Choosing and laying a cork substrate under the laminate. Features, types and characteristics of cork substrate Pros and cons of cork substrate

Laminate is one of the most popular finishing materials that are used today in the arrangement of the floor. A feature of the installation of this product is that it should be laid on a perfectly flat base. This problem is solved with the help of a special substrate located between the laminate and the floor surface. To create a strong base that will extend the life of the decorative coating, it is necessary to study all the ways of laying this intermediate layer.

Purpose

The substrate under the laminate is a material that has a low density. The main purpose of this substance is to smooth the surface. This is necessary when the floor level has small differences. In this way, you can create an optimal base for laminate flooring, which does not tolerate strong bends.

It should be noted that the substrate is able to even out only small differences.

Therefore, the preparation of the base for this material still needs to be carried out. If this is not done, then the boards can quickly fail, even if you use a thick substrate.

There are several other tasks that are solved with the help of this product:

Noise isolation. Some types of materials are able to perfectly absorb sounds. Moving on a laminate with a backing will become pleasant, even if you walk in heels.
Moisture isolation. Substrates are made of such substances, which also perfectly retain moisture. This eliminates its effect on the laminate, which simply sticks in water. The best option would be to use a polyethylene film, which is completely hygroscopic.

Thermal insulation. Creating an optimal microclimate inside the room is one of the tasks of flooring. Substrates that do not allow cold from the inside to the laminate do a very good job with this. Therefore, the board has the temperature of the air in the room, but at the same time it itself has poor thermal insulation parameters.

Kinds

The substrate is a rolled material made of natural or artificial components. Today there are several types of such products, Among which there are several main products:

Polyethylene foam. The substrate from it is the most common and affordable, as it has a low cost. The substance has good indicators of moisture resistance, thermal insulation. The corrugated surface of the material is not damaged by rodents and microorganisms, which allows you to extend the life of the floor. Today, foil polyethylene, which reflects heat better, is especially popular. But this substance holds its shape very poorly and sags over time, which affects the laminate.

Cork. Substrates of this type are made from natural substances. Cork products also do not rot and are not affected by mold. Moreover, the material retains heat very well, which makes it one of the most popular. There are both rolled and sheet varieties of this substrate on the market.
Bituminous cork substances. The substrates from them are made from cork chips and kraft paper, which contains bitumen. The cost of such products is very high, so it is used only for expensive types of flooring.

There are also combined types of substrates that combine several substances. This allows you to improve the technical characteristics of the material:

Styrofoam. The material perfectly levels the surface of the floor, and also retains heat with high quality. Substrates from it also do not let sounds and moisture through.
Coniferous tiles. This type of substrate is made of natural wood, which makes it completely safe for humans. The disadvantages of this material are high cost and relatively low density, which is much lower than that of cork.

Which is better to put?

The choice of substrate depends on several main factors that are important to pay attention to:

Floor quality. If the surface is not well leveled, then you will have to use styrofoam or cork of considerable thickness. In another case, you can get by with a thin layer of polyethylene foam.
Microclimate. If moisture forms on the floor surface, then it is important to take care of its insulation. For this, polyethylene films are combined with other types of substrates. An alternative can be expanded polystyrene, which does not allow moisture to pass through.

Technical specifications. When choosing, it is important to consider whether the substrate can not only level the surface, but also provide the desired level of sound or heat insulation. This factor is important if the installation of the floor is carried out on the first floor of a private or apartment building.

How to lay?

The technology of laying the substrate under the laminate involves not only fixing it to the surface, but also high-quality floor preparation. Therefore, it is desirable to perform all procedures in a complex, as this will facilitate the process and extend the operation of the laminate. It is desirable to lay the underlay only on a clean and level surface.

Therefore, before laying with your own hands, it is advisable to vacuum the floor and remove sharp objects.

