Laying Laminate Over Underlay

A breathable foam type underlayment is generally used when installing laminate flooring over plywood or osb subfloors.

Laying laminate over underlay.

Laying underlayment over an existing flooring. A laminate floor is a floating floor meaning it is not fastened directly to the subfloor. The underlayment helps the laminate planks lay smoother connect better and for the flooring to feel slightly softer underfoot. Underlayment is either pre attached to the bottom of the laminate flooring by the manufacturer or it is installed separately by the user.

In most cases you will not want to use a vapor barrier type underlayment when installing laminates on a standard plywood subfloor because wood is a natural material that needs to breathe installing a vapor barrier over this can cause moisture to become. It can be installed over any other tightly bonded flooring making it ideal for retrofits. Lay 4 mil or thicker polyethylene sheeting over the entire floor if you re using uncovered foam underlayment.