Thanks for getting back to me.
I’ve got a carpet with underlay in one of the rooms as it’s needed to increase sound proofing. But don’t want it everywhere.
I have scrapped the idea of laminate as the wood just makes too much noise walking over the floor. I’d probably be asking for trouble.
I have come around to the idea of Quick Step click Vinyl though. I’m finding the material of glue down vinyl too thin and might not be comfortable however the click vinyl does have underlay and is good for sound?
Crazydaze - any particular reason why click Vinyl should be avoided even though it’s a quick step brand?
Click LVT has a terrible reputation in the flooring trade although QuickStep is probably one of the best.
The issue is that it’s a thin plastic board with plastic joints. You have to make sure the subfloor is FLAT no matter what the manufacturers claim regarding coping with uneven floors, the joints are very vulnerable to breaking. So basically the same prep as glue down will be required.
You will have to allow expansion around the edge of the room so remove skirts, fit floor, replace skirts OR fit with gaps to skirts and install decorative scotia/beading. With glue down LVT you fit net to existing skirts, no expansion required.
Running Click LVT through doorways with no doorbar to split the floor is a BIG risk due to expansion issues and weak joints as already mentioned, no manufacturer recommends running through doorways without a split. Glue down LVT is fine to run through doorways as one installation.
Increasingly Click LVT manufacturers are stipulating weight can trap and stop the floor from expanding/contracting contributing to breaking joints, this includes installing under apppliances etc! With Glue Down LVT this simply isn’t an issue.
We must have replaced more than 10 click LVT floors for customers that have failed in the last 12 months, many fitted ‘correctly’ but that have just failed. Laminate is a far more resilient floating floor, the board and joint is thicker and stronger. You can buy Laminate with a LVT top surface layer so I’d look for such ranges if you really want a coating product with LVT layer, we won’t fit click LVT at our shop as company policy and will only supply only.