Most people who lay solid wood flooring assume that they can get away without an underlay. While in many circumstances, excluding underlay from your solid wood flooring installation won’t cause a major problem; in certain cases, there are advantages to going the extra mile and including it.
Here are some of the great reasons to include underlay in your solid wood flooring project:
It improves your laying surface
A quality underlay will help make laying your floor easier as well as giving you a better, more uniform laying surface. It also means that your floor will sit more comfortably on your sub floor, improving your overall under foot experience.
It increases energy efficiency
Insulating wood flooring underlay comes with a tog rating, just like duvets and can help insulate your home, in turn reducing your energy bills.
It helps reduce moisture
While no underlay will solve a severe dampness problem, a damp resistant wood flooring underlay will help prevent damage to a solid wood floor laid over a subfloor where moisture levels are borderline.
It reduces noise pollution
For anyone who lives in an apartment or in a house where noise is an issue, there is no getting away from the fact that a noise reducing underlay will prove to be a sound investment (excuse the pun). In certain apartment situations you may even be legally obliged to respect pre-determined noise levels and with this in mind, if you live in such an apartment, you should look carefully at your contract before choosing your wood flooring underlay.
There are various different types of solid wood flooring underlay, each of which does a slightly different job. Here are some of the main types and what they do:
Foam underlay
Foam underlays are lightweight and come in different thicknesses. With some offering a moisture barrier, this underlay option is a highly popular solution.
Damp-proof underlay
When you are laying any sort of wooden floor, it’s essential to take damp readings in any room where you suspect there may be moisture. The guideline is that you should take around 30 moisture readings across a room and aim for a consistent average across a sub floor of readings of no more than 2 or 3%. As you can imagine, moisture can play havoc with wooden floors and if your moisture levels are borderline, it is highly recommended that you introduce a high quality and effective damp-proof underlay.
Noise reduction underlay
Noise reducing underlays are surprisingly relatively fine, ranging from only 2mm to over 5mm yet are highly effective, no matter whether you want to make sure that noise from upstairs or downstairs in your own house doesn’t inconvenience your family or you’re obliged to dull noise to avoid causing problems for your neighbours in an apartment block.
Insulating underlay
An underlay that works just like a duvet, an insulating underlay can make draughty wood floors much cosier and save you money on your heating. It may well be that you decide to lift your floor to introduce an insulating underlay or you may be able to access the underside of the floor from beneath eg. by fitting your underlay from a garage that has a bedroom above. Alternatively, insulating underlay can be laid over the entire sub floor or simply in between joists, whichever is best suited to your particular project.
Adhesive underlay
Adhesive underlay is a real boon for solid wood flooring. Coming with a removable film, it is applied to the sub floor and then the top film is removed to enable the floor to be installed quickly and efficiently.
One thing to bear in mind when installing solid wood flooring is that it is not generally recommended for use in bathrooms, kitchens or over under floor heating. All of that said, no matter where else in the home you decide to install solid wood flooring, not only will it look great, it will last a lifetime with the right installation and ongoing maintenance.
Going the extra mile to choose the best underlay for your solid wood floor will protect your investment from damage and keep it looking great for even longer; so don’t skimp on this important consideration.
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FAQ
Why is using an underlay with solid wood flooring beneficial?
Using an underlay with solid wood flooring can improve the laying surface, making the installation process easier and providing a more uniform surface. It also improves the underfoot experience by helping the floor sit comfortably on the subfloor.
Can underlay help increase energy efficiency?
Yes, insulating wood flooring underlay comes with a tog rating, similar to duvets. This can help insulate your home, thereby reducing your energy bills.
How does underlay aid in reducing moisture damage?
While an underlay won’t solve severe dampness problems, a damp resistant wood flooring underlay can prevent damage to a solid wood floor laid over a subfloor with borderline moisture levels.
Can underlay reduce noise pollution?
Indeed, a noise reducing underlay can be a great investment for homes or apartments where noise can be an issue. It might even be a legal requirement in certain apartment situations to meet specific noise level standards.
What are the different types of solid wood flooring underlays?
There are several types of solid wood flooring underlays, including foam underlay, damp-proof underlay, noise reduction underlay, insulating underlay, and adhesive underlay. Each type serves a slightly different purpose, providing benefits like moisture barriers, noise reduction, insulation, and efficient installation.