=’1926′]
Join Our Newsletter
You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
Here at MP Global we take pride in our products and we listen to feedback from our customers closely. A customer wrote this article based on an experience they had with our QuietWalk Luxury Vinyl Underlayment. We noticed their article and reached out to them asking if we could feature it on our blog page. This is the experience you can expect to have with our products.
Removing the old carpet
As a self-proclaimed handyman, I’m often called upon by many family members to help them “get started” on their do-it-yourself projects. The latest was my sister’s basement flooring. When she asked me to help her husband install some of the new vinyl plank flooring, I said “No problem, I’ve done it before”. Little did I know what lay below her ragged carpet.
We cut the old carpet into sections and pulled it out of the house, then started in on removing the carpet pad . . . not so easy. The old pad was glued to the concrete around the room perimeter and at the seams. Remnants of the pad stayed stuck to the floor, so we sharpened up our scrapers and removed what we could. In addition, the tack strip around the perimeter also had to go. There were nails holding them to the concrete. As we pried them up, chips and chunks of the cement came up with them
Uneven subfloor
What we thought would be a nice, smooth concrete subfloor, was now a rough surface that would surely telegraph through to the face of the flooring. The vinyl planks had a thin pre-attached backing, but it wasn’t enough to absorb the protrusions and dips on the floor.
QuietWalk underlayment for luxury vinyl floors
We elected to purchase an underlayment called “QuietWalk LV” at the local Menards store. I’ve used that well-known brand of underlayment with laminate floors in the past, but this one was specifically branded with an “LV” for Luxury Vinyl floors. We rolled the underlayment out with the vapor barrier facing up, and joined the seams with the built-in lip and tape system. Immediately I sensed that the fibrous pad would do a good job of covering up the imperfections of the subfloor, and the attached vapor barrier could also protect the flooring from any of the leftover nasty adhesives from the old carpet pad.
Conclusion
The results were great! The QuietWalk LV underlayment allowed the vinyl planks to lay flat with no hint of the rough subfloor we had covered up, and the cost was much more reasonable than renting equipment to smooth the surface. It made for happy customers.
There it was Labor Day weekend 2018 and I laid awake at 3 a.m. exhausted and awake in my friend’s downstairs apartment unit. I was visiting a friend in Chicago for the long last holiday weekend of the summer as I was helping her adjust in her new living space there. Of course, as we have all done at some point in time, I crashed on the couch for the weekend for my make-shift bed. I suppose some of my lack of rest was being on the rickety couch at 3 a.m. but what really had me stirring was the baby crying in the unit above. Rushing parental footsteps to the nursery and the sound of the chair rocking back and forth that seemed to last over an hour. I could hear voices but could not make out the conversation. As much as I tried to ignore it, the more in tuned to the upstairs activity I became, leaving the long fun visiting weekend without much quality rest.
The apartment building was older, no doubt, but it is because of those old buildings and their lack of sound control emphasis in the 1950’-1960’s that developed more mainstream standards for sound deadening for wood floors in multi-family structures today. There was not much structural insulation between the ceiling in my living room unit where I was resting to the floor of the nursery above. A sound deadening underlayment for the wood floors above would have definitely helped the pitfalls of the older construction home.
Sound Suppression
There are two main class types of sound that are primarily considered and tested for in today’s residential market. Impact Isolation Class (IIC) and Sound Transmission Class(STC). IIC measures noise created by collisions with the floor, such as walking, jumping, etc. STC measures ambient airborne sounds, such as talking, electronics, etc. When installing new wood or hard surfaced flooring, investing in quality acoustical grade underlayment will help against unwanted noise from levels above and below. Underlayments like QuietWalk Plus help with the sound deadening for wood floors. The higher the test number for either class of sound, the more the underlayment and structure contributes to overall noise reduction to the floor. QuietWalk Plus has some of the better industry tested sound numbers with an IIC 71 and STC 66. In many cases when comparing underlayments side-by-side, a 2-point increase in the sound numbers can be quite a lot in translation of how much sound has traveled to the room below.
