How to choose a substrate for laminate flooring. Substrate under the laminate: which is better, the pros, cons and selection rules. Which substrate to choose under the laminate on the concrete floor

Laminate flooring is laid using floating technology, which means that it is not fixed to the base. You need a cushion layer. It is multifunctional:

• Levels the surface. According to the recommendations of SNiPs, the differences in the subfloor should not be higher than 2 mm per linear meter. If not, alignment is required. But even if the surface meets these requirements, small flaws are still present. They are leveled by a shock-absorbing canvas.
• Protects from noise. The laminate is noisy. It practically does not absorb sound, which is very noticeable during operation. The insulation is quite soft, muffles crackling, creaking, etc.
• Prevents moisture from entering the lamellas. Laminated finish is a board pressed from wood raw materials. The ingress of water is detrimental to it, so the insulation traps the condensate that moves from the base.

Thus, laying the substrate is a must. The only exception is luxury material, on the reverse side of which an insulating layer is already fixed.

Varieties of shock-absorbing fabric

There are different insulations in stores. You need to choose a solution that will work well with a laminated design.

Foamed polyethylene

The most budget variety. Available in rolls or sheets. This does not affect its characteristics, but it changes the ease of installation. The cloth is easily rolled out, fixed. The sheets are connected to each other. Otherwise, they will move when laying the lamellas. The latter involves a lot of labor.

pros

• Moisture resistant.
• Good heat and sound insulation.
• Simple installation without the use of special tools: just tape and a clerical knife.
• Lack of conditions for the development of microorganisms.
• Aluminum foil models are available for better heat reflection.

Minuses

• The disadvantage is a short service life.
• The plates gradually lose their elasticity, cease to perform shock-absorbing functions. You can notice this by the state of the floor: it begins to bend slightly, creak.
• Repair is not possible, the shock-absorbing panel needs to be replaced.

Expanded polystyrene foam

It is produced in the form of plates of various sizes. There are roll models, but working with them is not very convenient, because they break easily.

pros

• Elasticity and rigidity. Easily withstands even intense loads, does not wrinkle.
• Good insulating characteristics. The insulator effectively retains heat.
• Relatively low price.
• Easy installation without special tools.

Minuses

• After some time, the performance characteristics of the shock absorber change.
• It shrinks, crumbles.
• Its leveling ability is small. Therefore, the locks of the finish can be deformed.
• When ignited, expanded polystyrene releases toxic substances.

Cork and its varieties

The insulator is a pressed cork bark. It is a safe environmentally friendly material.

pros

• Elasticity. Restores its shape even after very strong, prolonged compression. This property does not change over time.
• Good insulating characteristics. Effectively retains heat, absorbs noise.
• Resistance to the development of fungus, mold. They do not settle on the surface, so it can be put in any room.
• Insensitivity to high humidity.
• Durability. The canvas serves without loss of properties for decades. Similar to quality laminate.

Minuses

• rigid, its leveling properties are insufficient. Therefore, the insulator is not laid on an insufficiently flat surface.
• Lack of protection against moisture, it easily passes water to the finish, high price.

Varieties of shock absorber are produced from cork with bitumen or rubber. They retain the characteristics of the analogue, but at the same time do not let water through, their price is lower.

Coniferous tiles

The raw material for its manufacture is wood, usually spruce. That's where the name came from. These are porous dense slabs, there is no roll variation.

pros

• Elasticity, which allows it to retain its shape even after repeated compressions.
• Good. The porous structure effectively delays sounds.
• Ecological safety, as it is made from natural raw materials.
• Low thermal conductivity providing good thermal insulation.
• Long service life.

Minuses

• The material is difficult to install. The manufacturer recommends laying it with small gaps between the plates diagonally across the room.
• Significant rigidity causes low leveling characteristics. Therefore, needles are good only for a flat surface.
• Another disadvantage is the high price.

