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The Daily Insight

Do you need padding under Pergo

Author

Nathan Sanders

Published Apr 19, 2026

Pergo can be installed above, on or below grade. e. Pergo planks are installed over Pergo SilentStep™ or Soundbloc™ foam or equivalent foam underlayment when the Pergo product that you are installing does not have an attached underlayment foam.

What happens if you don't put padding under laminate flooring?

Enhances Stability If the subfloor in your home or property is uneven, then your laminate floor could move and shift if it doesn’t have an underlayment for support. As a result, the floor will be more prone to wear-and-tear and could even warp.

What is the best thing to put under laminate flooring?

A cork underlayment can provide good insulation and natural antimicrobial capabilities, so you won’t have to worry about mold growth between your subfloor and vinyl or laminate flooring. If you want to increase your moisture barrier, you can easily do so by placing a sheet of plastic under the cork underlay.

Does laminate flooring require underlayment?

Yes. Underlayment for laminate flooring provides proper support, stability, noise reduction and helps the click lock system to provide a structurally sound floor.

Can you lay Pergo over concrete?

Pergo must not be installed over any floor that has a sump pump—i.e. should there be a laundry room at a below grade level or on-grade concrete slab in the home and a sump pump is located in that below-grade level subfloor or in the on-grade level subfloor, then Pergo flooring cannot be installed anywhere on that floor …

What type of flooring does not need underlayment?

However, you’ll want to use one in every other application including covering existing hardwood floors, vinyl flooring that isn’t cushioned, and concrete floors. You also do not need an underlayment if your vinyl plank flooring has underlayment installed, however, you may need a vapor barrier.

Do I need a damp proof membrane under laminate floor?

Do I need a DPM under laminate flooring? Simply put yes. In order to prevent damp rising through the concrete floor and causing issues, a DPM should be used under all final floor types including wood flooring, laminate, vinyl and floor tiles.

What is the purpose of underlayment for laminate flooring?

Flooring Underlayment The thin layer of material helps cushion, sound absorption, insulation and reduce wear with your flooring. For laminate or engineered wood flooring, it provides a “vapor barrier” to prevent moisture from coming through and damaging your floor.

Can you use felt paper under laminate flooring?

Floating floors can be installed over any existing hard floor surface, but should have an underlayment between the laminate flooring and the subfloor. You can buy laminate underlayment, but if you have a bunch of old roofing felt, it works just as well.

What is the thickest underlayment for laminate flooring?

Super Gold is the thickest underlay you can put under laminate or wood flooring. The main benefit of a thicker product is the warmth properties it has.

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Should you seal concrete before laying laminate?

You don’t need to seal a concrete floor before installing laminate; however, to prevent moisture from the concrete floor from affecting your laminate, install a vapor barrier of polyethylene film. Install this barrier even if the concrete subfloor is covered by vinyl, linoleum, terrazzo or ceramic tile.

Can laminate flooring be laid on concrete?

Laminate flooring can be installed over concrete, wood or carpet subfloor or other surfaces. Installation of good quality underlayment is highly recommended. Installing underlayment is easy but it has to be done precise to avoid any tears.

Can you put Pergo over laminate?

No it isn’t advisable… both floors are floating floors and both will be moving (expanding/contracting differently)… could cause problems, when they start moving against each other.

How thick should laminate underlay be?

We would recommend an underlay of 3 – 5mm for laminate flooring. It should be at least 3mm thick to provide comfort and ground levelling properties. But, it should be no more than 5mm thick. If it’s any thicker, you could experience problems with the laminate’s locking system.

Do I need a damp proof membrane?

A damp-proof membrane is required when using certain insulation materials – such as mineral wool, cellulose, etc. – to prevent damp from working its way into the insulation. … The membrane is also used to protect building structures against damp.

How do I know if my laminate floor is moldy?

Look around the room and see if you can find any signs of mold growth, including a musky odor, as well as black or dark green streaks in-between the planks. If it ever gets to this point, you’ll need a full replacement, as the mold can infiltrate your home and wreak havoc on your health.

