There are only a few things in life more satisfying than doing some renovations, taking the years off your beloved space, and seeing it become fresh and vibrant once again. Of course, taking down walls, getting new appliances, repainting the walls, and replacing fixtures all majorly contribute but let’s not forget that brand new hardwood floors can create just as much of an impact – if not more – than all these other modifications.

Of course, before you can ever even start laying down your specific flooring choice, though, you’ve got to make a choice about underlayment. Are there any benefits to it? Do you actually need this for your new floors? And what exactly is underlayment, anyways? We’re here to answer all those questions and tell you everything you need to know to get those perfect hardwoods you’ve been dreaming about. 

What is Underlayment?

 First thing’s first: what exactly is underlayment, anyways? Underlayment is a thin layer of material/ padding that is laid under your hardwood floors and is typically found in the form of foam, rubber, felt, or some similar material. 

Underlayment is added for a variety of reasons. For many people, the biggest is for added protection from moisture, as the underlayment provides a buffer between your subfloors and expensive hardwoods — possibly saving your beautiful investment (and your mood) from getting ruined. That’s why it’s often used in climates with high humidity or in homes that make use of more moisture-emitting concrete subfloors. 

Underlayment’s charms aren’t restricted to its protective abilities, although that is a big draw. Underlayment also makes hardwoods feel a little nicer underfoot, giving you a little, desperately needed cushioning, aiding in insulation for warmer feet in the winter, dulling the sounds of walking feet, and smoothing out pesky subfloor imperfections that could otherwise cause you problems. 

Is Underlayment Actually Necessary?

So, there are plenty of pluses attached to opting for underlayment. But does this actually mean it’s necessary if you have hardwood floors? Do you genuinely need it, or is it an additional cost you can feel decent about skipping? The short answer is it depends. 

Underlayment honestly isn’t the be-all, end-all for fantastic flooring. The best thing you can do to secure beautiful, long-lasting floors that’ll look great for years to come is simply to choose the right hardwood in the first place. There are seemingly a million options out there, each in different stains/colors, thicknesses, hardnesses, grains, and other qualities. That means not every kind is going to be ideal for every situation or lifestyle. 

Some will naturally be a better fit for you than others. For example, if your family is incredibly active, has pets, and tends to be very rough on your surroundings, you can’t get much better than some sort of hickory hardwood since it’s the heartiest kind you’ll find out there. It’ll be able to withstand even some of the rowdiest kids and big dogs you can throw at it, whereas something more delicate like pine would probably get torn up pretty fast. 

However, even with all this said, underlayment can only bring good things your way. There’s practically never a situation where opting for padding below your floors is a negative. Thus, while it might technically not be a strictly “necessary” additional expense to finances and time, it’s one we wholeheartedly recommend if you have the resources available. 

Why? Because at the end of the day, it will only improve your floor’s stability, reduce the noise that inevitably happens when you opt for real hardwood, make walking less of a strain for adults, kids, and pets alike, and potentially lengthen your hardwood’s lifespan by protecting it from dampness and providing additional support.

You’ll then get more from your investment and guarantee you’re not left skimming the home store catalogs or Menard’s shelves for replacements sooner rather than later. And while it might not be super noticeable, an underlayment will make your daily experience cleaning, cooking, chasing the kids around, and generally spending time wandering around your home a touch more comfortable. 

Underlayment Material Options 

The choice to use underlayment or not is far from straightforward for most folks. The reality is that renovations of any kind are remarkably costly. Anywhere you can save a few bucks is always appreciated, and skipping out on the material between your hardwood and subfloors is an attractive proposition when you see how much it could reduce your costs. 

But suppose you’ve recognized all the benefits eating the additional price can bring you and decide to install underlayment. In that case, you still have a decision to make: the kind of underlayment material you want to use. There are primarily four main types you’ll want to consider, each with plenty of pros and pluses to their names. These include:

  • Felt – Unless you’re super crafty, you probably haven’t used felt for much of anything in years. It turns out, though, it makes for wonderful underlayment. It’s indeed the most popular kind used with hardwood, good for combatting low levels of dampness and noise. It’s not the cushiest or springiest on the market, but thicker layers of felt can up the comfy quotient pretty well. For those of you worried about environmental concerns, felt is also the better choice since it’s made from recycled material. Our QuietWalk Plus underlayment is such a popular choice because it does well in all categories and works great with hardwood flooring.
  • Rubber – Need something a little more heavy-duty on the sound reduction and insulation? Rubber is going to be better for you, offering strong protection against nearly everything while remaining easy to install. Do be warned, however. Most rubber underlayments will have you forking out more significant bills. However, we have managed to create reasonably priced rubber underlayment with all the same benefits called SoundBuffer
  • Foam – Foam is used in so many products out there. It shouldn’t be a surprise that it’s also a popular underlayment material. You might be surprised at how well it works, though. Cheap, easy to install, suitable for cushioning, and even better for noise absorption. The only downfall to foam is its durability. Many foam underlayments tend to rip on installation. Since foam underlayment is made from tiny trapped air bubbles, the air bubbles can be pressed out over time, causing them to lose benefits over time.
  • Cork – Aren’t convinced that the other three options here are for you? Cork functions as a solid alternative, albeit one that’s significantly less popular than its competition. It is mostly unpopular because it tends to be more expensive than even rubber. Sound absorption is right on par with foam, and it performs even better at giving floors extra stability thanks to its mixture of firmness and flexibility. Bonus, cork is a sustainable, renewable resource and has anti-microbial properties. Not too shabby for the underdog, huh? 
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  • The floor is more than just the floor. It’s a place where we spend a lot of time, and it has to be comfortable for all family members – including our furry friends! When choosing flooring options, there are many factors to consider: ease of cleaning, ability to hide nail marks and fur, and, equally as important, comfortability on paws. 