Materials and tools

Installation of the substrate begins with the acquisition of the necessary material, as well as the search for a tool. For such work, you will need a set of such items:

Substrate. Its quantity is calculated depending on the area of the room and the width of the rolled material or one sheet. It is advisable to take products with a small margin in order to avoid shortages due to incorrect measurements.
Scotch. It is needed to fasten the pieces of the substrate together. This will not allow her to move on the floor, as she should lie flat and without bumps.
Roulette.
Knife and square. The last element will allow you to get an even cut of the material at a right angle.

How to level the floor?

The coating under the laminate must be of the highest quality. Therefore, it is important before you start laying the substrate, take care of the field itself. Depending on the type of floor, its alignment can occur in different ways. The process of preparing a wooden floor can be carried out using the following approaches:

Dry screed. This method involves the formation of a concrete layer on wood. Before this, it is important to lay a waterproofing film to prevent the solution from getting onto the tree. It is used quite rarely, as it is labor-intensive and long.

Alignment with sheets. For such purposes, use plywood, OSB or drywall. Installation of sheets is carried out directly on the old floor using self-tapping screws or glue. Here it is only important to form a flat surface with minimal differences.
Cyclevka. This process involves the removal of the top layer of wood using special machines. It is performed only for wooden floors of considerable thickness and strength.

Preparation of a wooden floor also involves a preliminary assessment of its strength. If there are rotten boards here, it is advisable to replace them with new ones.

Leveling a concrete floor can also be done in several ways:

Grinding. This process involves the removal of concrete in certain areas of the room in order to level the entire plane. Use it only if the surface has minimal differences.
Cement adjustment. This approach is also used for small irregularities. A self-leveling mixture is applied to the concrete surface in a thin layer. After it hardens, a flat plane is formed.
A complete tie. The algorithm involves laying beacons strictly horizontally throughout the room. Then the entire surface is poured with a thick layer of liquid concrete and carefully aligned with the marks.

Is it possible to lay two substrates?

Today, many people plan to use two layers of underlay for laying laminate flooring. They think that this will greatly improve the heat and sound insulation of the floor. According to the recommendations of experts, a polyethylene film can be laid as a second layer, which will protect the laminate from moisture. Mounting two conventional substrates will lead to the fact that the surface becomes too soft. Over time, laminate locks on such a base will simply break and the boards will begin to hang in the air.

Therefore, it is better to use only one layer of material with a high density and a small thickness.

Which side to put?

The substrate is made from various substances, but often its external structure does not differ. Manufacturers produce rolls that have one side smooth and the other with slight bulges or corrugated. The installation of the substrate must be carried out in such a way that its smooth side faces outwards.

If you are using foil products, then this layer should also be placed towards the top. This will allow him to fight off the heat that will try to escape through the floor.

What can be glued?

The installation of the substrate is carried out on a flat and dry base, so there is no need to attach the material to the base. Please note that the sheets must not be fixed, so no glue is applied when doing this. Experts recommend gluing together only joints with adhesive tape. This will allow you to get a smooth and solid surface that will not move during the laying of the laminate.

Any floor covering: be it laminate, linoleum, parquet or solid board, involves the use of special substrates designed to extend the life of the selected material. The characteristics of the cork substrate, like the cork itself, are unique in their own way. . This is one of the most popular and environmentally friendly materials, rightfully recognized as ideal, because along with hypoallergenicity, the lining boasts many advantages.

Properties and characteristics of the cork substrate

The classic cork underlay for the floor, also called technical, is made from finely chopped cork oak bark. When pressed, the bark begins to release a natural substance called suberin.

Its main purpose is to glue the bark granules together and make the material waterproof. Laying a cork underlay is appropriate in rooms with a high level of load permeability to the floor covering.

A prerequisite for the use of cork is a stable level of humidity.

Technical traffic jam functions

Exclusion of deformation of the floor covering by leveling differences (no more than 2 mm in size) and smoothing the surface.
Minimization of accumulation of condensate vapors.
Increased sound and heat insulation parameters.
Uniform distribution of the load on the coating, which is especially important for laminate and parquet floors.

