Engineered Wooden Flooring Underlays
Engineered wooden flooring is designed in such a way to provide you with natural wooden flooring without the high costs that are involved when using solid wood. This flooring is made by using a bottom level of plywood that is made of several different layers to provide stability to the flooring. This core level is topped with a thinner layer of the natural wood that provides for the look of the flooring.
Engineered Wooden Flooring Underlays
The engineered wooden flooring underlays act as a buffering providing noise reduction, moisture reduction and heat resistant benefits to the flooring. The type of engineered wooden flooring underlays you choose to use with your flooring will be dependent on several different factors. First you need to determine if you are going to lay traditional flooring that is nailed or glued down or choose to use the floating flooring system that does not attach to the flooring. You can choose the type of flooring underlay that matches your installation method.
You should also take into account what purposes you want your engineered wooden flooring underlays to have. You should decide if you are looking for flooring that will reduce the noise impact or if you need a moisture resistant flooring to protect the floor from damp conditions. You also may use under floor heating which will require a different type of engineered wooden flooring underlay.
Types of Engineered Wooden Flooring Underlays
There are many different types of engineered wooden flooring underlays to choose from and each of them serves their own purpose. Below is a list of several different types of engineered wooden flooring underlays and the purpose they serve.
- Foam Underlay – This type of underlay is perfect for sound control and known for its thermal properties. Some of the types of foam underlay come with a moisture barrier also.
- Damp-Proof Underlay– This type of underlay is best used for locations that are susceptible to moisture and is specifically designed to help protect the flooring from any damaged that could be cause by the moisture.
- Adhesive Underlay – This underlay is commonly used because of its easy application. The underlay comes with one side containing an adhesive coating that can easily stick to any necessary surface. Most consider this peel and stick method to be better than nails and glue.
- Sound-Proof Underlay – This underlay is usually made with high quality rubber and is designed to minimise the amount of sound that the flooring creates. This is great to use in living areas where you are concerned about the level of noise that can come from wooden flooring.
- Insulation Underlay – This type is used to provide better insulation for your flooring and not make it so cold to the touch. This is good for places where a colder floor could be common like attics and cellars. This underlay also provides good walking noise resistance.
- Under Floor Heating Underlay – This is made specifically for flooring that has an under flooring heating system. It is made to handle the amount of heat it will be exposed to and it able to provide the greatest amount of heat transfer properties.
