Flooring Underlayment Guide: Rolls, Thickness and Sound Control
What underlayment does, when you need it, and how to order underlayment rolls by square footage for vinyl, laminate and wood floors.
What underlayment does
Underlayment sits between the subfloor and the finished floor. Depending on the product it can smooth minor subfloor imperfections, reduce sound transmission, add a moisture barrier and improve comfort.
When you need it
Some vinyl planks come with attached padding, in which case a separate pad may not be allowed by the manufacturer. Laminate and many floating floors require underlayment. Condos and multi-family buildings often have sound-rating requirements — check your building rules.
Ordering rolls
Underlayment is sold in rolls that cover a set number of square feet. Measure your room, add a waste allowance, and tell us your total square footage — we'll calculate the number of rolls and quote freight to your site.