Cork backing, the price of which varies significantly depending on the thickness of the material, is divided into two groups according to the form of release:

Cork sheet, the thickness of which ranges from 4 to 10 mm. The standard sheet parameters are 915 × 610 mm.
Cork underlayment in a roll with a thickness varying from 2 to 4 mm, a length of 10 and 25 m, a width of 1 m.

Specifications of the cork substrate

density - 200-250 kg / cm 2;
initial compression when exposed to a square centimeter of 7 kg - 10%;
residual compression after hourly exposure - 0.7%;
tensile strength at break - 2 kg / cm 2;
humidity of cork composite ≤ 7%;
thermal conductivity - at the level of 0.042 W / (m∙K);
noise reduction - 16 dB;
fire resistance is high.

Types of cork substrate

Given the different types of condition of the subfloor, manufacturers have invented two improved varieties of the cork underlayer:

It is characterized by excellent moisture resistance, which makes it possible to use it as a lining material in rooms with an unstable level of humidity. The base is kraft paper. Bitumen is applied to it, sprinkled with cork granules, the size of which does not exceed 3 mm.

The bituminous layer is a good waterproofing agent, and the rough coating of the bark provides proper ventilation, helping to eliminate excess moisture between the base of the floor and the lining.

Its peculiarity lies in the laying method, which involves laying the cork layer down. A strong and durable bitumen-cork substrate has one significant drawback, which is especially relevant for domestic use.

Bitumen cannot be ranked among a number of environmentally friendly materials, since it is flammable and toxic, so it is better not to use such a lining in residential premises.

Known for its super elasticity due to the addition of synthetic rubber to the oak bark. Bonding cork chips and synthetic rubber is carried out by means of polyurethane binding agents. Such a substrate is an ideal option for the "warm floor" system, since it is endowed with impeccable thermal conductivity.

Due to the presence of rubber in the composition, the material is moisture resistant, has increased shock-absorbing properties. It is rubberized samples that are famous for the smallest percentage of changes in performance over time.

The rubber-cork substrate has another advantage, which consists in the excellent ability to "dampen" vibrations emitted by electrical appliances.

The most significant advantage is durability. The operational life of the lining is measured not in decades, but in centuries, and can reach 200 years.

Wear resistance. Not only thicker sheet cork, but also a cork substrate in a roll can boast of excellent mechanical stability. The material is very elastic and moderately porous, which indicates its impeccable resistance to various influences.

Flooring wears out much faster than cork underlayment. A common misconception is that it should last longer than the chosen type of coating. However, it is the substrate that takes on the main load effects.

Sufficient thickness of the cork substrate, correctly selected depending on the condition of the base and the type of floor material, will allow you to serve faithfully even after changing the worn out decorative coating.

Despite the fact that the cork underlay on the floor is a product of woodworking, it is practically not affected by wood pests or rodents. This advantage is due to the special sanitary treatment carried out at the production stage.

Versatility is another undeniable advantage. Cork underlay can be applied to any surface. In addition, it can be used as a decorative wall material or for any other purpose.

Thanks to its elasticity, it is very easy to work with the lining, given that it is unpretentious to the condition of the base.

Among the shortcomings, it can be noted that with prolonged contact with heavy objects, the material tends to deform (press through).

A cork backing, the price of which is quite high compared to cheaper polypropylene options, may seem unaffordable to many, which is considered the second disadvantage.

The cork underlay must meet the requirements of the installation site. For example, for residential areas that are excessively damp or rooms with variable humidity, it is better to give preference to rubber-cork ones, since they are distinguished by excellent moisture resistance due to the presence of rubber, and the necessary environmental friendliness.

For warehouses with an unstable humidity background, you can stop at the bitumen-cork variety. If we are talking about relatively dry rooms, then a classic technical plug can be used.

However, the classic type, unlike the rubber and bituminous subspecies, is not recommended for water-heated floors, since the material cannot boast of high thermal conductivity.

To get out of this situation, you should look for a specialized cork substrate with a foil coating that will not allow heat to dissipate.

The thickness of the cork substrate is the next selection criterion. So, under the laminate, 2 or 4 mm lining is enough. It guarantees both good protection of the boards, and proper depreciation, and, most importantly, a reliable connection of the locking elements.