Combined shock absorber

A practical combination of polyethylene and expanded polystyrene. The first is present in the form of two layers of film, between which are polystyrene foam balls. This structure allows condensate to be removed from the base.

pros

• Effective waterproofing, moisture does not get to the finish, even if the subfloor is not completely dry.
• Good leveling ability. Moving balls easily level small differences.
• Long service life, and the properties do not change over time.

Minuses

• High price.
• Weak insulating characteristics. The combined panel practically does not dampen the sound, does not retain heat.

What is the thickness of the substrate under the laminate is better

The height of the shock absorber is different. It varies from 2 to 8 mm. The choice depends on the condition of the base. If it meets the requirements of SNiPs, use a material with a height of 2 mm. For a coating with small defects, it is recommended to select plates of 3 mm thickness. Installing a higher shock absorber height for the standard trim is strongly discouraged.

Sometimes incompetent craftsmen put two layers of material at once, motivating this by improving the insulating characteristics. However, with uneven pressure that occurs during operation, the canvas begins to collapse. On a thick shock absorber, the height differences are significant. As a result, the locks of the lamellas are gradually deformed and broken.

Varieties with a height of more than 3 mm can only be used for parquet boards, reinforced laminated coatings with a thickness of 10-11 mm.

How to choose a laminate flooring

In order for the floor finish to serve for a long time, it is necessary to choose a shock-absorbing sheet, taking into account the characteristics of the room in which it will be laid. Things to consider:

• Foundation condition. The surface is carefully inspected, all detected flaws are noted. Based on this, the thickness of the panel is determined.
• The need for thermal insulation. Low thermal conductivity is necessary if the room is located in a private house or on the ground floor. If the floors are not cold, this property can be neglected.
• The degree of moisture resistance. Actual for a fresh screed, for rooms where there is. In these cases, choose a moisture-resistant canvas.
• soundproofing level. Considering, it is worth choosing a shock absorber with good sound absorption.
• Release form. This point does not affect the operational properties, but it can complicate installation. Roll panels are very easy to lay, sheets or plates are more difficult.
• Lifetime. It is worth correlating it with the expected time of use of the floor finish. If the latter does not last long, does it make sense to purchase an expensive durable model?

Another important point is the cost. When choosing which underlay for a laminate is better, consider different price segments. Cheap fabric doesn't mean bad.

Features of choosing a coating for underfloor heating

The main function is to heat the room. Therefore, a layer with low thermal conductivity will be completely redundant, but it is impossible to do without it at all. We'll have to choose the option that transmits heat as much as possible. There are special models for such purposes. They are distinguished by the presence of perforation, through which thermal waves additionally pass.

Preparatory work

The best substrate will not save repairs if the base under it has large differences in height, poor waterproofing, and falls apart under medium loads. If at least one of these items is present, you cannot proceed to finishing: the money will be wasted.

Therefore, the first thing to start with is to clean, level the base. If it consists of wooden boards, it is better to remove them. Then they do. Expanded clay concrete is allowed to lighten the total weight.

1. Clearing

If the base crumbles, remove anything that easily knocks off. If there is no screed, the next layers of the cake will be laid on rubble or on the ceiling above the basement (in a private house). In the apartment, respectively - on a rough basis.

2. Waterproofing

Put or apply. Its varieties are huge, here are the main ones: rolled, film, penetrating, in the form of a powder diluted with water, mastic. Rolled is familiar to many of us - it is roofing material or its modern modified variations. In general, all types of insulation will not cause trouble, but it is easiest for beginners to deal with mastic: you just need to spread it. However, drying will have to wait a few days.

Waterproofing is the most important stage of floor installation. Not only on the upper floors of apartments, where you need to protect the lower ones from (and your wallet from the repair costs of your neighbors). In a private house and on the ground floor, the apartment must be protected from moisture coming from the basement or the ground: it can destroy concrete. It is especially necessary in rooms with underfloor heating to increase efficiency, extend the life of the system, in private houses and apartments on the ground floors, since heat loss through the ground is very high.

