Foil for laminate. What is the best substrate for laminate flooring: types of their pros and cons. Estimated cost of the substrate

Laminate- This is a modern floor covering, which is used almost everywhere today. The work of laying it is incredibly simple, and maintenance is also not difficult. But the material receives the final quality in the case of high-quality installation and under the conditions of use of a perfectly selected substrates.

Polyethylene backing

What is underlay used for? laminate?

The following functions are assigned to the substrate for laminated floor coverings:

Noise isolation. If the substrate under laminate do not apply, then all the sounds when you walk will be amplified due to the touch of the material with the Base. To eliminate this problem, an additional softening layer is needed;
surface leveling. The material used will also cope with this task. If the surface is not leveled as much as possible, then the locks that hold the lamellas together will loosen with some period, which will cause a creak;

Leveling the base

Protection against the negative effects of moisture. This floor coverings there is a fiberboard plate, due to this, during operation, the material can become larger in size and, due to this, change. This happens due to water penetration. The substrate increases the moisture resistance of the material;

Protection against the negative effects of moisture

Attention! Before laying the floor, it is required to ensure that the concrete screed, which becomes the basis of the base floor, is perfectly dry. This happens in about four weeks. At the end of this period, polymeric ethylene is spread on the surface of the screed overnight. If in the morning there is no fumes on it, then work can begin.

Concrete screed

Thermal insulation. Substrate under laminate increases thermal insulation, especially if it is foil. However, an interlayer placed above a heated floor will reduce its heat conduction.

Thickness substrates

The substrate must initially be selected correctly so that it fully complements laminate. This material differs in thickness, composition and level of sound insulation. Before choosing the final option, it is recommended to determine your own need and working volume. Plus, the condition of the base is appreciated:

if the "dirty" floor is even, then thin material is suitable;
if small irregularities (up to 2 mm) are noted on the surface, then a thicker material should be laid before laying the laminate.

Some people think that the thickest underlay should be used to work with laminate. Often buy not one, but two at once substrates, and lay down in 2 layers to increase the effect of sound and floor thermal insulation.

The main thing! If the material under the flooring is very thick, then it will pollute, due to which the boards in most cases will deform or even break.

If you purchase a substrate thicker than necessary, then the laminate locks will be damaged over time. And if the locks change, then the boards themselves will soon bend, and the floor will begin to creak a lot.

Material thickness

Attention! Do not bother and buy a substrate of the same company as laminate. If you lay material from another manufacturer under the floor covering, do not be afraid it will not happen.

Materials for the production of substrates

Izolon (base - polymeric ethylene)

Polymeric ethylene in the foamed state is not very strong, and at a very high load it simply becomes unusable or breaks. Due to this, isolon, which is based on polymeric ethylene, is today considered an inexpensive and unreliable option.

Advantages of isolon:

polymeric ethylene is not afraid of excessive moisture;
not prone to damage by fungi and mold, rodents do not eat it;
provides a good level of noise isolation;
lays down easily and without any problems, combined with the usual adhesive tape;
you can find options when isolon is produced with aluminum-based foil, which displays heat;
material of this type smooths out the unevenness of the base, prevents deformation floor coverings;
unaffected by chemicals based substances.

Negative qualities of isolon:

short-term working period - polymer ethylene already approximately after a few years loses its initial shape and ceases to perfectly restrain the lamellas;
polymer ethylene, which has been exposed to the sun for a long time, becomes dry and brittle;
the main disadvantage of foam type polyethylene is the accumulation of static electricity, during the operation of the "heated floor" this causes discomfort.

You should not use foamed polyethylene if money allows you to purchase other material. Having saved some money, you can later regret it repeatedly. If you wish, you can purchase foreign-made polymeric ethylene, with much higher quality indicators.

Cork type backing

Positive points:

Cork material has excellent elasticity, when compressed after a short time, it returns to its original shape. Because of this, even if laminate laid in the child's room, under constant very high loads, the substrate does not change its initial shape;
Due to the low level of thermal conductivity, the cork gives a good thermal insulation level, which ensures its demand among consumers;
Cork is an elastic material, thanks to which the substrate from it increases the operational life of the laminate, additionally protecting its locks;
Working with such a substrate is quite easy;
Although the cork material is real, it does not rot or be damaged by pests.

