How is the underlay installed below a laminated floor?

Answer 1

you DO NOT FASTEN THE UNDERLAYMENT WITH SCREWS OR STAPLES. THE UNDERLAYMENT ROLLS OUT UNDER THE FLOOR AND JUST LAYS THERE.

Answer 2

Screws are the best....Staples WILL back out, and cause squeeks, and possibly come thru the new flooring itself.

Run the screw so that the head is just below the surface... then, I use a wood putty, DuraRock, to coat the seams, and screws.... If you smooth it off with your putty knife, you don't even have to sand it. (I use at least a 4 inch putty knife) This step is really only necessary when installing vinyl flooring.... laminate flooring is strong enough to bridge the seams without any seam filler.

For VINYL floors:
Once you have the underlayment down, you have your choice of how to attach the new vinyl... you can apply glue to the whole surface, or just around the perimeter. Or, you can use a power stapler (run by air compressor, 3/16" to 1/4" crown, at least 1" length) to staple around the edge of the new vinyl. If you put the nose of the gun right up against the wall, then your trim will cover the staples.... I staple about every 6 inches around the perimeter.

Now... IF you happen to decide to glue the whole vinyl floor down...later on down the road, when you want replace it... you can still pry the underlayment off the subfloor with a good roofing shovel, or floor scraper....then just use your screwgun to remove any screws that didnt come up with the underlayment. You will find that the underlayment, in most cases, simply pulled right up over them.

My preferred method of installment (and Ive done a LOT of them) is to put the underlayment down with 1" to 1 1/4" screws... apply putty to all the screwheads, and seams, and staple the perimeter of the new vinyl. Then, if I had a need, I could simply pull the new vinyl off the staples, for adjustments, or work on the floor, and it could be stapled back down again. Typically, I use what is called "Quarter-round" trim, but there are many choices in trim available.

For LAMINATE floors:
Now, for laminate flooring.... youve got to decide whether you want a 'floating floor' or not... If you have purchased the SnapLock type of flooring, youre going to have a floating floor. There is even a new type out, that the joints are pre-glued, saving folks a lot of time and mess, when installing laminate flooring. If you decide to nail, then you want to nail thru the tongue of the flooring, at an angle. Last choice, is of course, to glue the laminate flooring down... personally, I'd prefer to nail it. Makes it much easier to replace individual pieces later on, when necessary.

If this is going over a concrete floor.... do NOT forget the vapor barrier! Make sure you follow the instructions that come with your flooring, or YOU WILL VOID THE WARRANTY.

Have Fun!

Answer 3

use 3/4 inch staples (assuming u use 1/8 or 1/4 inch undrelayment) in a power stapler and staple the underlay every 6" on center. do not use screws or glue. fill any flaws or cracks with "floor leveler" and lay the covering. when u get tired of the lam. flooring or linoleum or what ever, the underlayment and all can be taken up with a roofing shingle shovel or a flatbar. if you glue or screw the underlament down how will u ever get it off when you change floor coverings?

Answer 4

Screws are best, because they will never loosen and squeak when walked upon, but you can nail or staple, too...doesnt matter as long as it's secure. Some guys also use construction adhesive under it to make sure.

Then you coat the seams, nail or screw holes, and other deformities with...with...with...hang on, it's coming to me....Fix-all!, that's it! Fix-all! After the Fix-all dries, sand it a little to knock the burrs off, then apply the flooring. Viola!