3. Warming

Several are in demand: mineral wool, expanded clay, penoplex, cork, polyethylene with a top layer of foil. Cotton wool is not suitable for cement: being saturated with water, it loses its protective properties. The same thing happens with expanded clay, therefore, when constructing concrete floors, as a hydro- and heat insulator, it is worth putting it only as a layer between crushed stone and a rough screed in order to block groundwater from entering the house.

Penoplex has practically no flaws, except for high flammability. It is put on glue over waterproofing. It is advisable to walk along the joints with metallized tape so that the sheets do not “ride”, or fill them with glue for polystyrene foam. The strength of the foam allows you to lay any coating on it, and the low water absorption coefficient makes it easy to make a screed.

Cork is good for everyone, except for the price. The approximate cost of 1 m 2 of sheets 1 cm thick is 645 rubles. Foamed polyethylene can be laid without waterproofing, moreover, on top of concrete directly under the decorative coating. It is fixed with double-sided tape, if there is no self-adhesive base. Lay the foil layer up, glue the joints with metallized adhesive tape.

If penoplex was used, you can. Then you need to put plywood on top. However, it is a more expensive and less durable option than concrete. To protect the entire structure from subsidence and the appearance of microcracks, use a reinforcing mesh. If you have previously laid a grid, then it will be convenient for you to attach pipes to it using clamps.

4. Filling the screed

Mark a perfectly flat horizontal line on the walls, this will be the top point of the finished floor. Divide the space horizontally into separate sectors using slats. These will be lighthouses. Focusing on the line along the wall, set them in parallel and secure to the floor with a handful of cement. Prepare a solution. Mix cement with sifted sand in a ratio of 1: 3.5 (more cement is needed).

To increase the smoothness, density and strength of the mixture, add a plasticizer. Fill with water last. It needs about a third of the mass of cement. The amount of materials depends on the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room and the thickness of the screed. A concrete mixer will save time and effort on the preparation of the solution. If it is not there, a hand-held construction mixer will help out.

Lay the finished solution in sectors flush with the beacon rails and smooth it with the rule. In the first ten days, concrete is recommended to be kept under a film and sometimes sprinkled with water. Lay the finish floor after it has fully cured. The time depends on the thickness of the concrete. Each centimeter dries for about seven days. You can start walking earlier - within two or three days after pouring.

To reduce the load on the floors are often added. The most common option is a semi-dry screed. The fraction of pebbles is 5–10 mm. Three parts of sand and four parts of expanded clay are taken for one part of cement. You need enough water so that the expanded clay does not float, but the mass is not dry either. Lighthouses are indispensable here. The layer thickness is from 3 to 7 cm. After a couple of days, a finishing grout of 1–3 cm is required from a self-leveling floor or a cement-sand mixture.

Stages of laying shock-absorbing fabric

Installation is always carried out in several stages:

1. Surface preparation. Small debris, dust is removed with a vacuum cleaner.
2. Open the cloth. With a sharp clerical knife, the roll is cut into strips so that a partial approach to the walls is performed. Sheets are also trimmed if necessary.
3. Laying. The strips are placed end to end on the prepared base. If there is a corrugation, it must be laid with the corrugated side down. Foil, on the contrary, up. After that, the final fixation of the sheets to the floor with adhesive tape is performed.

Any of the shock-absorbing coatings will serve without problems for more than ten years, subject to the right choice and proper installation. The best underlay for laminate flooring is not always the most expensive. The price of many models with good performance is quite low.

The substrate, or lining, under the laminate is a thin material that closes the base of the floor for the subsequent laying of the topcoat 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 sound insulation of the floor covering;
• providing waterproofing;
• providing thermal insulation.

The main tasks of the substrate device are to level the base, provide elasticity and sound insulation. Requirements for thermal and waterproofing are considered additional and are presented when installing floors in rooms with certain characteristics.

