Which underlay do you need? The base beneath a good floor

A good floor starts under the floor

When choosing a new floor, almost all attention goes to what you ultimately see.

The colour.

The pattern.

The plank.

The look.

But one important component will soon be completely out of sight:

the underlay.

That very layer can have a lot of influence on how a floor ultimately performs.

Think of stability, sound, comfort, heat transfer and the lifespan of the floor.

That is why at NTU Vloeren we don't only look at the visible floor.

We look at the complete floor build-up.

What does an underlay actually do?

An underlay forms the layer between the existing subfloor and the new floor.

Depending on the type of floor, it can have different functions.

A good underlay can help with, for example:

• stability;
• absorbing small unevenness;
• impact sound;
• walking comfort;
• protection of the floor;
• thermal insulation;
• heat transfer with underfloor heating.

Which properties matter differs per home.

That is why there is no single underlay that is always the best choice.

Not every floor needs the same underlay

A laminate floor is built up differently from a glued PVC floor.

And a parquet floor can make different demands again.

That is why you must first know:

Which floor is going on top?

Only then can you determine which underlay goes with it.

At NTU Vloeren we work with various professional underlays and floor build-up systems for a wide range of applications.

Which solution we advise depends on the floor, the subfloor, underfloor heating, sound requirements and the way of laying.

Underlay for laminate

With laminate the underlay often plays an important role.

Laminate is usually laid floating.

As a result the floor is not fixed directly to the subfloor.

The underlay then helps with, among other things:

• stability;
• sound dampening;
• walking comfort;
• protection of the click system.

The existing subfloor is important too.

A concrete floor, for example, makes different demands from a wooden upper floor.

That is why we always choose the underlay in combination with the home and the chosen laminate.

Underlay for click PVC

Click PVC is usually laid floating too.

That is why a suitable underlay may be needed.

Some click PVC floors already have an integrated backing layer.

With other systems a separate underlay is used.

Things to watch for are:

• stability;
• compressive strength;
• thickness;
• thermal resistance;
• suitability for the click system.

An underlay that is too soft can, for example, be detrimental to the joints between the planks.

That is why “softer” is not automatically better.

And with glue-down PVC?

With glue-down PVC it works differently.

This floor is bonded directly to a suitable subfloor.

That is why a traditional loose underlay is usually not used.

Here a lot of attention goes to:

• levelling;
• primer;
• glue;
• flatness of the subfloor.

Depending on the situation we therefore don't work with a loose underlay, but with a complete preparatory floor build-up.

With glue-down PVC the quality of the subfloor ultimately determines the end result.

Underlay for parquet

With parquet various systems are possible.

A wooden floor can, for example:

• be laid floating;
• be glued down;
• be part of a specific multi-layer floor build-up.

That is why the solution differs here too.

With a floating parquet floor an underlay may be needed.

With glued parquet, the quality of the subfloor and the glue used play an important role.

That is why you can never assess an underlay separately from the laying method.

Underlay and underfloor heating

This is perhaps one of the most important topics.

With underfloor heating you want heat to pass through the floor as well as possible.

That is why the thermal resistance of the underlay must not be unnecessarily high.

In many situations an underlay with low thermal resistance is therefore the logical choice.

It is always about the complete package:

• subfloor;
• underlay;
• floor;
• any extra layers.

Not just about one product.

Without underfloor heating, extra insulation can actually be desirable

Don't have underfloor heating?

Then an underlay with more insulating properties can actually be pleasant.

It can help make a floor feel more comfortable.

That can be especially interesting on a cold subfloor.

Here too:

what is ideal in one home can be unsuitable in another.

Sound is often at least as important

In apartments and multi-storey homes, sound plays a big role.

Think, for example, of:

• footsteps;
• sliding chairs;
• falling objects;
• walking noise.

A suitable underlay can help reduce impact sound.

In apartments, requirements may also apply from the owners' association or the building.

That is why it is wise to check in advance which sound reduction is required.

Not every underlay automatically meets every requirement.

A thicker underlay is not automatically better

This is a common misconception.

A thicker underlay may seem more comfortable.

But a floor construction must above all be stable.

With click floors an underlay that is too soft or too thick can actually cause extra movement.

In the long run that can affect the joints of the floor.

That is why we prefer to look at the technical properties rather than just the thickness.

What is under your floor now?

Before we advise, we also look at the existing situation.

For example:

• concrete;
• sand-cement screed;
• anhydrite;
• wooden floor;
• tiled floor;
• old floor covering.

Every subfloor calls for a different assessment.

Sometimes an existing floor can stay.

Sometimes it has to be removed.

And sometimes levelling has to be done first.

Don't forget moisture

Especially with mineral subfloors such as concrete and cement screeds, moisture is important.

If a floor is laid too early, that can cause problems later.

That is why a subfloor must be sufficiently dry before the new floor is installed.

The exact requirements differ per floor type and product.

That is why, when in doubt, this is measured before we start.

The underlay also determines the final height

A floor consists of more than just the visible plank.

The total height can consist of:

• underlay;
• floor;
• glue;
• levelling;
• any other layers.

That is important for:

• doors;
• thresholds;
• kitchen plinths;
• sliding doors;
• stairs;
• transitions to other rooms.

A few millimetres can sometimes already make a difference.

That is why you must calculate the total floor build-up in advance.

Saving cheaply can end up expensive

Because you can't see an underlay, it is tempting to choose mainly on price.

But an underlay is part of the technical system.

A wrong choice can later cause:

• too much movement;
• extra noise;
• poorer heat transfer;
• height problems;
• damage to joints;
• less comfort.

That is why we don't try to find the cheapest underlay.

We look for the underlay that suits the floor and the home.

Why the right underlay matters more than the brand

For the customer it is mainly important that the underlay technically suits the situation.

That is why we don't look at one standard solution.

We pay attention to, among other things:

• stability;
• compressive strength;
• thermal resistance;
• sound reduction;
• floor height;
• type of subfloor;
• type of floor;
• way of laying.

The brand is less important than the question of whether the total floor build-up is right.

At NTU Vloeren we therefore choose the solution that suits the home and the final floor.

Look first, then choose

At NTU Vloeren we therefore look at, among other things:

• which floor you choose;
• which subfloor is present;
• whether or not there is underfloor heating;
• sound requirements;
• desired floor height;
• type of home;
• way of laying.

Then we determine which floor build-up is logical.

That prevents surprises during laying.

Advice on underlays in Utrecht?

Going to choose a new floor?

Then don't only ask:

“Which floor shall I take?”

Also ask:

“What has to go underneath?”

At NTU Vloeren in Utrecht we look at the complete floor build-up.

From existing subfloor and underlay to the final PVC, laminate or parquet floor.

That way we make sure not only the top is beautiful.

But that the base is right too.

Visit our showroom at the home-furnishing boulevard in Utrecht, next to IKEA, for advice on your complete floor build-up.

‍