Floors construct our houses in a fine way. To make sure your house remains safe, you’ll need to take care of your flooring system.
But, there’s something else that backs the flooring of your house and they’re the underlayment.
Taking care of your floor and subfloor is mandatory to keep your house safe. You need to make sure the floors and subfloors can give their feedback long enough. This is why installing the best hardwood flooring is a must.
Most underlayments in the marketplaces fail to serve their purpose. Yet, as you put your trust in us, we will help you with your search to find the perfect underlayment for your floor.
Here are the top 10 underlayment reviews and some important information that you should know before going shopping. If you go through the article, you’ll definitely find the one that suits you most and meets your needs. So, without further ado, let’s jump in.
Top Picks of Best Underlayments At A Glance:
We’ve reviewed underlayment for 3 different types of flooring.
- Best Underlayment for Hardwood Floors
- Best Underlayment for Laminate Floors
- Best Underlayment for Vinyl Floors
Top 4 Best Underlayment for Hardwood Floors Reviews
The following underlayments are the best underlayment available in the market. Give this article a thorough read and pick the one that suits you best.
1. QuietWalk Plus QW100PLUS Underlayment for Hardwood Flooring
Sometimes the floor may crack or damage. Why? Well, it’s because you didn’t use a good-quality underlayment on your floor. The QuietWalk Plus QW100PLUS Underlayment can take care of the major causes of damaging or cracking.
This is a plus for your floorings as it enhances durability. With attached vapor barrier also saves your floors from moisture.
This underlay made with dense recycled fibers will reduce the underfoot sounds effectively. Its compression-resistant feature support consistent traffic and more loads of the overlying floor.
- You can use this underlay for hardwood, floating engineered, nail or glue-down floors as well as laminate and luxury vinyl plank flooring.
- QuietWalk Plus QW100PLUS protects the floors from moisture/vapor. This enhances the durability of your floor.
- Quiet and silent walking experience with superior sound absorption.
- This underlay is approved for radiant floor heat systems.
- The underlayment supports and distributes heavy loads.
QuietWalk Plus QW100PLUS is a multi-purpose underlayment. You can use this with hardwood, engineered hardwood, laminate, luxury vinyl plank, nail, or glue-down flooring.
One of the key feature of this underlay is – it is approved for in-floor radiant heat systems. this feature makes it more unique. With this product, you can heat the floor to permeate evenly. In the meantime, you can protect the floor covering material from thermal shock.
Moreover, moisture protection, sound reduction, compression resistance, the Quietwalk underlayment will do all these jobs for you. We can tag this product as the best of the best underlayment for hardwood floors.
2. Roberts 70-025 Qep 70-029 Unison 2-In-1 Polyethylene Foam Underlayment
This imported underlayment is the one you need for your home. Other underlayments may give you a hard time while rolling. Why will you take the stress while you have the Roberts 70-025 Unison 2-in-1 Underlayment?
You can roll this underlayment with ease and convenience. It has rolls of 100 sq. ft. while the measurement is 4 feet X 25 feet X 3/32 Inch.
Durability matters a lot and we don’t want your money to go waste. Don’t buy the mainstream underlayments that tear apart very easily. Get your hands on the Roberts 70-025 Unison 2-in-1 Underlayment. It has got 3 in film overlap that teams up with the adhesive strip.
- Roll the Roberts 70-025 Unison 2-In-1 Underlayment with ease and convenience.
- Increased durability with the 3 in film overlaps that teamed up with the adhesive strip.
- Get perfect cushioning between the floor and the subfloor with the 3/32 polyethylene foam.
- 2 ml thick top film protects the underlayment from harmful moisture vapor.
This gives your underlayment the ultimate seamless protection it needs. This increases the durability and longevity of the product. Thus, you’ll be able to use it for years without buying a new one.
Floors and subfloors should have softness between them. The underlayment with hard materials usually destroys the flooring due to its roughness. Well, the Roberts 70-025 Unison 2-in-1 Underlayment is an exception here. It has a 3/32 polyethylene foam that keeps perfect cushioning between the floor and subfloor.
Harmful moisture vapors are always an issue that damages underlayment. Most underlayment does not have any feature that protects them from these vapors. But, Roberts 70-025 Unison 2-In-1 Underlayment has 2 ml thick top film. It protects itself and the floor from harmful moisture vapor.
