Rubber Underlayment: The Secret Hidden Under Your Floor
Most people are familiar with rubber flooring from seeing at their local gym, yoga studio or perhaps in a locker room. But what about the rubber that gets installed UNDER the floor? If you’re not familiar with rubber underlayment, you are not alone! Let’s take a closer look at what it is, how it is used and why it may be a product you may want in your home or business.
What is rubber underlayment?
Rubber underlayment is primarily made from the scrap of rubber flooring and rubber tiles. The same recycled tire rubber used for these products is repurposed into a less dense roll of rubber called “regrind.” The regrind roll is then cut to specific thicknesses as rubber underlayment.
Since regrind it made from scrap rubber, different flecks of color create a multi-color “confetti” appearance through the entire roll of underlayment.
How is rubber underlayment used?
Rubber underlayment is installed between your top finished floor (laminate, ceramic, etc.) and your bottom subfloor (plywood, OSB, concrete, etc.). Rubber underlayment is compatible with many different flooring types, including: hardwood, engineered hardwood, laminate, ceramic tile, stone, slate, terrazzo, carpet and even rubber.
Rubber underlayment can be used with virtually any floating floor where the finished flooring is installed without direct attachment to the subfloor. The one exception to this rule is vinyl flooring. Vinyl will react with rubber to create a chemical reaction that will cause discoloration or staining to the vinyl surface.
Why would I want to use underlayment?
Rubber underlayment has many important benefits that will enhance your finished floor, including comfort, sound quality, protection and insulation to name a few. Read on for more reasons you should consider rubber underlayment in your home, business or renovation project.
Noise Reduction – Rubber underlayment is perhaps most commonly used to suppress both impact noise (objects hitting floor or footsteps) and airborne noise (music or talking) within the room and between two rooms. The sound absorbing nature of rubber underlayment makes it a top choice for use in multi-level family homes, music or game rooms, office buildings, apartments, duplexes and condos.
Underfoot Comfort – The resiliency of rubber is one of the awesome benefits of the material! Rubber underlayment will provide cushioning under your finished floor as you walk across it and also absorb impacts to reduce stress on your knees, hips and back. Where do people spend the most time standing in your home? The kitchen! You’ll notice a difference in your joints with rubber underlayment underfoot.
Floor Protection – Rubber underlayment will stabilize your floating floor from potential damage that the subfloor can cause. The underlayment can prevent your floor from shifting, cracking and buckling due to movement or temperature changes. The rubber also helps to cover subfloor imperfections and creates a smooth surface for installing your floor.
Moisture Protection – Underlayment can serve as a moisture barrier by preventing moisture from seeping up through the subfloor and damaging your finished floor. Rubber underlayment is resistant to water absorption and transmission. It is also mold and mildew resistant making it ideal for use where moisture can be present like basements.
Thermal Insulation – Rubber underlayment is made to specific densities, which help to trap air within the material. This form of insulation helps to maintain a comfortable floor temperature, prevent heat loss and increase energy efficiency. Rubber underlayment will help prevent colder surfaces, like basement concrete, from migrating cold air through the flooring (carpet, tile, etc.).
Long-lasting Durability – The rebound characteristic of rubber underlayment makes it resilient to pressure and force from everyday foot traffic. Rubber underlayment will ensure that spring in your step for many years without losing its shape or effectiveness.
Is there a recommended thickness underlayment I should consider?
RFS offers the most popular thicknesses of rubber underlayment for the largest variety of applications. Choose from 2, 3, 5 or 12mm thick underlayment. The recommended underlayment for your space largely depends on the type of activity you will use it for, weight of any equipment or furnishings, soundproofing and the type of subfloor. Consider the following:
Light-duty Activity – 2 or 3mm will provide basic protection and sound dampening for your yoga, stretching or cardio space.
Moderate-duty Activity – 5mm thick underlayment is a versatile choice for home gyms with light to moderate free weights or cardio equipment.
Heavy-duty Activity – 12mm will provide greater impact absorption and floor protection for heavy weightlifting, plyometrics/jump training or CrossFit.
If your application requires more sound control between rooms, there are specific ratings that indicate sound isolation (IIC Rating) and sound suppression (STC Rating). Both ratings are important indicators of how well a particular thickness of rubber underlayment will help the performance of your final floor assembly.
Impact Insulation Class (IIC) – This rating class measures how well a floor-ceiling assembly, comprised of a floor covering, underlayment and subfloor, reduces impact noise (footsteps) from one level to the next. The IIC rating indicates how much sound is blocked or absorbed by the entire assembly, not just the underlayment. Typically, IIC ratings of 50 or higher meet or exceed minimum building codes.
Delta IIC – Some specifications may also list a Delta IIC rating. This rating measures how much a product, like rubber underlayment, improves the IIC rating of a complete assembly.
Sound Transmission Class (STC) – This rating class indicates how well a material blocks airborne sound (speech, music or television noise) from traveling between rooms. The higher the rating, the more effective the soundproofing performance. A STC rating of 50+ is good for blocking conversations. A 60+ rating is excellent and indicates significant noise reduction.
It is recommended that you review these class ratings for your complete flooring assembly to determine which rubber underlayment thickness would provide the best sound control.
Do I need to use a separate vapor (moisture) barrier with rubber underlayment?
The short answer is yes. Even though rubber underlayment itself can act as a type of moisture barrier, it is highly recommended that you use polyethylene sheeting or a foil vapor barrier under rubber underlayment. This is most critical if you are installing your underlayment over concrete below or at ground level.
If your rubber underlayment will be installed over concrete or wood above ground level, you are less likely to need a vapor barrier where moisture is not present. Talk to your building contractor for a best recommendation for your area. When in doubt, it is always safer to have one than not!
Rubber underlayment is your ticket to relaxing quietness and greater comfort in your home!
Unlike quality hotels, soundproofing spaces may not be high on your priority list, but it is well worth the investment to add a layer of rubber underlayment beneath your feet. Consider the added comfort from rubber underlayment in your kitchen or entertainment space for your next renovation project. You might be surprised at how economical rubber underlayment really is!
RFS is committed to supplying the highest-quality, American-made rubber flooring at affordable prices. Review the product pages on this site for additional information and contact us if you have any specific questions.