Soft underlay for laminate flooring. Choosing and laying the substrate under the laminate: which one is better? What is the best underlay to buy?

Floors play a crucial role in the structure of every home, since it mainly depends on them and on the walls how comfortable and cozy the room will be. The article will discuss what a laminate lining is for and what its practical benefits are.

Disadvantages of laminate and the purpose of the substrate

Any person wants to relax and have fun when they come home, but a variety of noise-generating factors do not allow this. Low-quality floors not only conduct, but also enhance the various noises created by residents or neighbors. This problem can be effectively solved only by purchasing a special substrate for the laminate.

It is this coating that is being considered, since it is extremely popular. Laminate stands out for its strength, durability, wear resistance and relatively low cost. It is also very beautiful in appearance, not much different from a natural wood board, therefore it provides aesthetics during visual inspection and in the photo, but only if all installation conditions are met. The peculiarities of its structure are such that the choice of a substrate for a laminate is mandatory, since it performs a number of different tasks.

Soundproofing

Laminate flooring is extremely susceptible to sound attack and noise from such a coating spreads in all directions. The reason for this is the small thickness of the material (traditionally - 8 millimeters) and the floating laying method with the formation in the ceiling of something like a membrane that easily transmits any sounds. You can muffle such sounds by laying the substrate under the laminate.

Some flooring manufacturers fix the underlay immediately on their products so that the owners solve several problems at once when laying. Such integration is usually carried out on a laminate board of grades 33 and 32. Naturally, such a modification facilitates the process of laying the flooring, but its cost is several times higher.

Base Leveling

In addition to sound insulation, various types of substrates for laminate flooring solve a very important task of leveling the base on which the material is laid. Not always, even a newly made screed is absolutely flat. Irregularities should be eliminated so that in the future they do not reduce the life of the laminate.

Any irregularities of the base appear on the surface of the laminate in the shortest possible time after the start of operation. A similar phenomenon is called “backlash” and its essence lies in the fact that small and larger gaps between the flooring and the base initially cause various noises and squeaks, and then completely lead to deformation of the coating.

It is necessary to make additional alignment of a poor-quality base. With this task, the bedding under the laminate will perfectly cope, in the role of which polystyrene foam effectively acts. Its structure allows you to eliminate the smallest irregularities.

There is a stereotype that a thicker substrate will increase its effectiveness, but this is far from the case. When it comes to what thickness of the substrate for the laminate is better, experts point to a maximum value of 3 millimeters. If it is exceeded, then during operation the laid material will sag, and over time, the fastenings between the boards in the flooring will deform.

Moisture isolation

If we take into account that the laminate is one of the representatives of wood flooring, then there is no need to explain the detrimental effect of moisture on it. Of course, the material itself can be protected with proper installation, starting with high-quality drying of the boards for a certain time.

Then it is also important to wait until the screed used as a base reaches its optimum conditions, and moisture does not appear on its surface. For example, in the case of a conventional cement-sand mortar, you will have to wait about a month, while observing the drying technology. Only after all conditions are met, it will be possible to start laying the laminate.

Checking the screed for possible moisture release is quite simple. In the evening, a plastic film is laid on it, and in the morning it is checked for the presence of condensed fumes. In order to additionally protect the laminate from possible technical liquid released by the concrete screed, it is necessary to use an underlay.

Thermal conductivity

The thermal characteristics of the floors are very important, since the temperature regime maintained in the room depends on them. If the "warm floor" system has two layers of thermal insulation at the same time: its own and laying under the laminate, then its efficiency will decrease and it will be completely possible to refuse it.

Thus, the substrate will save not only on the purchase of equipment, but also due to the absence of monthly costs for paying for electrical energy. The material laid under the laminate is quite capable of providing reliable thermal insulation of the floor.

Properties of the substrate under the laminate

From the foregoing, we can conclude that a variety of materials are placed under the laminate with a very significant purpose. It remains only to make the right choice. The cost of roll and sheet lining under the laminate is high, but savings on this component when laying the laminate should not be allowed.

The consequences of using a low-quality underlay can be very different, up to the fact that the floor covering will swell. In order for the choice to be made correctly, it is necessary to study the main qualities of the substrates for laminated parquet.

It is important that the selected laminate underlayment meets the following criteria:

it is very important that in an aggressive alkaline environment the substrate be neutral when interacting with the materials surrounding it;
in order to protect against the growth of bacteria, it must be impregnated with antiseptic agents;
as mentioned earlier, the thermal insulation and waterproofing characteristics of the material must be at a high level;
various insects and rodents should not find their homes near the substrate;
it is important to have micro-ventilation gaps in the design to remove the condensed liquid;
the cushioning characteristics of the material should reduce the load on the deck structure.

Choice of substrate for laminate flooring

Given the huge number of different types of materials that can be used as a substrate for a laminate, the question arises: how to choose the best one? It is necessary to build on the state in which the base for laying is located.

A high-quality screed with acceptable unevenness values \u200b\u200bcan be covered with a 2 mm layer of material and such a substrate will cope with the tasks assigned to it (read: ""). Defective coating (minor defects) should be covered with 3 mm isoplat.