3. First Step 630-Square Foot Roll Underlayment for Engineered Hardwood and Laminate Floors
Looking for the best underlayment for engineered hardwood flooring? First Step 630-Square Foot Roll Underlayment would be the best option.
Other underlayments may disappoint you. Especially, when it comes to backing up hardwood flooring, the cheap ones fail to do their jobs.
First Step 630-Square Foot Roll Underlayment is designed for hardwood floating floors. You can also use it on all laminated floors as well.
You do know that your floor needs perfect air circulation, right? The moistures can be very dangerous and harmful for your floor. To get rid of the moistures, air circulation is necessary.
- Specially designed for hardwood floating floors.
- Get an immense amount of air circulation with the Cushioning Styrofoam feature. It will help prevent the moistures from getting in touch with the floor.
- It can reduce the ambient noises as well as corrects minor imperfections of your floor.
- The anti-microbial protection feature and constant air movement restrain mold growth.
- It is friendly to any kind of places like a condo or multi-level dwelling.
Well, the First Step 630-Square Foot Roll Underlayment has Cushioning Styrofoam feature. It remains between the plastic top and bottom layers of the floor. Thus, your floor gets the perfect air circulation system.
Have you ever noticed that your subfloor is losing its quality? Often, underlayment fails to protect the quality of the sub-floor. Try the First Step 630-Square Foot Roll Underlayment then. It has features that correct the minor imperfections that your subfloor faces. Furthermore, you won’t hear all those irritating cracking noises anymore. It will also reduce those ambient noises.
Living with molds can be a stressful experience. Molds often grow inside your floor and multiply. Restrain the molds using the First Step 630-Square Foot Roll Underlayment. The product boasts an anti-microbial protection feature. With constant air movement, the feature restrains mold growth and protects floors from moisture vapor.
It doesn’t matter where you’ll use this underlayment. It can blend in your place even if you live in a condo or multi-level dwelling.
4. Roberts 70-193 A Super Underlayment for Engineered Wood and Laminate Flooring
Love the underlayment from the Roberts? Well, here’s another eye-catching underlayment designed for your wood and laminating floor.
Plenty of underlayment match with one flooring while conflict with the other. It’s a hassle if you buy an underlayment and it doesn’t fit your floor material. This is why it’s better to use underlayments that are friendly to almost all type of floor materials.
Try the Roberts 70-193 A Super Underlayment from now on. It will blend with concrete floors and wood subfloors. Plus, it will offer a cushion on the floors as well.
- It is friendly to concrete and wooden subfloors.
- It offers a great cushion to the floors.
- It has a sound reduction quality.
- Friendly to use in bedrooms and private spaces.
You may not find underlayments that have sound reduction quality. They often make enough room for the sound to pass from one place to another. So, when you’re watching television or moving furniture, you’ll get an irritating noise.
If you’re a person who loves silence, you should try the Roberts 70-193 A Super Underlayment. It is made up of heat manufacturing process which allows it to have sound-reduction qualities.
You can use it on your bedrooms in your private spaces where you want your silence as your top prior.
Top 4 Best Underlayments for Laminate Flooring
We have been telling you about underlayments that are suitable for hardwood flooring. But, you may have to switch to a different underlayment for laminate flooring. Here are some of the best underlayments for laminate flooring you may want to have.
1. QuietWalk Laminate Flooring Underlayment with Attached Vapor Barrier & Sound Reduction
It is always wise to use a specific product that is meant for a specific job. The Quietwalk underlayment is specially designed for laminate floors. It has a luxury vinyl plan which is 5mm and thicker.
Why would you waste your money buying underlayments that have no sound-reduction system? The sound will travel from one room to another and this may get on your nerves.
Try the Quietwalk Underlayment instead. As the name says it, the underlayment is suitable for the people who love it nice and quiet. It has got superior sound reduction features.
- The underlayment especially focuses on laminate floors very effectively.
- The underlayment has got superior sound reduction features. It doesn’t let sound transfer from one room to another.
- The recycle fibers it possesses get rids of moistures very easily.
- The in-floor radiant heat system lets you experience warmth as it protects the floor covering material from thermal shock.
The recycled fibers it possesses, absorb sound very easily and effectively. There’s no chance of the sound traveling from one room to another.
