Film under the parquet board. Properties and characteristics of substrates for parquet. Water is the worst enemy of parquet

If the parquet floor is to be laid in a floating way, then you will need a parquet board underlay in without fail. It will take on the role of a layer between the obvious base and the finish coat. Is she really that necessary? We will talk about the indispensability of the substrate, as well as its main types, in this article.

Why is an underlay needed?

So, the decision has been made - a parquet board will “flaunt” on the floor. But have you prepared the ground for it? Even if it seems to you that the floor is “licked” to perfection, some irregularities will still be present, whether you like it or not. They just form under the parquet board those same voids that can significantly undermine the "well-being" of the coating, up to a reduction in its service life.

If you lay the floor covering without any "preludes" directly on the screed, then after a certain period of time the floor will begin to play. A backlash of even a couple of millimeters causes a lot of inconvenience, and not only to you, but to respected neighbors from below - any sound from human movement (especially in high heeled shoes) will be heard very clearly. Agree, there is little pleasant here.

All this can be easily avoided - you just need to purchase and timely lay a high-quality substrate under the parquet board. It is able to finally smooth out minor irregularities in the base, create good cushioning and dampen impact noise that occurs when walking.

Dispelling the myths about underlay

Myth #1 - The thicker the better

This is the most common misconception. For some reason, many people believe that laying a thick substrate will significantly reduce the load on the parquet board and that walking on the floor will be softer. We hasten to assure you that this is not the case. According to the standards, the maximum allowable base drop under the parquet board is two millimeters for every two square meters. Soft foam or cork backing tends to compress when pressed. The greater its thickness (its layer), the greater the height difference will be. And the difference in height and other irregularities, as we have already noted, create a backlash - in this case, on the locks of the parquet board. Lock joints begin to creak and actively wear out. And the saddest thing is that all this charm will “come out” in a couple of months - you will not be able to take timely measures.

The optimal thickness of the substrate under the parquet board is two millimeters. If the base is well aligned, it is this figure that will allow you to meet the standard difference. Plus, the absence of, say, a small fragment of the substrate will be completely imperceptible.

Myth # 2 - the substrate is able to even out any differences

Oh, how delightful that would be if it were not true! The repetition of all the irregularities of the subfloor is one of the features of the substrates. To bring the base into proper condition, it is necessary to use either the appropriate mixtures or sheets of gypsum, moisture-resistant plywood.

Myth # 3 - the substrate in sheets is the most wonderful

Sheet material has absolutely no advantages over roll material: neither in terms of laying, nor during operation.

Types of substrates and their features

The modern market offers the buyer polyethylene foam, foil, cork, rubber and bitumen-cork substrates, as well as substrates made of composite materials. Let's consider each variety separately.

Option #1 - polyethylene foam

Polyethylene foam backing is the most common. This material has a high chemical resistance to various substances. She is not afraid of mold, fungi, bacteria or moisture. But! Foamed polymers are flammable and toxic. This is an extremely significant disadvantage.

In addition, as is known, the polymerization process is reversible - this means that such a polymer will decompose under the influence of light and oxygen. Simply put, in about ten years, your polyethylene foam backing will turn into some kind of powder, completely losing all its positive properties. Since the foamed polyethylene is sensitive to ultraviolet light, the substrate made of this material before laying under the parquet board, it is better to store in the dark.

Option #2 - foil

The substrate with a foil layer is a good noise, hydro and heat insulator. As a rule, polyethylene foam samples are foiled - this material is recommended to be used when laying the coating on logs with rigid fixation of the board.

Option #3 - cork

Such substrates are crushed and then pressed cork oak bark. It is an organic natural material without any chemicals. The cork substrate under the parquet board does not rot, does not mold, is an excellent heat and sound insulator. She is able to keep her best qualities throughout the entire operating period.

The only remark - cork backing must not be laid directly on fresh screed. First, a waterproofing layer should be laid: a solid polyethylene film.

There is also a rubber-cork variety of the above-described substrate, on a synthetic basis. It is an excellent sound insulator. With a bang, it dampens the vibrations of electrical appliances.

Option #4 - bituminous cork (Parkolag)

This is kraft paper treated with bitumen and sprinkled with cork chips. The main advantages of bitumen-cork substrates are durability, good sound insulation, high moisture protection. Stacked cork "seasoning" down.

Considering the advantages of a particular material, it is important to pay attention to its disadvantages. A significant disadvantage of these substrates is the property of bituminous mastic to highlight in in large numbers formaldehyde.

Option #5 - from composite materials (Tuplex)

Tuplex - three-layer material. The bottom one is represented by a porous film that allows moisture to pass into the middle layer filled with balls (it maintains a constant height of the product). Upper layer- polyethylene film.