Elimination of the shortcomings of the concrete base

The area of ​​any, even the smallest size, cannot be ideally prepared for laminate flooring. On the surface of the screed, processed with a grinder, there are irregularities that prevent high-quality laying of lamellas.

If you lay a laminate without using a lining, all the errors in the form of pits and tubercles will cause the floor surface to bend. To violate the integrity of the lamellae, 2-3 mm of deflection is sufficient. As a result, at first the floors begin to creak, and later the locks of the laminate boards are destroyed, which subsequently leads to the need for a complete replacement of the flooring.

The lining will help to avoid the described problems. It smooths out small irregularities in the concrete base and forms a single, even platform, which can significantly extend the life of the coating.

Elimination of oscillation of the floor covering under load

The floor is subjected to a constant dynamic load when walking, as well as the sound effect of reflected waves.

In this case, the provision of the damping (muffling) effect is assigned to the substrate. It avoids the impact of sound vibrations and smoothes the stress in the locks of the lamellas that occurs when walking. As a result, the integrity of the coating is maintained.

Soundproofing

The peculiarity of the concrete base lies in the strong sound conductivity of this material, and if you lay a laminate without using a gasket, the sounds from the lower floor will pass practically without encountering obstacles. The thickness of the laminate in 8-12 mm is also not a serious barrier to the penetration of noise.

Neighbors below will be constantly dissatisfied with increased audibility from the upper floor. Only the use of a lining will help to avoid the penetration of extraneous sounds.

Waterproofing

This function is required for the organization of 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 arranging a base for a laminate are not important. To ensure waterproofing in standard rooms, it is enough to lay a PVC film under the substrate.

There are special types of linings with a moisture-proof coating, it is this 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 underfloor heating, a special type of substrate will be required, which has a high thermal conductivity, otherwise the efficiency of the warm floor will be low.

Types of substrates

The choice of substrate for laminate flooring depends on the characteristics of the room. Modern industry produces many varieties of lining, and you can easily select the necessary material for specific operating conditions.

Substrates are distinguished by three main parameters:

• Form - substrates are rolled or sheet.
• Material - from natural or artificial raw materials.
• Type of raw material - most often linings are produced from: polyethylene foam, expanded polystyrene, foam propylene, cork, bitumen-cork material, coniferous mixtures and in a combined form.

Polyethylene foam

The most affordable material for organizing the lining under the laminate. It is produced by foaming polyethylene and as a result a material is obtained that perfectly resists the destructive effects of microorganisms, has a high level of thermal insulation and waterproofing, and is also perfectly amenable to cutting.

The disadvantages of polyethylene foam include poor sound insulation and low strength characteristics.

Styrofoam

An inexpensive material that has all the necessary qualities of a substrate for a laminate: it evens out small irregularities in a concrete base, copes with high loads without changing its structure, dampens sound waves, and can act as a 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 web is violated, which leads to creases in the lamella lock.

It is often used as a waterproofing material.

Cork

Natural material perfectly copes with all loads, has increased thermal insulation properties and protects the room from sound waves. The disadvantages include the high cost of the cork substrate, so it is recommended to use this material when laying an expensive and durable laminate.

bituminous cork

A layer of bitumen and cork chips are applied to the 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 enhanced soundproofing properties, well levels the surface of the screed, absorbs condensate, but, like cork, 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 expanded polystyrene. Such material perfectly copes with high humidity, getting rid of moisture vapor through the porous structure of expanded polystyrene.

Combined substrates have good flexibility, have a long service life, retaining their original shape, and well level the surface of the screed. The disadvantages include high cost and undesirable for health evaporation of expanded polystyrene.

Which underlay to choose

The variety of types of underlays confuses a novice builder, but experienced finishers can easily determine which underlay to choose for a 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. The general requirements include the following points:

• the expected life of the coating;
• acceptable range of prices for the material;
• operational properties (resistance to aggressive environments);
• environmental friendliness of the material.

Also select the lining under the laminate according to special criteria:

• degree of moisture resistance;
• level of thermal insulation;
• required coating thickness;
• the 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 floor is being laid.