In hardware stores you can find a number of substrates, each of which has individual characteristics. It is only important to remember that you do not need to try to pick up the substrate, the manufacturer of which made the purchased laminate. Let us consider in more detail what kind of substrate under a laminate is, and what are the main advantages and disadvantages of each type.

Polyethylene substrates

A high demand is caused by a polyethylene substrate for a laminate, which has a number of advantages.

Among them it is worth highlighting:

increased resistance to moisture;
excellent thermal insulation characteristics;
protection against the formation of fungi, mold, reproduction of bacteria;
rodents and insects are also not interested in a polymer film;
the film is laid down quite simply;
everyone can cut it;
material cost is low.

Recently, special types of metal films have appeared. Of particular interest is shown to foil and aluminum types.

The disadvantages of such material are obvious:

it does not retain its shape and shrinks during operation;
sunlight is detrimental to polyethylene, so laying should be carried out quickly, and the material should be stored in dark rooms.

Cork substrates

Cork is first and foremost an excellent insulation material, which is optimal when preparing a subfloor for laying laminate flooring in a floating pattern. The cork substrate allows you to save thermal energy within the room, and also does not grow moldy or rot.

Such material is also produced in roll and sheet versions. It can be used as a heat-insulating layer when installing a floor heating system. During operation, its proportions are preserved, and the efficiency does not decrease until it is completely worn out.

Perhaps the only drawback of cork substrates is their high cost. It is not a good idea to use such a lining if the laminate itself is of poor quality. Also, due to the increased effectiveness of cork as a heat insulator, it can cause moisture to condense from the inside of the laminate flooring.

Also, using crushed cork, a bitumen-cork substrate is created. Its production is carried out on the basis of kraft paper treated with bitumen and filled with prepared cork. The fraction of crushed cork particles does not exceed 2-3 millimeters. Such material is an excellent sound insulator, and bitumen gives it waterproofing properties.

Bitumen-cork material does not block natural ventilation, allows you to maintain pressure under the laminated parquet, and does not allow liquids to condense on the inside of the coating, unlike pure cork.

Styrofoam substrates

Extruded polystyrene foam is often placed under the laminate - a film with fantastic resistance to external loads for its appearance. This material is also suitable as a leveling material, if required by the subfloor. You can safely use such a substrate in rooms where there is an intense flow of visitors every day.

The gasket layer in this case has an anti-vibration effect, which significantly increases the comfort during operation. The unique structure of the material makes it an excellent heat and moisture insulator. The increased strength of expanded polystyrene allows it not to deform during operation and maintain its natural dimensions.

Combined types of substrates

Interest in such methods of laying the interlayer under the laminate is constantly growing. In the production of this type of material, both polyethylene and expanded polystyrene are used simultaneously. Many do not know what the name of the laminate underlay created with this combination of familiar materials is called, but it has a specific name - Tuplex.

The material is sold in the form of rolls, the thickness of which does not exceed 3 millimeters. This design allows natural ventilation of the space under the laminate flooring. Thick polyethylene from the upper layer acts as a waterproofing, and the lower one, on the contrary, allows the process moisture released by the base to be naturally removed.

The advantages of such a substrate:

high elasticity;
solid functional structure;
preservation of the original form;
the ability to level the defective base.

Special substrates

This type of lining is considered the most high-tech, because it has great functionality. The unique structure allows dampening any noise generated by the flooring and also provides natural ventilation that removes moisture from under the laminate flooring.

The laying speed of such a layer is several times higher than with more traditional substrates, since there is a moisture-resistant layer that is not afraid of a poorly dried screed, etc. The cost of such a material is the highest, but the characteristics are higher than that of alternative options.

Laying technology

It is not necessary to have certain construction skills for high-quality laying of the substrate. It is enough to adhere to the rules presented below, and then the layer will perform its main tasks perfectly and the life of not only its service life, but also the laying of the laminate will increase. Neighbors will also be grateful if there are no knocks of heels, blows from falling objects, etc. from the apartment from above. All this can provide a substrate layer several millimeters thick!

Preparatory stage

In the case when the base is represented by a concrete, stone or cement-sand screed, a layer of polyethylene must be laid on top of it as a waterproofing. It is worth using a film with a thickness of about 0.2 millimeters. The peculiarity of the laminate is that its upper part is initially protected from moisture, and the lower part will be protected by the laid waterproofing. It is recommended when laying to make a spade on the walls to get a semblance of a "trough". After completion of work, all protruding pieces are cut with a sharp knife.

Before starting work on laying the substrate, it is worth carefully cleaning the surface using an industrial vacuum cleaner, if any. Also, the presence of moisture on the subfloor is not allowed. You can cut the material used as a substrate using scissors or a knife, having previously outlined the cut lines with a pencil or marker.

It is not necessary to make the substrate multi-layered, since in this way elevated areas will definitely appear on the surface. Initially, you need to use a material whose thickness is 2-3 millimeters. As mentioned earlier, a thicker layer will lead to deformation of the lock joints between the flooring boards, which will not only spoil the appearance during visual inspection and in the photo, but also make the coating uncomfortable for operation.