The use of such a substrate is especially important in case of problems with the screed (its “underdrying”, the formation of condensate). Thus, the risk of damage to the parquet board is significantly reduced.

Which option is still better?

After reading this material, you will probably wonder - so which substrate is still better? According to experienced experts, as well as already sophisticated buyers, the most reasonable choice in terms of practicality, safety and durability are cork samples, as well as Tuplex.

The article provides detailed description the process of installing a parquet board on a screed. You will learn about the differences in the substrate, the properties of the parquet board and the features of installation. The article contains step by step photos process with detailed comments on the installation of parquet flooring.

Wooden flooring - profitable solution for cozy interior. Today, the variety of natural materials and imitations is huge - from dozens of types of exclusive natural small-piece parquet to fiberboard boards with a wood-like pattern, called "laminate". The golden mean of these options is a parquet board on a plywood basis. It combines the exceptional structural strength and durability of plywood (the basis of the board), abrasion-resistant coating (1-3 mm) and a magnificent appearance, visually indistinguishable from natural wood.

Screed Requirements

The parquet board is laid on a pre-prepared base. This training has two goals:

1. Strengthening the old or creating a new foundation. An old wooden floor can be quite reliable if it is additionally reinforced with self-tapping screws.
2. Base alignment. On the wood flooring stack OSB boards or plywood, a screed is arranged on the concrete. A combination is quite acceptable - when a plywood base is attached to a concrete slab.

In the vast majority of cases, the parquet board is laid on cement-sand screed through the underlay. This is the most economical and fastest option for floor cladding. Screed Requirements:

1. Level difference - no more than 1 mm per meter. This is due to the special attachment of individual boards to each other - the "lock". He does not tolerate (does not hide) distortions - they immediately become visible. Slots may appear on the surface of the parquet, allowing moisture from cleaning into the body of the board.
2. Waterproofing. The surface must not absorb or give off moisture - this can lead to the formation of zones high humidity.
3. Absolutely Smooth surface, without bumps and random pebbles.

The final layer of the screed for parquet is a leveling mixture that creates an ideal plane in the horizon.

About cork backing

Two fundamentally different types laying - "dry" and glue. When gluing, the substrate is not used, but reinforced waterproofing is used. We will consider the option of "dry" laying on a cement-sand base.

There are only two options for the substrate - natural and artificial. Natural is made from cork, artificial - from polyethylene. There is no decisive difference between them, except perhaps the very understanding of the fact that the wooden coating is laid on a natural substrate with similar properties. Another fact - when burning, the cork sheet does not emit harmful substances as opposed to polyethylene.

Substrate and board installation

So, if the base is prepared in accordance with the requirements, you can start laying the parquet board. For work you will need:

1. Control and measuring and marking tool - tape measure, square, pencil.
2. Carpenter's power tool - jigsaw, vacuum cleaner.

Question: What to do if there are cracks on the screed?

Answer: Such foundation defects are the norm for "high-speed construction". If the crack width is not more than 2 mm, it was formed during intensive drying of the screed due to rapid and uneven evaporation of moisture. Such a crack is not dangerous.

Substrate laying

Before starting work, the screed should be dedusted.

Vacuum all corners and crevices carefully.

After cleaning, you need to lay the substrate. Indentation from the wall - 5-10 mm. It is better to fix the sheets together with adhesive tape so that they do not go astray.

The substrate can be laid gradually - under every few rows. The width of the roll is 1-1.2 m, which means that 5-6 rows of boards will be obtained per sheet.

The nuance of this method is that before laying each sheet, the surface must be dedusted. The screed will wear out from the shoes of the master.

Board mounting

Of decisive importance correct installation first row. However, if the row starts from a flat wall, it is easier to do this - we install the boards through the lining to maintain the distance from the wall.

The way to install the board is intuitive - the design of the lock does not make it possible to do it wrong. In order not to spoil the edge when landing with a hammer, use a gasket.

When measuring a board for side cutting, do not forget about the technological indent from the wall of 5-10 mm.

One of the most effective tricks of the master is reverse markup or markup with reverse side. The teeth on the jigsaw blade are arranged from the bottom up. In order not to damage the decorative cutting edge, it is better to cut the board along inside. In addition, this way you will avoid possible stripes and scratches from the jigsaw stroke.

The last boards of the room are marked out in fact and cut to length. If a joint is planned along the joint plate, observe a minimum gap of 5 mm.

Angle laying

A popular technique is visual “expansion” narrow corridors due to laying at an angle to the wall. The complexity of installing the first ("beacon") row in this case is higher than that of the "from the wall" rows. Especially if there are niches, corners, slopes, etc.