    The surface under our feet can absolutely make or break your pet’s quality of life- making it critical to find the right choice for them and the rest of your family. Luckily, we know some of the best around and are here to make your job more straightforward than ever. So keep reading to find out what flooring you should choose to keep you and your beloved Fido happy and comfortable for years to come.

    No matter what flooring you decide on, our QuietWalk flooring underlayment line of products will adequately protect your purchase. Our patented blend of recycled fibers ensures you get the best possible underlayment for your new flooring, all while investing in a sustainable future. QuietWalk was designed to help you get the most out of your new flooring with moisture protection, noise reduction, and compression resistance. 

    Carpet Flooring

    Once upon a time, carpet was THE thing. Practically everyone in the 70s and 80s had it in their homes, or at the very least, longed for it to pad their own house’s rooms and halls. But we’re now in 2021, and our tastes have dramatically shifted from those of yesteryear. So does carpet still have a place in our homes? For those who have a furry, waggy-tailed friend, the answer is a pretty firm “yes,” just with a tentative asterisk tacked on at the end. 

    The main reason carpet’s good for our canine buddies lies in how plush it is. Unlike pretty much all your other flooring options, carpet is super relaxing and cozy. Your dog can easily walk on it, even if they have particularly sensitive paw pads, and laying on it remains a pretty comfortable experience for any pups not allowed on the furniture. However, you should be aware that carpet comes with plenty of tradeoffs – maybe not for your dog, but definitely for you. 

    Most notably, carpet allows all sorts of nasty stuff to cling to it. Pet hair, dander, mud, and any unfortunate puppy or older dog accidents will get trapped within the fibers, leading to stains, odor buildup, increased allergy symptoms, and possibly mildew. In other words, it’s not the most hygienic option. If you’re not particularly concerned about that or are happy to give it a deep clean once, in a while, carpet makes an excellent choice for the whole family.

    To help with hygienics, we created a QuietWalk Carpet Pad with a moisture barrier. The moisture barrier will prevent accidents from soaking into the carpet pad and subfloor. That way, they do not make it farther than the carpet, allowing quicker and more effective cleaning. 

    Laminate Flooring

    In the world of flooring, laminate is perhaps one of the most misunderstood. It has certainly gotten a bad rap, people mostly remembering the yellow, off-white, and retro colored laminate that their grandparents probably had running through the kitchen at some point. This flooring option has come a long way since those days, though, and more than deserves a second look. Pet parents should pay especially close attention because it has several pros that make it a pretty attractive option for anyone with a fur baby. At least, for you. Maybe not quite as much for Balto. 

     So, what are some of these purported benefits? Despite people’s preconceptions, one of the biggest is actually that laminate usually looks fantastic. Nowadays, it typically looks just like hardwood, in both color and “grain.” That instantly gives your home a bit of a style upgrade at a fraction of the price of real hardwood. That means less cash thrown around at the hardware or home store and more spent on getting your pawesome friend food, treats, and tons of toys they’ll likely destroy within the month. You know – the usual.

    Laminate is a wise decision as far as function goes, too. It won’t typically last as long as actual hardwood, which does knock it a bit, but it still provides a significant amount of durability and resistance to damage. It’s more resistant to water (and other liquids), is less likely to scratch, and provides easier clean-up than most other floorings. All upsides, but they do come at a small cost to your dog’s comfort. Laminate tends to be very slippery and simply not that nice to lay on, except for maybe hot summer days.

    A quick, simple way to improve the life of your laminate flooring is to add an underlayment like QuietWalk for floating floors. QuietWalk’s attached moisture barrier will prevent accidents from seeping into and soiling the subfloor. The compression resistance extends the life of your laminate flooring by providing support for the click-lock systems. Your home will become more relaxing as QuietWalk helps dampen noise from footsteps, dropped objects, and ambient noise. 

    Hardwood Flooring

    Figuring out what floors best replace your current can be confusing, and dog people can have an even rougher go at it. After all, it’s hard. Your needs and wants for the surface under your feet are very different from what your cold-nosed companion is likely to appreciate. Unlike the good boy in your life, you have to worry about the practicalities of whatever it is you buy. Is it reasonably easy to clean? Is installation going to be a big pain? How much is it going to cost? Can it stand up to the pitter-patter of little (or large) paws day in and day out? 

    Those are all valid questions, but they do complicate your decision. You’ll need to give yourself plenty of time to explore your options, weigh your priorities, and examine what your best friend truly needs versus what would be a nice perk. Ultimately, it’s up to you. Just don’t forget that hardwood is still very much on the table, even with many different options out there. It’s a pretty decent one, too.

    Much like with laminate, hardwood is a good one for the list if you need something that looks good, makes for a straightforward clean, and won’t trap any pet hair, dander, or allergens. All it takes is a quick mopping, and these floors will look good as new, even if your pup came back inside looking more like a swamp creature than a dog. However, as hardwood might prove a touch too hard under your fluffy shadow’s feet and is sometimes a little more prone to scratching, there are a few cons. It’s probably a good fit for those with small, relaxed dogs, but if your buddy’s an overactive behemoth, it might not be the right fit.

    QuietWalk Plus is perfect for hardwood floors since you can use it in glue-down and nail-down installations. QuietWalk Plus will provide all the same improvements to your flooring as regular QuietWalk. If hardwood floors are correctly installed and maintained, they are capable of lasting over 80 years! Their long life makes it essential that you use durable fiber underlayment instead of underlayments made from foam, as foam tends to flatten over time. 

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