Looking for Underlayment for Vinyl Plank Flooring?

We recognize that luxury vinyl plank is a growing trend in the flooring industry due to its waterproofing capability. It does have benefits for the DIY/homeowner market. In this post, we will cover  the following:

Does Vinyl Plank Need Underlayment?

The answer to this question really depends on you flooring manufacturers installation instructions. Knowing what they require will keep your flooring warranty however if you are looking for sound reduction, then underlayment is ideal to put under vinyl plank. Another article was created going further into detail such as density of underlayment needed for luxury vinyl.

What Underlayment Is Made For Luxury Vinyl?

MP Global Products offers two flooring underlay to be used under luxury vinyl. One underlayment is QuietWalk Luxury Vinyl (fiber/felt underlayment) offering superior sound reduction and a dense material to allow the floor lay firmly against the subfloor. Second underlayment is SoundBuffer (foam underlayment)

QuietWalk Luxury Vinyl

Underlayment for Vinyl Plank Flooring

With density in mind, we tweaked the fiber formula from our other popular QuietWalk for laminate flooring. Same benefits as the famous QuietWalk, just thinner/denser which eliminates movement when walking on vinyl plank flooring.

We’ve heard of other underlayment causing compression issues once they installed their LVP. This was due to the underlayment having to much “compression”. It can be costly for DIY or contractors to rip up the old flooring.

QuietWalk Luxury Vinyl Sound Ratings

  • IIC Sound Rating – Impact Vibration Sounds: 70
  • STC Sound Rating – 62
  • Delta IIC Sound Rating – Home-owners should be comparing this number to other underlayments – 28

SoundBuffer Underlayment for Vinyl Plank Flooring and More

MP Global Products introduces SoundBuffer, a high-performing universal underlayment for vinyl plank flooring that offers full subfloor coverage while soothing impact sound and floor to ceiling noise. Its carefully engineered properties enable flooring installers to use one underlayment for many types of hard-surface floors in residential and commercial projects.

Made from 100 percent virgin latex rubber, SoundBuffer is approved for use under:

  • Luxury Vinyl Tiles
  • Luxury Vinyl Plank
  • Laminate Flooring
  • Engineered Wood
  • Hardwood Flooring

SoundBuffer can be floated, nailed, stapled, single or double-glued. If single glued, it can turn a double-glue installation into a floating floor.

Providing excellent value, the competitively priced Sound Buffer has strong physical properties, including 1.2-millimeter thickness, a density of 25 pounds per cubic foot, and a compression set of 16 percent-a carefully engineered combination that helps minimize impressions and indentations that can occur with luxury vinyl flooring. It also has a thermal resistance of 0.205, and anti-microbial properties.

SoundBuffer Underlayment Sound Test for Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Sound tests have achieved excellent ratings. These include:

  • IIC Test: 6-inch concrete subfloor with no ceiling assembly with luxury vinyl planks floor covering
    • Result: 52 – A rating that exceeds the standard for high-rise installations.
  • IIC Test: 6-inch concrete subfloor with a suspended ceiling assembly with luxury vinyl planks floor covering
    • Result: 68
  • STC Test: 6-inch concrete subfloor with a suspended ceiling with luxury vinyl planks floor covering
    • Result: 64
  • STC Test: 6-inch concrete subfloor with no ceiling assembly with luxury vinyl planks floor covering
    • Result: 52
SoundBuffer Spec Sheet

SoundBuffer offers a compression (ASTM D 1055-97 (22h, 70C) of 16 percent that works nicely under LVF and, unlike the compression percentage of most underlayments suitable for luxury vinyl flooring, is hearty enough to install under floating wood and laminate floors, as well.

SoundBuffer also carries Green Label Plus Certification for Low-Emitting Materials from the Carpet and Rug Institute and can contribute to earning LEED Credit EQ 4.3 (low-emitting materials), LEED Credit MRc5.1-5.2 for Regional Content 20-30 percent; and LEED Credit IEQp3 Minimum Acoustical Performance. And post-consumer use, it is 100 percent recyclable.

SoundBuffer is available in 36-inch-wide 200-square-foot rolls, with or without seam tape.

What Installation Issues Could Arise With Luxury Vinyl Flooring?

To install luxury vinyl properly in any room, the subfloor needs to be prepared. It is vitally important and any irregularities in the subfloor will show through to your floor. High and low ares will show. A dense underlayment like Quiet Walk Luxury Vinyl offers the performance your LVT needs to lie firmly against your subfloor and also hide minor irregularities.

