Why use a laminate underlay? Underlay for laminate: which is better, pros, cons and selection rules. Expensive cork material
Laminate on modern stage refers to popular and cheap floor coverings. It is characterized by high strength and durability. In construction markets there is wide choose material. You can choose a budget or elite option. It is possible to be guided by color and pattern. And if you decide to finish the floor using this coating, then you need to know what kind of substrate for a concrete floor under the laminate can be used. This is exactly what we will talk about in this review.
Why is it necessary to use pads?
The underlay is mandatory for floating floor technology. The quality of the coating will depend on this. In addition, there are several reasons to recommend using a substrate.
- Soundproofing. If you do not use a mat under the material, then every step you take will impact the concrete floor. Using a soft and even layer will hide minor noise or friction. There is also a coating that has a built-in backing. In such situations, lay on a concrete floor under a laminate additional material not necessary. We are talking about coverage of grades 32 and 33. However, its cost is quite high.
- Using bedding you can level the surface. This is an important quality that should not be forgotten. It plays a special role at the moment. The durability of the locks will depend entirely on the evenness of the base. According to technology, differences should not exceed 2 mm per 1 meter. It should also be noted that if the substrate on the concrete floor under the laminate is too thick, then it is unlikely that it will be possible to hide the unevenness. At the joints when walking, it will begin to sag. If you do not want to change the coating after six months, then you need to carefully prepare the surface for installation.
- Moisture insulation. When creating a laminate, pressed paper is used. Therefore, even the most moisture-resistant models should not be tested. Otherwise, the panels will simply swell. A concrete floor underlay under the laminate will help provide additional protection from moisture. Before you start laying the material, you need to wait about a month after it was done. concrete screed. The readiness of the base can be checked using polyethylene. Place it on the floor overnight. If there was no moisture on the concrete in the morning, then you can start laying.
- Thermal conductivity. The bedding material has good thermal insulation properties. If you place it under a heated floor, its performance will be reduced. There are special substrates that should be used in such a situation.
What factors should be taken into account when choosing?
At the present stage, in almost any hardware store a specific substrate for the laminate can be selected. The price of this material varies in different ranges. How to make the right choice? After all, substrates can differ not only in cost, but also in the material used, thickness and sound insulation.
First of all, you need to find out what condition the floor is in. If the base is flat, then the thickness of the substrate can be 2 mm. If there are slight irregularities, then you should opt for a bedding whose thickness is 3 mm. Together with the laminate, this figure will reach approximately 11 mm, if we take the average parameters.
When choosing a specific material for covering, you do not need to give preference to the manufacturer who designed the laminate you are using. It does not matter. Any company can apply. Some particularly popular materials should be listed.
Cheap lining option
The lining made of polyethylene foam has become very popular. What is the reason for the fame that this substrate enjoys? Its price is the lowest. But, regardless of this, it is characterized by good resistance to moisture and excellent thermal insulation properties. In addition, the substrate made of this material is not susceptible to rodents and microorganisms. All costs will be kept to a minimum, since the litter is easy to install. Often it is supplemented with a foil layer with aluminum. This helps reflect infrared rays.
Disadvantages of polyethylene foam
This substrate also has disadvantages, of which there are quite a few. First of all, in its production, not entirely environmentally friendly materials are used. synthetic materials. Over time, the shape of the litter will change. The material will begin to sag, losing its shape. In some situations, after laying the main coating on such a lining, it begins to form. Therefore, when purchasing, you need to think several times whether the savings of 500 rubles are worth it.
The cheapest option is made domestic producers underlay for laminate. Price per roll of 25 sq. meters reaches about 400 rubles. will cost 100 rubles more per square meter.
Expensive cork material
Don't know which underlay to choose for laminate flooring? Pay attention to cork bedding. They are perfect for floating floors. This natural material. However, it is not susceptible to mold or rotting. Excellent ability to insulate heat. Throughout the entire service period, the substrate will not lose its size and characteristics. This material is sold in the form of rolls. There is also a sheet backing for laminate flooring. There are species that back side have a self-adhesive layer.
The substrate is characterized by high cost. For this reason, it is not advisable to use it together with cheap coatings. However, the durability of the products is high. Among the disadvantages, in addition to price, water permeability should be highlighted. For this reason, condensation may appear under the coating.
