Floating wood floors enhance the warmth and value of your home, and when paired with Floor Muffler underlayment, they offer even more benefits. Many homeowners question whether this closed-cell underlayment justifies the extra cost, especially since standard underlayment paper has been used for years with both hardwood and engineered wood floors.
However, when comparing the two options, it’s clear that a high-quality acoustical underlayment, like Floor Muffler, provides a more comfortable, durable, and reliable flooring solution.
What Is Closed-Cell Underlayment?
Floor Muffler underlayment provides all the benefits of traditional underlayment paper, with additional advantages. Made from polypropylene cells, it absorbs sound, protects against moisture, and resists mold and mildew. Unlike standard paper, it eliminates the need for poly or plastic film between the subfloor and flooring, and it is compatible with almost any type of hard surface flooring.
In contrast, standard underlayment paper, which is similar to roofing paper, does not offer moisture protection for wood floors. It lacks the sound-dampening properties of thicker closed-cell products and is more prone to rotting, mildew, and mold.
Advantages and Cost Comparisons
Worried about sound traveling between floors in your home? Installing Floor Muffler underlayment can help reduce foot traffic noise from traveling through the floor to the space below. Additionally, its closed-cell design also blocks noise coming up from the floor beneath. This affordable, easy-to-install solution is a great way to enhance sound-dampening in your home.
Floor Muffler is particularly effective for floating wood floors installed in basements. Simply lay the underlayment directly onto the concrete subfloor, connecting each roll with the included 6-mil self-sealing sheet. To block moisture vapors, apply a 2-inch band of underlayment around the room’s perimeter (this will be covered by baseboards or trim). With this product, there’s no need for additional plastic film or vapor barriers, as the closed-cell structure prevents moisture passage and protects against mold and mildew.
While Floor Mufflers can be used under stapled or nailed flooring, doing so will eliminate the moisture barrier and reduce the acoustical benefits. The manufacturer also offers specially formulated underlayments (HPPA or EWA) for glued-down engineered wood flooring to maintain warranty coverage.
Expect to pay more for this superior underlayment product, but the cost difference per square foot compared to traditional paper underlayment is minimal. Installation may take a bit longer, but for an average 10×10 room, the Floor Muffler underlayment will cost around $40 to $50.
This investment provides excellent sound-dampening, moisture protection, and a more comfortable walking surface. In some cases, it may even make the floor feel warmer and help preserve the structural integrity of floating wood floors. Overall, you’ll likely be more satisfied with your final flooring result when using Floor Muffler underlayment.