Sound & Style: The Perfect Underlayment for Your Laminate Floor

Laminate flooring offers outstanding aesthetics, durability, and value, which is why it’s a popular choice throughout homes in Alberta and British Columbia. However, achieving its full potential in both comfort and performance relies on a component that is literally out of sight: the underlayment. Often overlooked or undervalued, a quality underlayment is not just an optional padding; it is a critical engineering component that fundamentally transforms the sound, feel, and structural integrity of your laminate floor. It is the key to balancing Sound & Style. At Jordans Flooring, our professional expertise ensures every detail of your installation is flawless, starting with selecting the perfect underlayment for your specific subfloor and environment.

The Acoustic Transformation: Reducing Noise Pollution

One of the most common complaints about hard-surface floating floors is the sound the echo of foot traffic, the tapping of high heels, or the noise transmission to the floor below. The right underlayment is the primary solution.

Quieting Impact Noise

• Impact Sound Reduction: A dense foam or cork underlayment acts as a shock absorber. When a footstep or a dropped object hits the laminate plank, the underlayment cushions the impact, dramatically reducing the sharp, hollow sound heard in the room. This creates a quieter, more comfortable environment.
• Reduced Echo (Airborne Noise): By softening the hard laminate surface, the underlayment also helps to absorb some airborne noise, minimizing the hollow “clack” that can reverberate through a room, especially when the subfloor is concrete.

Minimizing Transmission to Lower Floors

In multi-story homes, apartments, or businesses common in Vancouver, Calgary, or Edmonton, noise transmission to the lower level is a major concern.

• IIC Ratings: Professionals choose underlayment based on its IIC (Impact Insulation Class) rating, which measures its ability to block impact sound from traveling downstairs. A higher IIC rating is essential for second-story or condo installations to comply with strata or building regulations and ensure neighbor peace.

The Protective Barrier: Moisture and Thermal Control

Beyond sound, the underlayment provides two vital protective functions, especially critical for the varying climates of Western Canada.

Essential Moisture Protection (Vapor Barrier)

• Concrete Subfloors: Concrete naturally emits moisture, and in the damp climate of coastal BC (like Victoria and Nanaimo), this risk is heightened. A quality underlayment must include a vapor barrier to prevent this moisture from reaching the HDF core of the laminate, which would cause swelling, warping, and irreversible damage.
• Manufacturer Mandate: Most laminate warranties require a vapor barrier for installations over concrete or below-grade areas. Our professional teams ensure this crucial step is never overlooked.

Providing Thermal Insulation

• Warmth Underfoot: The insulating layer provided by the underlayment adds thermal resistance, making the floor feel significantly warmer underfoot. This is a welcome benefit during the long winter months across Alberta and the interior of British Columbia.
• Energy Efficiency: By slowing the transfer of heat, the underlayment subtly contributes to your home’s energy efficiency, helping to keep heating costs down.

Professional Selection and Installation

Choosing the “right” underlayment is complex; it depends on the thickness of your specific laminate, the material of your subfloor (plywood, OSB, concrete), and the acoustic requirements of your specific space. 

Choosing a premium underlayment is not an extra cost; it is an essential investment that secures your floor’s longevity, enhances your living comfort, and protects your home.

Perfect Your Floor’s Performance with a Quality Underlayment

The underlayment is the unsung hero of your laminate floor, elevating its performance from merely aesthetic to functionally superior. By prioritizing this crucial layer, you ensure superior acoustic quality, essential moisture protection, and comfortable thermal insulation achieving the ultimate balance of Sound & Style.

The story of Jordans Flooring is one focused on a commitment to quality in both product and service. It is this simple yet passionate commitment that began with our business years ago and still guides and sustains us today. Our success, longevity, and reputation are achievements we take pride in.

Ready to secure the perfect foundation for your new laminate floor? Visit one of our many showroom locations across BC and Alberta, including Langley, Kelowna, or Edmonton, to discuss your acoustic and moisture needs. Contact us today to speak with a professional who can ensure your installation includes the perfect underlayment for maximum longevity and comfort.

Our Showroom Locations Include: Victoria, BC – Vancouver, BC – South Surrey, BC – Richmond, BC – Red Deer, AB – Nanaimo, BC – Langley, BC – Victoria, BC – Kelowna, BC – Kamloops, BC – Edmonton, AB – Coquitlam, BC – Calgary, AB – Burnaby, BC – Abbotsford, BC.