For any laminate floor, underlayment is necessary. Engineered wood floors are prefinished which means they are sanded and sealed. The advantage of engineered wood flooring versus laminate is that engineered wood can be sanded after scratches and dings develop.

Both engineered and laminate floors are installed by a "floated," or "free-floating," method. They are not actually attached to the sub-floor.

The boards are only glued to the mated tongue and groove or by clicking together special made joints.

The underlayment for laminate and floating wood floors is not the same as padding for carpet. However, like carpet padding, it must be placed on the sub-floor first.

Both types of flooring are installed by a "floated," or "free-floating," method, meaning. The underlayment is placed over the sub-floor first then the flooring is assembled on top of the underlayment.

Engineered and laminate floor boards are much more stable than solid wood flooring. The (very minor imperfections are absorbed by the underlayment. This helps deaden the sound since it is not attached to the sub-floor.

There are three basic types of foam underlayment: standard foam, foam/film combination, a floor muffler modified/upgraded.

Standard foam underlayments do not have a moisture barrier attached to them; combo underlayments are used wherever there would be the possibility of moisture coming up from the sub-floor. Combination foam/film underlayment is essentially the same as standard foam except that it has a moisture barrier attached to one side.