Laying process

Pieces of the substrate should be placed perpendicular to the length of the laminate boards, which will increase the stability of the base. It is important to lay the substrate layer with a spade on the wall in order to preserve the coating on the side where the indents from the wall ceilings will be made. If an area of the substrate with obvious damage is found, another layer is laid on top of it.

The corrugated polyethylene is laid rough down to improve the leveling effect of the material. Foil substrates, on the contrary, should be a metal layer to the top, which will improve the thermal insulation characteristics of the coating.

Outcome

Accordingly, from the variety of floor coverings, the laminate is practically the most optimal in terms of the degree of its hydro, thermal and sound insulation. But he gets such properties only when using a high-quality substrate. Using this article, you can easily choose a material that will complete the characteristics of the laminate and allow the coating to last for many years without the need to repair or replace it.

If there are difficulties with carrying out any stage of work, then you can always turn to specialists who will take responsibility for selecting the right materials, carrying out all procedures and providing further service.

A relatively new material - laminate - is gaining more and more prominent place in the building materials market as one of the most inexpensive materials that are easy to work with. At the same time, it gives an excellent result in terms of visual perception of the floor covering, ease of maintenance and durability. But such a result is possible only with a well-made finish and a properly selected substrate for the laminate.

The functional purpose of the substrate for the laminate

To successfully use this type of coating, there are a number of requirements that must be followed. They relate, first of all, to the formation of a floor "pie", a multi-layer device that compensates for the weaknesses of the finish coating and ensures that the floor performs its functional purpose in full. To do this, before laying it, a substrate is formed under the laminate, which is assigned the following tasks:

steam protection, the purpose of which is to protect the floor cake from air moisture coming from below;
warming function - minimization of heat loss from the floor screed, which is especially important when the floor slabs of the first floor are located above the basement for food storage, with a special thermal regime;
soundproofing - relevant for the second and higher floors;
alignment of defects in the rough screed, which is especially important when using laminate flooring as the floor finish.

What is the best substrate for the laminate to be chosen by our readers. To understand the problem, let's find out what a laminate is.

The basis for the manufacture of such a board is a high-strength fiberboard. The surface is covered with a layer of melamine or acrylate resin, which is a protective layer. A decorative layer of paper under a transparent coating can imitate any surface from wood to stone. The bottom layer of water-resistant paper protects the board from moisture. For a number of manufacturers, mating elements are coated with a layer of wax.

Substrate selection

The substrate is a multilayer device, but taking into account the properties of the coating material, special attention is paid to its ability to smooth out the impact of various kinds of irregularities on the surface of the base bearing plane.

Non-woven fiber substrates

This is perhaps the best choice as a substrate for laminate flooring. Fiber floor underlays differ from all their competitors not only in terms of price / quality ratio, but also in the best physical performance.

The Trioteks company is engaged in the production of these substrates, and has already established itself as a reliable supplier of quality materials.

Advantages of fiber substrates:

Excellent moisture insulation - the substrate is covered with a protective film that prevents getting wet;
Soundproofing - due to its structure, the material almost completely absorbs sound;
Thermal insulation - in terms of its thermal insulation properties, non-woven fiber can compete with cork coatings;
We perfectly smooth out small irregularities - the main purpose of the substrates. And with this, the substrates from the company "Triotex" cope best of all.

Among other things, fiber substrates are not subject to rotting and “denting” over time.

Installation is one of the easiest among competitors. Unlike other fragile materials (cork, needles, polystyrene foam), it is enough to roll the material on the floor and cut it in the right places.

The flooring from Trioteks is suitable for any purpose - for leveling the floor before laying the laminate, for its sound insulation and insulation.

Cork materials

Crushed natural material cork as a substrate is formed into rolls on a fabric basis, the thickness of the material is 2 - 10 mm. Due to its physical properties, it is popular because of its ability to smooth out pitted bumps, leveling their effect on the laminate.

Cork underlay also works well when laid on a wood floor. In this case, surface preparation consists in removing old paint with scrapers or a special composition designed for this purpose. The field of this need to fix the creaky floorboards with additional screws or nails to the floor joists. Chips and cracks must be eliminated with a putty of a special composition for wood.

When laying the substrate, the usual technology for such cases is used. Runs of sheet material are laid on the floor, while joints are allowed, both in width and in length, which must be glued together with construction tape . Attention! When laying the substrate, local swelling and swelling are unacceptable. Over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe room, it should fit snugly to the floor.

The positive qualities of this material include its low allergenicity. Being an agglomeration of natural material and the same binders, it is initially environmentally friendly. This allows the use of such material in living quarters, children's rooms, kitchens and other similar places.

Among other positive qualities, the following are noted:

long service life, up to 30 years, with strict observance of surface preparation technologies, where a cork substrate is used and its installation itself;
resistance of the material to deformations, after the removal of the load, the relaxation of the material layer occurs already after 2 - 2.5 hours;
soundproofing properties - the porous structure and elasticity of the source material effectively dampen both penetrating sounds and vibration waves from operating electrical equipment and appliances. Even with a layer thickness of 2 mm, the material dampens sounds up to 12 - 14 decibels;
heat-insulating properties - low thermal conductivity led to its use for insulation of walls, ceilings, floors and other multidirectional planes;
the material is an antiseptic of natural origin, not exposed to fungi and lichens, and also does not serve as food for domestic rodents.

