A quick laminate flooring run down including 3 basic levels as well as a flooring underlayment recommendation.
underlayment
IIC Ratings
Q: I am wondering how to add IIC ratings for two different materials, as I know that I can’t simply “add” them together for the total score. I am meeting a lot of resistance in my condo regarding installing wood floors because of noise issues. I found an ASTN test result that tested a...
Hardwood Installation in a Condo over Gypcrete
Q: I’m a new condo owner and would like to install hardwood (like the BR-111 Engineered Tigerwood or Triangulo Tigerwood). The builder didn’t offer hardwood on the main level, citing the need to minimize noise transmission from my unit to the unit below. However, there’s nothing in the building codes or condo bylaws to...
Wood Flooring for Condos
Q: I am working on a condo remodel project for my second home. I would very much like to install an engineered wood floor in the great room and dining room since I am very allergic to carpet (and I really do not like cork). Since I have neighbors above and below me the...
Floating Cork over Concrete
Q: I am planning to replace the carpet in my family room with a floating cork floor (Westhollow Cordoba Natural). I haven’t checked, but I’m pretty sure that the sub floor is concrete, since the family room was added on to the house sometime after the original build. What kind of underlayment would work...
Replacing Carpet with Laminate
Q: My home is a double-home trailer and I want to remove my carpet and install laminate flooring. What do I need to install this floor on my trailer? Hope you can help me. Thank you. A: When selecting your floor, make sure that you are also selecting a good underlayment. Underlayment is just...
Pergo for a Bathroom
Q: What do you think of laminate flooring in a bathroom? Also if you use Pergo would you still need and underlay and what type? Thanks Leo A: Laminate can work in a bathroom, but if you have younger children or expect to have standing water or wet clothing on the floor relatively often,...
My New Laminate Floor is Noisy – Help!
Q: Our new laminate is only a week old and it goes from our entry way throughout our kitchen…..the entry way feels solid and has no noise, the kitchen however is very noisy with popping and crackling….any suggestions….it was professionally installed……… thank you so much Jill A: Its likely that one of a few...
Pergo Underlayment
Q: I am going to install a 12mm laminate over new concrete slab. The slab has some imperfections, notably some uneveness, noticeable only when laying a long straight edge on the floor, also some roughness. The installer swears he has used a 1/4″ thick 2-in-1 underlayment in the past, claims it was from Pergo,...
Underlayment for Condos
Q: I currently live in a condo and my upstairs neighbor wants to install a wood or laminate floor. They currently have the builder supplied carpet and underlayment. While we can’t hear them talking, we can definitely hear them walking and other thumping noises from above. We are reluctant to give permission for them...