Bitumen lining for laminate
The backing can be made from kraft paper with the addition of a material such as bitumen. The top of the lining is covered with fine cork chips. Through the use of bitumen this type The underlay does not have the disadvantages that characterize the sheet underlay for a laminate made of cork material. The bitumen lining does not allow moisture to pass through and is capable of blocking sounds. The material will breathe, which prevents the formation of condensation. As in the case of cork, it is advisable to use this type of lining only with expensive coating. This is due to its high cost.
Extruded polystyrene foam
Quite often from a position insulating material extruded polystyrene foam can be used. It is perfect for those rooms that are characterized by high loads. It can be used to smooth out uneven surfaces. Such a substrate is effective insulation due to the presence of a significant amount of air in its composition. Rigidity allows you to maintain its shape, effectively absorbs sound, and prevents moisture penetration. Using polystyrene foam on the floor will give you a comfortable walking experience.
Combined option
Do you need a warm underlay for laminate flooring? Enough interesting option can be considered a combination of polyethylene with expanded polystyrene. This material is usually sold in rolls. Its thickness reaches 3 mm. Due to its structure, such a substrate is capable of ventilating the room. Upper layer does not allow moisture to penetrate inside. The bottom layer passes it to the granules, through which it comes out using special gaps.
New in construction stores
Coniferous bedding for covering is a new product. It is very difficult to find due to its high cost. However, sometimes you may come across “Izoplat” - a substrate for laminate flooring that is completely environmentally friendly. In addition, it is capable of allowing air to pass through. For this reason, a greenhouse effect will not be created under the coating. However, the elasticity of needles is noticeably inferior to that of cork material. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that the thickness of the tiles reaches 4-5 mm. This contradicts many of the requirements put forward by laminate manufacturers. The tiles must be laid diagonally.
What should you consider when installing? Reviews
Now we should talk about how the substrate is laid under people who were able to do this, they will help to understand this issue.
- If the concrete screed is fresh, then before laying it is necessary to lay thin polyethylene. If the house is old, then this procedure is not mandatory.
- Thoroughly clean the floor of debris and dirt. In addition, the base must be completely dry.
- For cutting, you should use regular scissors or a construction knife. It is necessary to overlap the walls. Then it can be closed using a plinth.
- It is not recommended to lay several layers at once to compensate for unevenness. One is enough. If the unevenness cannot be covered with the material, the base will need to be leveled first.
- If the material has corrugation, it should be directed downward. In such a situation, it will be possible to hide some irregularities. The foil lining should be laid with the reflective side up.
- It is recommended to install them end-to-end. There should not be any overlap. For fastening should be used This will help prevent the material from moving.
Conclusion
If all the recommendations mentioned above are taken into account when laying the material, then the laminate will last a very long time. Naturally, final choice in favor of a particular substrate must be done, guided by one’s own material capabilities. However, you must try to purchase only high-quality and natural products. Otherwise, new repairs may be required within six months.
Laminate is a very worthy modern alternative to traditional parquet. Its installation is not difficult and even an untrained person can do it.
But in order for such a floor to serve for a long time and not become a source of trouble, you need to take the selection of the substrate very seriously. We will tell you why it is needed, what it is made of, and which underlay for laminate is best used in various cases.
Why does laminate need a backing?
Underlay required, to:
- evenly distribute the weight load over the entire surface of the laminate;
- compensate for all defects and unevenness of the base;
- partially or completely absorb the sounds of steps, moving furniture, knocking during children's games, etc.;
- provide sound and heat insulation.
Laminate flooring is not connected to the base and has a “floating” structure, so to speak. The lining in this system plays the role of a shock-absorbing pillow.
Due to the elasticity of the material the substrate compensates for minor surface defects and minor differences concrete base. It is important that the height of the protrusions does not exceed the height of the soft layer.
The depth of extensive depressions should also not exceed the thickness of the substrate. The presence of small holes in the concrete does not matter.
Ideally, the substrate should compensate for differences of no more than half its height.
Below we will describe in detail what kind of substrate is used for laminate flooring. would be better suited for concrete floors both in a private house and in a high-rise building.