Original Article: Retrofit Magazine – February 5, 2016

Posted on: Monday, February 8, 2016

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  • Do you want to find a better way to heat your home? There are several options to choose from when you want to heat your home effectively while keeping your utility bills low. However, nothing surpasses radiant floor heating, also known as just “floor heating”. It brings out a unique, luxurious feel in any home. There has been tremendous innovation in this product which can help provide comfortable, clean, and design-led living.

    What Is Radiant Floor Heating

    Radiant heat provides floors with heat by heating the flooring from underneath. They come in different types to ensure you get a personalized design that satisfies your needs. Most Electric underfloor heating uses a network of cables that runs beneath the floor, heating them. However, with recent technological advancements, QuietWarmth mats use conductive ink technology to heat the flooring. This allows the mats to be thinner than a credit card. Making the installation clean and straightforward with no need for extra messy self-levelers and mortars. The heat provided by this design is uniform across the room, making them the most efficient option when it comes to heating. There is no hassle of trying to keep the house at a constant temperature. The heat can rise and fall to keep your entire home in the same state that you and your family prefer.

    In addition to its other benefits, this heating system is silent. You don’t have to be kept awake the whole night with humming sounds like you may experience from other heating systems. Its efficiency is also due to not using air movement techniques like an HVAC system or a space heater. There will be no dust kicked up by moving air, and the heat doesn’t come through the vents. They often will increase the value of your home as the heated floors will catch the attention of the buyers as an added luxury.

    Rooms to Use Radiant Floor Heating

    Now that you know of radiant heating benefits, the only question is where you can install it to enhance your home’s value. The most common areas that homeowners use radiant heat is the bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen areas.

    Bathroom

    There is nothing like having a cold bath on a chilly day with inadequate heating in your home. Now you can avoid shivering in the bathroom and bathe even more comfortably by installing radiant heat. The heating is provided from the floor up to ensure consistent and efficient warmth as you bathe or while you are getting ready for the day.

    With the floor heating, you will only need around 84 degrees or less to heat your room effectively. It consumes less energy, and your bathroom will stay at an even temperature without any cold spots like from other types of heating. You will achieve the desired temperature quickly and conveniently with radiant heating.

    With radiant floor heating, your guest bathrooms can also enjoy more space and freedom. There is no installation of radiators that would require a portion of your room. Let your guest bathroom have a feeling of class and luxury with this luxurious type of heating.

    Bedroom

    A warm and good night’s rest requires several factors to be in place. You can sleep better when you maintain a comfortable, consistent temperature. A radiant floor heating system works with almost all floor coverings, and you can use it for any bedroom floor you have. You will make the most out of your walls and floors since the heating works both for tiles, wood, stones, planks, and more.

    You also want to ensure your kid’s bedrooms are safe and comfortable as much as possible. Radiant underfloor heating has no sharp edges or hot surfaces that may put your kids in danger. The heating system is safely tucked away, and your kids can enjoy using their room and having it at the optimum temperature.

    The air quality with radiant heating is also better than any other system. You will get fresh air free of allergens, ensuring a comfortable environment in the bedroom. Another important feature about underfloor heating is that it is effortless to run. You don’t need constant maintenance, and you can use it for a long time. Have peace of mind as you continue providing your whole family a convenient temperature to live and sleep in with most manufacturers offering warranties up to 30 years.

    Kitchen

    You spend quality time in your kitchen as you prepare your meals and enjoy time with your family. The kitchen is a very delicate part of the house. It has food that needs protection against dust and germs. The underfloor heating system does not stir up dust, and the heat is uniform on all corners of the room. Also, food may spoil faster when the temperatures near an air vent raise quickly when the furnace kicks on. The underfloor heating convenience is that the temperature is held constant, and you are sure to get your food as fresh as you left it.

    Do you want to take advantage of your breakfast nook more often? Instead of standing on cold floors while you whip up eggs and pancakes, radiant floor heating lets you cook in peace. Installing underfloor heating today, and you can enjoy its services and benefits to the fullest. It is easy to add to every room, and the cleaning convenience always keeps your kitchen tidy.

    Conclusion

    Underfloor heating is worth the investment you spend on it. You will enjoy using it for years without having to maintain the system while providing a fantastic look. Using radiant heating has several benefits, and you can relish having your house at a constant temperature that keeps you and your family comfortable no matter the weather outside.

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  • Underlayment is basically a thin layer of material that is sandwiched between other materials. The underlayment is used in two different industries, roofing and flooring. Both industries have different benefits and in this article we explain why it’s important for the flooring industry and what purpose it provides to flooring consumers.

    Flooring Structure Explained

    Your flooring plays a vital role of supporting various furniture in your home. Besides from the beautiful floor, other materials such as subfloor, joist and underlayment hold everything in place.