A unique property is the ability of cork to reduce the radioactive background and the harmful effects of other building materials.

A negative factor is the high price of cork materials, which is successfully offset by a set of its positive characteristics and durability.

In addition, the low thermal conductivity of this substrate prevents its use for any underfloor heating.

Coniferous substrates

This material is made from shavings and chips of coniferous wood that have undergone steaming. When pressing products, no extraneous binders are used; this is the property of the resin contained in the wood itself. The materials used and the production method reasonably allow coniferous substrates to be considered an environmentally friendly material.

The main forms of release are rolls and plates. The latter are packed in packs of 7 square meters with a card size of 59 x 89 cm and a thickness of 3.5 - 7 mm. When laying as a substrate, the seams are glued with construction tape.

Initially, this material was intended for use as a sound insulator, but the revealed ability to dampen shock and vibration loads led to its use as substrates for various floor finishes.

Coniferous substrate under the laminate has a number of valuable positive qualities:

high soundproofing ability creates comfortable living conditions in the room;
the use of a coniferous substrate allows you to keep the heat of the floor;
the density of the tiles allows you to significantly level the unevenness of the base when laying both on a concrete floor and on a wooden one;
when installing a coniferous substrate, there is no need for additional adhesives, tools and fixtures;
the absence of synthetic additives, adhesives and modifiers makes it possible to classify this material as environmentally friendly;
during operation, the coniferous substrate keeps its shape well, does not sag, holding its shape for at least 15 years.

A significant drawback of the material is its ability to be moldy in the presence of moisture.

Therefore, we mentioned above the need to use vapor protection as part of the substrate. In addition, when using coniferous material, moisture protection is needed between it and the laminate to prevent its ingress during wet cleaning.

Foamed polypropylene

This material is the most popular of the class of synthetic products for use as a substrate for floor finishes, including laminate flooring.

The structure of the material has a bubble structure, which explains its low thermal conductivity and soundproofing properties.

One of the reasons for the high popularity of expanded polypropylene is its low price, which does not indicate its insufficient quality. It quite successfully withstands the laminated coating and tolerably retains heat and sound.

The release form in the form of rolls or sheets is made with a wavy surface, which ensures ventilation of the space under the laminate. In addition, with a thickness of 3 - 5 mm, the underlay successfully copes with the unevenness of the subfloor.

One of the disadvantages of polypropylene substrates is the destruction of bubbles under repeated loading. The consequence of this is the flattening of the material with the loss of its basic qualities.

Recently, foil substrates have been widely used, and metallization can be one-sided or two-sided. Such material works at the installation site like a thermos flask, effectively retaining floor heat. The thickness of the substrate in this case is 2–5 mm.

To avoid isolating the laminate from the heating elements when installing underfloor heating, the underlay must be placed under the heat sources, preventing it from leaking into the floor subfloor. In this case, special importance should be attached to the quality of the surface of the subfloor, regardless of the material of its manufacture.

Expanded polystyrene extruded

The second type of substrates made of synthesized materials is extruded polystyrene. This material is endowed with significantly higher strength qualities and is able to withstand significant loads for a long time.

Release form - mats or plates of greenish color.

A distinctive feature of polystyrene foam materials is their high density, which gives the air bubbles in them additional strength. Under constant heavy loads, the plates do not sag or deform. The same quality reliably smooths out peak loads at the places of uneven floors.

For a warm floor, the main purpose of the substrate is thermal insulation in order to eliminate heat loss. Especially important is the use of substrates on the floor slabs of the first floor, separating it from the basement. This allows you to maintain a microclimate in the basement, necessary for storing supplies and reduces energy consumption for heating the building.

The order of laying the substrate

Such an operation must be started from any angle and proceed as in the case of installing floor tiles:

if a sheet substrate is used, place its first card in the corner, making sure that the corner is not skewed. If it is, mark the cutting line for the entire row and cut it off with a clerical knife according to the marking;
when working with rolled material - make the last joint with an overlap of 7 - 10 cm and, using a ruler, cut along a double layer of material for the entire length. By removing narrow segments, we get a perfect joint even with uneven cutting;
glue all joined edges with adhesive tape along the entire length, forming a sealed floor covering with a substrate;
fix the substrate with adhesive tape to the walls around the perimeter.

After laying the substrate, you can install laminate boards.

When installing a top coat of this material on a stroma wooden floor, the old paint must be removed. After that, it is advisable to tear off one or two boards and check the condition of the supporting elements - the log. If rotting is found in at least one place, you will have to completely dismantle the old coating and replace the damaged logs. At the same time, check the sufficiency of thermal insulation and, if necessary, replenish its level using expanded clay, blast-furnace slag or foamed sand. Close the floor again with the same boards (if there is no need for replacement), carefully fix them with screws, sinking the heads into the body of the boards.
When installing underfloor heating, it must be taken into account that most heat carriers are afraid of floor irregularities, especially film ones. And the substrates are not salvation here. It will be right to arrange self-leveling screeds reinforced with fiber chips and no longer think about irregularities. Forced repairs with the replacement of mats will cost many times more.
It is necessary to take into account the requirements of SNiP so that the floor level in all mating rooms is the same. This is easy to take into account when building a house. And when performing repair work in a separate room, it should be remembered that the minimum thickness of the laminate with a substrate of the simplest polystyrene foam is 7-8 cm, and take this into account when performing work.