Consider the process for complex example- pairing of two walls with recessed canvases.

To install the "beacon" it is necessary to build a straight line (possible with a laser, thread, ruler) at an angle of 45 ° to the junction bar. Then set this straight line at the distance of the technological gap from the corner point. Exactly along this line the edge of the board of the first row will pass. The angle can be adjusted if necessary.

This method really "expands" the space, but you have to pay for it. additional costs cutting material.

Finished cover:

If you intend to continue work, be sure to lay a protective layer - polyethylene, but better cardboard or DVP.

Parquet board is not a cheap material, and its service life is at least 30 years. Therefore, it requires a lot of attention and skill. If alignment or substrate is neglected, a negative result will appear within a year after installation. Therefore, follow the rules from the instructions and our articles.

The underlayment under the parquet board is a question that everyone who has made a decision in favor of a noble aristocratic floor covering- parquet board or laminate, its imitation.

From this article you will learn why such a choice is always a compromise between advantages and disadvantages.

What is an underlay?

The substrate under the parquet board plays the role of a shock absorber, hides the smallest irregularities of the base. The most high-quality and durable materials are not eternal, and parquet is one of them. What happens to a parquet board without a backing?

Any rough coating has defects, even if at first glance they are not visible. A parquet board is the same princess on a pea that “feels” bumps and pits that are invisible to you.

Over time, a play of a few millimeters will become more and more noticeable, the floor will begin to “play”, movement on it will become less and less silent, especially in shoes.

The substrate is important for sound insulation - with it, the neighbors below will stop hearing your movements.

Those who think about how necessary the substrate under the parquet should be told that this is not a topic for discussion.

Like the fact that the wiring must match the voltage, and wall tiles you need to plant on high-quality glue.

The underlay just has to be. At the same time, the tricks of unscrupulous advertisers and sellers who are trying to convince that it solves all the problems of laying parquet are also sinning against the truth.

For example, the statement that the thicker the substrate, the better it is: supposedly big thickness reduces the load on the parquet board and makes the floor "softer".

For every two meters of parquet boards, a base difference of 2 mm is allowed.

A coniferous or cork substrate under a parquet board is compressed when pressed, therefore, the height difference will exceed 2-3 mm, regulated by generally accepted quality standards.

As a result, the same backlash will appear, for the sake of avoiding which the choice of the substrate was started. The lock joints will experience increased stress, which will significantly reduce the life of the floor.

If the substrate is thinner, during operation it will crumble and after a few years it will have to be replaced.

The boards at the joints will begin to play, creak and wear out. The base under the floor should be as even as possible, then 2-3 mm is quite a sufficient thickness of the substrate under the parquet board, so that the parquet will please for many years.

Another misconception is that the substrate brightens up any unevenness of the screed.

Whatever substrate you choose - coniferous, cork, thick or thin - its peculiarity is that it will repeat all the defects of the surface on which it is placed.

It is necessary to prepare the surface for laying parquet boards using special mixtures, gypsum sheets, moisture-resistant plywood and other materials.

Unscrupulous sellers claim that it is difficult to choose something better than a sheet substrate.

Practice shows that neither in the process of laying, nor in the process of using the floor, it has any advantages over the rolled one.

Substrate selection

The variety of substrates for parquet and laminate is great: polyethylene foam, foil, cork, coniferous, rubber-cork bitumen-cork and others. Which substrate for parquet board and laminate flooring is better and how not to get confused when choosing?

Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, coniferous or cork substrates captivate with a natural composition, so many people prefer them.

However, materials absorb any odors, such as spilled soup or cat urine.

Coniferous substrate is a fertile environment for various insects, for example, cat fleas. Cork quickly swells from moisture, so it is necessary to put a layer of polyethylene under it.

The declared environmental friendliness is also in doubt, because the coniferous particles are fastened with something, and the manufacturers do not disclose the composition of the glue.

In addition, the thickness of such a substrate is 4-5 mm, which immediately voids the warranty for a laminate or parquet board.

Expanded polystyrene is devoid of the shortcomings of natural and conditionally natural materials, but it is characterized by low strength, therefore it is not particularly convenient to use, and over time it generally turns into dust.

In addition, when destroyed, the material releases an extremely toxic component, styrene. It negatively affects the heart and liver, provoking the development of diseases of these organs. Bitumen releases into environment formaldehyde is also not the most useful material.

Foamed polyethylene is one of the best options. It is practically eternal, does not attract fungus, mold or insects, does not cause allergies, and is inert to odors.

Among other things, polyethylene (other names isolon, tilit, penofol) isolates the floor boards from internal dampness, the source of which can be screed concrete. The best part is that this option is one of the most economical.

