Does EVP flooring need a pad installed under?

7 years ago

We are getting an EVP (Engineered Vinyl Plank) Flooring, but, unsure if we need a pad or not.... would appreciate any reviews!

Featured Answer

PRO

Cancork Floor Inc.

7 years ago

Be very careful with "padding" and vinyl plank. In MANY cases they do NOT allow underpad. Or they will state (ahem...installation instructions are EVERYTHING) that the planks are to be used with an underpad that is SPECIFICALLY designed for vinyl planks. That means cork is OUT. Cork is NOT specifically designed for vinyl and is therefore out the window.

Only a few RIGID vinyl planks (like CoreTec) allow cork. And 3mm is the thickest you can get with these RIGID vinyl planks. And many of them don't allow cork even then. I've already heard of someone laying vinyl plank, was sold 3mm cork underlay by the DEALER...only to have the cork TORN APART and the vinyl FAILING before the 1000sf was installed. They called ME to ask about MY cork underlay that is SPECIFIC to vinyl and I had to tell them there is NO SUCH THING. Oh dear. Total redo...and much of the vinyl was damaged beyond use.

The vinyl underlay/pad is VERY specific. A professional can access the product (professional grade material = from a dealer who sells only to the trades). And again, this is ONLY allowed with vinyl planks that STATE they allow under pad. It is very thin (1.2mm is about as thick as it gets...and is often a rigid vinyl/foam called mass loaded vinyl).

My suggestion is: ASSUME your vinyl does NOT allow under pad (this is true for more than 90% of vinyl planks) and go ahead and pay $$ for the subfloor prep. Get everything smooth, flat and even. Just as if you were going to lay this straight down on your subfloor. Sink the screw heads (if this is wood). Patch the seams. Sand everything smooth. Go ahead and do all the prep as if you were NOT allowed to use underpad.

By the time you have the prep done (should be 2-3 days depending on how big the space is an how much work needs to be done), you will have tracked down the installation instructions AND been able to read them. You will then find out if any under pad is allowed and, if so, what type. Here is a hint: if there is NOTHING LISTED then nothing is allowed. If it is missing it is NOT allowed.

You will then instruct your installer to source that PARTICULAR underpad and then go ahead with install. The under pad should be $0.80 - $1.50/sf...and the install will cost a snick more because they have to lay the under pad.

Good luck. Let us know the brand of the vinyl just so we can look up the install instructions. You can google search for them yourself. They should be easily accessible.

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Comments (12)

Frankie
7 years ago
Yes, definitely install a pad under it. Without it you have a wavy loud floor. If your installer tells you that it's not needed insist on it or find a different installer. I would suggest a cork pad. I say this as a consumer in no way connected to their product. I would avoid Smart Core from Lowe's it's given to buckling and cracking. Armstrong makes several levels of vinyl flooring I would suggest looking into those. That's just my personal opinion.
Bridgette Lowry thanked Frankie
PRO
User
7 years ago
Although there are many EVP products that come with a pre-attached pad or a cork backing there are plenty that do not. Most manufacturers of these products, without an attached pad, do not require a pad according to their installation instructions. We tend to feel a little differnetly. We believe that products that have a cork backing or attached pad should have still have a moisture barrier (6mil plastic for example) installed over a concrete subfloor. A few cents per sf is well worth the added peace of mind. For the products that don’t have a pad or a cork backing attached we suggest either a laminate or LVT underlayment, with attached moisture barrier if over concrete, be used. The reason we suggest this is it will ensure a quiet floor. The rigid core of an EVP coming in contact with your subfloor, when walked up, may create a noisier floor than you would like. The underlayment creates a separation between the floor and subfloor to make sure your floor is quiet.
Bridgette Lowry thanked User
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Bridgette Lowry
Original Author
7 years ago
Coreluxe by Tranquility 7mm EVP.... leaning toward a wool underlayment....
Donna Bowden
7 years ago
Bridgette Lowry: How did your Coreluxe floor turn out and what did you put under it?
Christina
7 years ago
Yes I would love to know how the Coreluxe EVP worked. I bought some and am about to install soon.
munimurf
6 years ago
Hi Christina, I want to put the EVP Corelux in my bathroom which has a clawfoot tub (I will use coasters under the feet) and was wondering how your floor turned out. Also what underlayment you used, and if it was waterproof.
mkimber83
6 years ago
I'm killing myself trying to make sure I make the right decision for flooring. I would love to hear some feedback from anyone that has purchased the Coreluxe EVP before I make the purchase, thanks. Mike
Pamela Mitchell
6 years ago
We just had CoreLuxe EVP installed WITH padding and it is GORGEOUS. The product is far more beautiful installed than we expected and looks like real wood. We chose Hickory and it was laid by interlocking it rather than gluing it down. The padding is key as without it you will get a hallow sound when walking on it. We used regular padding (not cork) and could not be happier with the final installation. Be sure to install new baseboards to enhance the beauty of this vinyl planking! CoreLuxe is a beautiful product with a 50 year warranty.
Palma Phillips
6 years ago
I just purchased the Coreluxe Ultra Old Dominion Walnut EVP. What was the name of the regular padding you used?
solutionzbykat
6 years ago
can you put heat under EVP? We are considering EVP for our baby's room. But it's a concrete slab and it's seems colder, he seems colder when he's been playing on the floor. So we thought about heating it. more specifically, using Schluter's Ditra heat. Please let me know what you think about all of it. Carpet is not an option. We considered wood laminate too, but it seemed like EVP would be better.
emwinter
5 years ago
Palma Phillip's. How is your Old Dominion Walnut? I am looking at that now to lay on about 1900 sqft of my house.