Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVT) Underlayment – Everything You Need To Know

If you’re considering installing Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVT) flooring, you’ve probably come across the term underlayment. But do you really need it? What does it do? And how do you choose the right kind? This article breaks down everything you need to know—without the confusing jargon.

With the rise of waterproof and scratch resistant flooring such as luxury vinyl plank or luxury vinyl tile flooring over the last 5-10 years, underlayment manufacturers create underlayment to help those floors perform better and last longer. Flooring manufactures offer consumers waterproof and scratch-resistant flooring which is ideal for consumers. But the age old challenges of moisture protection beneath, along with noise control, and overall durability still exist with vinyl plank floor coverings.

Most commonly condo associations or hoa’s are looking for the best sound reduction an underlayment can provide and use that to setup guidelines for the tenants.

What Is LVT Underlayment?

Underlayment is a thin, flexible layer of material (usually foam, cork, rubber, or felt) that goes between your subfloor and your LVT flooring. It’s not always required, but it can significantly enhance your floor’s performance, comfort, and durability. Yes, even if the plank comes with a pad already pre-attached on the back of it.

When Is Underlayment Required for LVT?

• Floating LVT Installation: If you’re installing a click-lock (floating) LVT, underlayment is often recommended for added sound and moisture protection.
• Concrete Subfloors: Always consider a moisture barrier if installing over concrete to prevent water vapor damage.
• Multi-Level Living Spaces: To reduce noise between floors, underlayment is highly recommended.

When You Might NOT Need Underlayment

• LVT with Attached Pad: Many modern LVT planks come with a pre-attached underlayment. In these cases, adding more underlayment can sometimes void the warranty or cause installation issues. However, the proper quality underlayment can still host a variety of benefits to the flooring despite these cautions from the manufacturer. The padding that comes on the planks is made of material that is very basic in nature to the performance of the plank overall. Adding underlayment that is designed for LVT flooring like our QuietWalk underlayments can help to enrich the floor’s performance and longevity.

Choosing the Right Underlayment for LVT

Here are a few tips when shopping:

• Look for LVT-specific underlayments: products designed for laminate or hardwood might not offer the right support and dense performance characteristics.
• Choose one with moisture protection especially if you plan to install flooring over concrete subfloors.
• Consider STC and IIC ratings (sound ratings) if noise is a concern—higher numbers = better sound absorption.

Luxury Vinyl Plank Underlayment Made In USA

If you are looking for quality underlayment that offers superior sound reduction, QuietWalk LV, QuietWalk VERSA, and QuietWalk Max have the best sound rating in the industry. Made in the USA (Nebraska), we take pride and care when making our underlayment. All our recycled fibers come from inside USA, which would have otherwise ended up in landfills. Additionally, this allows us to receive UL’s GREENGUARD Gold certification and insures that our underlayment doesn’t provide harmful off-gas chemicals.

Consider Flooring Manufacturers Recommendations

Luxury vinyl plank manufacturers mention only vapor barrier in their installations. They recommend this due to not allowing (concrete subfloor) getting moisture or alkalinity to your flooring choice. This will eliminate any potential for claims or damages to the manufacturers flooring.

Industry Concerns

You might read that installing underlayment underneath flooring can cause the click-lock mechanism to be compromised. This is true if you install the incorrect underlayment. You would want an underlayment that is thin and dense. This will prevent any click-lock joint mechanism to not become compromised.

Additional Benefits

R Value – underlayment can offer comfort to your floor. Offering a thermal rating can help you determine how well the underlayment can keep warmth underfoot and conduct heat. Particulary helpful with concrent and basement applications.

Indoor Air Quality – With post-industrial recycled fibers that make up QuietWalk LV, you can be certain the underlayment won’t provide any off-gassing. Some individuals are sensitive to chemicals and looking for a healthy choice of underlayment.

What You Need For Your Flooring Application

We recommend for you to read the flooring installation instructions for proper installation. 95% of the time, they will recommend a 6-mil vapor barrier to be installed underneath the flooring. If you are concerned about noise reduction, we recommend for you to take a look at the QuietWalk LV as it offers the best Delta IIC rating in the industry. The fibers make it dense and thin enough to not compromise the click-lock joint mechanism.

Final Thoughts

Underlayment isn’t always required for LVT—but it can dramatically improve how your floor feels, sounds, and performs over time. If your product doesn’t have a pre-attached pad and you’re installing over concrete or in a noisy space, underlayment is often worth the investment.

Need help choosing the right LVT underlayment? Check our our easy selector tool. We offer a curated selection designed specifically for luxury vinyl plank floors—backed by moisture protection, sound control, and comfort-enhancing features. Let us help you find the right fit for your space and budget.