Is Underlay Necessary for Click Vinyl Flooring?

Click vinyl flooring, also known as LVT, has become a very popular choice in recent years. Not only does it come in a wide range of designs and colours, it’s easy to install and cost effective. One question we are asked regularly is if you also need underlay with click vinyl flooring.

However, this depends on the brand and product you are purchasing. Some, like Pro-Tek™, have the underlay built-in. This reduces the need to buy and install 2 different products.

‌Check the product

So the first thing to do is look at the different brands and options and make sure you know if they have built-in underlay or not.

Always refer to the manufacturers installation instructions as well. They should make it clear if you need to budget for additional underlay.

All Pro-Tek™ click vinyl flooring collections have a layer of IXPE foam underlay built-in as part of the plank. Although it may appear thin, it is incredibly dense and high quality, providing superior cushioning between the flooring and the sub-floor. It also helps to reduce noise and prevent moisture coming through.

‌There is no need to use any other underlay and floor preparation is minimal compared with stick down vinyl flooring. In fact, using an additional layer can create an instability in the flooring.

Underlay with click vinyl flooring

You should avoid using multiple layers of underlay with click vinyl flooring for a couple of reasons.

The additional thickness and cushioning from multiple layers can put too much pressure on the click system. This can lead to the joints failing. If one of these joints fails it can ruin your new floor, especially if it is in the middle of the room.

‌In addition, click vinyl material will expand and contract in different temperatures and humidity and having extra underlay can prevent the planks from being able to move which can cause puckering at the joints.

‌For these reasons, installing LVT on top of an added layer of underlay will often void the warranty. Always check the manufacturers recommendations and policies before purchasing your click vinyl floor.

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As all Pro-Tek™ flooring has underlay as a fundamental part of the construction no additional underlay is required, saving extra costs and time . Check out our installation guide for more information.