what underlay for real oak flooring?

[benny80]

Hi
I'll be making a start on laying a new real oak wooden floor in my upstairs bedroom in a few weeks and was just wondering whether i should be using an underlay (have heard that for real wood you don't necessarily need to lay underlay??). having already removed some of the carpet, i have a floor that is laid on what i think is tongue and groove sheets - possibly chipboard from the looks of it - nailed into the joists.
Thanks
Ben

 

[WoodYouLike]

Wonder where you heard that? Perhaps they meant when installing directly onto joists?

Anyway, when you install real wood on any subfloor - using the floating method - you do need underlayment, if only for sound-insulation to prevent the real wood ending up sounding like melamine plastic.

 

[benny80]

well i thought it was strange but it was through a freind whose friend is a carpenter. the first thing i thought of was sound insualtion but there you go...so the foam underlay is the best for the floating floor? i dont intend to secret nail. is this the same sort of underlay as you can pick up for laminate underlay?

 

[WoodYouLike]

If it's minimal 3mm thick then it's fine.

 

[benny80]

thanks - so just so im absolutely clear - use foam underlay that is a minimum of 3mm thick for real wood? what happens if its less than 3mm - juts out of curiosity?

 

[WoodYouLike]

The sound-insulating effect wouldn't be worth much