In fact too thick the underlay layer causes increased deflection of the floor under weight load. And this, in turn, gradually loosens and destroys the latches at the junctions of adjacent sheets.
One of the unpleasant properties of laminate flooring is its echo.
Without additional noise reduction measures, the sound of footsteps in shoes or moving furniture will be heard very clearly and loudly throughout the room.
A good substrate made of sound-absorbing materials almost completely eliminates the resonant properties of the laminate and absorbs sounds.
Since the lining usually has a porous structure, it also plays the role of additional thermal insulation.
Although this is more of an indirect bonus than the full functional quality of this material. For serious thermal insulation, the thickness of the lining layer alone is clearly not enough.
How thick should the substrate be?
We figured out the functional need for the lining. But the buyer is also interested in: what thickness of the substrate is best suited for a particular laminate?
Most laminate manufacturers unanimously state that the thickness of the substrate should be between 3 and 5 mm.
In practice, in stores you can find lining material up to 10 mm. This height is, of course, too much and, contrary to the sellers’ statements, it does not compensate for flaws and large unevenness of the concrete base.
Experienced builders, not without reason, believe that the differences in the substrate in different places are more than 5 mm. quickly destroy the laminate.
This concrete floor needs to be leveled mechanically or make a new screed over it.
Excessive underlay height can sometimes be justified to obtain improved soundproofing and thermal insulation properties of the floor.
In this case, select:
- laminate of increased thickness;
- increased elasticity of the substrate material.
Types of substrate
Let's look at what the ideal substrate for laminate flooring should be.
Laminate manufacturers value their reputation very much and therefore put forward serious demands on the quality of the lining.
If the substrate material does not meet them, you can easily lose the warranty on the laminate floor itself.
Currently, the building materials market offers the following types of laminate substrates:
- cork;
- coniferous leaves;
- sheet expanded polystyrene;
- polypropylene foam;
- foil lining;
- integrated substrate.
To figure out which underlay for laminate is better in which cases, you should know the strengths and weak sides the material from which it is made.
Cork backing
The cork base is considered the highest quality and most practical. It is made from small granules of cork tree bark.
There are several options for producing this material:
- Classic - cork chips are pressed with the addition of natural binders. This material is absolutely environmentally friendly and does not cause allergic reactions, does not accumulate static electricity, has great resistance to fire.
- Cork with rubber- used as a binding component for cork chips synthetic rubber. This base is characterized by increased resistance to moisture, excellent absorption of vibrations and sound coming from the concrete base.
- Bitumen-cork base- made from kraft cardboard with cork granules glued to it with a bitumen binder. The parameters of such a substrate are similar to rubber, but bitumen makes it fire hazardous and toxic in the event of a fire. Therefore, bitumen-cork material is recommended only for office, utility or industrial premises.
Cork underlay for laminate flooring has both pros and cons.
Its advantages: parameters that change little over the years - elasticity, water resistance, water resistance, resistance to microorganisms, mold and fungi. The cork layer perfectly dampens sounds and is a very good heat insulator.
The main disadvantage of this product is its relatively high cost.
Pressed needles
The lining is made of pressed pine needles, unlike cork, and has good breathability.
Coniferous lining has decent rigidity, low compression ratio and performs well under high load conditions. This material is recommended for rooms where there is a lot of heavy furniture.
Despite the bactericidal and fungicidal properties of needles, dry material absorbs moisture well, which contributes to the rapid spread of mold.
Therefore, such a lining requires maximum protection from any moisture.
Expanded polystyrene
Main advantage polystyrene foam substrates - increased heat-insulating and sound-absorbing properties. The material is usually offered in the form of extruded backing sheets.
Fresh polystyrene foam can compete in its advantages with natural cork. But, due to its short-lived nature, after 5-6 years it flattens and loses most of the initial benefits.
In addition, polystyrene belongs to the group flammable materials with the release of toxic smoke in case of fire.
Another disadvantage is that under certain conditions polystyrene may accumulate static electricity.
Therefore, such a substrate under vinyl laminate is highly undesirable and laminate manufacturers never list polystyrene foam as an acceptable underlayment.
Foampropylene
Propylene foam backing represents a very worthy and high-quality alternative to polystyrene foam.
This material does not burn at all and does not decompose during a fire.
