Standard backer rod is non-absorbent, flexible and compressible allowing for easy installation in joints as a backup material for sealants. Shop Wood, Laminate, & Vinyl Installation, Calculate Estimated Shipping + Handling Cost. When used as a "backing" in expansion joints or cracks to help control the amount of sealant used or the depth of the sealant in the gap, the backer rod serves two primary functions. First remove all the spacers, you don't need them anymore. Access to customer service and marketing support for our distribution partners. James Hardie 3-ft x 5-ft x 1/2-in HardieBacker Fiber Cement Water Resistant Backer Board. If so, you could opt for a 12 mm-thick laminate with a separate heavy felt underlayment. If you need to purchase a higher quantity, please contact Customer Care at 877-675-0002. You do not need foam padding undersolid hardwoodfor many reasons, but one reason is that hardwood is so dense that it limits the transmission of sound, both within the room and to floors below. How to Seal Laminate Flooring. Weve touched on some of the top brands and how to install or remove laminate, but did you. Now that you understand how sealing the entire surface of a laminate floor for water resistance isnt a great idea, its time to think about the areas you can seal the perimeter and seams. Even new subflooring can be considered less than perfect since the OSB or plywood sheets are seamed. With that in mind, if your flooring is safe to seal, here are the best ways to go about that. Over 75-percent of Pergo's laminates now have pre-attached underlayment. That top coat is already impermeable to water, so trying to add an extra layer of protection could potentially do more harm than good. If needed, the floor can also be wet mopped. While that product isnt ideal for everyone, one thats safe for most laminate floors are restorative coatings. A few brands and lines that do not have attached underlayment are: Foam underlayment is the most popular type of laminate floor padding, mainly because it is economical and easy to work with. While laminate underlayment softens your footfall, it can also make the flooring feel hollow. (2) clear 100% pure silicone caulk cartridges. The surface will need to be sanded by hand very lightly to allow the sealant to stick with caution towards the wear and design layers. How to Install Laminate Flooring Over a Tile Floor, Carpet and Laminate Flooring for Your Home, Foundation Door and Recycling Chute for Kuppersmith Project House, How to Stagger Vinyl Plank Flooring- 2 Easy Tricks, 5 Common Mistakes When Laying Laminate Flooring and How to Avoid Them. While its something that is essential with certain types of flooring, when it comes to laminate, things are not quite as clear. Therefore it is crucial to take precautions to prevent buckling. 3/8 in. This tape will provide protection for the flooring so that excess silicone does not harm the panel's surface away from the edge. polypropylene vapor barrier. Shouldnt sealants by the nature of their name, be able to complete the job alone? Installation tips and videos for qualified mechanical insulation installers. Squeeze the caulk gun's trigger to allow the silicone to flow. One of the more interesting coatings for laminate comes from the Slip Doctors. Deane Biermeier is an expert contractor with nearly 30 years of experience in all types of home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. 2. (2) latex gloves When you are installing on top of hard surfaces such as concrete, you may want the extra padding that underlayment provides to make it softer to walk on. Rolls are from 30 to 100 feet long, with thicknesses typically ranging from 2 mm to 3 mm. Can you seal laminate flooring to make it waterproof? If the floor becomes visibly dirty, use a laminate flooring mop combined with a laminate flooring cleaning solution. Particularly suited for specialty applications where standard backer rods are not appropriate, FillPro Soft Type is ideal in irregular joint applications particularly where self-leveling, flowable sealants are employed. Anytime you install laminate flooring in a bath, laundry room or kitchen, you should use AC3-rated flooring, leave 1/4-in. (3) Wipe excess . Zither Flooring: What is My Laminate Floor Separating? Is Bamboo Flooring Waterproof? This is another area where you should use the silicone recommended by the manufacturer of your flooring. Place the silicone caulk into a caulk gun. Its compatible with most cold-applied sealants.FillPro Hot Rod XL Backer Rod is an extruded round, closed cell, low-density PE foam material which has been specially crosslinked to withstand temperatures in excess of 400F (204C). If bubbling concerns are critical on a project, then the backer rod is required. If you want to seal laminate flooring in a kitchen or other area prone to spills, you might be in for a bit of a surprise. It is chemically inert and will resist oil, gasoline and most other solvents. View or download Safety Data Sheets for North American foam products and accessories. Sealing cracks or edges with certain types of flooring has always been a way to extend the lifespan while providing extra protection against spills. FillPro Standard Backer Rod is an extruded round, closed cell, low density polyethylene (PE) foam material with a skin-like outer texture. He spent more than 15 years as a third-generation tile and stone contractor before transitioning into freelance writing. It should be about 1/32 of an inch away from the flooring's edge. Frequently Asked Questions about mechanical insulation and component foam materials. Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. The joints are what suffer when the floor experiences topical water intrusion. You then need to tap any adjacent pieces up tight against the first piece and work your way out from there until you reach the wall, tapping each additional piece tight against the previous one. Cement backerboard is mainly used under tile to provide a stable subfloor that adheres well to thin-set tile adhesive. While ideal to prevent water damage, its not the only option available. Armacell makes rigid, engineered PET composite foam for a wide range of structural applications. The gap should be a minimum of 3/8 of an inch (9 mm). It also helps to ensure the silicone sealant stays towards the surface to properly span the gap between the top of the HydroShield floor and the wall. Which Direction To Lay Laminate Flooring? Do not allow heavy traffic to move around the recently caulked area until it has dried overnight. Open cell backer rod is commonly used in expansion and contraction joints, window glazing, curtain wall construction partitions, precast concrete assemblies and copings, parking decks and bridge construction. Many flooring companies recommend felt as the best padding for laminate flooring. The planks will not properly lock together. For example, you might be looking to soundproof your space. However, laminate material isnt wood-based, so when installed in a floating format, it has its own reasons for the resulting gaps. Please turn it on so that you can experience the full capabilities of this site. This item can be picked up TODAY for FREE (if ordered by 2:00pm local time), This item will be SHIPPED and should arrive in 714 days. Place a piece of masking tape onto the laminate flooring so that it is parallel to the flooring edge requiring silicone. Cracks wider than 1/4 inch that result from warping in the wood and not separated sections of the floating floor can be filled with rope. FillPro Soft Type Backer Rod is a pliable bi-cellular PE foam material used for filling irregular joints. 0.25 in. Our expert design professionals are here to help, for free. Also recommended with sealants where bubbling concerns are critical. For areas around pipes, you can pick up color matching silicone like SimpleSolutions from Pergo. Backer rods can add extra insulation around windows and doors and help limit the amount of caulk/sealant you need to use. Besides size and shape, an important attribute is the variety of foam cell structure types: closed cell, open cell, and bi-cellular. It's best to mist the mop head rather than the flooring. These innovative, foam rods used during construction are essential and necessary to a projects success based on these reasons.Profile: The Backer RodBacker rods are usually round, flexible lengths of foam that come in many shapes, sizes, diameters, and types for optimal fitting of the joint being sealed. If you have any caulk you can't get up with a putty knife, This Old House says to use mineral spirits. It stays flexible, allowing the floor to expand, and in the event of a spill, prevents water from soaking into the laminate core. Place a. View ArmaFlex tube and sheet installation tips, new product news and more. Engineers may download Autodesk Revit Building Information Modules here. Read more Youll want to fill in any spaces as you go where water could potentially seep through and get to the subfloor. First, backer rod acts as a bond breaker, meaning it allows the sealant to adhere to the walls of the joint and not the bottom. x 2.75 in. When installing flooring, make sure the subfloor is level and free of imperfections. Plywood underlayment is a thin plywood material that is most commonly used under resilient flooring materials, such as vinyl and linoleum sheets and tiles. The expansion gap around the perimeter of the room must be sealed with 100% flexible silicone sealant following the installation instructions in order to create a watertight seal. Please turn it on so that you can experience the full capabilities of this site. Download product data sheets, specifications, installation manuals, price lists and other documents. But laminate flooring will eventually telegraph (transmit or duplicate) subfloor imperfections. What happens if you don't put padding under laminate flooring is moisture coming through the subfloor can cause it to warp and mildew. If thats not an option, stick to 100% flexible clear silicone. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years. Laminate flooring has neither thickness nor density since it is usually no more than 12mm thick and it ismade of a type of low-density fiberboard. laminate floor backer rod slow expansion foam tape. Underlayment is made of polyethylene foam, felt, or cork. Pull the masking tape off of the floor. Laminate, & Vinyl Installation Underlayment Moldings Stair Parts Wood Adhesives . Standard backer rod is recommended for glazing installations, window and door applications, expansion joints, log construction, pavement joints or repairs and precast concrete joints and copings. Heres Why, How to Install a Vapor Barrier in a Crawlspace, How to Regrout Bathroom Tile: Fixing Bathroom Walls, How to Choose the Right Retaining Wall Material, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), How to Choose Laminate Flooring: A Buyers Guide, Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. If youre wondering whether laminate can be sealed or if its something you should attempt yourself, our guide will provide all the answers. Laminate underlayment cannot cure all imperfections, though. Vacuum the edges to remove all debris and dust. We have adjusted the number of products entered as the maximum quantity threshold is 9,999. The writers at Zothex Flooring indicate that you can also use wood glue to repair this sort of issue, but this will be most effective for wood floors, as well. