How Flat Does Underlayment Need to Be for Hardwood Flooring?

Before installing a hardwood floor you want to make sure that your underlayment is installed properly. It must be perfectly flat or it will effect the quality and lifespan of your floor.

Underlayment

Underlayment is the material that is laid between the sub floor and the finish floor of hardwood floors, asphalt tile floors and other types of flooring.

Flatness

If your underlayment isn't flat, the finished hardwood flooring can warp or fail altogether. You should make sure that the underlayment is as flat as possible as well as smooth for a perfect hardwood floor.

Types of Underlayment

There are many different types of underlayment you can purchase that can be easily flattened for your hardwood floor. Such underlayments are particle board, plywood, cork, and a new type of underlayment called gypsum fiber panel.

Best Type

When picking out the type of underlayment to use, you want to make sure it is the right one for the hardwood floor that you have chosen to install. You can check this by looking at the manufacturer's comments on which underlayment is best for your type of hardwood floor.

Without Underlayment

Your hardwood floor will be uneven or you can have wavy subfloors if you don't lay underlayment before installing your hardwood floor. The harwood boards will start to come up and will end up costing you more money in repairs.

References

• AskTheBuilder.com: Underlayment for Floors