Rodents and insects really don’t like it, as well as mold and mildew, which grow there only when very favorable conditions(constant high humidity and heat).
Foampropylene has high elasticity, moisture resistance and works perfectly as thermal insulation.
An important factor is its low cost and widespread availability. Foam propylene lining is very widely represented on the building materials market.
The disadvantages of polypropylene foam are explained by its “airy” structure: with prolonged compression, polypropylene foam loses some of its elasticity and gradually flattens.
However, manufacturers claim that the service life of the polypropylene backing exceeds the service life of the laminate itself. But we recommend choosing a lining only famous brands and purchase this material not at the market, but in serious stores.
Foil lining
The foil backing most often has a polypropylene foam base. The thinnest aluminium foil, playing the role of a very effective thermal mirror.
To protect against moisture, the aluminum is coated on top with another thin layer of polymer.
As a result we have a wonderful heat insulating material, which can be used not only as a lining, but also as a heat shield for wall radiators, thermal insulation of pipes, etc.
If you are deciding which substrate is warmer to choose for laminate flooring, choose foil, you can’t go wrong!
On sale you can find not only one-sided, but also double-sided metallized substrate. Its heat-insulating and heat-reflecting properties are even higher.
Foil backing should not be used under laminate laid on a heated floor. Otherwise, the heat will not pass through it, but will simply dissipate in the thickness of the concrete pad.
The most significant disadvantage foil substrate is its high price.
Integrated substrate
One of the most radical solutions offered to consumers is laminate with an integrated backing.
Essentially, the backing layer is simply factory-applied to the underside of the laminate. For this purpose, a lining layer based on rubber or dense propylene is most often used, but other similar materials can also be used.
The integrated substrate almost completely eliminates the resonating properties of the laminate.
In addition, this solution gives the buyer a very important advantage: since the laminate with a backing is tested in the manufacturer’s laboratories, the buyer can be confident in the quality of the product.
Despite the amazing “silence” and high performance parameters, this material slightly scares off buyers with its exorbitantly high price. Therefore, such a product is often positioned as elite.
- Laying the substrate starts with a thorough cleaning the surface of the concrete base from debris, dust and small particles of sand. It is advisable to go over the concrete with a vacuum cleaner. This will reveal all surface defects, including those that were masked by dust.
- To prevent dry concrete from generating dust, it should be treated with any construction primer after cleaning.
- Must be laid on top of the subfloor waterproofing membrane . For this purpose, we recommend using a membrane rather than a plastic film, which over time loses flexibility and bursts. With good waterproofing, it is much easier to decide which underlay to choose for laminate flooring.
- Average service life polyethylene film for flooring is 3-5 years. In extreme cases, you can take a film with a thickness of at least 200 microns. It is used for outdoor greenhouses and has an increased service life. The edges of the waterproofing are laid with an overlap of 20 cm.
- Underlay for laminate flooring must be well dried- This mandatory rule! In this case, if desired, you can do without waterproofing. Without it, the floor manufacturer has every right to refuse your warranty claim!
- You can check the base for moisture even without a moisture meter. For this small area concrete or subfloor is covered with a 1x1m film and the edges are hermetically glued to the floor. If there is a lot of moisture, the next morning condensation will appear under the film, and the floor itself in this place will be distinctly damp.
All this information will help you understand why it is needed, how it differs, how to choose the right one and which is the best underlay for laminate flooring in your particular case.
A multi-layer system for laying laminated floating flooring requires the use of an intermediate layer - a substrate. It is produced in a huge assortment, so the question “which one to choose” is relevant. In our article you will find detailed answers.
The substrate is a non-woven thin-layer material of roll or sheet type used to create an intermediate layer in independent system installation of laminate, parquet boards.
In 2013, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the Association European manufacturers floor laminated coverings(EPLF) standards for the underlying layer were developed:
- CEN/TS 16354 is a technical specification that defines what exactly backing materials are and how they are tested;
- EPLF technical sheet “Substrate materials” describing product requirements and recommendations.
According to these documents, the product must perform the following functions:
- Eliminate small differences on the base (up to 2 mm in accordance with the requirements of manufacturers and SNiP 3.04.01-87/SP 71.13330.2011), unevenness to ensure proper installation of the laminate.
