Laminate flooring - Underlay question???

FairyElephant_2

Hiya,

We pulled up carpet at the weekend, ready to lay laminate floor this week.

When we've laid laminate before, we always bought the special underlay to go with it.
When we took up carpet this time we found under it was v.good quality carpet underlay which is in perfect condition. DH reckons it will be fine to lay the laminate onto this instead of buying new (it's in living/dining room so no need for waterproof membrane etc) - what do you reckon?

Thanks,

FE

adandem

I don't think you can use the carpet underlay. It is generally springy and the laminate won't hold together on the joints.

System

there will be too much movement with carpet underlay and your laminate will split/joints will fail.why not try selling it in a free ads paper if its still in good condition.

nalyo

2nd what chrissyg says. You may find your boards will snap at joints overtime. You will also find that some peeps will tell you they have laminated onto carpet underlay and it has lasted x years but each to their own.

ukwoody

3rded! Dont do it. Go for the proper stuff. As Nalyo said some have done it, but it will also void any warrenty and the chances of it lasting is negligable.

woody

woodbutcher_2

Have to agree with the other posters.Most laminate is the click system now and it will pop open.Better to use the proper stuff.

FairyElephant_2

Thanks All - I Have Told Him!!!!!

His thinking was that the feel of the carpet underlay is very similar to the grey Combilay underlay which we used under our last lot of laminate floor (If you haven't seen it, it is the grey concertina-style packs in B&Q etc) which we got on much better with than the horrible green board (the dust from which, apart from being very messy, brings on my asthma something terrible!).
Thankfully the floor is level, so we can use the Combilay again - sadly that's a few more weeks beer-money we'll have to do without! LOL!

Cheers all - will let you know how it turns out in a couple weeks.

FE