Moisture-resistant underlay for LVT: Protecting your floors from dampness

LVT is a great flooring option for moisture-prone areas of the home but if you want it to last, moisture-resistant underlay is non-negotiable. Discover why with the British Flooring experts in this article!

Whether you’ve just moved into a new house and are making small changes to make it feel more like home or you’re looking for simple, budget-friendly ways to transform your current property, upgrading your flooring is just one of the things you can do.

LVT – or luxury vinyl click – flooring in particular is an excellent option, and with a wide variety of designs available, it works wonderfully in almost every area of the home.

It’s a popular choice for those tackling kitchen or bathroom renovations, thanks to its ability to withstand moisture build-up. However, like most things, there is only so much it can take.

To further protect your flooring, a moisture-resistant LVT underlay is, in our opinion, non-negotiable.

But why is it so important and how exactly does it protect LVT from excessive moisture damage?

Keep reading to discover everything you need to know!

Why is moisture-resistant flooring underlay so important?

LVT flooring by itself offers excellent waterproofing capabilities, making it the perfect choice for flooring installations in humid, moisture-prone areas of your home, like your kitchen, bathroom, or utility room.

But if this is the case, then why is a moisture-resistant flooring underlay for LVT necessary?

Well, underlay acts as an additional layer of defence – protecting your flooring against high humidity and moisture migration and, ultimately, extending its lifespan.

Let’s say, for example, you’re laying LVT flooring over the top of a concrete subfloor.

Concrete subfloors are prone to dampness, which can, over time, impact the integrity of your flooring and cause warping, buckling, and mould growth. Which, of course, isn’t ideal when you’ve paid hundreds not just for the flooring but to have it installed too.

Choosing an underlay with a moisture barrier will help combat this problem and you won’t have to worry about replacing LVT flooring any time soon, either.

High humidity levels can also cause your LVT flooring to absorb moisture, warp, buckle, and grow mould, so again, be sure to look for underlays with a built-in moisture barrier to protect your flooring from this issue.

How does moisture-resistant flooring underlay protect my luxury vinyl floors?

LVT underlays with integrated moisture barriers do a great job of protecting your flooring, but how exactly do they do this?

Moisture barriers – also known as vapour barriers or damp-proof membranes – prevent moisture damage by slowing the movement of water, through the subfloor or by stopping it completely.

This includes all forms of damp ingress, including condensation, vapour, or liquid, like rain or leaks.  

What’s the best moisture-resistant underlay for LVT flooring?

As we’ve already mentioned, when shopping for underlay for your luxury vinyl flooring, it’s best to look for an option that has a built-in moisture barrier, to save from buying and installing several different components.

Here at British Flooring, we stock plenty of options that will be perfect for your project.

Our Royale 2mm LVT Acoustic Vinyl Click Underlay is particularly popular for those on the hunt for an underlay with an integrated damp-proof membrane, as it provides unmatched protection for luxury vinyl flooring

Being made from toughened foam and with a silver foil backing, it offers excellent impact resistance and thermal insulation, and, in addition to this, its high-density construction reduces impact sounds by 20 dB.

So, overall, it’s a great all-rounder.

Shop high-quality LVT flooring underlay at British Flooring!

Need more advice on choosing the perfect underlay for your LVT flooring[PD1] ?

Our experts are here for you.

Whether you don’t know where to start or want to find out more about a specific LVT flooring underlay we have in our collection, you’re more than welcome to get in touch.

Give us a call today on 0203 325 9082 or email us at sales@british-flooring.co.uk and we’ll be in touch to answer your questions and provide personalised recommendations.

Alternatively, if you already know which type of underlay you need, add it to your basket, and head over to our secure online checkout for convenient home delivery!