In addition, the coating will be pleasantly cushioned underfoot. A large thickness will lead to excessive springiness of the laminate floor, and as a result, to loosening and rapid wear of the locks.

With regard to parquet and solid boards, a similar thickness is appropriate; for linoleum and tiles, the millimeter is not critical.

Sticking a linoleum sheet on a classic cork is quite difficult, so it is better to prefer a floating flooring.

The unique characteristics of the cork backing consistently attract buyers. This is perhaps the most environmentally friendly and practical material used as a lining.

It is endowed with all the qualities necessary for use both in residential (if it is a classic or rubber-cork substrate) and in industrial (bitumen-cork substrate) premises, which is the reason for its popularity, despite the high cost.

Characteristics of the cork substrate, video

In order for the laying of the laminate to be of high quality, you need to take care of the installation of a special substrate layer. Often, laminate flooring companies indicate in the accompanying documents which material is desirable in a particular case. Among the most popular, giving a good effect, is the cork substrate.

Cork backing features

Unlike synthetic, laminate underlays made from natural components last longer and have better sound and thermal insulation characteristics. Cork fully meets the latest requirements.

It is made from natural raw materials, which are obtained from the cork oak bark. It has a honeycomb structure, perfectly resists various loads and retains its shape for a long time.

Properties

Cork is a porous material. It provides:

good sound and thermal insulation,
vibration minimization,
low load on the base due to the low specific gravity.

As for installation, when using a cork, special tools are not needed. If you need to cut it, you can use ordinary scissors or a sharp knife.

Various pests such as insects, molds and other fungi can appear in the material. But this is subject to its getting wet (for example, when the room is flooded) or if the sanitary condition of the room is poor.

The price of a cork laminate underlay is not the most affordable, but it is consistent with the quality.

The optimal thickness of the substrate for the laminate is no more than 3 mm for any type of laminate. Thicker sheets are recommended to be used for warming or soundproofing a room, but not under floor materials, but in a floor pie system, for example, between logs under plywood or chipboard sheets.

What you need to know before installing cork underlayment under laminate flooring

It is sold in two types:

Sheet, has a thickness of 0.4-1 cm. Mounted diagonally without overlap.
Roll, 2-4 mm. Fits along the length of the wall end-to-end.

It must be remembered that when arranging a warm floor, it is not recommended to lay a cork substrate. This material is a good thermal insulator. It will not let heat through to the floor surface.

In any case, the subfloor must be thoroughly leveled. Once the surface has been sanded, checking is easy. A plank 2 meters long is placed on the draft floor. Between it and the surface, the size of the gaps should not exceed 2 mm.

Moisture protection

As you know, the cork substrate is made from natural raw materials - oak shavings. It follows from this that it is vulnerable to environmental influences, namely to the humidity of the room.

If the floor releases moisture in a percentage ratio of more than 5%, then it cannot be used, since fungus and mold will develop on it over time, which will lead to the destruction of the floor covering, and can also be fraught with the health of residents.

In such rooms, at least a waterproofing film must be laid on the base.

In the absence of a hydroprotective layer, experts recommend using a special rubber and bitumen-cork substrate.

Their installation methods do not differ from the standard ones.

Self-laying cork underlay under laminate

The laying process has its own nuances, which depend on the type of material.

Natural cork

If the floor in the room is concrete, but its humidity is less than 5% and it is not expected to increase during operation, then it is safe to spread natural cork without additional protection.

At higher moisture levels, it can also be used, but then it is necessary to lay polyethylene on the concrete, and overlap, to prevent moisture from entering the material structure.

bituminous cork

Often it is used in non-residential damp premises. Such a substrate under the laminate is laid with the base up.

Rubber-cork

It is often placed under the underfloor heating system, and also laid in rooms with wooden partitions.

IMPORTANT! Regardless of the variety, the cork substrate is laid exclusively on a flat, clean surface.

