Underlayments
For Resilient
Flooring
Resilient flooring needs
the right underlayment
installed the right way
by Paul Fisette
nstalling floor underlayment is routine
for most builders: order thin
particleboard or plywood and fasten
it to the subfloor. But careful selection
and fussy workmanship become more
critical when the finish surface will be vinyl
tiles or sheet goods. Resilient flooring is
thin and subsurface irregularities are readily
transmitted through thin vinyl. Nail-pops,
swollen wood fibers, and deformed joints are
the villains of the resilient underworld.
Subfloor versus Underlayment
The terms "subfloor" and "underlayment"
are often used interchangeably around the
job site, but there is a world of difference
between the two. A subfloor is a structural
layer intended to provide support. It serves
as the working