Important! It is strictly forbidden to install a substrate folded in several layers under the floor covering to level out significant defects in the base. Too much play in the area of the locks leads to their rapid destruction, as well as the formation of cracks, chips, and creaking.
- Ensure full operation floor system, including protection from residual moisture of the concrete floor, insulation, comfortable walking due to shock absorption, etc.
- Reduce the level of impact noise, that is, provide noise insulation (not to be confused with sound insulation).
Types of substrates
The following types of underlayment material are commercially available:
Izolon or NPE
Isolon is non-crosslinked polyethylene.
This is a substrate made of foamed polymer - non-crosslinked polyethylene. It is produced as a roll material 50-150 cm wide, 20-50 m long. The structure is similar to a thin sponge, it is produced in factories specializing in products made from synthetic elastomers (Nelidovo Plastics Plant), as well as in enterprises producing laminate (QuickStep, Balterio).
There are several types on sale:
- NPE-F – foil-laminated (foiled) on one or both sides. It is recommended to use 2-10 mm thick isolon for insulation of subfloors, walls, and ceilings;
- NPE-P – isolon glued to a polyethylene film with a cross-section of 300 microns. It is used as a wind, steam and waterproofing material. In this case, the polyethylene layer protrudes beyond the substrate by about 10-20 cm, so it is convenient for them to overlap.
Izolon is bio- and water-resistant, does not react with aggressive household chemicals, most alkalis, including cement laitance. It is not advisable to use it on wood, chipboard, or OSB substrates, as it has zero vapor permeability. This means that rot, mold and other “surprises” appear on the boards underneath over time. Ideal for concrete floors.
The main advantage of the material is low price per square meter. The NPE substrate will cost approximately 20-50 rubles/m2.
Disadvantages: over time, subsidence and loss of up to 50% of volume are observed, poor sound insulation properties.
Whatever polyethylene backing you choose, the installation technology is the same: the sheets are cut to the length of the room and laid end-to-end along the base, secured with adhesive tape. No overlap required.
Extruded polystyrene foam (EPS or XPS)
Extruded polystyrene foam.
The substrate from polystyrene raw materials obtained by extrusion is produced:
- Slabs in sizes 1×0.5 m, 1.2×0.5 m and others;
- Rolls 1 m wide and up to 30 m long;
- “Accordion” of various sizes: 1×6 m, 1×10 m, 1×12 m, etc. There are standard, foil, with an integrated vapor barrier membrane, perforated EPS. The latter is intended for a base with a “warm floors” system.
Each material has its own purpose. For example, roll is better suited for large areas. The accordion-folded substrate is easy to transport and good for use in rooms with complex geometry. Standard mats are most often purchased for standard apartments and houses.
Extruded polystyrene foam has almost zero vapor permeability, which is why it is undesirable to use it on wood. Recommended bases: concrete, gypsum fiber board, fiber board, etc.
In addition, the EPS substrate has a high degree of deformation strength - up to 24 T/m², and is biologically and chemically resistant. It's worth choosing if for you decisive factor is the low level of thermal conductivity of the floor.
Some manufacturers (QuickStep, Isoshum) offer special noise-reducing and noise-dissipating products, which are obtained by increasing the density of the material. The acoustic effect is enhanced by an average of 15-20%.
The cost of the material reaches 300 rubles/m2. This factor is often decisive, so if you have a limited budget, it is better to choose a cheaper analogue - NPE.
Installation of EPS under the laminate is done end-to-end; it is advisable to glue the slabs and rolls together with tape. Foil and integrated substrates are laid with the untreated side down and secured at the joints with aluminum tape.
Made from compressed industrial wood fibers coniferous species, mixed with thermosetting resins, a vapor-permeable underlay material is obtained for installation under laminate, parquet and engineered wood. Works great on wood and concrete floors when combined with vapor barrier membranes. Slab sizes:
- Width – up to 60 cm;
- Length – up to 120 cm.
Advice! It is better to use a coniferous underlay on a wooden floor without waterproofing film, as this will disrupt the steam exchange system and lead to rot and mold.
The coniferous substrate is laid diagonally end-to-end. The edge slabs must be cut at an angle of 45° and mounted around the perimeter of the room.
