Which laminate underlayment to use? Please say cork.

August 12, 2020 11:34 AM

I'm putting click-together laminate flooring in an upstairs 8'x12' room. I had to pull up about 3 feet of floor to level it by sistering in some 2x4s and putting a 3/4" sheet of plywood over those. The line between the old and new floors isn't perfect. There's a 1/8" height difference in a few spots.

I have the recommended premium underlayment from the place I purchased the flooring. I also happen to have enough 3/16" cork panels to cover the entire floor, which I suspect will even out the height difference.

Can I use the cork instead of the underlayment? Or do I have to bite the bullet and redo the leveling? All suggestions welcome.

posted by donpardo to Home & Garden (5 answers total)

Cork will probably work the click lock laminate is pretty forgiving. It'd probably be best if the laminate traversed the new and old floors long ways. The best thing to do is redo the leveling but shoving some of that cork under there will probably be good enough especially if you'll have rugs and furniture ect.. in that area and its not a main walk way.
posted by jmsta at 11:48 AM on August 12, 2020

"... in a few spots." is the crucial issue here.

If it was a uniform 1/8 inch that the cork was to fill, I'd be comfortable using the cork. Otherwise, you need a flat sheet to even out your bumps, so your engineered floor doesn't have to; or use some kind of leveling compound if there is nothing sticking up above the plane of the higher flooring.

Can you take it apart and "do it right" if your cork does not work out?
posted by the Real Dan at 11:49 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Can you take it apart and "do it right" if your cork does not work out?

Yes.
posted by donpardo at 12:04 PM on August 12, 2020

Does the low spot follow a straight line? If so, you could fill that with the cork, which would make that area proud by 1/16". Put one or two layers of underlayment on the other side, and a layer on top of everything and I think you'll be good to go. Otherwise, I'd take the Real Dan's suggestion and put some leveling compound in there. Don't forget to see what you're going to have to do with your baseboards and door trim before you decide on anything.
posted by kate4914 at 12:43 PM on August 12, 2020

Response by poster: I chickened out, pulled up the floor and did it right with shims.

Thanks for all the suggestions!
posted by donpardo at 10:20 AM on August 13, 2020 [1 favorite]