Tips for self-laying cork underlay

After the draft floor is prepared and leveled, the wooden cork underlay is installed as follows:

A layer of waterproofing is being installed. To protect the substrate and floor covering from moisture, additional protective materials are used in the form of a layer of mastic, a special membrane or a banal polyethylene film.

There should be no gaps on the floor, and it is advisable to put the protective layer on the walls a little, just above the floor covering, but so that it can be hidden with a plinth.

In the case of roll insulation, it can then be cut flush, but with mastic you need to be more careful and calculate everything in advance.

Since the cork substrate tends to expand when heated, an expansion gap of 8 to 10 mm must be provided along the perimeter near the walls (as well as between its edges and communications, doorways, other flooring).

To keep strips or sheets of cork material in place, they are fixed with paper tape.

The cork is spread in such a way that the coating boards lie across, this will exclude the punching of the substrate at the joints during operation.

For greater confidence, natural cork can be treated with a special antiseptic coating and allowed to dry.

Then you can lay the finish coat.

REMEMBER! The cork substrate is very fragile, so you need to walk on it very carefully and avoid falling sharp and heavy objects, as this will inevitably lead to ruptures of the material. It is recommended not to cover the floor immediately, but gradually, as the laminate is installed on top of the substrate.

Undoubtedly, one of the most practical, affordable and popular types of flooring is laminate, since it is this material that has excellent quality and aesthetic characteristics, has a long service life and is very easy to install.

But, in order to extend the service life of this flooring as long as possible, as well as reduce the load on the lock joints, it is imperative to provide it with a reliable and high-quality base, namely, the substrate.

Important! In addition to protecting the material, the substrate is additionally a sound and heat insulator.

An ideal, reliable and high-quality type of substrate for laminate flooring is cork wood substrate (cork substrate), which is an environmentally friendly and natural material.

Why use laminate flooring?

Underlayment under the laminate performs many additional functions. Because laminate is a fairly rigid flooring that is laid in a floating pattern where the flooring does not need to be fixed to either the subfloor or the walls, the underlayment, together with the expansion pattern, acts as a cut-off and provides insulation.

Helpful information! One of the functions that the lining layer performs is cushioning. As already noted, the laminate flooring is laid without fixing to the surface or walls, and if the surface is uneven, gaps may form between the floor and the laminate over time.

When exposed to constant loads, cracks may appear during operation, which leads to a decrease in the operational term of the floor covering used. The underlay evenly distributes the load over the entire surface of the laminate floor.

In addition, if on some section of the floor under the laminate, when moving in this area, a lot of noise and a characteristic knock will appear. The underlayment also provides additional sound and heat insulation.

What are the types of underlay?

There are several types of substrate for laminate flooring on the market of building and finishing materials, while choosing one or another option, it is necessary to take into account the technical ones. Qualitative parameters, economic aspect and type of laminated coating.

PE foam backing

This type of lining base, due to its low cost, can be attributed to the most common and popular options.

The material is moisture resistant, prevents the growth of microorganisms, insects and has good sound and heat insulation characteristics. The material is easy to install and can be easily cut into strips of the required size.

The only disadvantage of the polyethylene foam substrate is that over time the material may sag, which leads to a decrease in the operational life of the laminated coating.

Foil backing

This type of substrate is represented by a foamed polymer on one side of which a layer of aluminum foil is applied. This type of substrate is advisable to use if it is necessary to strengthen the thermal insulation of the floor, so the foil substrate is the best option for underfloor heating under the laminate.

Should be considered that this material has a high cost, so it is uneconomical to use it as a base for laminate flooring without heating.

This type of lining material has a rather original design, consisting of two layers of a polymer film, between which polystyrene granules are placed.

Such a base under the laminate has excellent vapor barrier properties, so it is recommended to lay it in rooms with a high level of humidity.

Cork backing

This version of the base for the laminate refers to environmentally friendly and natural materials, which does not contain any harmful chemical impurities and is characterized by high quality parameters.