Cork agglomerate
Cork is considered one of the most versatile finishing materials. It is used to produce wall, floor, ceiling finishing and rough coatings. Granulated cork oak bark is mixed with thermosetting resins and pressed. The resulting product is called an agglomerated substrate for laminate or parquet boards.
The material turns out to be quite elastic, with good shock-absorbing and heat-saving properties. Available in rolls and sheets, it works on concrete and wooden bases.
Now let's talk about the cons. Firstly, claims about 100% environmental friendliness are not true. To verify this, just look at the sanitary and hygienic certificate. According to the specification, cork flooring refers to polymer and polymer-containing materials. Consequently, it can be called natural only conditionally.
Secondly, the presence of natural bark in the composition does not guarantee the biostability of the product. Thirdly, according to reviews, over time the underlying layer of cork crumbles and can absorb water.
The disadvantages include the cost of the material. Cork agglomerate for flooring will cost 200-800 rubles/m2. That is, the underlying layer can cost as much as a laminated floor from a European manufacturer.
Combination Products
In addition to traditional products, various composite materials with specific properties are commercially available. Let's list the main ones:
So which underlayment is the best? The most affordable is isolon. For bases made of wood and wood-containing materials (plywood, chipboard), cork and pine agglomerate are preferable.
For concrete floors, any of the above materials can be used, but the base must be carefully prepared before laying. Includes:
- Alignment using cement-sand mixtures or self-leveling self-leveling compounds.
- Drying naturally or using special waterproofing primers.
- Dust removal using a construction vacuum cleaner.
- Priming with strengthening compositions so that the base does not become dusty and does not crumble.
If preparation and installation are done correctly, the underlayment will last as long as a laminate flooring.
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Between the floor covering and the base there must be a material that dampens noise, ensures heat retention, and helps level the surface with small level differences on the main floor. For laminate, modern industry produces various substrates that are almost impossible to make with your own hands.
Accordingly, a spatial thought arises about how to choose a substrate for the laminate from those existing on construction market proposals. It is necessary to take into account not only the quality of the product and the reputation of the manufacturer, but also focus on the functionality of the material. That is, understand exactly why you need the underlay, on what basis, for what specific brand of laminate, for what room, and so on.
Choices
Important! There is an opportunity to watch a video about choosing a substrate, there are certain instructions and recommendations, but without a competent approach you will not succeed. Therefore, you need to try to thoroughly understand the types and types of substrates, and then run to the store to buy the goods.
Special materials used as such a substrate resist impact noise well and provide high-quality thermal insulation, then you won't need it anymore.
Nuance
Some manufacturers of laminates (namely the floor coverings themselves!) put on the market ready-to-use panels, to which a backing and moisture insulation are attached to the bottom. These are laminates of 32-33 classes of some brand brands with an already integrated substrate.
This is an expensive material, and if you bought something exorbitantly expensive, then look first at the laminate itself before running to the store for a backing. In this case it is not needed.
In more detail
Subtypes
This is to avoid getting into trouble and falling into a trance at the sight of the variety of substrates offered.
Polyethylene foam materials laid under laminate panels can be:
- Chemically cross-linked, foamed or gas-filled;
- Physically cross-linked, a reagent is added to the material during the manufacturing process.
Cork can be:
- Made from natural pressed crumbs;
- Bitumen-cork;
- Bitumen-cork with a kraft base;
- Cork with rubber additives.
Summary
Which substrate to choose for laminate flooring is a highly specialized question; the answer to it depends on many circumstances and factors. , what you will lay it on, in which specific room, who will walk on it and how many times a day, and so on.
With a perfectly level base surface, you need to take care of the outer surface of the floor covering, on which you will directly walk. And if there are serious differences in the level of the base, more than 2 mm/1 meter, then a substrate even with a thickness of five or more millimeters, regardless of the quality and materials, will not save.
Also today, it is customary to pay more attention to the environmental friendliness of materials, and in the substrate segment, the leader in this regard is not cheap cork. Therefore, focus on your own budget and proceed from the existing conditions.
The underlayment, or lining, under laminate is a thin material that covers the base of the floor for subsequent laying of the finishing boards.
The substrate must provide a number of tasks. The main functions of this material include:
- leveling the concrete base;
- ensuring the elasticity of the floor covering;
- ensuring soundproofing of the floor covering;
- providing waterproofing;
- providing thermal insulation.
