Do You Need Underlayment For Sheet Vinyl

A concrete floor seems like the perfect base for a vinyl floor installation.

Do you need underlayment for sheet vinyl.

That doesn t mean you don t need underlayment for sheet vinyl however. Don t use nails or screws to install the underlayment. If you re laying the lvp over an existing cushion backed vinyl floor or a below grade tile floor then you won t need to use an underlayment. Any minor bumps can be removed with a masonry chisel and small sledgehammer.

Vinyl floors that are glue down or loose lay will not need a vinyl underlayment as these floors will be installed directly over the subfloor. When installing this kind of underlayment over mortar or concrete it can float but the edges still need to be taped. 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. If your subfloor had dips or damage it could show through the vinyl over time.

Repair any holes or cracks. For installation of vinyl flooring you need a smooth even surface for the underside of the flooring to achieve the best contact for adhesion. Vinyl flooring is so thin that any imperfections underneath it like bumps grooves or cracks will show right through. Plywood used as underlayment for sheet vinyl flooring should also have a sanded smooth surface on the topside.

Extend the underlayment all the way to the walls. Underlayment goes on top of the structural support of your floor and under your actual flooring. Any filler you use to cover the heads could pop out and cause a bump under the new vinyl floor. In most cases as long as the old vinyl surface is flat you don t need to do anything more for this type of underlayment.

It is designed to create a smooth durable surface which is why it is so important for vinyl flooring. You can lower high spots with a grinder. Sheet vinyl can be installed over concrete if the surface of the concrete is clean smooth and dry. Smoothing the surface of the new underlayment is the final step in preparing the floor for sheet vinyl.

A vinyl flooring underlayment will not be as thick as a laminate or hardwood underlayment. Avoid using materials with distinct raised grain patterns which can affect the finish texture of the sheet vinyl. A concrete floor with a too high moisture content can wreak havoc on a vinyl floor. Vinyl underlayment is an optional add on to click lock vinyls that are 4mm or thicker.

Use a hammer to pound in the offenders and fill the hammer dents later. Concrete and wood subfloors each have their own subfloor preparation.