Negative qualities:

Products of this type are hygroscopic, they allow moisture to pass through, which usually passes under the boards and accumulates under them;
Dense cork material cannot be spread on uneven surfaces and bases, thanks to this, before laying floor coverings need more alignment work.

Cork variant

Attention! A cork-based underlay is not suitable for use in rooms with regularly high moisture; in this embodiment, it is better to choose a material based on rubber for a laminate.

foil backing

This base is laminate It is used today especially often because of its property to retain heat as much as possible. In the construction services markets, there are various options that stand out in terms of the number of layers and cost.

The main thing! Laminate foil underlay is suitable for rooms with high humidity.

foil material

Good quality material:

The thermal insulation level of the room in case of using such substrates under laminate increases significantly;
The floor acquires an additional waterproofing layer;
Laminate, under which this substrate is located, is not afraid of moisture, due to which it is not necessary to additionally use polymeric ethylene;
Fungus and mold will not occur when using such material.

Have foil substrates under the laminate and the disadvantage - when deformed, it is not possible to reconstruct it.

Laying work

Consider the method of work:

A polyethylene film is placed on a pre-prepared screed to find out the degree of its setting. If the screed is old, then this period can be skipped. Remove all dust and dirt from the base floor;
The prepared material is cut with a construction knife or scissors and rolled out on the floor;
Some pieces are fixed together with adhesive tape;
If the material has some margin, then you can not cut it off, but hide it under the plinth at the final step of the work.

Laying the base under the laminate

In addition, I would like to emphasize that if a substrate is used under laminate with a foil base, its laying is done in such a way that the reflective side is at the top.

How is laying substrates under laminate shown in our educational video.

Laying the roll substrate

A stylish and quite practical coating - laminate - quickly conquered the market with its positive qualities. It is easy to take care of it, and it is very convenient to use. But you need to know that the lion's share of its appearance and durability is determined by the quality of installation, and not the last question here is which substrate to choose for the laminate.

What is the underlayment for?
Substrate thickness
Substrate materials for laminate flooring
- Polyethylene foam (isolon)
- Cork substrates
- Styrofoam
- Coniferous tiles
- Foil backing
- Combined substrates
Laminate underlay for underfloor heating
Underlayment for laminate flooring

What is the underlayment for?

The lining under the laminate should be laid in connection with the tasks assigned to it:

Soundproofing. If you do not put substrates under the laminate, then with each step the sounds will be amplified by a wooden or concrete base. With the help of a smooth soft base, you can get rid of squeaks and small noises. In the 32nd and 33rd grades of laminate, sometimes there are built-in substrates in the form of insulation glued on the back. Such material is easier to lay than usual, but a more sophisticated technology for its production significantly increases its price.

Surface leveling is another task that the sheet substrate under the laminate must cope with. When installing this coating, it is very important to level the surface, since the durability of the locks will depend on this. Laying technology allows a height difference of 1 m not more than 2 mm. But even too thick a substrate, hiding irregularities well, will, at the same time, strongly sag under the weight of steps. To prevent the seams from creeping out after six months, the floor surface must be carefully prepared before laying the laminate.
Waterproofing. Laminate is just pressed paper, so even the most moisture-resistant models should not be tested by pouring water, otherwise its panels will simply swell. The substrate under the laminate on the concrete floor is able to protect the coating from moisture coming from the cement base. In general, the concrete screed should be given a month to dry and only then the topcoat should be laid. You can check the readiness of the screed by laying a plastic film on its area overnight. If in the morning there is no perspiration on it, then the screed has dried out.
Thermal conductivity. The substrate under the laminate, located above the warm floor, will inevitably reduce the efficiency of its work, since both it and the coating itself have a rather low thermal conductivity. Although for the installation of underfloor heating began to produce special substrates. In any case, regardless of the material of manufacture, the thickness of the substrate laid under the laminate should not be more than 3 mm. True, there are unscrupulous craftsmen who, trying to hide the shortcomings they themselves made when leveling the base, use thick linings (4-5 mm). Such an object looks flawless upon delivery, but six months later, the laminate begins to creep at the seams.

