Which side is the substrate under the laminate: basic rules, step-by-step instructions, tips and tricks. How to properly lay underlayment under laminate flooring How to fasten underlayment under laminate flooring

Laminate is a flooring material that can outwardly imitate natural wood and even tiles. It is distinguished not only by its attractiveness, but also by its strength, durability, and good thermal insulation performance. In order for the laminate to fully fulfill its functions, it is necessary to lay a special substrate on the surface of the base base before laying it. Its main purpose is to protect the laminate board from rapid wear. How to lay a substrate under a laminate if there is no experience with such material? First, you will have to choose it correctly, and it will not be superfluous to study the installation instructions.

The purpose of the substrate and its types

The pad has the following features:

Soundproofing. The laminate itself is well protected from noise, but while walking, it knocks hard on the base of the floor. The substrate allows this knock not only to muffle, but also to make it almost indistinguishable, i.e. it will not be heard from neighboring rooms. There are a number of substrates that muffle even the strong impacts that occur when certain objects fall on the floor.
The creaking when walking is no longer a concern, since the substrate blocks the contact of the floor and the laminate board, pushing through its locks. Along with this, the service life of the material is increased.
Excellent thermal insulation. Even in the cold season, such a floor will be warm and cozy.
The substrate allows you to even out small defects in the base base.

What substrate to buy, what are they made of? Manufacturers offer the following options:

cork natural and combined;
polyethylene foam;
special.

PE foam or cork?

The simplest option is polyethylene foam materials, which are low cost. Such material has its advantages:

The product is not subject to rotting, insect attacks.
Thermal conductivity characteristics are excellent, the underlay protects the floor well from heat loss, makes the coating more comfortable.
The density of the material is sufficient so that a substrate 2 mm thick can be laid under the laminate.

But there are also a number of disadvantages that often negate all the advantages. This type of substrate is characterized by fragility and shrinkage. The canvas is creased, which increases the risk of tearing and damage to the laminate board. When walking, creaks and knocks appear, furniture and appliances begin to push through the boards, over time they easily break and become covered with cracks.

The second option is cork slabs. Such material has a high cost, but this is fully justified by all the properties of the coating. The cork is dense and durable, it is considered an excellent heat insulator, it is not affected by moisture, temperature changes. Cork boards allow you to properly distribute the load, so the wear and tear of the laminate board will be minimal. Installation of this type of coating is simple. Plates are simply laid on the floor surface, not glued. Their thickness may be small, but it is impossible to use the material in 2 layers. Of the minuses, it should be noted the high price, which is often an obstacle to buying plates.

Special types of substrates are designed for specific operating conditions. For example, increased sound insulation. Some types of products provide reliable protection against moisture, can be used for corridors, kitchens. Choosing one or another option, it is necessary to reconsider all the pros and cons.

Work technology

To lay the substrate under the laminate, you need to prepare materials and tools:

the substrate itself of the selected type (can be supplied in rolls or in tiles, for example, cork);
a hammer;
expansion wedges;
scissors or a knife for cutting material;
polyethylene film - it is necessary when the substrate is laid on a concrete base;
ruler, pencil;
beam;
construction tape.

When choosing tools, you need to focus on what type of substrate is used. How to lay a substrate under the laminate in a house or apartment? The sequence of work will be as follows:

Preparation of the base, if necessary, its repair, alignment.
Laying waterproofing and thermal insulation on a concrete base.
Installation of the substrate of the selected type.
Laminate board installation.

The first stage is usually the most difficult, since in some cases it is necessary to fill with a cement mixture for leveling. This can be done by inviting experts.

If the floor is fairly even, then this stage consists in cleaning the surface from traces of the old coating, dust, debris and other things.

The flooring technology itself is extremely simple:

First, the surface of the base floor is inspected. If necessary, cracks and other defects are repaired. A layer of waterproofing made of polyethylene film is laid on the concrete base. The canvases are overlapped, after which all joints are glued with adhesive tape. The film should go on the surface of the walls by about 10-15 cm, after all the work has been completed, its excess is simply cut off.
Next, the substrate is laid, it is best to use a material with a thickness of 2-3 mm, but not more than 4 mm. You can not lay the substrate in 2 layers.
If rolled material is used, then the substrate is simply rolled out. It is necessary to lay this material under the laminate in the direction in which the laminate board will be mounted. During laying, there should be no gaps and other defects; the strips are fixed with adhesive tape between themselves. Under no circumstances should the substrate be attached to the floor and walls.
If a slab underlay is to be used, it must be laid with the smooth side up. For foil material, the foil should also point upwards. When fastening the plates are not glued to the floor, walls. Joints are fixed with adhesive tape.

In order for the flooring to be laid correctly and efficiently, you must follow a few simple tips:

It is necessary to lay the substrate perpendicular to the walls.
During installation, make sure that there are no gaps or cracks. The material should be laid from one wall to another, if necessary, the joints are glued with adhesive tape. It is important to follow the laying technology exactly.
It is not recommended to take a substrate that is too thick, as it will cause the floor to spring back. When installing furniture and household appliances on such a laminate, the board will be pressed through, cracks will appear. In addition, it is uncomfortable to walk on such a floor.
It is necessary to choose the substrate in such a way that it differs not only in all the necessary qualities, but also in durability. Today, manufacturers offer a number of coatings at a low price, but this leads to the fact that the material is quickly pressed through, ceases to fulfill its protective functions, and the laminate itself wears out quickly.

