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What laminate underlayment have you used and do you recommend it?

15 years ago

I am buying a very pricey and superb quality laminate for my home (1300 sq ft) and want to buy an excellent underlayment. The Armstrong line and Silent Stride has been suggested. What has everyone used and are you happy with it?

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Comments (10)

susanelewis
Original Author
15 years ago
hello, anyone? Specifically, Quiet Walk? That is what our store is wanting to install.
harmon_2008
15 years ago
It depends. The answer to which is best underlay for laminate really does depend on three things
1. Your Environment. meaning what is the subfloor where you are installing the laminate floor? Concrete underlayment is not designed for plywood subfloor applications and viceversa
2. What type of floating floor that you have purchased. Laminate floors with underlayment attached have different needs then a plain engineered or laminate floor.
3. Your personal needs. Do you have a budget? Is it important to add "R" value or have a noise reduction laminate underlay
  Cicliot
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susanelewis
Original Author
15 years ago
This is going over the original decking of the house. We have purchased Bruce Park Avenue Pradoo. No attached underlayment. No budget constraints for normal underlayment...cork way too expensive. It is important for noise reduction and thermal barrier. I'd like to reduce the "laminate" hollow sounds that can be typical.

Thanks!
echoflooring
15 years ago
Quiet Walk is an excellent underlay. It will Absorb the sound and do a great job under a premium laminate.It also comes with a moisture barrier.
flatcoats
15 years ago
I researched a bunch of underlayments and found The Floormuffler. www.floormuffler.com It seems to be the best. I also went to a local flooring store that had installed different underlayments under different laminate floor samples so you could hear the difference as you walked across the different ones. I thought the floormuffler was the best by far. I purchased it on ebay from Shock flooring- I was nervous but they were the cheapest retailer and they were fantastic - answered all my questions and I got it in 3 days -no problems. Install will start on Monday.
canonsue
15 years ago
I used the Floormuffler in my living room, kitchen area. I am very impressed. I paid a lot more than the Shock flooring price. Thanks flatcoats for the tip. I am just now trying to decide on what kind of floor to put in my guest room. If I choose engineered hardwood again, I know where I will buy my underlayment.

-Sue
whidbey
15 years ago
We used "The Silencer Superior." LOVE it. No clicking sounds on our floors. Moisture barrier is already attached WITH the 4" required overlay. Also has a handy tape strip for easy sticking.

Here is a link that might be useful: Silencer Underlayment
ffpd_uaf_edu
14 years ago
I'd be careful with Shockflooring. I've been talking to a lot of internet flooring dealers, and shockflooring's customer service was by far the worst I experienced. They also do not stand by their claims of free shipping. Perhaps I just got a bad customer service rep.
infohound2006
14 years ago
What's the R-value of the Silencer Superior? I went to their website and it's not listed. If I read the specs of Flormuffler correctly, Floormuffler has an R-value of 3.

We have a radiant floor, so a LOW R-value is what we want... along with no clicking sounds, of course.

The best one I've found so far is SoundSolutions, (R = 0.36), from Healthier Choice , which was recommended some time ago by floorguy.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sound Solutions underlayment
bluesale
14 years ago
Has anyone used simple step underlay from shockflooring.com or has anyone used silet blue, it now comes with a mylar attached. I need some advice on an underlayment for my laminate.

thank you

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