Hardwood Flooring Underlayment Options
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Hardwood flooring is a popular choice for homes, offering a luxurious aesthetic, durability, and longevity. However, in order to ensure your hardwood floor lasts for years to come, you must make sure you choose the right underlayment. This article will discuss the different types of underlayment available and which one is best suited for your hardwood flooring.
What is Underlayment?
Underlayment is a thin protective layer that is installed between the subfloor and the hardwood flooring. It serves several purposes, the most important being to provide cushioning and noise reduction. It also helps to absorb moisture and prevents the growth of mold and mildew underneath the floor.
Types of Flooring Underlayment
When choosing an underlayment for your hardwood flooring, there are several options available. The most common types are foam, cork, felt, rubber, and polyurethane.
Foam Underlayment
Foam underlayment is made from polyethylene foam or polystyrene foam. It provides cushioning and helps reduce noise levels by absorbing sound waves. However, it does not offer much protection against moisture as it tends to absorb too much moisture from the subfloor. Foam underlayment is usually the least expensive option but doesn’t last as long as other types of underlayment.
Cork Underlayment
Cork underlayment is a great choice for those looking for a durable and long-lasting option for their hardwood flooring. It provides excellent cushioning and noise reduction, as well as excellent moisture protection. This type of underlayment also helps insulate the home from cold temperatures, making it more energy-efficient and helping to reduce energy costs.
Felt Underlayment
Felt underlayment is made from natural fibers such as wool or cotton. It provides cushioning and absorbs sound waves, making it great for reducing noise levels in rooms with hardwood floors. Felt underlayment also offers some protection against moisture but may need to be replaced more often than other types of underlayment due to wear and tear.
Rubber Underlayment
Rubber underlayment is a popular choice due to its durability and longevity. It provides excellent cushioning and noise reduction, making it perfect for those with loud homes or apartments. Rubber also has excellent moisture protection so it can help prevent mold and mildew growth underneath your floor.
Polyurethane Underlayment
Polyurethane underlayment is a relatively new option on the market but it has quickly become popular due to its superior properties. It provides excellent cushioning and noise reduction, as well as excellent moisture protection and insulation from cold temperatures. Polyurethane is also very durable so it can last longer than other types of underlayment without needing to be replaced.
Which Type of Underlayment Is Best For Hardwood Flooring?
When it comes to choosing an underlayment for your hardwood flooring, there are many options available. Each type of underlayment has its own unique set of benefits so it’s important to consider your needs before making a final decision. Generally speaking, cork or polyurethane are considered the best options because they offer superior cushioning, moisture protection, insulation from cold temperatures, and noise reduction. However, if you’re on a budget then foam or felt may be more suitable options for you.
The Bottom Line
Choosing the right type of underlayment for your hardwood flooring is essential if you want to ensure that your floor lasts for years to come. There are many different types of underlayment available so it’s important to consider your needs before making a final decision. Generally speaking, cork or polyurethane are considered the best options because they offer superior cushioning, moisture protection, insulation from cold temperatures, and noise reduction while foam or felt may be more suitable options if you’re on a budget.