Substrate thickness

You need to be able to choose the right substrate that will work perfectly with the laminate. Different substrates have a lot of differences in thickness, material and degree of sound insulation. Before deciding which underlay is better for laminate flooring, you need to assess the condition of the floor:

If the base is even, then the thinnest will be enough ( 2 mm) substrates.
If minor irregularities remain on the base, then it will be required 3 mm insulation.
The total thickness of the substrate with laminate is about 10-11 mm - if you use material of medium thickness (8 mm).

Some users believe that the thicker the underlayment under the laminate, the better. Some do not even stint and lay substrates of standard thickness in two layers to enhance the effects of thermal insulation and sound insulation. But at the same time, they do not take into account that the load on the floor is almost always uneven - where there is furniture or a person, it is significantly larger than next to this place.

As a result, a substrate that is too thick will dent more, causing the laminate planks to break.

Even if the substrate is only slightly thicker than the prescribed 3 mm, the lamella locks will be damaged over time, because the laminate is not designed to sag under the weight of a person. As a result of the wear of the locks and the deflection of the slats, noticeable gaps appear, and the floor will begin to creak louder and louder. Conversely, if the base is sufficiently smooth, then it makes sense to use a thinner substrate.

It makes no sense to buy a substrate from the same manufacturer that produced the flooring itself - the substrates of any manufacturer are completely interchangeable.

Substrate materials for laminate flooring

Polyethylene foam (isolon)

Foamed polyethylene does not have great strength and under load is easily torn and quickly compressed. Therefore, the isolone laminate substrate is one of the cheapest available on the market.

Advantages:

She is moisture resistant.
Not afraid of mold, fungus, not to the taste of rodents.
It has good soundproofing properties.
Laying it is quite easy, connecting with ordinary stationery tape, and you can do with almost no waste.
Sometimes it is produced duplicated with aluminum foil so that it can reflect thermal radiation.
Isolon smoothes well on the basis of unevenness.
Immune to many chemicals.

Disadvantages:

Short-lived. After one or two years, it loses its shape, elasticity and stops working as a damper, depriving the laminate of support.
If the isolon was stored for a long time before being sold under the direct rays of the sun, then it undergoes destruction and crumbles into dust.
A serious disadvantage of foamed polyethylene is its ability to accumulate static electricity, therefore, in dry rooms with the heating turned on in winter, the laminate often “charges” people with sensitive electrical discharges.

Therefore, you should not particularly chase after cheapness and save God knows what a large amount, risking comfort. At the same time, the choice remains: to buy imported polyethylene foam, for example, from Quickstep, or to prefer domestic one, which costs four times cheaper.

Cork substrates

In the children's room, a cork underlay under a laminate is best suited. Cork underlay is available in rolls or sheets. Sometimes you can find such material with a self-adhesive layer.

Pressed cork underlay is an expensive material, so it is not advisable to combine it with cheap floor coverings, because it itself can serve as a durable base. There are several types of cork substrates on sale:

cork with rubber;
cork with bitumen;
cork crumb.

Advantages:

Cork has wonderful properties of elasticity - being compressed by serious loads, after being released from them, it is able to restore its original shape. Therefore, no matter how often and no matter how intensively children play in a room where a cork is laid under the laminate, you can not worry about its safety and integrity.
Due to its very low thermal conductivity, cork material provides excellent thermal insulation, so we can say that cork is the warmest substrate for laminate flooring.
Its considerable elasticity also prolongs the life of the laminate, as it protects its locks from strong kinks.
Cork underlay is an excellent base for floating floor installation.
Despite its natural nature, cork is not afraid of rotting and mold.

Disadvantages:

Although the cork substrate is not afraid of moisture, it passes it quite easily, so moisture can accumulate under cork coatings.
Due to the high density of cork, it cannot be laid on surfaces whose surfaces are not sufficiently leveled and have height deviations of more than 2 mm, so the screed under it must be perfectly leveled.

In fact, cork is the best substrate for a laminate, although it is not without drawbacks, the main of which is its high cost, and less significant is its insufficient resistance to moisture.