The main objectives of the substrate are to level the base, provide elasticity and sound insulation. Requirements for thermal and waterproofing are considered additional and are imposed when installing floors in rooms with certain characteristics.
Elimination of deficiencies in concrete foundations
The area of anyone, even the most small size impossible to prepare perfectly for laminate flooring. On the surface of the screed treated with grinding machine, irregularities remain that prevent high-quality installation slats.
If you lay laminate flooring without using a lining, all the errors in the form of pits and bumps will cause the floor surface to bend. To damage the integrity of the lamellas, a deflection of 2-3 mm is sufficient. As a result, first the floors begin to creak, and later the locks of the laminate boards are destroyed, which subsequently leads to the need complete replacement floor covering.
A lining will help avoid the problems described. It smooths out small unevenness in the concrete base and forms a single, level platform, which can significantly extend the service life of the coating.
Elimination of vibration of the floor covering under load
The floor is subject to constant dynamic load when walking, as well as the sound impact of reflected waves.
In this case, the damping (damping) effect is provided by the substrate. It avoids the impact of sound vibrations and smoothes out the tension in the slat locks that occurs when walking. As a result, the integrity of the coating is maintained.
Soundproofing
The peculiarity of the concrete base is the strong sound conductivity of this material, and if you lay the laminate without using a gasket, sounds from the lower floor will pass through practically without encountering barriers. The laminate thickness of 8-12 mm is also not a serious barrier to noise penetration.
The neighbors below will be constantly unhappy with the increased audibility from the upper floor. Only the use of a lining will help prevent the penetration of extraneous sounds.
Waterproofing
This function is required for organizing flooring in rooms located on the ground floor or in areas with high humidity, and therefore, in most cases, the waterproofing properties of the material when installing a base under a laminate are not important. To provide water protection in standard premises It is enough to lay PVC film under the backing.
Exist special types linings with a moisture-proof coating; this is the material that is used in such conditions.
Thermal insulation
Any coating under the laminate, regardless of the material of manufacture, allows you to protect the flooring from heat loss. Such a barrier will reflect heat waves and will not allow heat to escape through the concrete base.
When organizing heated floors, you will need a special type of substrate that has high thermal conductivity, otherwise the efficiency of the heated floor will be low. Types of substrates
The choice of substrate for laminate depends on the characteristics of the room. Modern industry produces many varieties of lining, and choose required material under specific operating conditions can be done without problems.
Substrates are distinguished according to three main parameters:
- Shape – substrates come in rolls or sheets.
- Material – from natural or artificial raw materials.
- Type of raw materials - most often linings are produced from: polyethylene foam, polystyrene foam, propylene foam, cork, bitumen-cork material, pine mixtures and in a combined form.
Polyethylene foam
Most available material for organizing the lining under the laminate. It is produced by foaming polyethylene and the result is a material that perfectly resists the destructive effects of microorganisms, has a high level of thermal insulation and waterproofing, and is also easy to cut.
The disadvantages of polyethylene foam include poor sound insulation and low strength characteristics.
Expanded polystyrene
An inexpensive material that has all the necessary qualities of a substrate for a laminate: it evens out small unevenness in the concrete base, copes with high loads without changing the structure, dampens sound waves, can act as waterproofing material. Made from extruded polystyrene foam.
Polypropylene
This material is not in wide demand due to its bubble structure. During operation, the bubbles burst, the integrity of the canvas is compromised, which leads to creases in the lamella lock.
Most often used as a waterproofing material.
Cork
The natural material copes well with all loads, has increased thermal insulation properties and protects the room from sound waves. The disadvantages include the high cost of the cork backing, so it is recommended to use this material when laying expensive and durable laminate flooring.
Bitumen-cork
A layer of bitumen and cork chips are applied to kraft paper. The result is a durable material with increased resistance to moisture.
Coniferous
For the production of coniferous substrate, natural wood is used. This material has increased sound insulation properties, levels the surface of the screed well, absorbs condensation, but, like cork, it is quite expensive.
Combined
Produced by splicing three layers. The top and bottom layers are made of polyethylene, and the intermediate layer is made of polystyrene foam. This material copes well with high humidity, getting rid of moisture vapor through the porous structure of polystyrene foam.
