By Sarah Zimmerman
Underlayment is crucial to the success of the flooring on top of it. And, as floor coverings vary in both content and design—needs and wants—so do their “support-system” counterparts—underlayments. So, FCNews has unearthed some of today’s top-tier manufacturers and their products to discuss the differences between underlayments and the importance of using the correct and best product for each and every job.

Laminate and wood

Underlayments serve several purposes, said Ray Rodriguez, president and CEO of Starline Associates. “They can, in some cases, eliminate the need for leveling the subfloor by removing minor imperfections, and some underlayments also provide moisture protection and will reduce sound transmission significantly.”

And, as an added benefit, Rodriguez pointed out underlayments serve a significant business purpose as well. “Underlayments provide dealers an opportunity to increase profits by upgrading their customers to higher quality while significantly increasing profit margins,” he explained.

Similarly, Jack Boesch, director of sales and marketing for MP Global, listed five duties carried out by laminate and hardwood underlayments: improve acoustic properties of installation, smooth out minor subfloor imperfections, improve thermal insulation properties, reduce walking fatigue and protect flooring from moisture.

With this in mind, Boesch said it is important to utilize the correct underlayment for each job. “Using an underlayment that meets the specs and conforms to the user’s expectation is necessary to ensure a successful end result.”

He expanded on this idea stating it’s imperative to meet the criteria of project architects and designers on larger jobs— especially with regard to acoustical test results.

Boesch added the environment as another key factor affecting product usage today. “There is an increasing demand for green products. For example, our best-selling underlayments are made primarily of recycled materials that are certified as a contributor to clean air—they do not off-gas any VOCs, are approved for use in schools and hospitals and qualify for LEED points.”

Starline’s Rodriguez seconded the correct use of underlayments, but said the use of inappropriate products is not common anymore. “I’ve definitely seen the wrong underlayment used before—even folded cardboard boxes—but I think this happened because laminate particularly was new, and many dealers and installers just didn’t know exactly what to use.”

He said today, the industry has done an excellent job of teaching and training dealers, installers and homeowners. “Reps are now a great resource for information, but you should never rely on one source.”

Each product under consideration should have a reliable Web site with several pages of useful information, he added.

Starline, for instance, touts its ability to customize any floating floor underlayment to suit the needs of the distributor and special geographical challenges. Rodriguez said the company’s best floating floor pad is Silent Blue, though the company also offers a basic 2-in-1 or foam-and-film for starters and a “better pad” called Star Silver, which is slightly thicker than the basic.

Boesch said MP Global’s most popular underlayments are “our fiber underlayments with recycled content. These products score very high with acoustical testing, and we have moisture handling and protection capabilities unlike most in the market.”

Carpet and rugs

When it comes to the softer side, the terms “cushion” and “padding” are interchangeable with “underlayment.” And, Charles Mussallem, president of No-Muv, said depending on whether it’s area rugs or broadloom, underlayments serve one or two very vital interests.

“On both carpet and rugs, they enhance the longevity of good looks on the fiber as well as the flooring’s wearability,” he said. “And, on area rugs—where there is a big interest in sliding for safety and aesthetic reasons— there are non-slip products available today.”

He also regarded cushion as one of the most misunderstood products in the industry. “It’s been treated as generic because it’s covered up. This could be nothing further from the truth.”

He said cushion should absolutely be considered based on the rug type its going under and what type of use it is posed with—for example dense, highly resilient, low-profile cushion for rolling stock with heavy traffic. However, he also pointed to out-gassing, flammability and sense of feeling under foot as key components in the decision-making process.

Mussallem suggests educating dealer salespeople on the varying types of padding as customers often rely heavily on their recommendation for a residential job. But, he suggested consulting a professional at the Carpet Cushion Council regarding specifications for commercial applications.

No-Muv’s DuraHold product is thermally bonded and needle-punched with a rubber coating on the back specifically designed for rugs used on hard surface floors. No-Muv was the first padding company to specifically address area rugs and to revolutionize the utilization of synthetic, non-woven padding in commercial applications, Mussallem said.

Tile backings

Lynette Rogers, product marketing manager for James Hardie said when it comes to tile, underlayments serve the sole purpose of providing a stable bonding surface—preventing the floor covering from cracking and/or breaking.

“Materials susceptible to rotting and mold, for instance, should not be used in wet areas such as showers, bathrooms or steamrooms,” she explained. “This can cause health problems as well as significantly shorten the longevity of a tile job.”

Rogers said location is the pinnacle pointer to the correct product in tile jobs—exposure to the elements, including wet areas, require materials not prone to water damage. She suggested cement underlayments for most tile jobs. “Cement underlayments not only provide a superior bonding surface for thinset (a cement-based tile bonding agent), but are also mold and water resistant, which creates the right foundation for a beautiful, long-lasting tile job.”

James Hardie offers both Hardiebacker ¼ and HardieBacker 500, which is a .42-inch board in 3 X 5- and 4 X 8-feet. Rogers highlighted some of the products’ features—20% lighter than glass mesh cement boards and delivers more compressive and flexural strength than other backerboards. She also noted James Hardie underlayments’ added benefits—MoldBlock and EZ Grip—which provide superior protection against mold and moisture, and a patented recessed fastener pattern for easier installation, respectively.