Floating wood floors add warmth and value to your home. Using Floor Muffler underlayment with that durable, attractive flooring adds even more to the space. Many homeowners wonder if this closed cell product is worth the extra cost, when standard underlayment paper has been used for years with both hardwood and engineered wood products.
When you compare both methods, it’s obvious that a high quality acoustical underlayment creates a more comfortable, reliable floor.
What Is Closed Cell Underlayment?
This product offers all the benefits of traditional underlayment paper, with plenty of extra advantages. Made with polypropylene cells, Floor Muffler underlayment absorbs sound, protects against moisture and resists mold and mildew. It also eliminates the need for poly or plastic film between the subfloor and flooring, and is suitable for use with nearly any hard surface flooring available.
Standard underlayment paper is similar to roofing paper and does not protect the wood flooring from moisture issues. Paper products cannot offer the sound-dampening features of thicker closed cell products, and are susceptible to rotting, mildew and mold.
Advantages and Cost Comparisons
Concerned about sound traveling from one floor to the next in your home? Install this type of underlayment and hear less foot traffic noise transmitted through the floor to the space below. As an added bonus, Floor Muffler closed cell underlayment also blocks noise coming through the flooring from below. It’s an affordable, easy to install sound-dampening solution.
This product works perfectly for floating wood floors installed in the basement. Lay the Floor Muffler padding directly onto the concrete subfloor, connecting each roll with the included 6 Mil self-sealing sheet. Use a 2” band of underlayment around the perimeter of the room to block moisture vapors at the wall (this band will be covered by baseboard or floor trim). Forget about adding plastic film or another type of vapor barrier on the flooring – the closed cell underlayment blocks the passage of moisture and protects against mold and mildew.
Floor Muffler products can also be used under stapled or nailed flooring, although that process negates the moisture barrier and reduces the acoustical benefits. The manufacturer also offers a few solutions for glued-down engineered wood flooring. Use their specially formulated brands (HPPA or EWA) to maintain the warranty coverage on your underlayment.
Be prepared to pay more for this superior underlayment product. When compared to traditional paper underlayment, the cost difference per square foot of material is fairly minimal. Installing closed cell underlayment takes a little more time. In most cases, you can expect an average 10 x 10 room to cost about $40 to $50 for the Floor Muffler underlayment.
That cost provides excellent sound-dampening and moisture protection, as well as creating a more comfortable surface for walking. It may be warmer in certain circumstances and is specially made to protect the structural stability of your floating wood floors. You’re bound to be more satisfied with the final product when investing in Floor Muffler underlayment.