I just finished two tile jobs back to back with different underlayments and the results were night and day.

First job was a kitchen in a 1950s house, used a cheap 1/4 inch cork underlayment from the big box store. Second job was a bathroom remodel across town, used a proper uncoupling membrane. The cork felt spongy underfoot during install and I had to fight lippage on every other tile. The membrane was rock solid, tiles went down flat and stayed put. I'm talking about a difference of maybe 50 cents a square foot in material cost, but the labor savings on the second job were huge. It's not even close in my book. Do you guys think a premium underlayment is worth it for every job, or just for problem floors?

2 comments

2 Comments

cooper.nathan1d ago

Man, my buddy learned that lesson the hard way with a spongy floor last year.

james9951d ago

My cousin had a floor like that in his old apartment. You could see the carpet ripple when you walked across the room. The landlord kept saying it was fine until his foot went through near the fridge. Turned out the whole subfloor was rotten from a slow leak.