Polyethylene foam is by and large, the same polyethylene from which canisters are made for drinking water, plastic utensils, grocery bags and many other materials.

When it decomposes, it releases ethylene, a gas harmless to humans, and a number of more harmful substances, but in very small quantities.

Polyethylene foam cannot be called the most environmentally friendly material, but it is definitely not more dangerous than plastic, from which metal-plastic windows are made.

However, polyethylene foam is a fire hazardous material. Its main danger is in smoke formation, and after all, as you know, during a fire, only a small percentage of people suffer from fire, most of them become victims of suffocating smoke.

The foil substrate is not a separate type of cushioning material, but its additional function.

Manufacturers usually foil foamed polyethylene foam, enhancing its ability to isolate from noise, moisture and heat loss.

Each material and product has pros and cons, the latter have to be put up with. There is no universal rule for choosing, and do not believe those who come up with unambiguous recommendations.

In order to choose the right type of substrate, it is necessary to assess the operating conditions of the floor - in which room it will be located, the level of fire hazard of the room and what means fire protection you plan to provide, humidity and many other parameters.

This is the only way to make the best choice in each case.

Parquet board today occupies a leading position among floor coverings. It helps to quickly and efficiently obtain a reliable, durable and amazing coating. To do this, you must follow the basic rules of laying. by the most important condition is the right choice of parquet board and underlayment.

Functions of the substrate under the parquet board

The substrate under the parquet board performs two main functions:

• The parquet board moves freely along the base. Thus, the load exerted on the parquet board is evenly distributed.
• Provides the necessary level of sound insulation. Dampen vibrations from noise: shocks, vibrations household appliances, impacts from walking.

The substrate allows you to slightly smooth out some defects in the base. When laying a parquet floor over concrete or screed, many materials can release large amounts of water vapour. This negatively affects the condition of the wood.

The underlay also improves the thermal insulation of the floor.

You can provide vapor barrier if you put an additional layer of dense polyethylene film under the substrate. The substrates themselves are also characterized by the presence of vapor barrier properties. From here, you can glue the seams between the sheets of the substrate using construction tape.

Types of substrates for parquet boards

At the moment, the building materials market offers its customers the following types of substrates:

• cork,
• polyethylene foam,
• polypropylene foam,
• duplex,
• Parkolag.

Each of the presented species is characterized by strong and weak qualities. Which of them is the substrate for the parquet board, you can find out better if you consider it separately quality characteristics of every kind.

Cork backing

Cork flooring underlayment is the only environmentally friendly natural material. Cork is a traditional material for obtaining a substrate for a parquet board. It can be called the best option of all existing.

Cork backing - natural, environmentally friendly pure material

Advantages:

• has noise_, heat and sound insulation qualities;
• is an environmentally friendly product.

Flaws:

• absorbs water, which causes it to swell.

When choosing a cork substrate, the thickness should be taken into account, which should be strictly 2 mm. A smaller thickness will lead to the fact that the cork will begin to crumble, and the locking joints of the parquet board will also be damaged.

Advice! The cork underlay is not laid directly on the fresh screed. Before laying the cork underlay, a vapor barrier must be laid. There is also a substrate with a glued vapor barrier made of polyethylene or rubber. It costs much more than this.

Foil backing

This type of substrate has excellent noise, hydro and thermal insulation properties. The foil layer is applied to polyethylene foam samples. Such material is recommended when laying parquet boards on logs with rigid fixation of the board.

Foil backing with polyethylene foam backing

PE foam backing

The polyethylene foam substrate is one of the cheapest and available materials. Polyethylene foam is considered one of the cheapest and most undemanding backing materials. make it different thickness. For a parquet board, its thickness should be 2 mm.

Advantages:

• polyethylene has a porous structure closed type, so it does not absorb and does not pass moisture.
• characterized by excellent body, sound and noise insulation properties.
• Does not rot and is resistant to many solvents.

Flaws:

• artificial origin.
• Poor resistance to fire.
• Over time, it shrinks heavily and loses half of its performance.

Polyethylene foam underlay is one of the cheapest

Polypropylene foam backing

Expanded polypropylene is a toxic and flammable material. For living rooms, this material is not the best. best option. This backing is similar to polyethylene. But there are some points that are different:

• Polypropylene is more flammable and toxic.
• Expanded polypropylene is not durable material. Its service life is 7-10 years. After this time, the substrate becomes like dust.

This material has the lowest cost, but is not the most the best option for parquet boards in residential premises.

park camp

The Parkolag substrate has excellent operational properties, however, is quite toxic when heated. In the manufacture of this type of substrate, bituminous mastic is used.

Tuplesk - universal substrate for parquet

Tuplesk is an artificial material consisting of three layers. Each layer has its own specific role.

