do you need underlay for wood laminate flooiring?
Answers:
We installed some Armstrong laminate and they recommended a very thin foam underlayment that had one side very slick. You were instructed to lay this side up to aid the floor in moving as it expanded and contracted.
Other than expansion/contraction, I think the other main concern is sharp or severe places that might act as a device to cause the flooring to crack. The laminate is fairly stiff and a bit brittle and could break from a heavy load such as the legs of a couch or a heavy table putting weight near or on an uneven place. I don't think normal walking or light loads are a problem.
Other answers:
YES!! If it is laminate then you need to put the padding down under it because laminate floors "float" so you need the pad to buffer between the floor and the concrete.
YES!! If it is laminate then you need to put the padding down under it because laminate floors "float" so you need the pad to buffer between the floor and the concrete.
Not necessarily. Only if the floor is irregular. We put laminate over our ceramic tile.
Yes, your floor will float.
You must have a foam underlayment.
If you have a concrete subfloor you have to have a vapor underlay to protect from moisture.