Wood flooring underlay is seen more of a necessity than an ‘optional’ purchase these days. Not only does it provide significant sound dampening qualities on hardwood floors but also helps to insulate the surrounding area. In addition, the physical barrier created by the underlay provides comprehensive protection from dampness rising from your subfloor to your wood floor.
So, now you know the benefits of flooring underlay, how do you install it?
Step 1
Sweep/vacuum any dirt, dust or other loose contaminants from the area where you are laying your underlay. Also, any loose floorboards must be nailed down and protruding nails should be replaced or hammered in properly. Not doing so will create unevenness when laying the underlay and reduce its effectiveness.
Step 2
When measuring and laying your underlay, you must make sure you leave a 5mm excess to run up the wall. Remember you can cut down, but you can’t add on once you start taping your underlay.
Step 3
Once the underlay covers the desired area, use single-sided carpet tape to secure all the joints and press firmly into place.
Step 4
Lay your wood flooring. Trim the underlay to the top of the wood floor and fit any accessories such as oak skirting.
#1 by Miroslav on January 8th, 2010
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Offer parquet!
#2 by Karen Cross on May 29th, 2010
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I am about to have a solid oak, laquered floor fitted. We have purchased Timbertech original extra (3mm thick) underlay. Our new oak flooring is going onto a subfloor of floorboards. Is the Timbertech underlay we have purchased suitable or will it sweat and create condensation?
Many Thanks
#3 by admin on June 3rd, 2010
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The timbertech underlay will not sweat and cause condensation as this is a good underlay for use with wood floors. One point to note though is that if you are laying solid oak flooring the best fitting methods are to nail down or glue down – as you are wanting to use an underlay it will be best to nail the floor down through the underlay (remember to lay the boards at 90 degrees to the original floorboards)
#4 by Allan Guntrip on October 5th, 2010
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i am laying solid oak flooring untreated 2mt to 4mt random lengths , i have a chipboard subfloor upstairs in my new extension , and a room downstairs with a concrete subfloor , which of your underlay would you suggest i use and should i glue or nail it down
#5 by admin on October 6th, 2010
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Hi Allan,
All solid oak floors are recommended to be nailed down or glued down directly to the subfloor. As chipboard is not the best subfloor for nailing and you cannot nail onto concrete it would be our recommendation to glue the floor directly to the subfloor using a flooring adhesive such as EverBuild PDQ 650 .
Hope this helps,
Real Oak Floors
#6 by Brian C Calark on October 7th, 2010
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I have purchased Solid Bamboo Plank Flooring ready sealed. and am going to fit to upper foor suspend wood plank, please advise best underlay for accoustic and support
#7 by admin on October 8th, 2010
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Hi Brian,
The best underlays for acoustic are either Depron or Gold Dune. Either of these are suitable for use with a bamboo floor.
Hope this helps,
Real Oak Floors
#8 by 360Rugs on October 22nd, 2010
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Oh these are just delightful and I sense would be very popular particularly in the traditional home.
#9 by Bryony on October 28th, 2010
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I’m having a new extension built with good insulation under the floor and will be laying solid wood flooring. Do I need to use underlay and if so which type is best please?
#10 by admin on October 28th, 2010
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Hi Bryony,
Solid oak floors are recommended to be either nailed down directly to the sub floor or glued to the sub floor – either of these methods will not require an underlay. If any other fitting methods are to be used ie glueing the tongue and groove as a floating floor, then an underlay will be required. The best ones are the dense underlays such as the Depron and Gold Dune as they insulate against sound and heat.
Hope this helps
#11 by Jay on November 9th, 2010
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I am having lacquered solid oak flooring fitted in my hallway, do I need an underlay on top of my old floorboards? If so can I use plywood?
#12 by Matt Cannon on December 28th, 2010
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I’m going to lay a solid oak laquered floor to all floors in my french apartment which currently have ceramic floor tiles. Do I need any underlay, how best do I fix the boards to this type of floor? Do I need to fix at all?
#13 by Nora on February 19th, 2011
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Any suggestions for an underlay offering extra protection from dump? Our underlay is going to be fibreboards but there is a problem with dump in the area where a fireplace use to be (we discovered that after lifting the old carpet)
Thank you