My approach to underlayment changed after a job in Denver

I used to just roll out the foam pad and call it good, especially on slab foundations. But after installing a floating LVP floor in a Denver condo last winter, I had callbacks for noise. The temperature swings made the cheap pad compress unevenly. Now I always check the manufacturer specs and use a 3mm cork underlayment for any floating floor, no exceptions. What's your go-to underlayment for dry climates?

2 comments

2 Comments

jake_walker6h ago

Denver's dry air will teach you more about underlayment than any manual. I learned the hard way too, with a foam pad that sounded like a bowl of rice crispies by February. Now I just assume every floating floor is secretly a noise complaint waiting to happen. Cork is the only thing I trust not to turn into a crunchy mess when the weather does its thing.

gavinhunt5h agoTop Commenter

My foam pad in Phoenix did the same thing, @jake_walker.