• The bottom layer is presented in the form of a porous film. It holds the middle layer together and lets moisture in.
• The middle layer has the form of small balls that help to maintain the shape of the material. The gaps between the balls play the role of ventilation.
• The third layer is presented in the form of a conventional polyethylene film. It acts as a vapor barrier material.

The duplex substrate is great solution for all basics. It is laid directly on the concrete screed. However, don't worry about high level humidity. The presence of an air gap in the middle of the material allows moisture to be easily removed and then gradually evaporates through the expansion gaps between the floor covering and the wall. The cost of Tuplex is about the same as that of a cork.

Purpose of the substrate
Wrong stereotypes about the substrate
Substrate varieties

The peculiarity of laying parquet flooring is that under it it is necessary to create a layer of the substrate in case the installation is carried out in a floating way. The article will talk about why such a layer is necessary, about its independence and about which substrate to choose for a parquet board so that the coating lasts a long time and effectively.

Purpose of the substrate

If the owner decides to lay parquet in his house, then first of all he should take care of bringing the base to optimal condition.

Regardless of how diligently the worker processed the subfloor, irregularities on it will remain and must be eliminated.

Due to their presence, voids are formed under the parquet flooring that can cause the coating to quickly deform, which is unacceptable, since any visual manifestations will spoil the impression of guests or people who see the room in the photo published on social networks.

First of all after improper styling parquet flaws will appear in the form of a backlash - a gap that creates characteristic sounds when walking on the floor surface.

Any knock on the parquet flooring leads to sound propagation over a long distance.

To avoid such floor imperfections is quite simple.

If a high-quality parquet underlay is used, then any unevenness of the subfloor will be smoothed out, depreciation characteristics will increase, and any noise from impacts and knocks on the parquet flooring will be softened.

Wrong stereotypes about the substrate

Many owners of their own homes have a certain opinion about whether a substrate is needed for a parquet board and what its features should be.

Basically, they do not correspond to reality, and therefore it is necessary to refute each one so that other buyers do not make mistakes when choosing a substrate for parquet.

Consider the main stereotypes:

• The effectiveness of the substrate depends on its thickness.

  Do not think that the substrate will soften the movement on the surface and reduce the load. In fact, it is not. According to the rules, the amplitude of the unevenness of the base under the parquet should not exceed 2 millimeters per meter. For example, polyethylene foam or cork material are strongly compressed under load, and therefore, with an increase in thickness, the amplitude of the surface levels also increases.

  As mentioned earlier, too large differences in surface level will lead to the formation of play and rapid deformation. The most negative impact will be at the joints between parquet flooring boards. The first negative manifestations of the excessive thickness of the parquet board with the substrate will give already 2-3 months after commissioning (read: "The length and thickness of the parquet - standard sizes").

  It is optimal to use a substrate layer of 2 millimeters. Naturally, maximum efficiency a substrate of this thickness will only be achieved by properly leveling the subfloor.

• By using an underlay, any variations in the subfloor can be eliminated.

  Again, this is an unreasonable baseless statement. The peculiarity of the substrate is that its structure completely repeats all the elevations and depressions of the base. It is necessary to obtain a perfectly even base using various self-leveling compounds, gypsum sheets or moisture-resistant plywood.

• Sheet substrate is the best option. The sheet substrate does not dominate in any of the indicators over the rolled type of material.

Substrate varieties

On the modern construction market, you can find many types of substrates for parquet flooring.

Let us consider in more detail the features of the main types:

1. Polyethylene foam. The most common type is an underlay based on foamed polyethylene foam. The advantage of this material is increased resistance to chemical attack of various substances.

   Such a layer is absolutely indifferent to the formation of mold, fungi, reproduction and influence of bacteria, moisture, etc. The disadvantage of this material is excessive flammability and reversibility of the polymerization process.

   If the first can be avoided by following the basic safety rules when laying the material, then the second disadvantage causes a limited life of the polyethylene foam substrate. Under influence sunlight and oxygen, the polymer decomposes and turns into a powder composition with the loss of all its positive properties.

   To achieve maximum long term operation of such a substrate, it is recommended to store it in a dark, dry place without drafts until it is laid under the parquet.

2. foil. The foil backing is great material, which not only ensures the reliability of the operation of parquet flooring, but also increases its noise, hydro and heat insulation characteristics.

   The foil layer most often has a polyethylene film under the parquet board on the basis of a log with a rigid mount.

3. Cork. A similar cork underlay for a parquet board is represented by oak bark, which is crushed and pressed. The material used is natural wood which is absolutely harmless to the human body.