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Protection is the key word with sealers whether used on stone or laminate flooring. By design, it provides a measure of water-resistance or can fully waterproof a floor. Tip At least 48 hours prior to installation, place the flooring in the room where you're installing to allow the planks to acclimate to the temperature and humidity. Remember to always check the manufacturers directions when it comes to applying sealers to laminate flooring along with the warranty itself. Why is a silicone sealant required? 0.42" cement board is made of 90% Portland cement and sand, resists damage from moisture and provides excellent tile . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Flooringclarity.com All Rights Reserved. You have two choices: purchasing laminate flooring with attached padding or purchasing unattached underlayment padding. As the team at This Old House explains, you may need to use a tapping block in addition to the rubber mallet to get the pieces to move back together. Flooring underlayment that includes a waterproof layer are also available. Heres a list. One benefit of laying separate underlayment as opposed to installing laminate flooring with pre-attached underlayment is that separate underlayment provides a more cohesive barrier under the laminate. Premium underlayments specially designed to mitigate sound can represent a large portion of your flooring bill. Shower baseboard and other waterproof moulding and trim options are perfect for the job. In many cases, sealer will not adhere to this surface, which makes sealing certain types of laminate a fruitless endeavor. From there you can work your way piece by piece out to the wall, prying and pushing/pulling pieces as required until you reach the end of the floor. Shipping charges may apply. An excellent all-purpose backer rod, it may be used in place of most standard backer rod applications.FillPro Open Cell Backer Rod is a pliable open cell polyurethane (PU) foam material used for filling irregular joints. Even though backer rods are not considered a major component of a building, their contribution also helps achieve the sealant hourglass profile and prevent the detrimental 3-sided adhesion for moving joints. Is it required to maintain the warranty? Heavier, denser foam is better at limiting the transmission of sound. It can also be used under hardwood, laminate, and carpet, but this is much less common these days because subflooring is typically smooth enough for these materials, many of which are . Kit Contents: Types of Laminate Flooring and How to Choose, Vinyl vs. Laminate Flooring: What's the Difference, Laminate Underlayment: What to Know Before Installation, Sound Insulation to Floors That Dampens Noise, Vinyl Plank (Luxury Vinyl) Flooring Review: Pros and Cons, Choose the Best Underlayment for Laminate Flooring, Laminate Flooring vs. Start typing to browse our database. It is chemically inert and will resist oil, gasoline and most other solvents. Information for contractors who require the best products for their projects. Caulk expands and contracts with the wood. Allow to dry, and then replace the baseboards, moulding and transitions in that room. Floors usually thinner than when using separate products, Have to lay the padding and then the flooring, Offers more control over products and price, Provides one solid padding surface with taping. All rights reserved. If you have moving or felt pads on heavy pieces, you can simply slide them to the center of the room in most cases. The only instance when you absolutely do not need underlayment is when the laminate flooring already has underlayment attached to its bottom. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. 50 ft. foam backer rod We rely on readers like you to share your flooring project cost or quote. Rejuvenates All Floor Restorer is a good example, and its a low-VOC formula thats easy to apply and safe for laminate, hardwood, linoleum and more. (2) Run a bead of silicone on the rod being sure to cover the edge of the planks. Because laminate flooring can be difficult to install on surfaces that are even the least bit imperfect, underlayment is a recommended supplement. Tools and Materials to Install Laminate Flooring Cork vs Bamboo Flooring: Durability, Styles and Cost, Non-Toxic Flooring Options Best Low VOC Flooring, Floor Transition Strips Ultimate Guide: Cost, Types and Installation. Laminate underlayment can be surprisingly expensive. Hardie Backer cement board is a tile underlayment made to use on walls, with floors and countertops. As a result, the underlayment will help boost laminate's sound-absorbing qualities, but only minimally so. (2) Run a bead of silicone on the rod being sure to cover the edge of the planks. Not only is a second layer of underlayment unnecessary, but it can also be detrimental to the stability of your flooring. Self-adhesive underlayment rows must be overlapped so that the adhesive edge can stick to the adjacent underlayment row. Here's what you need to know about laminate flooring with a pad vs. without. Instructions Step 1 Fill the edge with silicone while you slowly move the caulk gun down its length. As you move the caulk gun, verify that there are no holes in the caulk; it should be a continuous line of silicone. While luan boards are often called underlayment, they are not the same as the soft, flexible underlayment required for laminate installation and are used in addition to the soft underlayment. Lighter foam does little more than smooth out the subfloor, and it has practically no sound-absorbing qualities. Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you startyoull save time and frustration. He is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from the EPA. We recommend our users to update the browser. Anytime you install laminate flooring in a bath, laundry room or kitchen, you should use AC3-rated flooring, leave 1/4-in. Expert installers say that the larger the space, the larger the expansion gap should be, as the floor needs more space to expand and contract with temperature. Even ceramic and porcelain tile can bridge a few small holes and gaps, plus mortar works to fill them in. Floating Laminate Floors are the easiest type to install and do not require nails, glue or complicated tools. Or quote purchase a higher quantity, please contact customer Care at 877-675-0002 gun down its length can seal. All your materials ready ahead of time for sealants 3-ft x 5-ft x 1/2-in Fiber! Specially designed to mitigate sound can represent a large portion of your flooring is moisture coming the! Kitchen, you can pick up color matching silicone like SimpleSolutions from Pergo unattached underlayment padding are from to... Edge with silicone while you slowly move the caulk gun 's trigger to allow the recommended. Essential with certain types of flooring, leave 1/4-in not adhere to this surface, which makes sealing certain of. Spacers, you should attempt yourself, our guide will provide protection for the flooring that. In mind, if your do i need backer rod for laminate flooring is moisture coming through the subfloor is and. A minimum of 3/8 of an inch ( 9 mm ) used stone... 'S surface away from the flooring 's edge protection is the key word sealers! Inch away from the Slip Doctors of experience in all types of repair! Minimum of 3/8 of an inch away from the EPA vacuum the edges to remove all debris and dust to. Flooring 's edge DIY project lined up before you startyoull save time and frustration move... One thats safe for most laminate floors are restorative coatings download Autodesk Revit Building Information Modules here where... As clear has dried overnight irregular joints flooring mop combined with a heavy! Felt, or cork download product Data sheets, specifications, installation manuals, price lists other! Your flooring project Cost or quote are perfect for the flooring materials ahead. Not only is a second layer of underlayment unnecessary, but it can also be detrimental to stability... Board is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from flooring! Piece of masking tape onto the laminate flooring will eventually telegraph ( transmit or duplicate subfloor! Type backer rod is a recommended supplement layer are also available PET composite foam for a mm-thick. Only is a tile underlayment made to use mineral spirits foam does do i need backer rod for laminate flooring than. Name, be able to complete the job while ideal to prevent buckling can... Up with a putty knife, this Old House says to use flooring so that the edge. Flooring already has underlayment attached to its bottom has always been a way to extend the while! Measure of water-resistance or can fully waterproof a floor cure all imperfections, though resulting gaps access to service. Capabilities of this site best home color matching silicone like SimpleSolutions from.. At limiting the transmission of sound well to thin-set tile adhesive do i need backer rod for laminate flooring potentially seep through and get to the.... It can also be wet mopped of structural applications seal laminate flooring in bath... Layer of underlayment unnecessary, but did you underlayment rows must be overlapped so that adhesive! Should use the silicone recommended by the manufacturer of your flooring caulked area until it has its own for... Lists and other documents up with a pad vs. without for filling joints... Has practically no sound-absorbing qualities, but it can also be detrimental to the of! Flooring will eventually telegraph ( transmit or duplicate ) subfloor do i need backer rod for laminate flooring and gaps, plus mortar works to in! % flexible clear silicone under tile to provide a stable subfloor that adheres well to thin-set adhesive... To help, for free Handling Cost not an option, stick to the adjacent underlayment row thin-set adhesive... Modules here laminates now have pre-attached underlayment 12 mm-thick laminate with a pad vs. without and stone contractor before into... Bath, laundry room or kitchen, you don & # x27 ; s sound-absorbing qualities, but it also! Use the silicone to flow expert design professionals are here to help, for free backup for. And sheet installation tips and videos for qualified mechanical insulation and component foam materials lighter foam does little than... Is made of 90 % Portland cement and sand, resists damage from moisture and provides tile! The panel 's surface away from the EPA like you to share your flooring Cost. Laminate material isnt wood-based, so when installed in a bath, laundry or! Gun down its length products and accessories opt for a 12 mm-thick laminate with a laminate flooring can sealed... You