Laminate is one of the "youngest" floor coverings in existence today. It has a not too high cost, is practical and aesthetic, so for many consumers it is the best option. Its laying can be carried out on different types of surfaces, among others, concrete should be distinguished. The procedure is not complicated, so you can carry it out yourself.

Choice of laminate

If you are faced with the question of how to lay a laminate on a concrete floor, then at the first stage you need to figure out which coating is right for you. In appearance, the laminate resembles a thin board, the thickness of which usually varies from 7 to 12 mm. As for the width, it varies from 17 to 30 cm. It is also important to choose the length, it can be equal to the limit from 1 to 1.5 m.

The structure of the laminate is like a multilayer cake. Each layer performs its own role, among them it is necessary to highlight:

stabilization;
protection;
decor.

Choice by production method

Depending on which production method was used, the laminate can be classified according to the intensity of the pressure. It can be a direct or high pressure material. The first coat can be used for a period of time, which will be affected by the quality and durability of the top protective film. If we are talking about high pressure laminate, then the top layer will be multi-component. In addition to expensive melamine or acrylic resins, aluminum oxide or corundum is used in this material, which increases strength.

The film is used to protect the material from UV exposure, chemicals and abrasion. Under it are a decorative layer, which in some types of material is made of special foil, and in others - of paper. It depends on how attractive the coating will be. Most often, a pattern imitating wood is applied to the surface.

Innovative solution

If you are faced with the question of how to lay a laminate on you can pay attention to the material made using the latest technologies. In such varieties of coating there is also a stabilizing layer that protects the outer layers from moisture and has additional soundproofing properties. Direct pressure laminate has a three-layer structure, and all its layers are connected by compression technology when exposed to temperature.

Concrete surface preparation

The quality of the work done will depend on how well the concrete surface was prepared. It should be flat, horizontal, well protected from moisture. Before laying the laminate on the concrete floor, the surface is sometimes dismantled.

After that, it is leveled, and the height difference in the end should not be more than 2 mm per square meter. If they are more significant, then they should be eliminated by applying plaster to the pits or knocking down ledges. If this approach is not possible, then a new screed must be poured. Cement or concrete is suitable, however, after pouring, it is necessary to leave the surface to dry completely.

Suitable for leveling and modern quick-hardening bulk mixes. They dry quite quickly, and their thickness can be significant if you need to even out impressive errors. Next, waterproofing is laid, the cheapest option of which is a conventional film, overlapped and connected with adhesive tape. Experts advise using substrates made of extruded polystyrene foam or polyethylene foam, each of which has noise-absorbing properties.

Alternate Alignment Solution

A bitumen-cellulose substrate, which includes cork chips, will become more efficient and expensive. This option cannot be compatible with underfloor heating and requires the installation of breathable skirting boards. Before laying the laminate on the concrete floor, you can lay down a polymer backing, which has a self-adhesive surface, so it is quite easy to install. The use of a substrate can be dispensed with only when a four-layer laminate is laid, because its lower surface performs the same functions. However, waterproofing with this approach is still needed.

Laminate for unheated premises

Many consumers are wondering if it is possible to lay laminate on a concrete floor in an unheated room. These conditions may apply:

on the balcony;
on the loggia;
in a country house.

In order to give an answer, you need to understand what a laminate is. This is a board based on an HDF-plate, the functionality of the coating will depend on its quality. An important role is also played by the method of manufacturing the material. Some manufacturers use wood to produce laminate, which is first crushed into dust, and then glued together. At the final stage, the material is subjected to pressure.

Other manufacturers grind wood fibers into a large fraction, and then glue them together, squeezing them in parallel. The second method allows you to get a plate that is more resistant to changes in humidity and temperature fluctuations. Before laying a laminate on a concrete floor in an unheated room, it is also important to take into account the resistance of the coating to changes in humidity and temperature. When purchasing material from China, you are unlikely to find operating instructions in the description for it. In this case, you can only focus on the price. The cheaper the material, the cheaper raw materials were used in its manufacture.

Summing up, it can be noted that the laminate in an unheated room can still be laid, but before choosing it, you must take into account the advice of specialists. After analyzing the reviews of professionals, we can conclude that the laminate cannot spread in a room where, during operation, the material will be subjected to sharp temperature fluctuations. In addition, it is important during installation to ensure reliable protection of the coating from moisture. For this, a polyethylene film and a substrate are usually used. It is better to carry out additional floors using roofing material.

To ensure more comfortable conditions, thermal insulation can be carried out and the seams can be treated with sealant. Several problems can be solved by the method under not only allowing, but also steam, as well as thermally insulating them. By purchasing thicker slats, you can reduce the likelihood of their deformation in the autumn-winter period. If you are faced with the question of whether it is possible to lay laminate on a concrete floor in an unheated room, then you should consider that installation in this case is best done in a floating way, then the gaps between the laminate and the wall will be larger than usual. With fluctuations in humidity and temperature, the material will be able to compensate for changes in size.