Bitumen-cork substrates

As for the bitumen-cork substrate, it is made of kraft paper, poured with an even layer of bitumen and sprinkled with cork chips, the particles of which are 2-3 mm in size.

It passes air well, but at the same time, condensation does not form under it, since the bituminous layer becomes a reliable protection against its appearance.

However, laying the substrate under the laminate and in such a component composition will be very expensive, so it is rational to use it only with the most expensive types of laminate.

Styrofoam

The domestic industry has launched the production of a substrate made of extruded polystyrene foam, which in the domestic market has become one of the most popular solutions for those who need a substrate for a 3 mm laminate. Its trade name is "isoshum". The foamed polystyrene that makes it up not only has all the advantages of polyethylene foam, but surpasses them many times over.

"Izoshum" is produced in square sheets with sides of 1 m, and there are 10 such sheets in the package. A very large proportion of air in its structure makes it an effective heater. The rigidity of polystyrene allows the product to keep its shape. When walking on the floor, under which the foam polystyrene substrate is located, there will be only pleasant sensations and no "recharges" with electricity, as in the case of polyethylene foam. In addition to "isoshum", another well-known brand from the same material is Arbiton.

Advantages:

"Isoshum" has excellent soundproofing and heat-insulating characteristics. Owners of private houses willingly use it when laying laminate, because they are especially interested in saving heat. In apartments of high-rise buildings, the soundproofing properties of “isoshum” will also be valuable, since it effectively absorbs shock sounds up to 27 dB.
After a long time of walking on Styrofoam, it will not compress like more flimsy PE foam, because it has a denser structure.

Due to these qualities, it is perfect for use in high-traffic areas.

Disadvantages:

If at first in some qualities it surpasses even the famous roll cork, then after a few years these qualities are “blown away”, that is, we can talk about insufficient durability of the material.
In the event of a fire and ignition, polystyrene releases a lot of toxic compounds, while it also contributes to the rapid spread of flames.
Its leveling ability is not high enough, therefore, for example, a 2 mm laminate underlay requires a perfectly even base.

Coniferous tiles

In recent years, another novelty has appeared - a coniferous substrate for a laminate. It is still very expensive, it is practically impossible to find it in stores, but if someone comes across the name “isoplat” on the counter, then this is it. The novelty is advertised as an extremely environmentally friendly material that “breathes” well, so it will not cause a greenhouse effect under the floor covering.

But in terms of elasticity, it is still significantly inferior to the classic cork.

It should also be taken into account that coniferous tiles have a minimum thickness of 4-5 mm, which conflicts with the requirements of the manufacturers of the laminate itself.

The wooden substrate under the laminate is produced in the form of tiles, which must be laid diagonally.

Foil backing

This material is valued for the fact that it can perfectly retain heat. On sale you can find single-sided or double-sided types of foil substrates, consisting of two layers: foil and polyethylene foam or polystyrene.

The foil substrate is ideal for rooms where there is a possibility of moisture penetration into the screed (bathroom, kitchen, basement).

Advantages:

Thermal insulation of floors is increased by 30%.
It is an additional waterproofing layer.
Increased moisture resistance, due to which laying an additional layer of polyethylene film is not necessary.
Interferes with occurrence of a fungus and a mold.

Combined substrates

Quite interesting is the material in which both polystyrene foam and polyethylene are present. So, for example, in the well-known brand Tuplex, foam polystyrene balls are located between two layers of polyethylene. In this case, the thickness of the substrate for the laminate is standard 3 mm, and the material itself is sold in rolls. Due to its structure, this material allows the room to be ventilated. The top layer does not let moisture in, and a very thin bottom layer allows it to pass to the bubbles, from where it is brought out through technological gaps.

There are other combinations, for example, some manufacturers produce a laminate, to which rubber is glued on the bottom, covered on the opposite side with a thin non-woven material. On the screed, it glides well, without warping, and perfectly absorbs noise while walking. Of course, the cost of such an "advanced" laminate is much higher than the usual one.

Laminate underlay for underfloor heating

Even in those cases when the laminate is laid on a warm floor, which cannot be wet by definition, then a special substrate under the laminate for the warm floor is needed.