    Flooring Joist

    The floor joist is the foundation to your flooring. A horizontal structural member used in framing to span an open space, often between beams that subsequently transfer loads to vertical members. When incorporated into a floor framing system, joists serve to provide stiffness to the subfloor sheathing, allowing it to function as a horizontal diaphragm.

    Subfloor

    The subfloor is the foundation beneath your finish flooring materials. Providing a continuous structural surface over the floor joist. Subfloors can consist of wood plank, plywood, OSB (Oriented Strandboard) and concrete. Concrete is in most basements as no floor joist is present. Concrete basement floors are also susceptible to moisture as moisture can wick up through the concrete.

    Flooring Underlayment

    Underlay or flooring underlayment is a thin layer of material such as fiber, felt, rubber or foam. The thin layer of material helps cushion, sound absorption, insulation and reduce wear with your flooring. For laminate or engineered wood flooring, it provides a “vapor barrier” to prevent moisture from coming through and damaging your floor. It can also help dampen noise as HOA or condo associations usually refer to sound rating test.

    Floor Coverings

    This is the surface that a person see’s and walks on. Many different types of floor coverings are available such as laminate, floating engineered, hardwood, ceramic tile, carpet or vinyl.

    Floor Underlayment Main Purpose

    Sound Reduction or Dampens Noise

    Underlayment allows to block sound from transferring from room to room. An underlayment built with recycled fibers absorbs sound and keeps it from traveling to other rooms. Makes click-together floating floors sound solid underfoot.

    Moisture Protection – Blocking Harmful Damage To Your Floor

    Certain underlayment come with built-in vapor barrier that blocks moisture from getting to your floor. Concrete subfloors is notorious for emitting moisture and causing flooring to be in contact with water and chemicals from concrete.

    Compression Resistance

    Consistent traffic can lead to dented areas of your flooring. Dense recycled fiber underlayment supports the click-together mechanism and upholds supportive configuration under consistent traffic of overlying floor.

    Smooths Subfloor Imperfections

    All subfloors are not consistent in levelness. However, underlayment can form to a certain degree around subfloor surface roughness, helps to cut down on extra subfloor surface prepping time.

    Insulating Value

    Providing additional comfort to the entire home during seasonal temperature changes.

    Approved for In-Floor Heating Systems

    Allows heat to permeate evenly while helping to protect the floor covering material from thermal shock.

    Certified Clean and Safe Indoor Air Quality

    Flooring underlayment should not be smelly or give off any weird smells. Always look for some certification for indoor air quality testing done. This protects your family from getting unwanted headaches or sickness.

    Competitively Priced

    An underlayment shouldn’t break the bank but protect you from moisture and reduce noise.

    Underlayment Considerations

    It is always best to review your flooring installation instructions to follow what they recommend for underlayment. Some flooring manufacturers don’t call for such material and some do. If you are looking to help reduce noise, consider an underlayment that does sound absorption with moisture protection/management.

    Our QuietWalk flooring underlayment is considered by most flooring installers and contractors as the industry standard. QuietWalk offers the main benefits mentioned above to the consumer. If you are a homeowner and still not sure what underlayment to choose for your flooring, give us a call at (402) 379-9695.

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  • There is a difference between radiant heat and convectional heat. Both heating methods work fine independently, but knowing which application makes more sense for your home can make you and your family more comfortable. Combining these two heat sources can also be a blessing for people who want to save money during the winter months by using less energy.

    The radiant floor heating typically depends on a network of cables installed between the subfloor and the floor covering. The mats use electricity to heat up, which begins to warm the floor under your feet. They are great for large rooms and small rooms with low expenses that are affordable for most budgets. Radiant floor heating is perfect for the bathroom and kitchen floors but will fit nearly any room or more rooms inside your house for optimal comfort.

    A Convection Heater Only Heats The Air

    A convection (or traditional) heater only heats the room’s air since this heater relies on its circulation. As cool air falls, it passes over the heating section and rises out through the unit’s top back into the room as warmed air. This heater transfers heat through gas or liquid to work effectively. It will perform by warming a room from the top down. It relies on the atmosphere to climb when it is warm, and it will cool down when lowered. Conventional heating must first heat all the air in the room to restore the thermostat’s required temperature. As the air heats up and cools down, a significant part of the air moves, leading to constant air swirling as it passes through the room.