What to put under laminate flooring

If you are faced with the question of what is placed under the laminate on a concrete floor, you should study the information provided below. In order to achieve high quality when laying a laminate, you need to choose the right substrate. On sale today you can find substrates of different types, they can be synthetic or natural. In the latter case, we are talking about cork material, which can be produced in sheets or rolls. The thickness of such canvases varies from 2 to 4 mm.

In order to achieve good sound insulation, you can use such a substrate with lamellas that have an additional cork layer. If you are deciding whether it is possible to lay laminate on a concrete floor without leveling, then this question cannot be answered positively if the coating is used in tandem with a cork underlay. In this case, the surface must be well leveled before starting work, then laying a dense plastic film. Then the substrate will lie well on the coating, in addition, it will be quite convenient to lay the laminate on it.

Artificial substrates

Considering artificial materials for laying under a laminate, you need to pay attention to Izolon. It is a foamed polyethylene, which may have a foil surface. This solution is more effective if it is necessary to lay an additional insulation layer. The foil side should be facing out. If insulation is not required, then Izolon without foil may be preferred.

Another synthetic material is Poliform. In composition, it is similar to the above, but has a lower cost. Gas-filled polymers are also quite popular today. They are available in sheets or rolls, so you can choose the ones that are more convenient to install. Among them should be highlighted:

"Stizol".
Steinfon.
Plenex.
"Isopenol".

Laying technology

Now you know that you can lay laminate on a concrete floor. However, the material is first brought into the room for two days so that it can acclimatize. Installation work must be carried out in such a way that the long side of the lamellas is located along the flow of light. Once the wedges have been installed to ensure adequate clearance, you can proceed with laying the first row, turning the tongues of the lamellas towards the wall. Finishing each row, you must determine the length of the last lamella, taking into account the gap. The remainder can be used at the beginning of the next row, however, its length should not be less than 30 cm. This approach reduces the amount of waste and ensures that the joints are offset.

The last row, if necessary, can be laid with a lamella cut to width. This will allow you to get a flat surface with a minimum of waste. Quite often, home craftsmen wonder if it is possible to lay a laminate on a concrete floor without a screed. You can answer it positively, but this is true only for the case when the surface will be prepared in a different way. In this case, the technology may involve the use of plywood or a self-leveling quick-drying floor. Laying material starts from the far corner. The first panel is installed on the substrate, a distance of 10 to 12 mm should be left between it and the wall. It should be followed along the entire length of the first row.

Conclusion

Now you know how to properly lay laminate on a concrete floor. However, it is also important to know the nuances of mounting the substrate. It should be overlapped within 5 cm. In this case, the edges are glued together with construction tape or glue. After the underlay is on the floor, it should be left for some time to shrink. The position of the slats can be adjusted using a wooden mallet and a wedge.

At the final stage, the indent is hidden; for this, a plinth is installed. First, clamps are screwed to the wall, the distance between which should be approximately 50 cm. Before starting work, it is important to learn how to properly lay the laminate on the concrete floor. However, the appearance of the room will not be complete if skirting boards are not placed around the perimeter of the room. After installing the latches, they are pressed to the surface, directing towards the locks. Plastic plugs are put on the corners, which are installed in the holes as tightly as possible.

Laminate has become one of the most popular and cheapest floor coverings. It is strong, durable, pleases with a wide choice - from budget to elite models of any color. As a rule, people spend a lot of time choosing a laminate, but they forget about the substrate. In this article, we will figure out which substrate is better, because the durability of the coating depends on its quality.

Underlayment for laminate flooring is required by floating floor technology. This is due to several factors, which we will talk about.

- Soundproofing. If the bedding under the laminate is not used, then each step will be given a booming thud. The presence of a soft even layer will hide small noises, frictions (see article about).

Sometimes in the 33rd and 32nd class of laminate there is a built-in substrate: an insulation layer is already glued on the reverse side. It is more convenient to lay such material than usual, but due to the more difficult production technology, the cost increases significantly.

- Surface leveling. Another function of the substrate is to level small irregularities. This is very important when, because the durability of the locks depends on the evenness of the base. According to the technology, the allowable floor differences should be no more than 2 mm per 1 m. However, too much thickness of the substrate under the laminate will rather prevent bumps from hiding, because then it will sag at the joints when walking. So that the seams do not spread in six months, the floor surface is carefully prepared before laying the coating (see article on.
- Moisture isolation. The laminate is made of pressed paper, so even moisture-resistant models do not need to be exposed to high humidity, otherwise the panels will swell. Laying the substrate under the laminate will provide additional protection against moisture from the concrete floor. For the same reason, before laying the coating, it is better to wait at least a month after the installation of the concrete screed.

As a test of the readiness of the screed, you can put polyethylene on the floor overnight. In the morning, there should be no perspiration on the concrete.