It is made by crushing and pressing under pressure from the bark of a cork tree. Available in rolls or slabs. The gluing of the particles occurs due to a special adhesive substance, suberin, which is contained in the bark of the tree, so the material does not emit toxic and harmful particles into the air for human health. since this type of material has a high cost, it is not practical and impractical to use for an economy class laminate.

Combined substrates

The bitumen-cork substrate is made on durable cardboard or paper, one side of which is impregnated with bitumen, and a layer of pressed cork is applied to the other surface. This design allows it to absorb excess moisture, so there is no need to lay an additional layer of waterproofing. Always lay the substrate with the cork side down.

Rubber-cork backing

The rubber-cork underlay is made from a mixture of finely ground cork and rubber, providing the best sound insulation and is not affected by moisture. The disadvantage of the material is the high cost.

How to determine the thickness of the lining base?

Many novice craftsmen mistakenly believe that using thicker substrates will eliminate floor irregularities, but this is not always the case. If the floor surface has a strong curvature, the situation can only be corrected by replacing the screed or self-leveling floor.

An increase in the thickness of the lining material under the laminate can lead to deformation loads inside the material, therefore it is very important to correctly determine the thickness of the lining layer, otherwise the load on the interlocking joints of the flooring increases and dents and cracks may appear over time.

Advice! Laminate flooring should not be laid on a substrate whose thickness exceeds 3 mm, while if the floor surface is perfectly flat, the thickness of the underlay layer can be 2 mm.

Detailed description and characteristics of the cork substrate

Cork underlay has excellent quality parameters and is considered the most popular type of lining material for laminate flooring.
This type of material is not subject to deformation, environmentally friendly, has high soundproofing, water-absorbing, heat-insulating parameters, is not subject to rotting and mold formation, and is hypoallergenic. But, the cork substrate has a rather high cost.
It is advisable to lay a cork underlay if the most durable laminate is used and the floor covering is not planned to be replaced in the next few years.

Underlayment technology for laminate flooring

Before carrying out the work, the substrate is unpacked and left for a day in the room in which the work will be carried out. The material must "get used" and adapt to the conditions of the microclimate in the room.

Important! The material should only be laid perpendicular to the laminate boards. This laying method will prevent the floor covering from moving during operation, so it is very important to think over the direction of laying the laminate in advance.

Before laying the underlayment, the floor surface must be prepared. The floor must be level, without any defects and completely dry. The base is thoroughly cleaned of dust, all cracks are puttied. To prevent the appearance of mold, the concrete surface is treated with an antifungal primer.

At the next stage, a layer of vapor barrier (waterproofing) is laid, using a construction polyethylene film for this, the edges of which should protrude by 15-20 cm, while at the joints of the seams the overlap should be at least 10 cm.

All connections are fixed with construction tape.

Important! Do not use a stapler or nails to fix the waterproofing layer, as in this case the vapor barrier will be damaged.

The cork substrate is cut into strips of the required size, placing them close to each other, avoiding the formation of overlaps or gaps between them. with the help of adhesive tape, adjacent sheets are interconnected.

Important! When laying the substrate, it is necessary to leave a compensation gap of at least 1 cm around the entire perimeter of the room, since thermal expansion of the substrate is possible.

The substrate is treated with water-repellent agents and proceed to laying the laminate.

Important! Cork underlayment should not be laid in more than one layer. as otherwise damage to the flooring may occur.

Conclusion

Before laying laminate flooring, in order to increase its service life, it is imperative to lay the underlay.

The lining layer, in addition to its main purpose, performs many other functions and plays an important role in the formation of the floor. Photo and educational video materials. which are presented on our website, will help you properly lay the substrate, laminate and make your home cozy and comfortable for living!

Currently, when making high-quality floor repairs, shock-absorbing damping materials are used, which are laid between the floor covering and the floor, the so-called substrates. Laminate flooring also requires the use of a substrate when laying it. Its absence is enough for the laminate manufacturer, in case of damage to the material before the expiration of the warranty, to be able to refuse to replace or refund you. Fortunately, the modern construction market provides a wide selection of various types of substrates:

polyethylene foam;
cork;
bituminous cork;
polystyrene foam;
pine tiles.
combined;
special.