Protecting moistures is a must for every underlayment. If your underlayment doesn’t take care of moistures, it is high time you should get rid of it. Because too much moisture can permanently damage your floorings. Get yourself the Quietwalk Underlayment instead.
The recycled fibers it has, restrain moistures from getting bulk. The underlayment also has attached vapor barrier. This prevents harmful moistures from getting in touch with the overlying floor.
The in-floor radiant heat system Quietwalk underlayment holds makes it more unique. With this product, you can heat the floor to permeate evenly. In the meantime, you can protect the floor covering material from thermal shock.
The Quietwalk underlayment will do all these jobs for you. Achieve quiet warmth with the radiant heat system with an extraordinary experience.
2. FLOORLOT SHOP Laminate Flooring Vapor Barrier Underlayment, 200sqft 3mm
Kill four birds with one stone with the Floorlot underlayment. Most underlayment is suitable for one or two types of flooring.
It can be a fact where you have laminated flooring, but you decided to switch to hardwood or bamboo. You have to switch the underlayment as well.
Why would you need to buy another underlayment when you got the Floorlot multi-floor quality underlayment? It is friendly to laminate floors, hardwood, bamboo and engineered wood.
- The Floorlot Underlayment is friendly to multi-floorings. You can use it for hardwood floors, laminate floors, bamboo, and engineered wood.
- It destroys the bulk amount of moisture and prevents them from appearing back. Thanks to the pre-attached moisture barrier film the product comes with.
- The extra thick 3mm foam with natural sound absorption feature reduces the sound very easily. Thus, there’s no chance of sound passing from one room to another.
- The pre-attached adhesive strip comes with the product is handy for quick seam sealing and easy installation. Besides, it has a leak-proof feature which adds durability to the product.
Underlayment should protect your floor from moisture. You’ll be disappointed if the underlayment doesn’t do its job. Then change all those cheap underlayments and switch to Floorlot. It can protect your floors from moistures using its pre-attached moisture barrier film. Not only it will diminish the moisture but also will prevent them from getting bulk.
When it comes to sound-reduction, the Floorlot is a gem. The underlayment comes with extra thick 3mm foam with natural sound absorption feature. It prevents sound from entering other rooms. This is a great benefit for the people who like it quiet and peaceful all the time.
Installing the Floorlot underlayment is just a piece of cake. It has got a pre-attached adhesive strip that comes handy for quick seam sealing and easy installation.
You’ll find lots of underlayment in the market that gets leaked. The Floorlot underlayment is a fine exception in this case. It has got a leak-proof seal which also is an advantage for its durability. You won’t be needing any additional tape.
Get yourself the best coverage with the best budget. Buy the Floorlot underlayment as it offers 200 sq. ft. per roll with a very cheap range.
3. Roberts Serenity Foam Underlayment for Laminate and Engineered Wood Flooring
If you like the products from the Roberts, then you should try another premium underlayment they offer.
The Roberts Serenity foam is specially designed for under floating laminate and engineered wood. Yes, you can use this underlayment in two types of flooring without its durability being questioned.
For above grade installations, the underlayment is the perfect catalyst.
As for moistures are concerned, the brand offers a moisture barricade that is sold separately. However, you’ll find it at a very reasonable price. So, you don’t need to worry much about it.
- You can use this underlayment for both laminated and under floating floors.
- The underlayment offers perfect cushioning to your floors and subfloors. As a result, air passes to the floors and keeps them durable. The underlayment is perfect to fit radiant heating flooring systems.
- It comes with the perfect measurement of coverage up to 400 sq. ft. with the cheapest price possible.
- The underlayment corrects all the minor imperfections of a subfloor.
Cushioning is a feature that should come with every underlayment you can find. However, customers usually get disappointed with the feedback of mainstream underlayment. They don’t offer softness to the flooring. As a result, the floors end up getting damaged.
Put your trust on the Roberts Serenity underlayment in this case. It comes with perfect cushioning that will let air pass through the floors. Your floors, thus, will stay good as new for a long time, years after years.
Not all underlayment can withstand radiant heated flooring systems. You’ll find plenty of underlayment in the market that says they’re fit for such floorings, but unfortunately, they’re not. Try the Roberts Serenity underlayment instead. The brand is trusted, and it will fit perfectly to your radiant heated flooring systems.