Therefore, a special Arbiton material has been developed for underfloor heating, which has fine perforations, due to which it allows heat to pass through almost unhindered, but does an excellent job with the main function of supporting the laminate.

You can also use polyethylene without foil, and in the most extreme case, even use simple corrugated cardboard, because on a dry floor in the complete absence of moisture, even such an extravagant solution can work. Since the laminate itself does not conduct heat well, flooring over a heated floor requires the use of brands specially made for it.

Underlayment for laminate flooring

Laying the substrate under the laminate consists of the following steps:

On a fresh concrete screed, you must first lay a thin plastic film, and for old screeds, this step can be skipped.

All dirt and dust must be removed from the floor by vacuuming and making sure that the base is dry.
You can cut the substrate with a construction knife or ordinary scissors.

If the substrate material allows, the walls need to be overlapped, which will then be hidden under the skirting boards.

In an attempt to compensate for unevenness, you cannot duplicate the layers of the substrate. Alignment can only be done with a screed, plywood or other acceptable method.
If the substrate has a corrugation, then it should be turned down, then there will be less irregularities.
Foil materials should be laid with the reflective side up.

Laying should be done end-to-end, without overlapping sheets.

To prevent the substrate from accidentally shifting during operation, it can be fixed with double-sided tape to the floor.

Video about laying a foil substrate under a laminate:

What kind of laminate flooring do you prefer and why? Share your experience and opinion in the comments - we are interested in your opinion.

Adding a layer of foil to already known types of substrate changes their technical characteristics and increases their service life. The main difference is that the foil returns more than 30% of the heat back into the room, and in the case of a foil stopper, up to 90%.

Underlay for laminate with foil is produced from:

foamed polyethylene;
polystyrene;
traffic jams.

Foamed polyethylene

Polyethylene foam underlay is one of the most popular on the market. To improve its technical characteristics, manufacturers began to apply foil on one of its sides. On sale, foil polyethylene is represented by the brands Izolon, Ecofol, Penofol.

Foaming of the starting material is carried out in two ways - chemical and physical, which is why they have different quality indicators, despite the fact that the name is the same material.

To obtain foamed polyethylene by chemical means, flame retardants and dyes are introduced into it. As a result of chemical reactions, gas-filled pores isolated from each other are formed in polyethylene. Such polyethylene well protects against the penetration of noise from neighbors from below into the apartment, has high rates of vapor permeability and thermal insulation.

A significant disadvantage is low strength, which is why it quickly sits under the laminate. The combination of polyethylene and foil increases the service life of the material, adds waterproofing properties, significantly enhances the effectiveness of thermal protection due to the reflective properties of the foil. It can work in temperature conditions from 40 degrees of frost to 70 degrees of heat.

Foaming of polyethylene by physical means is carried out in special furnaces, where pores are formed under the influence of high temperatures. The molecular bond of such a structure is more stable, which affects the performance of the material - it does not shrink for a long time. Therefore, it has a higher price.

Foil polyethylene is produced in the form of rolls with an area of 50 m 2, with a thickness of 2 mm to 10 mm (material with a thickness of 4-10 mm is used only for wall and ceiling insulation, as well as for installing underfloor heating).

The cheapest representative of the family is Izolon made of NPE polyethylene (non-crosslinked polyethylene). Its average cost in Russia is 600 rubles per roll. But the operational characteristics of the material - sound and heat insulation properties, durability - are the lowest of all types of substrates.

Cross-linked polyethylene (PPE) material has high rigidity and strength, with good resistance to elongation, does not lose its qualities for 25 years. Such substrates during operation are able to work at the level of expensive linings. In accordance with the quality, the price of "Izolon" from PPE polyethylene starts from 29 rubles / m 2 (1,450 rubles a roll).

Experts note one feature: the lining under the NPE polyethylene laminate with a thickness of 4 mm has absolutely identical quality indicators with the PPE 2 mm substrate, but the latter has a much longer service life.