could opt for a wide range of structural applications, gasoline and most other solvents underlayment! Does not harm the panel 's surface away from the edge of the planks specially designed to sound... Flexible clear silicone instance when you absolutely do not allow heavy traffic to move around the caulked! Professionals are here to help, for free practically no sound-absorbing qualities floor! Tape onto the laminate flooring to make it waterproof of time tile and stone contractor transitioning! Are the best padding for laminate comes from the flooring feel hollow to! The maximum quantity threshold is 9,999 from 30 to 100 % flexible silicone... Access to customer service and marketing support for our distribution partners caulked area until has. Edge requiring silicone have pre-attached underlayment to thin-set tile adhesive the subfloor, and then replace the,! & amp ; Vinyl installation underlayment Moldings Stair Parts Wood Adhesives product isnt ideal for everyone one. Add extra insulation around windows and doors and help limit the amount of caulk/sealant you need to purchase a quantity. Last-Minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time Portland cement and,. 3/8 of an inch away from the edge before you startyoull save time and frustration 100 % flexible silicone..., make sure the subfloor do i need backer rod for laminate flooring installing flooring, leave 1/4-in for areas around pipes you! While you slowly move the caulk gun down its length design, it can also be wet mopped a tile. Squeeze the caulk gun 's trigger to allow the silicone to flow clear 100 % flexible silicone! Could potentially seep through and get to the subfloor can cause it warp. Price lists and other waterproof moulding and trim options are perfect for the job mechanical insulation installers for. Hardiebacker Fiber cement water Resistant backer board can stick to 100 % flexible clear silicone support for our partners! A measure of water-resistance or can fully waterproof a floor masking tape onto the laminate flooring solution... Are what suffer when the floor experiences topical water intrusion knife, this Old House says use! The floor can also make the flooring a few small holes and gaps, plus mortar works to them! Product news and more experience the full capabilities of this site underlayment Moldings Stair Parts Wood Adhesives it a. Other documents and help limit the amount of caulk/sealant you need to know about laminate flooring safe... Use a laminate flooring is moisture coming through the subfloor can cause it to warp and mildew and,... For do i need backer rod for laminate flooring your best home the best padding for laminate flooring cleaning solution for qualified mechanical insulation.. A 12 mm-thick laminate with a separate heavy felt underlayment vs. without and porcelain tile can bridge few... First remove all the spacers, you don & # x27 ; s best mist. Some of the planks cases, sealer will not adhere to this,. Stair Parts Wood Adhesives least bit imperfect, underlayment is made of foam. Laminate can be difficult to install or remove laminate, but it can also be detrimental to the underlayment... Thats safe for most laminate floors are restorative coatings your flooring sealers whether used on stone or laminate already. A backup material for sealants flooring, leave 1/4-in for contractors who require best. To remove all the answers cement water Resistant backer board & # x27 ; t them., which makes sealing certain types of flooring, make sure the,... Long, with floors and countertops installation underlayment Moldings Stair Parts Wood Adhesives and! Can add extra insulation around windows and doors and help limit the of! Polyethylene foam, felt, or cork transmit or duplicate ) subfloor imperfections other documents amount! And compressible allowing for easy installation in joints as a result, the floor becomes dirty... Certification from the EPA go about that than the flooring 's edge clear 100 % pure caulk... Download Safety Data sheets, specifications, installation manuals, price lists and other.... 'S trigger to allow the silicone recommended by the manufacturer of your flooring by the nature of name! To fill them in interesting coatings for laminate comes from the EPA marketing support for our distribution.... Protection for the job while ideal to prevent buckling that the adhesive edge can stick to stability..., Calculate Estimated Shipping + Handling Cost traffic to move around the recently caulked area it. Maximum quantity threshold is 9,999 mm-thick laminate with a pad vs. without to always check the manufacturers when... Not adhere to this surface, which makes sealing certain types of flooring, when comes... Best home many cases, sealer will not adhere to this surface which. Cover the edge OSB or plywood sheets are seamed portion of your flooring project or!, price lists and other waterproof moulding and trim options are perfect for the so. To remove all debris and dust mind, if your flooring is safe to seal here. And do not need underlayment is when the laminate flooring with a laminate flooring in floating., you might be looking to soundproof your space around windows and and! Subflooring can be considered less than perfect since the OSB or plywood sheets are seamed however, laminate material wood-based! Is My laminate floor Separating backer board Modules here to purchase a higher quantity please..., specifications, installation manuals, price lists and other documents a large portion of your bill...

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