Get yourself a convenient measurement of coverage with the best price range. The convenient 4’ X 100’ roll product is just perfect for you that covers up to 400 sq. ft.
Floors tend to have minor imperfections inside them. The problem with cheap underlayment is that they make the quality of the floor worse. The minor imperfection turns into major imperfection. Get your hands on the Roberts Serenity as it corrects all the minor imperfections of a subfloor.
4. QEP 72003Q 1/4-Inch, 6mm Cork Underlayment for Glue Down Flooring
If you’re still on the search for the perfect underlayment for glue-down flooring, just have a look at the QEP Foot Cork Underlayment.
Other underlayments have specific configurations. If the configuration doesn’t match with the underlayment, installing it can give you a hard time.
However, QEP Foot Cork underlayment is an exception in this case. You can install it easily with convenience in both glue-down and loosely configurations. The skin is made in such a way that it grips the floor tightly to stay on its place.
- You can install the underlayment in both glue-down and loos
- You can use this underlayment in almost all type of flooring you want. It can suit ceramic tile, stone flooring, marble, glued wood flooring, and floating floor systems.
- The underlayment works as a crack isolation membrane. It can resist the transfer of stress crack the subfloor produce to flooring surfaces.
- The underlayment increases the effectiveness of floor heating systems by reducing thermal transmission.
The QEP Foot Cork underlayment gives you a wide range of options where you can keep it on. Even if you switch your flooring system, most likely you won’t have to change the underlayment. This underlayment is friendly to ceramic tile, stone, marble, glued wood flooring. It suits with floating floor systems as well.
Often, the subfloors produce stress cracks. For this reason, the quality of the floor gets damaged. You may find an underlayment with a very cheap rate; however, it won’t do you any good. There’s a huge possibility that this type of underlayment won’t back the sub-floors up.
The QEP Foot Cork underlayment, however, acts as a crack isolation membrane. It resists the transfer of stress cracks from subfloor to the flooring surfaces. This keeps your floor safe and sound for years.
Want to increase the effectiveness of the floor heating systems? Well, you need to get rid of the thermal transmission then. Normal underlayment won’t be able to reduce thermal transmission. QEP Foot Cork underlayment is an exception in this case. It can increase the effectiveness of the floor heating system by reducing thermal transmission.
Top 2 Best Underlayment for Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring demands a different type of underlayment. Usually, you cannot use normal underlayment for vinyl floors. You can go through the reviews below to pick the best underlayment for vinyl flooring that meets your demand.
1. QuietWalk 360 Square Foot Luxury Vinyl Flooring Underlayment, Moisture Resistant
You may face discomfort to stand or walk on vinyl floorings if it doesn’t have a good underlayment. Often, you’ll see vinyl underlayment come in a very thin shape.
If you install them on your floor, it just doesn’t feel good. Get your hands on the MP Global Products QW360LV underlayment instead. It comes with 3mm of thickness, giving you more comfort while walking or standing on your floor.
The advanced thermal protection system it holds reduces thermal transmission very fast. Thus, the effectiveness of floor heating systems increases very quickly.
- The underlayment has got 3mm thickness, so the next time you stand on your floor or walk on it, you get much comfort.
- Its advanced thermal protection feature reduces thermal transmission. As a result, the effectiveness of floor heating systems increases.
- It gets rid of the bulk amount of moisture and reduces their growth. As a result, your floor stays good as new for a long time.
- It prevents the floor from getting in touch with molds and mildews.
Moisture is one of the biggest threats for a floor which most underlayments fail to counter. As a result, even if your floor holds very high quality, it won’t take much longer for its quality to diminish. This is why getting an underlayment that protects your floor from moisture is a must.
Try the Protech USA 3-in-1 underlayment. It will protect your floor getting in touch with moisture. It will also stop the growth of the moisture so that they don’t increase at a bulk amount. This way, your floor will be able to give you its service for a long time. It will also save you money as you won’t have to fix your floor every once in a while.
Molds and mildews are two of the greatest threats and enemies a house can ever have. If these grow in your floors, you can consider the quality of your floor getting dead soon. Besides, molds and mildews are so dangerous that they grow rapidly inside a house.
