Underlayment For Concrete Slab

Thermal properties of underlayment can help keep your floor warm.

Underlayment for concrete slab.

In my case it is a dry basement new construction vapor barrier and insulation below slab but i m overly cautious don t want call backs and needed a nailing surface for the hardwood anyway. So to keep it simple this article does not talk about installation over wood subfloors and provides only a few examples of underlayment and their uses. The thermal properties are all considered by the material the underlayment is made up of. Concrete subfloor isn t usually warm and can make your feet nice and cold.

Since concrete is porous water vapors transmits from the ground through the concrete slab into your basement. Once this happens the flooring can buckle or warp. Doing it right begins with concrete slab readiness. Foam underlayment has r value of 0 2 0 35.

Fiber felt underlayment has r value of 0 5 0 6. Unlike other underlayment products you can use it with confidence over concrete surfaces without needing to first perform a calcium chloride test of the slab. Underlayment is a broad topic. Once the water vapors gather underneath your flooring it will start to pool up and soak into your hardwood flooring.

Reviewers frequently state how simple it was to install this floor underlayment and how incredibly cushioned the floor feels. Underlayments unlike their overlay cousins do not get a chance to see the light. Using the right underlayment and installing it correctly can make or break a flooring installation project.