To organize the coverage of the rooms on the first floor, it will be correct to use a substrate with increased thermal insulation properties. In the nursery, a substrate with increased soundproofing characteristics is well suited.

For floors with significant (up to 3 mm) differences, it is recommended to use thicker substrates. In private houses located in fairly humid areas, in addition to the standard waterproofing of the floor, an Eco-Cover substrate is used, which will protect the premises from dampness.

For rooms with standard technical characteristics, it is sufficient to use 2 mm roll material.

Substrate thickness

The standard mistake of poorly informed apartment owners is to lay the thickest possible coating under the laminate. Thus, in their opinion, the best thermal insulation and noise protection are achieved. The reasoning is correct, but the nature of the work of the laminate board in bending is not taken into account.

When distributing the vertical load, in the case of using a thick substrate, the board is deformed at the point of adhesion to the adjacent board. As a result of a long dynamic impact, the locks on the lamellas lose their properties and break.

When choosing a substrate for a laminate, this feature should be taken into account and the material should be selected 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 finish 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 the laminate is the quality of the surface of the base. If the concrete screed has significant differences, it is recommended to use a lining 3 mm thick, 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 a lining for thicker (up to 33 mm) and expensive laminate panels, in this case, a lining material with a thickness of up to 5 mm is used.

Substrate rating

The main conditions for choosing a substrate were discussed above. What is the best lining for a particular room depends on its purpose and location, but there is an objective rating of the highest quality materials, which takes into account all the pros and cons of the coating.

The most popular types include the following brands:

• Izolon;
• duplex;
• Isoshum;
• 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;
• Izolon, 3 mm thick;
• Jermaflex, 3 mm thick;
• Isoplaat Startfloor Barlinek;
• Isopolyn.

Underlayment for laminate flooring

Open the underlays.

Any novice master will be able to lay a substrate for laying a laminate. It is enough to adhere to the following rules:

• Before laying the substrate, it is necessary to clean the floor surface from dirt and dust.
• The next step is to lay the PVC film, which performs the function of waterproofing. The edges of the film should go 5-8 cm onto the walls, the joints are glued with adhesive tape.
• Now you can lay the underlay. Sheet material is laid end-to-end, rolled material is cut off with a margin on the wall.

• The connecting seams are fastened with adhesive tape.

The sheet substrate for the laminate is laid out immediately over the entire surface of the floor. If roll materials are used, each new piece is laid after laying the laminate on an already prepared surface. This laying order is necessary to preserve the consumer characteristics of the substrate for laminate in rolls, since rolled materials are more delicate and it is not recommended to walk on them during installation.

Related videos

Laminate floor coverings are well-deservedly popular. Almost every third repair is not complete without laying a laminate.

Naturally, a reasonable question arises - what is the best substrate for laminate flooring, because in building supermarkets there is a huge selection of this related material for laminated coatings.
differ in density, composition and, of course, cost. In order for the coating to last as long as possible, it is necessary to choose the right material for the substrate.

In order to decide which substrate is better to use under the laminate, it is necessary to take into account on which surface the laminated coating is mounted.

For concrete floors and surfaces covered with tiles, it is necessary to first install a waterproofing layer. Usually, as a waterproofing material, the installation instructions provide for laying a special film or applying a layer of specialized mastic.

Why do you need a laminate flooring? The underlay for laminated floors is designed to perform shock-absorbing functions, as well as provide additional insulation of the room from heat loss and sound insulation.

Materials used in the production of laminate flooring

In the production of substrates for the installation of laminated floors, various materials are used:

• Polyethylene foam or isolon(foamed polyethylene) - the most common and inexpensive option for substrates for laminate;
• Cork underlays for laminate flooring– environmentally friendly and durable version of the substrate;
• Bitumen-cork substrate- provides waterproofing of the floor covering;
• Composite materials;
• Extruded polystyrene foam- the price for this type of substrate is low, and the technical characteristics correspond to construction and installation standards.

