Things You’ll Need
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Safety glasses
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Grinder
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Hammer
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Drill
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Planer or sander
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Broom or vacuum
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Utility knife
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Duct tape
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Calcium chloride test kit
Dream Home QuietWalk cushions flooring and makes it more comfortable. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
Using underlayment under a new floor helps to control moisture, soften sounds and improve floor cushioning and comfort. Dream Home QuietWalk underlayment is designed for use under laminate and floating wood floors, where it helps these products move and sound more like traditional hardwood. Made from recycled fibers, this product can be used with both wood and concrete subfloors. Like the floor covering itself, underlayment requires proper installation to ensure the best possible results.
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Step 1
Smooth the subfloor to remove raised areas. Plane or sand away high spots on wood subfloors and remove and replace any protruding nails or screws. Grind away raised bumps or drips of concrete in concrete subfloors, using a grinder. Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes as you work.
Step 2
Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove all dirt and debris.
Step 3
Roll the Dream Home QuietWalk underlayment over the subfloor. Keep the blue vapor barrier side of the material facing up at all times. Leave a 1/2- to 3/4-inch gap along the base of each wall in the room to allow for expansion and contraction. Cut the roll of QuietWalk with a utility knife as needed to fit the space; butt the seams of each row of material together without overlapping.
Step 4
Tape all seams between rows of QuietWalk, using utility-grade duct tape. Press the tape firmly in place to ensure it adheres to the underlayment.
Step 5
Install your laminate or floating wood floor over the underlayment according to the manufacturer's installation instructions.
Tip
Test concrete subfloors before installing this product. Conduct a calcium chloride test if you live in an area subject to high levels of moisture. If the test results indicate that the moisture exceeds 6 pounds per 1,000 square feet in 24 hours, apply concrete sealant or poly sheeting, then repeat the test to ensure moisture levels do not exceed this benchmark.
QuietWalk comes in 100- and 360-foot rolls. Find the square footage of your room by multiplying length times width to determine how much you need, then choose the roll or combination of rolls that best meets your needs.
Warning
QuietWalk is designed for use under floating floors. Do not use this product with nailed or glued floors unless directed by the flooring manufacturer.