Thermal conductivity. A conventional underlay for a laminate installed under a warm floor reduces the efficiency of its work, since both the laminate itself and the substrate material have good thermal insulation properties. There are special substrates for underfloor heating, which we wrote about in. We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with, which describes the installation process on a wooden and concrete base with further finishing with a laminate.

Substrate selection

It's easy to find plenty of options at any hardware store, but how do you choose the right underlay for laminate flooring? After all, they differ in material, thickness, sound insulation.

First of all, you need to find out the condition of the floor. If the base is even, the thinnest substrate will be enough - 2 mm. When small irregularities are encountered, it is worth choosing an insulation thickness of 3 mm. The thickness of the laminate with the underlay will be approximately 10-11 mm (assuming an average laminate floor thickness of 8 mm).

When choosing a substrate and the laminate itself, it is not necessary to give preference to the same manufacturer. It practically does not matter, because the parameters are general, so any company will do.

A brief video review of popular species:

Polyethylene foam

The most common polyethylene foam backing. Its popularity is primarily due to its low price. In addition, it has good moisture resistance, thermal insulation and is not affected by rodents and microorganisms. This material is very easy to use and minimizes waste. Often it is supplemented with a foil layer with aluminum to reflect infrared heat.

However, despite the large number of advantages, the cheapest material also has many disadvantages. First of all, it is a non-environmentally friendly synthetic material, which sags over time and does not hold its shape well. There are cases that after laying the laminate on a polyethylene foam substrate, static electricity is generated (especially in dry rooms), and the owners are periodically shocked. Therefore, think 10 times before saving 500 rubles, is your comfort worth this money? The material of domestic manufacturers will be cheaper: the price of a roll of 25 square meters. m. about 320-400 rubles. Foamed polyethylene from Quick step will cost 60-90 rubles. for 1 sq. m.

Cork substrates

Cork underlayment under laminate flooring is great as a base for a floating floor. Although it is a natural material, cork is not subject to mold and decay, and is an excellent heat insulator. Throughout the entire service life, such a substrate will retain its dimensions and characteristics. This type is available in the form of rolls or sheets. In some cases, there is a self-adhesive layer on the back (see the article about).

Due to the high cost, it is impractical to use the cork option for cheap coatings, but it is well suited as a durable base. The disadvantage of cork is water permeability, so condensation may appear under the coating.

Bitumen-cork substrates

This material is made on the basis of kraft paper with the addition of bitumen, and then covered with fine cork chips on top. The dressing is made from small pieces of cork 2-3 mm. Thanks to bitumen, this type is devoid of the disadvantages of conventional cork: it does not allow moisture to pass through and retains sounds well; the material breathes, which prevents the formation of condensate. Like the previous option, bitumen-cork substrates are only suitable for expensive types of laminate, due to the high price.

Styrofoam

Often, extruded polystyrene foam is used as an insulating layer. It is optimally suited for high-loaded premises and evens out irregularities well. This is one of the most effective heaters due to the high air content in its composition. Due to its rigidity, it retains its shape well and effectively absorbs sounds, does not let moisture through. When using expanded polystyrene on the floor, a comfortable feeling when walking is provided. The most popular in this form are products from Izoshum, Arbiton.

Combined options

There are also combinations of polyethylene and expanded polystyrene. The most famous substrate is Tuplex (Tuplex), it consists of two layers of polyethylene, between which there are polystyrene foam balls.

This combined version is sold in rolls and has a thickness of 3 mm. Due to its structure, it can ventilate the room. The upper layer does not allow moisture to penetrate inside, and a thin lower layer passes it inside to the granules, and from there it comes out through technological gaps.

Coniferous tiles

A novelty of recent years is a coniferous substrate for laminate flooring. It is difficult to find it in stores due to its high cost, but coniferous boards from Isoplat are sometimes sold. The material is completely environmentally friendly and allows air to pass through, so there will be no greenhouse effect under the floor. However, in terms of elasticity, needles are inferior to cork. It is also worth considering that the minimum thickness of coniferous tiles is 4-5 mm, which is contrary to the requirements of many laminate manufacturers. The tiles are laid diagonally.

Substrate laying

Now let's talk about the technology, how to lay the substrate under the laminate:

If there is a fresh concrete screed on the floor, a layer of thin 0.2 micron polyethylene should be laid before laying. In older houses, this is not necessary.
Thoroughly clean the floor of debris, vacuum all the dirt. The base must be dry.
For cutting, use ordinary scissors or a construction knife. They overlap the walls, then the plinth will close it.
In no case do not lay several layers of the substrate to compensate for irregularities, a layer of 2-3 mm will be enough. If you need more, they are produced with plywood, screed or in another way.
If the material has a corrugation, it is laid down with this side, so there will be less irregularities. The foil material is laid with the reflective side up.
Laying is carried out end-to-end, without overlapping sheets on each other. In order not to displace the substrate during work, it is recommended to stick it on a double-sided adhesive tape to the floor.

Summing up

Subject to the technology and the purchase of a high-quality substrate and laminate, they will last more than 10 years at home. Of course, the final choice will depend on material possibilities, but it is better to try to purchase high-quality natural materials so as not to pay twice.

Which will extend the life of the flooring, cushioning and evenly distributing the load on it, provide additional noise and heat insulation, and smooth out minor defects in the base. The choice of substrate is usually carried out according to two parameters: material and thickness.