Polystyrene

The polystyrene foil substrate is a foil and foam glued together - polystyrene foamed under the influence of high temperatures. The material has a finely porous structure. Produced in the form of a plate. It has:

sound absorption - 23 dB;
impact strength (dynamic) - 30 mg / m 3;
low thermal conductivity - 0.035 W / m 2;
bending strength - 0.25 MPa;
ultimate compressive strength - 0.16 MPa.

These indicators allow us to draw the following conclusions:

under static and dynamic loads, the substrate does not lose elasticity;
well absorbs noise;
is a good heater.

Adding a layer of foil not only improves the above characteristics, but also adds a new property - waterproofing, which is important in rooms with high humidity or the risk of water spilling on the floor. The price of such material is quite high - from 90 rubles. for the plate.

For information: professional builders consider polystyrene and polystyrene to be different materials, which often causes confusion. Styrofoam is any foamed plastic, polystyrene is one of the types of foam.

Cork

Cork underlayment has many advantages:

durable;
durable;
environmentally friendly;
good insulation;
has a high level of sound absorption;
completely eliminates the errors of the concrete screed.

At the same time, there are significant disadvantages:

cannot be installed in wet areas;
requires mandatory waterproofing;
collapses under prolonged static pressure (under heavy furniture).

Adding a layer of foil to the substrate eliminates these disadvantages. The only downside is the high price. For example, a 2 mm substrate can be bought from 180 rubles / m 2, 3 mm thick - from 250 rubles / m 2.

Pros and cons of foil backing

Adding a layer of foil to traditional types of substrate improves the quality characteristics of the material:

durability increases (elasticity and elasticity persist for a longer time);
increased sound absorption;
increased thermal insulation;
improved protection against mold, insects and mice.

At the same time, new qualitative characteristics appear:

The ability of the substrate to reflect heat back into the room. Studies show that the reflective ability of foil to return heat to an apartment reaches 90% in some cases (the minimum value of the indicator is 30%);
Properties of steam and waterproofing.

The minus for the NPE polyethylene substrate is a short service life, for other types of foil substrate, the price is high. However, such a cost of linings with foil is justified by the high quality of the product.

Possessing new properties, the foil substrate becomes indispensable when installing underfloor heating and installing laminate in wet rooms, for example, in the kitchen (ceramic tiles are usually laid on the floor in the bathroom and in the bathroom). Its use in dry rooms is not financially justified, since here the problem of saving heat can be solved by other, cheaper methods.

How to style

Faced with an unusual underlay, many buyers do not know how to put underlay under a foil laminate. They do not have an answer to the question of which side to put the substrate with foil. Foamed polyethylene is cut to size and left rolled for a day.

Then the first sheet is laid, with the obligatory entry into the walls at the points of contact. The overlap height is 5-10 cm (if the substrate is visible above the floor, then it is carefully cut off with a construction knife and covered with a plinth). Lay with foil facing up.

Since it is strictly forbidden to walk on the foil, the laminate is installed on the laid sheet. Then the second sheet is rolled out with a call at the beginning and end on the walls, and with the first sheet - back to back. The seam is glued with a special metallized tape.

The sheet substrate is laid in the same way as brickwork is carried out - the connecting seams should not match. Walls are not entered. Sheets lie close to each other. The seams are sealed. Just as in the case of a polyethylene substrate, a row of lining is laid, and lamellas are laid on it.

During work, you must not allow:

coincidence of the seams of the substrate with the locks of the laminate;
creasing of the material when overlapping the wall;
gaps between the laid canvases or substrate plates;
gluing together metallized adhesive tape.

In addition to laminate, such a substrate is also used under linoleum. And here, many novice builders have a desire to make a sandwich: the base of the floor-foil substrate-chipboard-linoleum. They are driven by the desire to make hydro and sound insulation, as well as dampen the vibration of the floor when walking.

So how to put a backing with foil under the chipboard? No way. If the subfloor is wooden, then when the chipboard is attached to the base with self-tapping screws, the foil will be torn, and the point of laying such a substrate is lost.

On a concrete base, chipboard falls between two layers that do not allow steam to pass through: foil on the bottom, linoleum rubber on top, which is highly undesirable. Practice shows that chipboard very often swells in such a situation.

