Because installing vinyl flooring is usually expensive, it pays to ensure a quality, durable result. The key was proper preparation. After we finished all the practice, we moved ahead to install the new fixtures. We ensured that the new wood flooring was laid on a clean, smooth, level, structurally sound base. We already knew the positions of the floor joists, so we marked them on the wall where later the base molding would hide the marks. We rolled out a 15-pound asphalt-laminated kraft paper flooring underlayment to provide a vapor barrier and reduce the floor noise.