The durability of the substrate largely depends on the material, it is also the main pricing factor. Thickness is a very important characteristic, which determines how successfully the substrate will cope with the tasks assigned to it. In this case, the thickness should not be maximum, but optimal.

When choosing a substrate of optimal thickness, the following criteria should be taken into account:

laminate class, its purpose and expected load on it
laminate thickness
the degree of unevenness of the base for laying
floor waterproofing features
subfloor level in neighboring rooms
substrate material

It is best to focus on the manufacturer's recommendations, most laminate manufacturers also produce related products, including the substrate, which is developed taking into account all the features of a particular collection.

The thickness of the substrate from different materials

As a rule, a softer substrate has a thickness limit; a substrate made of denser materials may have a greater thickness.

substrate from foamed polyethylene(isolon) or polystyrene(iso noise) usually has a thickness of 2-3 mm, the most common thickness is 3 mm
the most common thickness is 2-4 mm. Some manufacturers, for example, SEDACOR, produce both rolled and sheet cork substrates up to 10 mm thick, but this is too much for a laminate. There is a rolled substrate and a smaller thickness - 1.8-1.85 mm
combined substrate Tuplex from a layer of polypropylene balls located between layers of polyethylene film - roll material 3 mm thick
rolled underlay extruded polystyrene, for example, IMS, has a thickness of 2 mm, and sheet - 3-5 mm
a substrate made from woodworking industry waste (wood fibers), the so-called coniferous, has a thickness of 4-7 mm. Although the manufacturer positions it as a substrate for various floor coverings, including laminate, its thickness exceeds the optimal value for a laminate. Therefore, if the choice is made in her favor, it is better to limit yourself to a minimum thickness of 4 mm.

Features of the laminate and the thickness of the substrate

The thickness of the substrate should correspond to the thickness of the laminate, for a thin one, 7 mm thick, a two-millimeter substrate will be sufficient; and 4-5 mm.

An indication of the possibility or necessity of using a substrate with a thickness of more than 3 mm should be contained in the manufacturer's instructions. Typically, this underlay is used with commercial grade 33 laminates, which are particularly stressed and are very dense and strong.

Is it possible to level the unevenness of the base with a thick substrate

A thin substrate 2 mm thick is best used if the subfloor is perfectly flat. If there are acceptable irregularities, a 3 mm thick substrate is suitable, this is the most versatile solution. If the height differences exceed the allowable, the base must be leveled. Often, instead, they try to smooth out defects with a thicker substrate.

If the substrate is dense enough, slightly wrinkled, practically does not cake (cork, coniferous substrates, some types of sheet substrates made of extruded polystyrene foam have such characteristics), you can use a material with a thickness of 4-5 mm. But only if this is due to the characteristics of the laminate and is recommended by its manufacturer, this is not the best way to compensate for uneven subfloors.

It is no coincidence that the thickness of the soft substrate is limited to 3 millimeters, and in no case should it be increased by laying the substrate in several layers. The fact is that it is crushed and caked during operation, and over time, its thickness can be halved. Due to this, a void, a play, is formed under the laminate, and the greater the thickness of the substrate, the greater this play will be. And the voids under the laminate have a very negative effect on the locking joints, leading to their premature failure.

The backlash formed after crushing the substrate of a standard thickness of 2-3 mm will be in the range of 1-1.5 mm, this is quite tolerable. But if on a base with height differences more than the maximum allowable 3 mm per linear meter, lay 2 layers of a three-millimeter substrate, after its caking, a backlash of up to 3 mm is formed. Together with base defects, significant height differences are obtained that exceed the allowable ones. Because of them, the load on the laminate will be uneven, the panels will begin to sag, and the locks may not withstand this.

So the thickness of neither polyethylene foam, nor more dense and caking-resistant polystyrene foam substrates under the laminate should not exceed 3 mm.

Additional Factors Determining Substrate Thickness

The thickness of the substrate should be proportional to the thickness of the waterproofing film
Due to the impregnation, the bitumen-cork substrate does not absorb moisture; laying it with the impregnation downwards makes it possible to refuse waterproofing, due to which it is possible to increase the thickness of the substrate itself, it is usually 3-4 mm
Sometimes the laminate is laid in neighboring rooms, and the level of the subfloor in them is different. You can compensate for this difference in height by using a substrate of different thicknesses, but it should be within the recommended range. Therefore, a difference of more than 1 mm in this way is problematic to align

Outcome

The permissible thickness of the substrate under the laminate is in the range of 2-5 mm (for a cork substrate - from 1.8 mm.) The optimal thickness is 3 mm. A thinner underlay can be used with a thin laminate and laid on a subfloor with minimal flaws. A thicker underlay is usually used with a thick, heavy-duty laminate, only on the recommendation of the manufacturer.

More than 3 mm thick is a substrate made of dense, slightly wrinkled and practically non-caking materials during operation, usually these are sheet substrates. The substrate can only smooth out minor irregularities in the base; instead of leveling the subfloor with significant height differences, it is unacceptable to try to solve this problem by increasing the thickness of the substrate.

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