If you are installing laminate flooring with pre attached underlayment on a wood subfloor you do not need any additional underlayment.
If installing laminate on engineered hard wood do need underlayment.
The short and simple answer to this is it depends.
Some particular facts you should know.
Do i need an underlayment for hardwood floors.
Due to the vinyl flooring design it s usually not necessary for an underlay.
If your laminate has a built in underlayer you may install it right on top of the hardwood.
It dampens the noise and gives it a more solid sound more like real hardwood.
So an additional underlay is not really.
Even ceramic and porcelain tile can bridge a few small holes and gaps plus.
The wood flooring is then fixed on top and held to the subfloor by adhesive through the slots.
Glue is applied into the slots of the underlay using a barrel gun which helps make the application quick and mess free.
If your installing natural hardwood floors felt paper prevents any moisture that may migrate from below protects the hardwood floor from any imperfections in the subfloor and is sound deadening.
However in most instances it will be safe to say that you will need underlayment before the installation of hardwood flooring.
Laminate installations on wood will not require any sort of moisture barrier.
The attached underlayment will allow your flooring to float just as standard underlayment would.
Be sure to prepare your subfloor before installation to assure a seamless and smooth surface.
Do i need underlayment for laminate flooring over vinyl.
Laminate floors need an underlayment as the floor moves with temperature changes adds a cushion to the floor and also is sound deadening.
Laminate underlayment is the default choice for laminate flooring.
If the hardwood floor is wavy you will need to do some work to level it out before installing your laminate floor.
Underlayment plays a very important roll in the sound of your laminate.
A slotted underlay can be used with solid wood flooring or engineered wood flooring.
Solid hardwood or engineered wood can easily bridge small gaps running directly over imperfections without the need for underlayment.
And it is enough to serve the purpose of an underlay.
If you have a subfloor made from plywood it s already smooth and leveled in most cases.
There s a base layer in most cases when using the vinyl floor.
Usually made of foam rubber cork or felt among other materials an underlayment simply refers to what goes between the original floor and the hardwood flooring that is about to be installed.
And that make you consider not going for underlayment hassle beneath hardwood flooring.
Laminate flooring can be installed directly over hardwood often with no preparation necessary.