Density
There are many underlayments on the market that tout acoustical suppression. Materials the underlayment is made from is an important consideration. Moreover, the thickness and density of that underlayment composition can be a determining factor of sound abatement of a good underlayment as well. In order to understand both and how they correlate together, it’s worth defining each. Density is the amount of material “stuffed” into a given thickness. Density is measured in pounds per cubic foot. It measures the relationship between weight and volume of an item. The denser the underlayment, the more supportive it is to the joints of the wood and laminate floor planks and better it will be at controlling sound from traveling to other rooms, especially below.
There are a variety of acclaimed sound dampening compositions on the underlayment market, many rely on the heavily built up structure of the floor-to-ceiling assembly to improve sound numbers. Polyfoams and other crosslink blends of polyfoams are quite popular for economics and do help to contribute some noise reduction but do a basic to marginal job for noise reduction at best by themselves. Many of these foam based underlayments are under 3 mm thickness with a density equal to or less than 5lbs per cubic foot. Compare that to the density of a different composition made from recycled fibers in QuietWalk Plus at 11.52lbs per cubic foot – double that of top end foams – and it becomes apparent that the product material has a lot to do how it controls and dampens sound in wood floors. Choosing dense, supportive underlayments will deaden sound from traveling to other rooms and help the wood floor perform better.
Conclusion
Hearing your neighbors at 3 a.m. in the morning is not a desirable trait to multi-family residential living but having beautiful refinished wood floors in the unit can be. Ensuring that having a quality sound deadening underlayment for wood floors is the difference of good neighbors and unrestful night’s sleep.
[thrive_leads id=’1926′]
Join Our Newsletter
You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
The answer to what kind of underlayment for vinyl plank flooring really depends on what benefit you want to achieve for your space. Do you want good sound absorption, moisture protection and a great insulation value to keep your feet warm? In this article, we will discuss why QuietWalk Luxury Vinyl underlayment offers all three and is our top choice for underlayment for vinyl plank flooring.
What are your goals for underlayment for vinyl plank flooring?
Sound Absorption
Having an underlayment that is built/designed to absorb the sound is critical for home-owners and condo associations since they don’t want to disturb their neighbors. The fibers in the QuietWalk luxury vinyl underlayment is bonded together (patented process) in a way to help absorb the sound waves from traveling through. With a Delta IIC score of 28, we are the only underlayment manufacturer to achieve that score. If you want to know what Delta IIC represents, you can view this article here.
Moisture Protection
Installing luxury vinyl plank directly on concrete can cause detrimental effects on your new investment. The reason why is concrete can emit moisture in lbs. over a certain amount of time or help push the chemicals through and attack your new flooring. There is chemicals present (added during the hardening of the concrete) no matter how many years have passed. Most flooring manufacturers in the installation instructions stat to install a 6-mil vapor barrier underneath your new flooring. This is the bare minimum to install, which our MoistureBlock is the 6-mil vapor barrier they are talking about.
The QuietWalk luxury vinyl underlayment has a built in vapor barrier that blocks the moisture and chemicals from attacking your floor. The other benefit is our recycled fibers has the built in exclusive dri-wick technology. This feature absorbs the moisture and allows it to evaporate on the sides. This insures the moisture doesn’t get blocked underneath and allows the floor to breathe.
QuietWalk fibers and dri-wick technology
Insulation Value
Another benefit of our underlayment is the fibers provide R-Value of 0.34 which is above average for underlayments. This will limit the coldness from concrete and make you more comfortable underfoot.
Our Conclusion:
QuietWalk Luxury Vinyl Underlayment – Designed and Built for Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
If you want the extra benefits such as noise reduction/sound absorption, moisture protection and insulating value for your floor, we recommend the QuietWalk luxury vinyl underlayment.