   The main advantages of such a substrate are that it does not undergo decay processes, mold formation, and also has excellent heat and noise insulation characteristics. The maximum effective layer quality is maintained during long-term operation. It is important to know that it is impossible to lay a cork substrate on only a flooded screed. Under it, it is necessary to organize a waterproofing layer of thick polyethylene.

There is a variety of this material, created on the basis of a synthetic substance (rubber).

The main advantage of such a layer is sound insulation and damping of vibrations from working household appliances.

1. Bitumen-cork (Parkolag). Such a substrate is created from wrapping paper high strength, treated with bituminous mixture, with the application of cork chips. Its advantage is a long service life, excellent soundproofing characteristics, high protection from exposure to moisture.

   Laying is carried out with a layer of applied cork down. The disadvantage of this material is that it emits formaldehyde during operation.

2. Composite materials (Tuplex). A three-layer substrate for a parquet board Tuplex is created from a layer represented by a film with pores through which moisture enters higher to a layer of special balls that ensure uniform distribution over the base.

   Completes all this with a polyethylene film designed to improve waterproofing characteristics. It is best to use such a substrate with high humidity and poor drying of the parquet board. However, the possibilities of such a coating are a reason to use a low-quality floor covering, because visually and in the photo its shortcomings will be visible to everyone.

   See also: "How to lay parquet with your own hands - tips and secrets."

Outcome

Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that the most practical, reliable and durable are two types of substrate: cork and Tuplex. In case of difficulties when laying the substrate or choosing it, it is recommended to contact specialists who will take responsibility for all stages of the work.

Sound deadening and separation screen pad (with holes) made of polyethylene foam for use with SikaBond-52 Parquet adhesive. The most popular adhesive system for laying parquet on a substrate. The Sika Acoubond system allows you to lay engineered, parquet, massive board, block parquet, modular parquet, laminate, etc. without plywood. The underlay completely replaces the functions of plywood (except for the ability to fix the planks with screws), providing additional advantages.

Laying parquet on SikaLayer is cheaper traditional way on plywood.

Available in 3 and 5 mm thick versions.

We recommend SikaLayer-03 3mm thick. The difference between the substrates in sound insulation is insignificant, the 3 mm substrate dampens sounds by 16 dB, the 5 mm substrate by 18 dB, but with a 3 mm thick substrate it is more convenient to work and the glue line is better.

Advantages

Quality soundproofing.

Significantly reduces both reflected room noise and footfall noise (up to 18 dB) into lower rooms.

Creates a temperature barrier between the base and parquet. The parquet has a more even temperature at the top and bottom, which reduces the risk of splitting and warping of the wood. Reduced risk of mold and soaking excess moisture from the base.

Reduced base requirements.

Suitable for laying on screed, concrete, asphalt, ceramic tiles, gypsum, chipboard, wood floor, etc. The point load on the base is reduced, therefore, less durable screeds are suitable for laying than for classic gluing.

The high adhesive line compensates for minor irregularities in the base.

It is not required to target the substrate to the base, where communications can take place.

No odors during operation building dust. Can parquet be installed indoors? fine finish, for example, during complete replacement floor covering.

Speeds up the installation process. The parquet can be laid until it can be used within one day.

Probably the most fast way lay the solid board correctly.

Economic styling.

Substrate under the parquet board - how to choose the best, an overview of the most popular options

Low adhesive consumption, affordable substrate. Cheaper than laying on plywood or similar European adhesive systems.

Instructions for use Sika AcouBond System

Prices for the product: Sika SikaLayer-05 solid and engineered board underlay

Related products

All related products

Every laminate and parquet board store sells an underlay - required related material. Manufacturers are looking for additional profits and come up with more and more new substrate, often completely unreasonably. Managers in stores rarely have a serious theoretical base and often give harmful information to customers.

In this article, we will try to describe all the popular types of substrates and answer the question - which substrate is better for parquet boards and laminate.

Substrate thickness and other theoretical information

Perhaps the most common misconception among buyers is the belief that the thicker the substrate, the better. Allegedly, it will be softer to walk and the load on the parquet board or laminate will be less.

This is not true. According to the standard, the maximum height difference when laying laminate and parquet boards is 2 mm per 2 m². This includes both the drop of the base itself and the shrinkage of the substrate.

Soft materials such as foam backing or cork backing will compress when pressed. The larger the layer of such a substrate, the more difference height. The difference in height creates play on the locks of the laminate or parquet board, which causes increased wear of the lock joint and the appearance of a creak.

What is most offensive is that the parquet board creaks and the lock does not break off immediately, but after a few months without the possibility of timely detection of a laying defect.

