Finally, it’s time to install your new flooring! You picked out your material from a well-reputed flooring company in Tampa or flooring store in Orlando, got your tools ready and then you noticed it: dips, humps or uneven patches across the room.
Can underlayment fix this? We get this question all the time at Pro City. Underlayment is often called a “smoothing” layer, which leads many to think it can correct uneven subfloors. However, the truth is it helps with comfort and performance, but it does not level a floor.
If your floor isn’t flat, underlayment won’t fix it and skipping proper leveling can cause more problems down the road. Let’s break it down so you can install your flooring the right way.
What Underlayment Actually Does (and Doesn’t Do)
Underlayment is important. While it does a lot for your flooring, it’s not what you think. Underlayment does:
- Add cushioning and comfort
- Reduce sound
- Provide a thermal barrier
- Help floating floors move properly
- Smooth minor surface imperfections (not height differences)
However, underlayment does not:
- Level dips
- Fix high spots
- Correct slopes
- Prevent lifting or flexing
- Compensate for structural issues
In summary, underlayment can improve the performance of your flooring. That said, it can’t fix a bad subfloor.
Why Underlayment Doesn’t Level a Floor
Underlayment is soft and flexible by design. It compresses under pressure, so it cannot build up low spots or flatten high ones.
If you install flooring over an uneven subfloor, you’ll likely encounter:
- Planks that won’t lock together properly
- Flooring that shifts or flexes
- Hollow spots that form
- Gaps that open over time
- Tile cracks
- High humidity that causes buckling
- A new floor that wears out much faster
Floors fail when the foundation beneath them isn’t corrected. The problem doesn’t stem from the flooring product itself being defective.
Unsure about whether your subfloor needs work? The team at Pro City can provide the sound advice you need to succeed.
What to Use Instead to Level a Floor
In order to fix an uneven subfloor, you need the right leveling materials, not underlayment. Here are the common solutions Florida contractors use:
- Self-Leveling Underlayment: It’s the go-to fix for dips and low spots. This is the ideal way to create a smooth, hard, perfectly flat surface.
- Floor Patch Compounds: These fix isolated dips or small imperfections without leveling an entire room.
- Grinding High Spots: Many concrete slabs in Florida have high points. Grinding these down is the best way to address this issue, especially before tile installation.
- Underlayment for Micro Imperfections: Quality underlayment can absorb small imperfections. However, it cannot replace real leveling.
- Subfloor Repair or Replacement: If the subfloor is damaged, soft, rotted or uneven as a result of structural issues, it must be repaired before anything else can be done.
At Pro City, we carry all the building supplies in Tampa and in our Orlando building material store that you need to prep your subfloor. Self-levelers, patch materials, moisture barriers, underlayment, grinding accessories and more are available at our Tampa and Orlando locations.
When Underlayment is Enough
Let’s be clear! Underlayment isn’t useless if you use it correctly. It’s appropriate when:
- The floor is mostly flat but not perfectly smooth
- There are tiny imperfections, not height differences
- You’re installing floating floors like SPC or laminate
- You need comfort, sound reduction or insulation, not leveling
The key to using underlayment correctly is choosing it to improve the feel and performance of your flooring. Unfortunately, it cannot fix real unevenness.
Prep Your Floors, Install Them Correctly to Buy Like a Pro!
Does underlayment help level a floor? It helps with comfort and performance, but it does not level a floor. For a clean, long-lasting floor installation, you need proper leveling tools, prep materials and expert guidance. Pro City is your one-stop supply shop for everything you need. We’ll help you prep smart and buy like a pro!
Ready to level your floors? Contact us or visit our Tampa or Orlando showroom today!