The thickness of the substrate under the laminate can vary from two to four millimeters. A thicker underlay is used for laminate flooring slats grade 32 and above.

A high-quality underlay of the correct thickness significantly reduces the noise when walking. When choosing the material for the base, and deciding which underlay for the laminate is best, it can be assumed that the thicker the underlay, the better the sound insulation. But it is not so.

Attention. The thickness of the substrate must not exceed 4 mm. This requirement is explained by the fact that the substrate is compressed when walking almost twice. And with floor irregularities of two millimeters, the estimated vertical play increases to almost four millimeters. Naturally, under such loads, the locking joints of the quick step laminate can simply break at the joints, unable to withstand the load. Therefore, it is strongly not recommended to increase the thickness of the substrate.

To know which underlayment is better to use under a laminate, consider the advantages and disadvantages of each of these materials.

Substrate from isolon

What is polyethylene foam (isolon)? This is an inexpensive material that is often used as a substrate for laminated floors of low density and thickness.

This material is resistant to moisture, and it is easy to lay it yourself without resorting to the services of specialists.
Isolon is light and inexpensive, but its density and resistance to mechanical damage leaves much to be desired.

When determining which substrate is best for laminate flooring, it is advisable to use foamed polyethylene foam in cases where the load on the floor slabs should be negligible.

Sheets of polyethylene foam are attached to each other using ordinary one-sided tape. Quite often, this material is recommended for installation on a wooden floor.

The positive qualities of such a substrate include:

• Low cost;
• Resistance to moisture;
• Light weight of the material;
• Resistant to mold and mildew.

Cons of the material:

• Very easy to tear;
• Depreciation properties are practically not expressed;
• Noise isolation of the material is average;
• The material is easily pressed under the action of mechanical loads and has a short service life.

Advice. There are a lot of photo and video materials on the Internet on installing the substrate for laminated floors, and before installing it with your own hands, it is advisable to look at visual aids for laying the laminate, as well as read the article.

Laminate underlay made from technical cork

This is the best underlay for laminate flooring for use in children's rooms and bedrooms. Cork flooring is environmentally friendly, as it is made from environmentally friendly materials.

This substrate has a high density and is practically not pressed. It has excellent soundproofing (quiet floor) and heat-insulating characteristics.

The disadvantages of the material include only instability to moisture. Therefore, on the base of the floor, if it is concrete, it is worth laying a layer of waterproofing, and on top of the cork coating, a layer of waterproofing "Aquastop".

Also, manufacturers often combine cork with other materials to improve the technical characteristics of the material:

• with the addition of rubber - the material significantly reduces vibration from the operation of household electrical appliances;
• Bitumen-cork underlays can even be laid on uneven concrete floors, with a height difference of no more than 3 millimeters, without installing an additional layer of insulation. Since they are made from kraft paper impregnated with bitumen and pressed with cork chips. Also, this material provides ventilation of the space under the substrate.

Important. When installing laminate floors, floor height differences should not exceed 6 mm. Otherwise, the coating will quickly become unusable.

Extruded polystyrene foam underlay

If you decide which substrate is best for laminate flooring, then expanded polystyrene meets many of the technical requirements for this building material. Expanded polystyrene underlay has good soundproofing properties, is resistant to moisture, does not require the installation of a waterproofing layer, and is resistant to compression.

The warranty period of the expanded polystyrene substrate is fifty years. The material is produced both in rolls and in sheets, two, three and five millimeters thick.

vtm offers moisture-proof leveling underlays for EPS laminates with a rigid material structure. The leveling, durable and compressive-resistant surface of the substrates from this manufacturer can significantly save money on preparing a concrete floor for installing a laminate.

Important. Underlays from vtm can be laid on surfaces with a height difference of up to 3 millimetres.

Composite substrate

The variety of options for such substrates is quite diverse, since each manufacturer introduces know-how on its own version of the substrate for the laminate. Which substrate under the laminate is the best - it is problematic to decide.