    Pros:

    • In most cases, convection heaters are relatively silent, since they do not rely on ductwork
    • They can be placed in a variety of places, such as a stairway, giving you versatile heating

    Cons:

    • Convection heaters are generally not very effective for heating large spaces, since they rely on dispersing air naturally
    • They do not circulate air through a filter, which can contribute to the build-up of dust and allergens
    • Since they heat the air from one area of the room currents air can stir up dust and allergens

    Electric Radiant Floor Heat can be Programmed

    Electric radiant floor heat is very energy efficient. Electric radiant floor heating systems are beneficial, and they use less energy than other methods, which is the right way people can save money. Most electric floor heating systems use between over ten watts per hour to about twelve watts per hour. The floors can operate with a thermostat that you can easily program. They will automatically heat your floor whenever time you choose for the room. They are straightforward to install by the model you want to get. They usually have a heating wire that is easy to place that will control the gaps. For the heating mat systems, the wire is built into the mat itself.

    No matter if it is conventional or radiant, you should consider the size of the room you want to be heated. Both systems will cover the whole floor area to heat the room successfully to your needs. Be sure to buy a heater that matches the size of the flooring in the entire room.

    An Electric Radiant Floor Even Has Benefits You Will Be Happy With

    An electric radiant floor heating system has many benefits. They provide consistent heating, and they will heat the area where they are placed underneath your floors. You will feel the warmest temperature in the room that is closest to the heating system. The good thing is that when you use radiant floor heating, the system installs with equal spacing, so you will not find any areas that are cold that the heater will not cover.


    Besides, a radiant heating system does not move the air, so the room’s airflow doesn’t affect the moisture content. This is helpful for areas of the country that are extremely dry or highly humid. This feature has the added benefit of preventing mold growth for those prone to allergies or respiratory problems.

    Radiant Floor Heating Gives You Comfort Where It Matters

    Using both conventional and radiant heat will cut back the traditional heating system’s temperature and use. You can also combine the two, which will save you a lot of money each month. The QuietWarmth floor system is high-tech with advanced ink technology ideal for all kinds of floating floors. The QuietWarmth mats come with a vast display of features you will find at a reasonable price that you can afford. Due to the thin ink technology, it will work for all kinds of floorings that are modern, especially for bamboo floors. It is easy to install with minimal effort.

    QuietWarmth underfloor heating systems are also ideal for tiles and existing flooring. They are easy to install and require virtually no ongoing maintenance. It provides your floors with uniform heat with no gaps, and the radiant heat is spread evenly through the room. The price is affordable while producing heat evenly and effectively.

    Pros:

    • Most radiant heating systems are more efficient taking less energy to heat a space
    • Radiant floor heating systems require little maintenance
    • Heats room uniformly from the ground up, preventing the disturbance of dust and allergens

    Cons:

    • Depending on the amount of area covered with floor heating, radiant heating can have a more expensive upfront cost
    • Radiant heating systems require an electrician to complete the wiring

    Final Thoughts

    Radiant floor heating is arguably the ideal home heating system. It is practical, comfortable, and are friendly to your pets. Pets always love the feel of the warmth of the floors too. Since heat will flow throughout your room, your furnishings and valuables will be safe. An important thing to know is they will give you the feel of comfortable warmth even on a cold winter morning. Each time you step on the floors will feel refreshed. Winter months are ideal for these floors when you need extra warmth underfoot. Many people may not feel they need one, but once you experience the difference, you will enjoy the long-lasting benefits of QuietWarmth radiant heating.

    Don’t count convection heating out though, as in many cases radiant floor heating and convection heating work well together. For example, a radiant heating system may be boosted by a convection-powered space heater.

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  • Looking for underlayment to reduce sound?

    The only time we suggest underlayment under vinyl tile or plank flooring is if want to reduce the impact sound or sound transmission in your room. The additional underlayment under the floor will help to reduce the sound.

    MP Global has designed an underlayment with superior sound absorption. The QuietWalk Luxury Vinyl reached a Delta IIC of 28. This number is the highest in the flooring industry.

    So what is Delta IIC? The rating is what the product adds in terms of absorbing impact noise. Click here to view our article about sound test.

    Density in Luxury Vinyl Underlayment

    LVT is relatively a softer floor compared to laminate. If the floor has to much cushion with soft underlayment, the floor can tend to gather dents and interlocking issues between planks. If you are looking to purchase underlayment for luxury vinyl, look for a denser underlayment that can withstand heavy traffic. It is a good guideline keep the underlayment thin.

    Underlayment for Luxury Vinyl Flooring

    QuietWalk Luxury Vinyl Underlayment

    The QuietWalk Luxury Vinyl is thin, dense and powerful in sound absorption. Made with recycled fibers, no VOC’s and antimicrobial built in to disallow mold growth, it is the industries underlayment. If you want the best sound rating underlayment with your luxury vinyl flooring, look no further than the QuietWalk Luxury Vinyl.

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