Whenever laying down new flooring, whether it's carpeting, tile or hardwood, you want the subfloor to be as smooth and having as few imperfections as possible. Bumps in the subflooring can work their way up and become visible in the final floor covering. Tiny holes can get bigger, eventually becoming visible divots in the finished floor covering. One of the main purposes for putting down an underlayment is to cover imperfections in the subflooring.
Underlayment for Wood Floors
One of the most widely available and commonly used underlayment for wood floors is a thin foam. The foam comes in standard form, without a vapor barrier, and a combination form, with a moisture barrier. Since standard foam does not have a vapor barrier, use this underlayment only in areas with no exposure to moisture. Standard foam is great for second story bedrooms and hallways.
In areas exposed to moisture, use combination foam. Combination foam has a vapor barrier on one side and foam on the other. Most manufacturers recommend you use combination foam on the first floor of your home because, inevitably, there is always exposure to moisture. You can use combination foam underlayment on concrete slab or wood subflooring. Both standard and combination foam are only about 1/8 inch thick.
If you're looking for greater sound reduction, choose modified foam or cork. Modified foam is a bit thicker than standard or combination foam. Cork is twice as thick and the most expensive type of underlayment, but it offers the greatest sound reduction.
Underlayment for Carpeting
When installing carpeting, most manufacturers have a specific type of underlayment they recommend. Most commonly, they recommend rebond or bonded polyurethane foam.
Rebond is a polyurethane foam that comes in various thicknesses and weights. Most carpeting manufacturers recommend rebond that is 3/8 inch thick with a 5 lb. rating for light traffic areas. In high traffic areas, it is recommended that you use a 3/8-inch-thick rebond with a 6.5-lb. rating.
Another type of carpeting underlayment commonly used by the carpeting industry is frothed foam. Frothed foam is polyurethane foam and is a relatively new product on the market. It is similar in composition to rebond. Frothed foam is constructed in such a way that it has a built-in moisture barrier, so spills or pet accidents will not reach the subfloor below. Froth foam is more expensive than traditional rebond, and not all carpet stores or large home improvement stores sell it.
Both frothed foam and rebond are great underlayments for plush or high density carpeting, but not Berber. If you are thinking about installing a Berber carpet, go with a thinner pad. Certain types of Berber require specific underlayments, so be sure to ask the customer service representative at the carpeting store or home improvement store where you are purchasing your carpeting. Industry experts recommend as a general rule that the bigger the loop on the Berber carpeting, the thinner the pad, and vice versa.
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