Based on the above, the standard substrate thickness is 2 mm. This thickness with a well-leveled base, even with complete damage or the absence of a fragment of the substrate (for example, due to poor-quality laying or strips of the substrate that have parted) allows you to keep within the standard allowable difference.

Please note that most parquet board manufacturers state in their laying requirements that a cork underlayment with a thickness of 2 mm is required. With a non-standard substrate, even in a warranty case, the manufacturer may refuse, but in practice, the manufacturer only cares about the thickness.

Stores often sell cork 4, 6 or 8 mm thick, but such materials are not intended by manufacturers for laying laminate and parquet boards.

Another myth is that the base can be leveled with a substrate.

Substrates for laminate and parquet board perfectly follow the shape of all floor irregularities. To level the floor in cases where it is impossible to use hardening mixtures (often due to saving work time), it is necessary to use hard materials- either it is gypsum or other sheets, or moisture-resistant traditional plywood.

Almost all types of substrates (except for Tuplex and based on bituminous mastic) have a porous structure that is not protected from moisture.

When laying on plywood or leveling dry sheets, additional moisture insulation is not required. If parquet boards and laminate are laid on a screed, dew appears on the surface of the screed due to the temperature difference, therefore it is highly recommended to lay a 200 micron thick polyethylene film or slightly thicker with a wide overlap under a moisture-proof substrate.

More often, the substrate was sold not in rolls, but in sheets.

For example, a cork. No benefits or convenience sheet materials when laying, no, except for a greater profit for the manufacturer.

Propylene foam backing

The cheapest substrate, which is often bought under the laminate. Nothing particularly bad can be said at first glance - it satisfies the requirements for laying, does not react to moisture. One caveat - the collapse of foamed propylene occurs on average after 7-10 years, after which the substrate turns into powder, losing the necessary properties of hydro and thermal insulation.

In addition, foamed propylene rolls may lie in storage for a couple of years before being sold to the consumer. All foamed polymers are flammable, much more dangerous than wood, especially when you take into account the high toxicity, as a result of which the use of such a substrate is prohibited in many buildings.

Cork backing

Traditional underlay for parquet boards. Cork is the best natural noise and heat insulator and completely natural product so really great stuff.

The only serious minus of the cork is that it swells from water. Cork backing is available different thickness, under a parquet board and a laminate it is necessary to use only a cork substrate 2 mm thick. If the substrate is thinner - it crumbles, significantly reducing the life of floating floors. If the cork is thicker - there is an excessive load on the locking connection. The lack of moisture protection should not significantly affect the choice, because.

the inner layers of the parquet board, and even more so the laminate, are much more afraid of moisture. If the cork substrate is laid on a concrete screed or self-leveling floor, be sure to lay a 200 micron thick polyethylene film with a wide overlap on the bottom and walk along the joints with moisture-proof tape.

Sometimes you can find exotics in stores - a cork backing with a ready-made polyethylene layer.

Good, but the cost is too high, it's easier to buy two layers separately.

Substrate Duplex

Substrate Duplex - a material of three layers.

The bottom layer is a porous film that allows moisture to pass from below into the middle layer. The middle layer is stuffed with expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) balls that maintain a constant layer height. Between the balls there is an air layer with good ventilation.

The top layer is a polyethylene film.

Together, this is especially effective in case of insufficiently dried screed or if there is condensation on the screed due to intermittent heating of the room.

Substrate under the parquet board: features of choice and installation

Moisture penetrates through the pores into the middle layer and is well ventilated through the air ducts along the perimeter of the room in the places of gaps between the parquet board and the wall. Thus, the risk of damage to the parquet is significantly reduced.

Tuplex underlay is by far the best “lazy” underlay for parquet and laminate if you don’t want to look for waterproofing polyethylene for cork. Duplex has a price approximately equal to the cork substrate, however, it is usually supplied in rolls of 33 m², which is not always convenient.

If desired, you can find rolls of 10 m² in stores. Tuplex in any case guarantees waterproofing, regardless of the professionalism of the installers, so parquet manufacturers like to recommend such a substrate (Karelia and Kahrs, for example).

Bituminous substrate

Substrate based on bituminous mastic - a new product on Russian market, but actively promoted by several networks of parquet salons.

The main advantages are noise, heat, moisture insulation. We confirm that these benefits are in place, but the sellers are silent about one thing - bituminous mastic emits formaldehyde in large quantities, especially in hot weather or when laying near heat pipes. Because of this feature, bitumen-based materials are banned in many countries and institutions. Recently, in Moscow and a number of regions, it was forbidden to use bituminous materials for roofing, a lot of money is being invested to convert asphalt with bitumen to paving slabs just because of environmental issues.

Coniferous substrate

Actively promoted product on the Russian market.

