Tom Luxsox Coins

Cents Ngc

How to Choose Underlayment Pad for Laminate Flooring

We've noticed many cheap alternatives to good pads, here is what you should look for when choosing the best possible underlayment at a good or great value.

1. Use your favorite search engine and look for the manufactuer's website.  Make sure there is one, if not beware!

2. Look for independent testing laboratory results.  This is how you know that you are really getting what you are paying for.

Independent testing results from a certified independent laboratory is the easiest way to know you are truly getting what you are paying for.  Silent Blue™ is currently the only pad that uses an independent lab and offers the labs results right on their website.  When I asked the the folks at Silent Blue™ why they thought Silent Blue™ was the only underlayment that offered test results from an independent laboratory they simply explained that if the product was tested in house... How could anyone know for sure that the results were not influenced in any way?  By using the top testing lab. in the U.S. they are showing Floor Covering Retailers and consumers that this is a real pad that truly makes the floor much easier on the ears.

But the tests are expensive... and worth every cent.  This is the only way for the consumer to know for sure that the underlayment they are purchasing really has the specifications it claims to meet.  Many companies are claiming the same specifications with nothing to prove their claims.  To make sure you are buying a pad from a reliable source, simply look for the manufacturer's website, and look for their test.

Ways to know whether you are actually getting what you are paying for.

1. Is there a manufacturer's website?  If there isn't one, CLICK fast and get out of there, do not buy a pad without knowing the manufacturer.  What if you have a problem in the future, and the store you purchased it from is gone, who will you turn to?

2. Look for the manufactuer's sound ratings, are they simply provided by the factory or do they have an independent laboratory's results?  Many products are produced in China today, and many of these factories will put anything you want on the label.  The way you will know you are truly buying a pad with the sound ratings claimed is to actually see the results, not from the manufacturer, not from a factory in China, but from a reliable source, ie. NGC is recognized in the floor covering industry as the leader when it comes to unbiassed testing.

3. The Silent Blue™ difference.  The formula has to be just right, or you lose sound control.  If, for example, a clear or metallic film is attached to the pad you could easily loose the sound ratings.  Pads are commonly attached with heat and adhesive.  The problems generated from adding heat is that air captured in the closed cell construction  (the most critical part of achieving a high sound rating) escapes.  We know this because denser versions of Silent Blue™ are available but they have lower sound ratings!  The reason why is because as the pad gets denser, it contains less air in the closed cell structure and air is a critical ingredient in the formula to remove the annoying sound produced by laminate and floating floors.

About the Author

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