There is another problem here: chipboard raises the floor, which does not always fit in with the level of the floor in other rooms. Here it is better not to use additional layers of material at all, but to put the substrate on the screed, and on top of it - linoleum.

For reference: if plywood has to be installed instead of chipboard, then everything said for the first material also applies to it.

What thickness to choose

The optimal thickness of any substrate is 3 mm. It allows leveling screed errors up to 1 mm. A cork substrate of 2 mm will also cope with this task, due to its high density and elasticity.

With differences in the height of the floor screed of 1-2 mm, a substrate 4 mm thick is required, 2-3 mm - 5 mm thick. If the floor is more uneven, the problem must be solved with a self-levelling compound.

The appearance on sale of substrates with foil is caused primarily by the appearance of warm floors. When laying laminate, they allow you to better keep the heat in the apartment and protect the substrate from high humidity in the room.

Conclusion

The appearance of warm floors required completely different qualities from the substrates. They were obtained after gluing known types of substrates with thin aluminum foil, as a result of which:

their service life has increased;
improved thermal insulation performance;
increased noise reduction.

The new material is laid with the foil up, which allows the heat rays to be reflected back into the room. The increase in prices is offset by improved technical characteristics.

Laminate substrate: main types

The main types of substrate under the laminate: an overview of their advantages and disadvantages.

Determination of the optimal option.

As of today, laminate flooring ranks first in terms of popularity among decorative floor coverings. It is strong enough, easy to install, durable, plus the choice is truly extensive. Most consumers often "lose their heads" from this variety.

Carefully and spend a lot of time on the selection of laminating coatings. As for the substrate under the laminate, they remember about it in the very last place, and even then not always. Despite the fact that it is the substrate under the laminate that allows the laminate to maintain its consumer qualities for a long period of time.

How important is the choice of substrate?

The fate of all construction work in the future depends on the type and material of manufacture of the substrate itself: the operational life of the laminate, its appearance, the microclimate in a particular room. In this regard, even a slight neglect of this seemingly insignificant circumstance at first glance can play a rather cruel joke with a reckless buyer of a new floor covering. When choosing an aluminate coating, a number of the following factors should be considered.

The floor material that was used as a rough floor, its condition, the level of humidity in the room. Also plan in advance - what will be the main purpose of the room that you are preparing for repair?

Will it be a gaming room with increased requirements for dynamics and flooring. Or a bathroom with a fairly high level of humidity, is the installation and installation of underfloor heating planned? In the end, in order to figure out which substrate you choose, you need to clearly understand its classification:

Cork: underlay for laminate naturally, but not cheap

Cork underlay for laminate flooring

Substrate under the laminate made on the basis of cork, which is a pressed crumb of oak bark. A product made from cork may have a homogeneous and 100% natural composition, or it may include bitumen or rubber in its composition.

Advantages of cork coating: environmentally friendly, practically does not compress under loads, increases the level of sound and heat insulation, durable, improves the quality of the laminate itself, better than analogues from other materials hides flaws and irregularities located on the rough base. Unfortunately, the cork coating is not without drawbacks: it is susceptible to moisture damage, if you are planning a floor heating device, then it is better for you to choose a different material.

Another major drawback is the significant cost. From the above information, we can conclude that cork substrates are not suitable in the bathroom, as well as kitchens and any other rooms with humidity.

From an economic point of view, it is completely inappropriate to use "cork" in conjunction with budget laminate brands. But this substrate under the laminate is a great way to equip a children's room. Cork-backed laminate is perfect for the following institutions: kindergartens, schools, places of deployment of a large number of human resources at medium humidity values.

Polyethylene foam: an economical option for those who like to count the money spent

Substrate under the laminatePolyethylene foam segmental substrates have their own separate classification, the main difference of which lies in the method of foaming. The substrate under the laminate based on this material is endowed with similar characteristics. The thickness of the substrate under the laminate is desirable no more than 3mm. since already at a thickness of 4mm. there may be a deflection at the seams of the laminate.

The advantages of these substrates include: increased moisture resistance, reduced thermal conductivity, complete inertness to the defeat of chemical substances and bacteria, good filling of the rough surface in combination with relatively low weight, low price, ease of installation.