The thickness of the substrate is 4-7 mm, so you automatically lose the warranty for parquet or laminate. In any dispute, the parquet manufacturer will say that you have used a non-recommended underlay, regardless of who is at fault in your case. The main problem - the attempt of the companies promoting the coniferous substrate to sit on two chairs - is also recommended as a material for the base (i.e.

competitor GVL, OSB and plywood), and as a damper (other substrates). The material cannot fulfill both purposes, because. in the first case, the rigidity of the material is required, and in the second, softness. Below is a press release from one of the popular manufacturers coniferous substrate with technologist's comments.

• "Completely environmentally friendly material that does not contain chemical elements." Debatable.

  Due to what particles of needles are kept, what is the composition of the glue / resin?

• "Removes uneven floors up to 3 mm, depending on the thickness of the substrate." For what? If due to softness, then an additional load on the locks (the service life of parquet / laminate is reduced, creaking, cracks at the ends may appear).
• “The porosity of the softwood substrate prevents moisture from accumulating under the floor covering and weathers it, passing it through itself, which prevents the appearance of mold and fungus.”

  Everyone has A and B, but cellulose is just a nutrient medium for the fungus. The use of pine needles increases the possibility of fungus. Or glue is used that closes the cellulose, which is not immediately environmentally friendly.

• “Over time, it does not dry out and does not sag.” Debatable.

  Due to what then aligns, if not sags?

• "Aligns the humidity in the room by absorbing or releasing moisture when it is deficient in the surrounding air." This is a reference to the properties of wood.

  Then fungus.

Backing with a foil layer

The foil layer is a good hydro, heat, noise insulator and is rather an improved version original material substrates. The foil is usually a polyethylene foam substrate, the main qualities of such a substrate are described above. Foil underlay is recommended for laying on logs with rigid fixation of the board, as well as for inexpensive laminate with a service life of about 10 years.

Which underlay is best?

In our opinion, it is better to use under a laminate and a parquet board either Tuplex or a cork substrate (with or without a polyethylene layer, depending on the substrate).

Yes, and cork - the best substrate under the warm floor.

We hope our underlayment review will save you and your floor.

Substrate for parquet and laminate

Porilex NPE 2, 3

Substrate for parquet and laminateMain line of materials — PenoHome

Porilex NPE LLDPE FlooRes

Underlay for parquet and laminateUnique range of materials PenoPremium

Modern Construction Materials allow you to quickly carry out repairs and get functional, beautiful and diverse interior solutions.

Moreover, if we talk about the choice of flooring, then materials such as parquet and laminate allow you to carry out repairs associated with laying the floor quickly, efficiently and even independently. Laying a modern parquet board or laminate does not require special skills, and thanks to the unique design of the lock, the quality of such work will always be on top.

However, the quality of the floor in terms of durability and performance characteristics will be determined not only by the accuracy of laying the laminate, but also by the preparation of the surface, which can be used as concrete screed or the so-called self-leveling floor.

Substrate under the parquet board. Features of choice

Also, it is very desirable that as a gasket between the screed and decorative coating a specialized foam backing for the laminate was used.

Operational properties and features of the sheet substrate

Our catalog contains several types of substrates for laminate or parquet, made on the basis of polyethylene foam. Such a foam underlay not only greatly simplifies the process of laying laminate or parquet, but also gives the floor unique performance characteristics:

• the substrate for the laminate evens out minor defects in the screed, helps to eliminate distortions in the finished floor structure;
• such a sheet substrate can significantly improve the soundproofing properties of the floor;
• low thermal conductivity of the substrate under the parquet board and laminate contributes to an increase thermal insulation properties premises, which means it will save on energy;
• the FlooRes laminate sheet does not absorb moisture, and its ribbed structure helps natural ventilation and drying the space under the laminate or parquet, even in case of accidental ingress of water or incomplete drying of the screed before laying the coating;
• the underlayment under the foamed polyethylene laminate (SPE underlayment) is not afraid of significant temperature changes, which allows it to be used in premises of any purpose.

The technology of laying the substrate under the parquet board

The underlayment for parquet board or laminate, presented in our catalog, is supplied in rolls 1 meter wide and 10 to 50 meters long, which allows you to buy such an underlay based on the area of ​​the room and not spend money on extra material.

Laying such a substrate, previously cut into strips of the required length, is carried out end-to-end on the surface of the screed.

At the joints, the parquet or laminate underlay can be attached to the screed using double sided tape, sometimes the joints are also glued along the upper side of the substrate, which helps to prevent its displacement during the laying of the floor covering. To ensure the possibility of natural ventilation and to prevent the accumulation of moisture in the space under the laminate or parquet, a technological gap of 5-8 mm is left between the walls and the substrate.