Do you need padding under wood floors?

Hardwood floors do not require underlayment padding, but they may squeak and creak if you place the surface boards directly against the underlayment. Wood-against-wood friction is one of the most common reasons behind floor creaks.

Is there padding under vinyl flooring?

Padding, or underlayment, is a thin layer between the subfloor and vinyl flooring. It may help smooth the floor surface, provide additional comfort, increase thermal properties, or assist with sound absorption. Vinyl floor padding should be no more than 1 mm.

Can Pergo flooring be glued down?

FLOATING FLOOR —Pergo flooring is designed to be installed as a floating floor—thus it is not nailed or glued to the subfloor. Instead, planks are fastened together uti- lizing unique tongues and grooves to create a durable, easy-to-maintain floor surface.

Can tar paper be used under flooring?

Roofing paper should not be used under hardwood flooring. Due to its bituminous materials, it could begin to exude an unpleasant odor and even be toxic for your family. Instead, rosin or felt underlayment paper is appropriate.

What is AC4 laminate floor?

AC1-AC4 rated laminate is made using direct pressure laminate, whilst AC5 and higher is created using high pressure laminate. … This is also due to the laminate flooring thickness and its wear layer. Each AC rating increase means a 60% increase in wear. So, for example, AC3 has 120% heavier wear than AC1.

Why does my laminate floor feels spongy?

A laminate floor that feels spongy can be caused by any of these 5 conditions: an uneven sub-floor, an underlayment issue, an expansion gap issue, water damage, or termite damage. … It is also worth mentioning that an improper acclimation of the laminate floors prior to the installation could lead to soft spots overtime.

Can you put 2 layers of underlay under laminate?

No, it is not recommended to install a thick or double layer of underlayment with laminate flooring. … If you install any additional underlayment, the base for your flooring will end up being too soft and could jeopardize the integrity of the locking system.

What kind of padding goes under laminate flooring?

Underlayment, or “padding” as it’s often called, is the spongy, closed-cell plastic foam sheet that comes in rolls. It is rolled out between the actual laminate flooring planks and the subfloor.

What is better 8mm or 12mm laminate?

8mm is standard thickness, good quality, good price, durable enough, environmentally. 12mm is thicker flooring, same quality as 8mm, good walk-feeling, not so much noisy, high price. If you like the laminate flooring to look and walk similarly with hardwood flooring, you can take 12mm.

How do I prepare a concrete floor for laminate?

To get the most out of your laminate flooring, it needs to be dry, level and clean. To ensure your floor from letting in moisture, you must let the concrete cure for 30 days. It needs an excessive amount of time to fend off moisture.

Is it OK to put laminate flooring in a basement?

Laminate flooring is an ideal option if you’re is seeking a low cost, do-it-yourself flooring material in the basement. The key is to eliminate any moisture problems before laying the flooring in order to avoid damage to the floor in the future.

How smooth does concrete need to be for laminate?

Most manufacturers recommend that the floor be flat to within 3/16” in a 10 ft. radius. These measurements are consistent with most other types of floor coverings. On floating floors, vertical movement needs to be kept to a minimum.

What flooring is best over concrete?

  1. Engineered Wood. Natural hardwood flooring offers undeniable beauty and durability. …
  2. Vinyl. As a longstanding choice for kitchens and bathrooms, vinyl has a reputation for extreme water resistance. …
  3. Laminate. …
  4. Carpet. …
  5. Tile.

What should I put between wood and concrete?

Anyplace where wood meets the ground or concrete, the lumber must be pressure treated. For additional moisture protection, a gasket or strip of closed-cell foam can be installed between the concrete foundation and the sill plate.

Can laminate flooring be laid on top of laminate flooring?

Laying laminate flooring over old laminate is possible but there is product that you may have to spread on the old flooring first so that the old pattern doesn’t wear out under the new one. Make sure that you use a specific type of glue or adhesive that is recommended for gluing laminate tiles.