Arbiton alone, for example, offers more than forty underlays for laminate flooring.

This type of substrate consists of two layers of polyethylene film, between which there is a layer of granulated polystyrene foam.

Such materials provide increased sound insulation of the “quiet running” coating, and also have excellent vapor and moisture protection characteristics. For example, a 6mm wide underlay is recommended for laminate flooring at least 12mm thick.

Important. During installation, pay attention to the fact that the logo of the manufacturer's company is applied to the vapor-permeable side of the substrate material.

At the end of the article

When starting to install laminate floors, do not even think about whether you need a substrate. This is a necessary component for the installation of laminated floors. And which of the materials will be chosen depends on the individual technical characteristics of each individual room.

Laminate is a good flooring choice. It is wear-resistant, relatively durable and makes the floor aesthetically appealing. But its main advantages are ease of installation and low price. When installing a laminate floor, it is necessary to carefully prepare the surface on which it will be laid. At one stage of these works, you will need a substrate for the laminate. In this article, we will find out why it is needed, and which one is better to choose, and also determine the required thickness.

Choosing a substrate for a laminate is a responsible task.

Why you need a laminate flooring

Laminate is not entirely artificial, but not entirely natural material. It is a high-tech multilayer shield panels. The basis is compressed wood dust, on both sides it is covered with layers of impregnated paper. The top layer of a laminate is a laminated coating.

It turns out that the bottom side - the base of the laminate panel - is more vulnerable and susceptible to moisture. Moreover, she "breathes". One of the functions of the substrate is the waterproofing of the base.

But the main purpose of the substrate is still not in this.

Disadvantages of cork underlayment:

• Do not use in rooms with a high level of humidity (in the kitchen, for example);
• More complex styling process;
• High cost (controversial minus).

Under laminate, a cork underlay is used in homes with wooden floors. Due to their natural properties, these materials interact well. The wooden floor is not always perfectly even, the cork does not wrinkle, which is very important. Both the one and the other material "breathes" and passes steam, but is "afraid" of flooding. It is advisable to use a cork underlay when laying an expensive high-quality laminate, otherwise it simply does not make sense. The cork backing is a natural material, but it is still hidden under the laminate, which is not completely natural. So think, is it worth it ...?

To eliminate exposure to moisture, cork substrates are made with the addition of bitumen or rubber. This maneuver successfully solves the problem, enhances the positive qualities of cork, but at the same time completely eliminates the concept of “natural material”.

Fiberglass backing

Fiberglass laminate underlay - environmentally friendly and durable

Another option for environmentally friendly material is fiberglass soundproofing. It is laid under a 5-7 mm thick laminate on a concrete or wooden floor.

Advantages of fiberglass:

• Does not shrink, does not wrinkle, does not deform;
• Can be laid directly on concrete or wood without intermediate materials;
• High rates of soundproofing qualities;
• By production chemical components, including glue are not used.

Serious shortcomings of the fiberglass substrate have not yet been identified.

The thickness of the substrate under the laminate

The optimum thickness of the substrate should be between 2 mm and 5 mm. It depends on several factors: the base material, how flat the floor is, the thickness of the laminate panels.

The main task of the substrate is cushioning and smoothing out bumps. It is a mistake to assume that the more the better. If you lay the substrate too thick, or in general in two or three layers, this will only worsen the situation. The fact is that the substrate material is crushed, and under loads on the laminate, its panels sag. The laminate perceives all loads with ends, locks. If there is too much play, the locks will break and the panel will crack over time.

The underlayment for laminate flooring is a guarantee of strength and durability of the laminate flooring, therefore, in addition to theoretical knowledge, it will not be out of place to consult with a specialist and a laminate seller when choosing it.

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
• substrate made from wood waste (wood fibres), 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 a commercial Class 33 laminate, which is particularly stressed and has a high density and strength.

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.

The thickness of more than 3 mm has 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.