Disadvantages: PE foam is not durable, plus it is prone to loss of form factor, and is sensitive to damage from ultraviolet rays. Based on these circumstances, polyethylene foam underlays are better suited for rooms with a high level of humidity, for laying on a base of boards. An excellent solution in terms of minimizing financial and time costs.

Expanded polystyrene: "the optimal solution"

Styrofoam underlayment

The sheet substrate for a laminate based on expanded polystyrene is made of 2 layers: foil and expanded polystyrene itself. Also on the market are extradited substrates based on a single layer.

The advantages of such a material are good sound insulation, ease of use, perfect for installing underfloor heating, able to hide non-fatal defects in the base, and sold at the best cost.

Disadvantages: may lose its form factor over time.

This material of all considered in this article is the most versatile, as it is located "in the middle" between natural expensive coatings and cheap synthetic ones.

Foil foam

For installation as a substrate, it is necessary to use a foil-coated (with lavsan coating) Penotherm substrate. Which will play two roles, as an ordinary substrate for damping noise and as a reflector of heat, to keep it indoors, and this is saving electricity / energy up to 20-30%.

Hello everyone again. I recently wrote an article about choosing a laminate, and today we’ll talk about what should be underlay for laminate. Does everyone know what kind of substrate under a laminate is, and how to choose the right substrate? There are many questions here.

The market is rich in various offers. How not to "go broke" when choosing from all this variety, is it worth buying some expensive one or you can save money. Many manufacturers of laminate, parquet also produce a substrate for their floor products. There are also firms that directly deal only with substrates. You can buy flooring from one manufacturer and underlay from a completely different one. There will be no crime in this.

For those who have not yet chosen a laminate for themselves, the article will be useful and interesting:. Be sure to study it. Well, now let's look at the most popular and common types of substrate. I think this will be more than enough. And I will also give for comparison the average prices for all this farm.

Please note that prices are rising and may differ from those shown. Also, manufacturers can change the form of release of their product. But the general picture will be clear to you.

CONTENT:

What you need to know about underlay
Isolon substrate for laminate, it is also PPE (polyethylene foam)
Foil underlay for laminate flooring
Extruded polystyrene foam underlay
Cork-based laminate underlay
Composite underlay for laminate flooring
Why is the optimal substrate thickness only 2 – 3 mm?

What you need to know about underlay

What is this layer under the laminate for? First of all, it is necessary for even laying of the flooring in our case, it is a laminate, on. It smooths out small irregularities and defects in the floor. It serves as a shock-absorbing layer, as well as sound insulation (the question is not unambiguous) and thermal insulation.

In general, if you want your floors not to crunch when you walk on them, then without a high-quality substrate, you can’t go anywhere. It remains to decide on her choice. Read about how you can read here.

Isolon substrate for laminate, it is also PPE (polyethylene foam)

Probably the most common of all types. For those who do not know, I will tell you that isolon is polyethylene foam. There are a decent number of varieties of this isolon, I can’t even name them all. It will take several lines. But we are now interested in the most common.

Due to its material characteristics (closed pores), it has low moisture and vapor permeability. This material also has low thermal conductivity. The material is not very durable, and because of this it is easily torn. And the most important thing is that it very quickly loses its volume under load. In other words, it is quickly compressed, crushed. This directly affects its depreciation properties, which are very important.

Of the advantages, it can be noted that the isolone substrate for the laminate is, first of all, very cheap compared to other substrates. Pretty light and not afraid of moisture. Installation is very simple. It is carried out on any adhesive tape. Most flooring manufacturers offer PPE underlayment for their products.

Pros: can be used in rooms with high humidity, very light compared to other materials, the cheapest, prevents the formation of mold.

Minuses: very easily torn under load, quickly loses its shock-absorbing properties.

Price: on average, about 19 rubles / m2 - 3 mm thick

Foil underlay for laminate flooring

This is a modification on the theme of PES isolon. In place of the base material is a reflective foil layer. That is foil. Such a substrate is also available with a self-adhesive layer. The list of various sizes and types is also very wide.

It is advisable to use such a foil substrate under the laminate for arranging underfloor heating, as a reflective layer.

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