Wooden (laminate) underlay options

[gazdkw82]

Looking for some advice. We have chosen the laminate flooring we want to put down in our living room. However, the difficult bit is choosing the underlay. We have a void under our living room floor so we get quite a draft. Our next door neighbour has suggest the foil back underlay and tape it all around the corners of the room to reduce the draft.

I've done some Google searches and looked at the usual places (screwfix,toolstation,b&q,wicked) however it's a mindfield. All offering different things.

Anyone had any experience with such products?

 

[buzzlightyear]

Looking for some advice. We have chosen the laminate flooring we want to put down in our living room. However, the difficult bit is choosing the underlay. We have a void under our living room floor so we get quite a draft. Our next door neighbour has suggest the foil back underlay and tape it all around the corners of the room to reduce the draft.

I've done some Google searches and looked at the usual places (screwfix,toolstation,b&q,wicked) however it's a mindfield. All offering different things.

Anyone had any experience with such products?

have you rang carpet right !

 

[gazdkw82]

No. Not sure if that's sarcasm tbh

 

[buzzlightyear]

Diall 2mm Laminate & Solid Wood Flooring Foam Underlay 20m² | Departments | DIY at B&Q - https://1690216.r.bat.bing.com/?ld=d3KPMH-1lWNDMTiyv0QkDspjVUCUzskDVaB_4MMMq3fZZZhODp8nD7fYiu936uOLZUlNqu4B6CJNAa_uBnxRRNnzRhO9KCald0dh052-6QCv5X3AsfbcmLjWZIxScLorRaaa14UmlfO5HJsDotxNEzO6HzN5X_ItNVuH8XuZfdAX1ndW87&u=http%3a%2f%2fclickserve.dartsearch.net%2flink%2fclick%3flid%3d92700028578164752%26ds_s_kwgid%3d58700002354758242%26ds_e_adid%3d83356725826182%26ds_s_inventory_feed_id%3d97700000002240281%26ds_e_product_group_id%3d4580359283669034%26ds_e_product_id%3d1532461_BQ%26ds_e_product_country%3dGB%26ds_e_product_language%3dEN%26ds_e_product_channel%3donline%26ds_url_v%3d2%26ds_dest_url%3dhttps%3a%2f%2fwww.diy.com%2fdepartments%2fdiall-2mm-laminate-solid-wood-flooring-foam-underlay-20m%2f1532461_BQ.prd%3fCAWELAID%3d120147360000740666%26ppc_type%3dshopping%26ds_kids%3d%5b*TrackerID*%5d%26utm_source%3dbing_cpc%26utm_medium%3dshopping%26utm_campaign%3dPX_BSC_Home_and_decor_generic

 

[pirate]

Just replaced 3 carpets here, black dust staining at the skirtings caused by dust blowing up from subfloor area. Couldn't ply the floors due to access needed below. Used foil-faced board beneath, and packed gaps under skirtings with bubble-wrap cut into strips and tamped home with screwdriver...and it works fine!
Whatever you do, do NOT try to fill the gaps with a can of pressured expanding foam!
(Don't ask...)

 

[Squid]

Rip up the floorboards and do it properly.

Hang on, laminate flooring, thought it would be engineered oak on here at least......

 

[gazdkw82]

Rip up the floorboards and do it properly.

Hang on, laminate flooring, thought it would be engineered oak on here at least......

Money dictates. It is 12mm laminate however ;-)

 

[Squid]

Still a plastic floor albeit a thick elastic floor ;o))))

 

[gazdkw82]

Yes it is but it's what we have. 30 packs have been ordered so just on the hunt for an appropriate underlay. Like I've said above, we are looking for the foil backed stuff and plan to take skirting off and tape it right to the edges. However, there's so many thicknesses and versions......

 

[telectrix]

if you're taking skirting off, fit the laminate under skirting ( allows expansion without adding expansion strip). refit skirting after. or new skirtin in real tree wood, stained and varnished. not mdf rubbish.

 

[gazdkw82]

if you're taking skirting off, fit the laminate under skirting ( allows expansion without adding expansion strip). refit skirting after. or new skirtin in real tree wood, stained and varnished. not mdf rubbish.

Yes this is the plan. However I'm still unsure in the foil underlay??

Are they all the same stuff??

Would the foil backed stuff create condensation in the void area underneath?

 

[telectrix]

think you may be overthinking it. a bit of airflow is good. can't see much draught coming through interlocking laminate boards.

 

[Squid]

Are you removing the old floor boards as you normally lay the foil and board the area out then lay the laminate on top, don't forget to take in to account the doors if you raise the floor.

How old is the house as older houses need to "breathe" and a lot of pre 1930's houses don't have cavity walls and the leaky floors and rattly sash windows meant they breathed faster then Usain Bolt at the end of a race.

 

[gazdkw82]

Currently have carpet so that will come up and we will be left with the original floor boards.

It's a 1930's house with no cavity.

The floorboards that are down are in good condition with no signs of damage, rot or moisture.

I was planning on just laying the foil backed underlay down and taping as close to the walls as I can. Skirting will come off so to allow expansion gap and skirting sits back over the laminate

 

[Squid]

Should lift the old floorboards up then lay down some decent ply boarding with the foil underneath and screwing in down properly.
Old floorboards creak and move, when you start just don't end up like me lol