Do You Need Underlayment Panel Under Sheet Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring is so thin that any imperfections underneath it like bumps grooves or cracks will show right through.

Do you need underlayment panel under sheet vinyl flooring.

Leave a 1 8 inch gap along the walls. When installing the new underlayment stagger the seams of the plywood panels and leave a 1 32 inch gap between panels to allow for expansion. However you ll want to use one in every other application including covering existing hardwood floors vinyl flooring that isn t cushioned and concrete floors. Because you can install sheet vinyl over existing vinyl it offers the option of changing design without breaking the bank.

If you re wondering about luxury vinyl plank underlayment that s one of the appeals it usually doesn t need underlayment. It is designed to create a smooth durable surface which is why it is so important for vinyl flooring. Vinyl flooring is usually not installed directly over the subfloor in residential applications. In fact as a softer flooring adding an underlayment could mean too much cushion resulting in dents and more wear and tear sooner.

There are several types of underlayment for this type of flooring and we ve seen brands with a thin layer of foam pre attached as well. In most cases 4 by 8 foot sheets of particle board or plywood must be installed in preparation for the vinyl floor install. Vinyl tile is available in three main. That doesn t mean you don t need underlayment for sheet vinyl however.

If you re laying the lvp over an existing cushion backed vinyl floor or a below grade tile floor then you won t need to use an underlayment.