Jump to content

Underlay for engineered wood flooring


MJNewton

Recommended Posts

Does anyone have any knowledge/experience of underlay for floating engineered wood flooring on a concrete base?

 

From some cursory reading it seems that there are varying thicknesses, tog ratings, sound insulation etc and of course price. My initial thoughts are that a decent thickness and tog rating could be beneficial on a ground floor, however I wondered if this would lead to sponginess/springiness underfoot? Perhaps it's a good thing having some 'give' and it may make it a bit quieter to walk on? Speaking of sound, I am assuming the 'sound deadening' underlays are more to minimise transmission of noise *through* the underlay (to rooms below) and not for reducing floor-related noise within the room itself?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We haven't picked the flooring yet (some way off that to be honest) however I was expecting it to be around 15-18mm.

 

To be honest I'm not sure what drove my down the floating road... I think I may have been thinking it might be beneficial should I ever need to re-lay some of it (e.g. due to damage)?

 

Noise it arguably a more day-to-day issue though and so perhaps I should re-think that.

Edited by MJNewton
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had a similar experience of a noisy floating floor, so in this house I bonded our bamboo flooring down.  Makes for a really solid floor, with no noises at all.  The only downside is the cost of the adhesive.  I used Sikabond 95 and it was around £80 a tub.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Okay, glue-down it is!

 

Would an underlay still be required (noting this will be engineered wood if it makes any difference)? I thought perhaps the adhesive does away with the need for an underlay but I see that specific-for-glue underlays are available.

Edited by MJNewton
Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 minutes ago, MJNewton said:

Okay, glue-down it is!

 

Would an underlay still be required (noting this will be engineered wood if it makes any difference)? I thought perhaps the adhesive does away with the need for an underlay but I see that specific-for-glue underlays are available.

 

I am a fan of floating, but I put my services underneath the floating round the edges of the room.

 

For floating floor I draw 2 lessons

 

1 Do not skimp on underlay, and think about your required bounciness,

2 The only floor known to me that will relay is Quick Step uniclic.

 

Others may agree or not. 

 

I have done several of these floor, but they were all laminate. And they murder saw blades.

 

Ferdinand

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, MJNewton said:

Okay, glue-down it is!

 

Would an underlay still be required (noting this will be engineered wood if it makes any difference)? I thought perhaps the adhesive does away with the need for an underlay but I see that specific-for-glue underlays are available.

 

 

No underlay should be used if bonding flooring down, unless you opt to use the Sika system that uses a membrane with large holes in for the adhesive, with that adhesive being applied with a gun. 

 

The Sikabond I used is a modified silicone polymer, that cures to a fairly soft rubber-like consistency, not that different to an underlay.  The stuff will take up a certain amount of unevenness in the floor.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Stick down is more expensive and time consuming, but a much more solid feel. If you DIY, do three rows at a time, loose lay first with everything cut to size, mark the area and remove the boards. Apply adhesive to the marked area and lay the boards into it. Keep everything clean.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Mr Punter said:

Keep everything clean

 

Really good tip! The OH didn't even notice that some of the glue had made its way on top 9_9. By the time I got home and noticed it had dried. Cue MANY hours of me trying to get rid of it after the event! 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...