what do you put under laminate flooring

You put an underlayment under laminate flooring — usually foam or similar material, sometimes with an added moisture barrier, depending on the subfloor and room conditions.

Quick Scoop

Under laminate flooring, you generally use:

• A thin foam underlayment (standard choice for most dry, level wood subfloors).

• Foam or other underlayment with an integrated vapour barrier/DPM over concrete or damp-prone areas.

• Specialized options like XPS foam, recycled fibre pads, or cork-type underlay when you need extra sound reduction, insulation, or comfort.

You do not put the laminate directly on raw subfloor in most cases because underlayment:

• Cushions the floor and makes it more comfortable to walk on.

• Helps with minor imperfections in the subfloor (depending on type).

• Reduces sound transfer between floors.

• Provides moisture protection when it has a built‑in barrier or is used with a separate DPM film.

What do you put under laminate flooring?

Think of the floor as three layers:

1. Structural subfloor (concrete slab, plywood, OSB, etc.).
2. Underlayment.
3. Laminate planks you see and walk on.

The underlayment layer is usually one of:

• Standard foam underlayment
  • Thin polyethylene foam roll.
  • Best for wood or OSB subfloors in dry rooms.

• Foam underlayment with vapour barrier (2‑in‑1 or 3‑in‑1)
  • Foam plus integrated plastic moisture barrier.
  • Recommended over concrete or anywhere there’s a risk of moisture.

• Higher‑performance foams (XLPP, XPS)
  • Cross‑linked polypropylene (XLPP) or extruded polystyrene (XPS) pads.
  • Offer better compression resistance, acoustic performance, and often strong moisture protection.

• Recycled fibre or felt‑type pads
  • Compressed fibre underlays for sound reduction and warmth; sometimes used under laminate in certain systems.

• Cork‑type products (in some systems)
  • Used more often under engineered wood or vinyl, but some cork underlays are compatible with laminate when moisture is controlled.

Many modern laminate products also come with pre‑attached underlayment , in which case you might only add a separate vapour barrier film if needed for moisture.

How to choose what to put under it

1. Check your subfloor

• Concrete
  • Needs underlayment with an integrated damp proof membrane (DPM) or a separate vapour barrier film under the underlay.

• Plywood / OSB / existing wood floor
  • Usually fine with standard foam underlay, as long as the area is dry and relatively level.

2. Look at the room

• High‑traffic rooms (living rooms, hallways, kitchens)
  • Slightly thicker or higher‑quality underlay can improve durability and comfort.

• Apartments or upper floors
  • Acoustic underlay to reduce impact and airborne noise is useful.

• Cool rooms or over unheated spaces
  • Underlay with better thermal insulation (some foams or fibre boards) keeps floors from feeling cold.

3. Follow the flooring manufacturer

Most laminate brands specify what underlayment types are allowed and whether extra vapour barrier is required, especially over concrete.

What not to put under laminate

• Carpet underlay or carpet itself
  • Too soft and bouncy; it can stress the laminate joints and cause movement and damage.

• Nothing at all (in most floating laminate systems)
  • Skipping underlay usually voids warranties and can lead to noise, cold floors, and moisture problems.

Simple example setup

If you’re installing click‑lock laminate in a living room on a concrete slab:

1. Make sure the slab is dry and reasonably level.
2. Lay a foam underlay with built‑in vapour barrier (or a separate plastic vapour barrier plus foam).
3. Float the laminate planks on top according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.