In this article, we will consider the cork substrate: its types, the “pros” and “cons” of its use, laying technology, and so on.

Specifications

As the name implies, this type of substrate is made from pressed granules of cork oak bark. It can be produced both in roll forms and in sheets. They differ in size and cost. The roll form can have a thickness of 2 to 4 mm, and the sheet form from 4 to 10 mm. The cost depends on the thickness, the larger it is, the higher the price of the material.

The density of the cork substrate is 220-260 kg/m3, the thermal conductivity is not more than 0.043 W/(m*K), the noise absorption is not less than 16 dB, the tensile strength is not less than 2 kg/cm2, the moisture content of the material is less than 7%, and in terms of fire resistance it is classified to class M. At a pressure equal to 7 kg / cm2, compression is not higher than 10%. The deviation of linear dimensions is less than 0.5 mm in width and length, and less than 0.2 mm in thickness.

Types of cork substrates

technical traffic jam- its main advantage is that only natural binding components are used in the process of its production. It does not contain any synthetic additives, so it is absolutely hypoallergenic and suitable for styling in the bedroom and nursery. Also, the advantages of this type include heat resistance and antistatic. The disadvantage is that it is possible to lay such a substrate without laying polyethylene under it only on a well-dried and prepared "rough floor" and only where there are no rooms with high humidity below.

Rubber-cork backing- this type consists of granulated cork and rubber, which is a binder. Such a substrate is commercially available both in the form of strips and in the form of plates. They are laid without overlap, and the joints are fastened with adhesive tape. Rubber retains heat and moisture well, so it is advisable to lay it in rooms with high humidity, as well as where the laminate is laid on a poorly dried floor. The rubber-cork backing provides good sound and vibration isolation. In addition, the rubber stretches well, so this type is suitable for laying on a wooden “rough floor”.

bituminous cork- made from special kraft paper, which is impregnated with bitumen with crushed cork chips. Bitumen provides excellent waterproofing. But, due to the fact that bitumen is considered a flammable substance and when it burns, acrid smoke is released, the use of such a substrate in residential premises is prohibited by safety regulations. Laying is also carried out without overlap, fastening the edges with construction tape.

Pros and cons of cork underlay

The advantages include the following aspects:

It can be used as a finishing material not only for the floor, but also for walls and ceilings, as well as for almost any type of floor covering (laminate, linoleum, parquet, ceramic tiles, natural stone tiles).
This type of substrate has a long service life. Cork material can retain its original properties for 170 - 200 years! It often happens that when replacing a failed floor covering, it turns out that the cork substrate has retained its qualities and does not need to be replaced.
It not only hides small tubercles and irregularities, but can smooth out fairly large defects and differences in the "subfloor", which helps to avoid additional pouring.
The cork backing protects the laminate interlocks from the dust generated by the fresh concrete base.
It is an excellent hydro- and heat-insulating material.
Promotes even distribution of the load over the entire floor area.
Provides a high level of sound insulation.
Cork material is environmentally friendly.

Like any other material, the cork substrate has its "cons":

Deformation under prolonged physical impact. For example, dents may appear under the legs of chairs or other furniture.
Due to its poor thermal conductivity, the classic cork underlay cannot be used in combination with water-heated floors, but a cork underlay with a special foil coating is suitable for this purpose.
High price relative to synthetic counterparts.
In rooms with high humidity, cork substrates cannot be used without additional waterproofing.

Optimum cork backing thickness

It would seem logical that the greater the thickness, the better, because the thermal insulation properties improve and the imperfections of the unevenness of the floor are better hidden. But in fact, a thickness of more than 3 mm makes the floor "floating" and unable to withstand heavy loads. In addition, since the laminate itself has a small thickness, its locks may not withstand and disperse. The ideal thickness of the cork substrate under the laminate is 2 mm.

Laying technology

Before starting laying the substrate, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work, which consists of several stages:

The laying process itself is the same for all types of "rough floors".

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