Combined substrates have good flexibility, have a long service life, maintaining their original shape, and well level the surface of the screed. Disadvantages include high cost and evaporation of polystyrene foam that is undesirable for health.
Which substrate to choose
The variety of types of underlays confuses the novice builder, but experienced finishers can easily determine which underlay to choose for the laminate based on the parameters and purpose of the room in the apartment, as well as the thickness of the customer’s wallet.
Selection criteria and material requirements
In order to understand how to choose a substrate for a laminate, you need to decide on the key selection criteria. TO general requirements include the following points:
- expected service life of the coating;
- acceptable price range for the material;
- performance properties (resistance to aggressive environments);
- degree of environmental friendliness of the material.
The lining for the laminate is also selected according to special criteria:
- degree of moisture resistance;
- level of thermal insulation;
- required coating thickness;
- degree of sound insulation;
- variety (roll or sheet material).
The best underlay for laminate flooring is one that is suitable for specific tasks, which in turn depends on the location of the apartment and the purpose of the room where the flooring is being laid.
To organize the covering of rooms on the first floor, it would be correct to use a substrate with increased thermal insulation properties. A substrate with enhanced soundproofing characteristics is well suited for a child's room.
For floors with significant differences (up to 3 mm) it is recommended to use thicker underlays. In private houses located in fairly humid areas, in addition to standard floor waterproofing, an Eco-Cover underlay is used, which will protect the room from dampness.
For rooms with standard technical characteristics It is enough to use 2 mm roll material.
Substrate thickness
A standard mistake of poorly informed apartment owners is to lay as much flooring as possible. thick coating under laminate Thus, in their opinion, the most better thermal insulation and noise protection. The reasoning is correct, but the bending nature of the laminate board is not taken into account.
When a vertical load is distributed, in the case of using a thick substrate, the board deforms at the point of adhesion to the adjacent board. As a result of prolonged dynamic exposure, the locks on the lamellas lose their properties and break.
When choosing a laminate underlay, you should consider this feature and select a material with a thickness of no more than 3 mm, since the main purpose of the lining is to level the floor surface for the subsequent organization of the finishing coating, and special advantages (thermal insulation, sound insulation and waterproofing) depend more on the quality and type of material.
The main criterion for choosing the thickness of the material for laying laminate is the quality of the base surface. If the concrete screed has significant differences, it is recommended to use a lining with a thickness of 3 mm; in other cases, it is enough to lay a material with a thickness of 1 to 2 mm, which provides the necessary insulating characteristics.
An exception may be lining for thicker (up to 33 mm) and expensive laminate panels; in this case, lining material with a thickness of up to 5 mm is used.
Substrate rating
The basic conditions for choosing a substrate were discussed above. Which lining is best suited for a particular room depends on its purpose and location, but there is an objective rating of the most quality materials, which takes into account all the pros and cons of coverage.
The most popular types include the following brands:
- Izolon;
- Tuplex;
- Isonoise;
- Eco-cover;
- Petroform.
Izolon, Tuplex and Petroform are produced in the form of rolls, Izoshum and Eco-Cover are sheet materials.
The most popular and inexpensive linings include the following types:
- Petroform, 2 mm thick;
- Isolon, 3 mm thick;
- Jermaflex, 3 mm thick;
- Isoplaat Startfloor Barlinek;
- Isopoline.
Laying underlay under laminate
Open the backings. Any novice craftsman can lay a substrate for laying laminate flooring. It is enough to adhere to the following rules:
- Before laying the underlay, it is necessary to clean the floor surface from dirt and dust.
- The next step is to lay PVC film, which performs the function of waterproofing. The edges of the film should extend 5-8 cm onto the walls, the joints are taped.
- Now you can lay the underlay. Sheet material laid end-to-end, the roll is cut with a margin for the wall.
- The connecting seams are secured with tape.
The sheet underlay for the laminate is laid out immediately over the entire surface of the floor. If used roll materials, each new piece is laid after laying the laminate on an already prepared surface. This installation procedure is necessary to preserve the consumer characteristics of the substrate under the laminate in rolls, since rolled materials are more delicate and it is not recommended to walk on them during the installation process.
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