Minimum: Install a 6-mil Vapor Barrier
At minimum, you are going to want to install a 6-mil vapor barrier underneath your luxury vinyl plank. This will stop all moisture from reaching your floor and causing havoc.
Choosing the best underlay for laminate flooring can be a daunting task as there is hundreds of different types of underlayments for laminate on the market. With various underlayments being made by various materials, features, price difference and installation ease can overwhelm the homeowner. In this article not only will be tell you what we think is the best underlay for laminate flooring but how to choose the correct underlayment that suits your needs and budget. We will first discuss the features of what constitutes the best underlay for laminate flooring in features:
Key Features of Underlay for Laminate Flooring
Sound Reduction
The main purpose for underlay or flooring underlayment is to block sound from transferring from room to room. This is why sound rating test you see with underlayment help cater to Home Owner Associations/Condo and Multi-Family units. If you find sound rating numbers and want to know exactly what they mean, then you should read this article here.
Moisture Protection
The second main purpose for underlay is to help manage or block moisture from getting to your laminate flooring. If your laminate is exposed to water or moisture, it can cause warping and buckling which is something a homeowner does not want.
Compression Resistance
Having an underlayment that resist compressing allows the click-lock mechanism of laminate flooring to hold in place over the life of the floor. Depending on the material of underlayment, compression resistance can either withstand or not hold in high traffic areas.
Smooth Out Imperfections
Having a subfloor that has some imperfections is very common and an underlayment provides that extra layer to hide those imperfections. Take example a small nail head poking out of plywood, yes it will cover it up to 1/8”. This will essentially provide a flat surface for your laminate to be installed on.
Insulating Value
Feeling a cold floor during the winter is no fun for the family. Having an insulation barrier between the subfloor and final laminate flooring can help keep your feet warm during the cold and cool in the summer.
Clean Indoor Air-Quality
Having an underlayment that gives off no-gassing can help your health in the long run. Some underlayment give a strong odor which can be overwhelming for your family and loved ones. Choosing an underlayment that has third-party certification can help ease your mind when it comes to buying underlay.
Difference in Underlay Materials
Knowing the difference of how underlayment is consisted of helps you know how that material excels in your choice.Foam
Foam Underlayments
You will find most underlayments are made out of foam. For good reason as certain thicker foam underlayments provide good sound absorption and moisture protection. When it comes to compression resistance, foam is like trapped air and can be crushed in high traffic areas overtime.
Fiber/Felt Underlayments
Fiber/felt underlayment can also be found out in the market. Compromised of post-industrial fibers, fiber underlayment is the green choice of underlayments. Fiber/felt underlay has many benefits such as great sound absorption, moisture protection, compression resistance and clean indoor air quality. The only downside of the underlayment is the weight of the roll.
Rubber Underlayments
Rubber underlayment is known for the sound absorption however can come with strong odors. This material is also waterproof which is great for tile flooring.
Best Underlayment for Laminate Flooring – QuietWalk Underlayment
So what do we recommend for the best underlay for laminate floors? We would have to say QuietWalk underlayment. Here’s why:
QuietWalk’s Dri-Wick technology – you will not have to worry about moisture as the recycled fibers wick away the moisture and will evaporate over time. With one of the recycled fibers, you can see the moisture in action.
The recycled fibers are manufactured by a patented process that allows sound to be absorbed in the fibers providing great sound absorption. Your laminate floors will start to sound like real hardwood.
The compression resistance will bounce back 84% in high traffic areas compared to foam underlayments. This will ensure your floor last the test of time.
Reycled fibers conform around the subfloor objects hides the imperfections of the subfloor very well.
QuietWalk underlayment has 0.58 for R-value which is the highest in the underlayment industry
QuietWalk is known for its green-friendly composition. With third-party testing with GreenGuard Gold certification, the underlayment can be installed in education and hospital facilities.
If you have any concerns or questions, we will love to hear from you. Just leave us a comment below and we will answer any questions you have.
[thrive_leads id=’1926′]
Join Our Newsletter
You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