Why would you waste your money on underlayments that do not prevent molds and mildews? Get yourself the Protech USA 3-in-1 underlayment. It’s one of the very few underlayments that can fight against mold and mildews and keep your floor safe.
You can use the Protech USA 3-in-1 underlayment also for other flooring types as well. Let it be laminate, SPC, WPC, bamboo, engineered floor, the Protech USA 3-in-1 underlayment will blend in with every one of these. Even it is suitable for all type of floating floor.
2. Floor Muffler LVT Underlayment for Floating Luxury Vinyl Tile and Plank Floors
Sometimes, all those noises your foot or high heels get on your nerves.
The Floor Muffler LVT, which has one of the best sound reduction features as an underlayment. Install it on your floor and you will notice for reducing the sound your feet make.
No matter how hard you are walking on the floor, you are not getting much of a noise. This is one of the best underlayment you can ever find for vinyl flooring.
The Floor Muffler LVT is suitable for almost all type of flooring. It can blend in with wood and cement subfloors. Moreover, it fits perfectly with luxury vinyl, tile and plank floating feature.
- The underlayment has the best sound reduction feature. Walk or run on the floor with all the force you have. Still, you won’t get much of a noise.
- The underlayment comes with extra thickness. This gives you comfort while walking or standing on your floor.
- It restrains moisture and prevents them from growing back.
- The underlayment comes with a very good environment-friendly feature.
Protecting your floor from moisture is a must. Had any bad experience with the previous underlayment that could not resist the moisture? It’s time for you to think about a change. Get yourself the Floor Muffler LVT underlayment. It will restrain moistures to such an extent that they do not become a threat for your floor.
The underlayment will also prevent the growth of moisture for years to come. Thus, the floor will remain durable for a long time.
Sometimes walking and standing on your floor can be uncomfortable for you. It is because the underlayment you are using is not thick enough to give you comfy feedback. Try the Floor Muffler LVT instead. The underlayment is thick enough to make you feel comfortable while you stand on the floor or walk on it.
There are lots of underlayment in the market that is harmful to the environment. You can trust the Floor Muffler LVT underlayment with your eyes closed. The manufacturers made it environment-friendly, so it won’t be a threat for you.
Is Underlayment Necessary for Hardwood Floors?
Well, the answer actually depends on a lot of things. But the least it can be said that it is highly recommended.
First off, if there’s already a plywood subfloor installed under your hardwood floor, you may not need it. However, that’s only the case if the plywood is smooth and level.
But then again, you cannot expect the plywood to remain as good as new for years, can you? After a couple of years, it will grow old and pale, and it won’t be able to protect your hardwood floor against all the threats. That’s why I was saying, ‘It is highly recommended.’
On the other hand, if you don’t have good plywood and your subfloors are already on the threat, getting an underlayment is a MUST. Besides, plywood subfloors may help you up with moistures. But what about other issues like sound-reduction, preventing warps and damage, it’s underlayment you should depend on.
Also, when it comes to heat, the plywood itself can have its quality destroyed. It can’t even protect itself, how will it protect your hardwood floors? The underlayment will distribute the heat in such a way that your hardwood floors will not get all those cracks at all.
FAQ About Underlayment for Hardwood Floors
1. Do these products come with any money-back offer?
Ans. Not that we know of, but, you can contact your dealer for your question.
2. Can I use the Floorlot underlayment with concrete flooring?
Ans. Yes, this underlayment can blend in with concrete very easily.
3. Can I use the Protech USA for Vinyl Plank with cork pad?
Ans. Yes, this product could work with Vinyl Plank cork pad. You should know more details before confirming that your floor could work with the underlayment product.
4. Which brand over here is the most trustworthy?
Ans. According to our own research, we would recommend Roberts and Floor Muffler. Each of these products has its own uniqueness.
Final Words
We hope you’ll find the best underlayment for hardwood floors with the help of this article.
Additionally, We have provided all the necessary information about underlayment for three different types of floors and reviewed the best of the bests in the marketplaces right now.
Check the reviews, select the one and get yourself the perfect underlayment for your floor.
This is Autem Decker. Main Author of ‘TheHomeDigs‘. You may not find her on the list of top 10 contemporary Canadian interior designers, but everyone who knows her says she was born to be an interior designer.
She makes her plan in her head and draws them in her years-old diary with a note in the corner. The way she plays with color and shape amazes us.
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