Today, you can purchase various types of substrate for laminate flooring, which one to choose is up to you.

Laminate is one of the most popular floor coverings, which is valued for its performance and original appearance (it can imitate a variety of materials). The maximum efficiency of the laminate after laying can only be achieved if the laying of the substrate layer has been correctly carried out, which will be discussed in the article.

Laminate and underlay

As mentioned above, laminate is a coating that has a number of positive qualities:

high strength;
long service life;
increased thermal insulation;
original design.

The underlay is used as an underlay directly under the laminate flooring. It is needed to protect the boards from wear during operation. Let's consider further how to lay the substrate under the laminate on your own, starting with the choice of high-quality material and ending with its correct installation.

Types and purpose of the substrate

The main functions of the substrate under the laminate:

Soundproofing. Laminate flooring is reliably protected from noise during production, but without a substrate, the knock of the coating on the base will be very loud and annoying. The substrate will muffle the sound to a minimum, which will bring pleasure not only to residents, but also to neighbors. Some pads avoid loud sounds even from bulky objects falling on the floor. When it comes to how to lay the substrate under the laminate, it is worth saying that squeaks are also eliminated, since high-quality material does not allow the laminated boards to come into contact with the base. The interlocks of laminated panels do not sag under load on the floor, which additionally isolates the generated noise and increases the life of the flooring.
thermal insulation. Given that the laminate itself is a cold coating, then you can not do without a substrate. It will not only act as a heater, but also increase the efficiency of the underfloor heating system.
With the help of the substrate, you can even out the smallest defects in the base if they remain after pouring the screed or laying the sheet flooring.

Before laying the substrate under the laminate, it is also necessary to consider it for the material from which it is made.

Today, in building stores, the owner can offer the following types of materials:

natural cork in its pure form or, sometimes, in combination with other materials;
polyethylene foam;
special synthetic material.

Choosing a specific type of substrate

Cork and polyethylene foam are the two most popular underlayment materials today. Polyethylene is the easiest to use because it has a low cost.

This material has the following positive aspects:

it does not rot and does not attract insects;
has a high thermal conductivity and protects the floor from heat loss. Thus, the layer invisible in the photo and during visual inspection creates coziness and comfort in the room where it was laid;
the high density of the material makes it possible to make the thickness of the substrate under the laminate no more than 2 millimeters.

Before you put the substrate under the laminate, it is worth considering the disadvantages of polyethylene foam:

short service life;
shrinkage after a while;
the canvas is crumpled, which leads to ruptures and damage to the laminated panels;
while walking in places with a damaged substrate, creaking sounds, knocks appear; when loaded, the boards are pressed through, cracked and broken.

Cork slabs are more expensive, but fully justify the costs with their positive characteristics.

It is worth highlighting the following advantages of this material:

high density and strength;
excellent thermal insulation properties;
increased moisture resistance;
resistance to temperature changes;
with proper installation, the load is distributed in such a way that the wear of laminated boards is reduced;
to mount such a coating is very simple;
when laying, it is not necessary to use adhesive compositions to fix the layer;
thickness can vary from very small values.

The disadvantage of this material is only its high cost, which is very often the reason for choosing cheaper polyethylene.

It is also very important to know how to properly lay the substrate under the laminate if some special purpose has been invented for this layer.

Special types of material are used for a variety of purposes:

increased degree of noise isolation;
reliable protection against moisture;
maximum strength, etc.

The process of laying the substrate under the laminate

Proper laying of the substrate under the laminate with your own hands can be done with the following materials and tools:

selected substrate;
a hammer;
wedge for spacers;
sharp device for cutting material;
polyethylene film as a layer between the substrate and the concrete base;
ruler, pencil or marker for marking;
wooden beam;
engineering tape.

When choosing tools for work, it is very important to consider the type of substrate being laid.

Laying algorithm:

preparation of the subfloor with the elimination of existing defects and leveling;
laying a waterproofing and heat-insulating layer;
installation of the purchased material (substrate);
installation of laminate flooring.

Consider how to properly lay the substrate under the laminate in stages.

Further work is carried out as follows. The base after leveling or cleaning is checked for cracks, chips and other defects. They are sealed with the same mortar or ordinary putty. A waterproofing film is applied on top with spades of cut sheets on top of each other and on walls (up to 15 centimeters high). Sheets are glued together with construction tape. Upon completion of the work, so that polyethylene does not protrude in the photo and during visual inspection, it is cut.

The allowable thickness of the substrate should not exceed 4 millimeters. The optimal value considers 2-3 millimeters. Double layering is not allowed.

The underlay rolls are rolled out in the direction of laying the laminate. Between themselves, the substrate is glued with a special mounting tape. The substrate is not fastened to the floor and walls.

The question arises as to which side to put the substrate under the laminate if plates are used. It will be correct to lay the smooth part to the top. If the material has a layer of foil, then it should also look up to keep the heat in the room and increase the efficiency of underfloor heating, if any. The slabs are also glued with tape and are not fixed to the base.

In addition to which side to lay the substrate under the laminate, there are other practical tips:

the material must be located perpendicular to the walls;
over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe room there should not be any gaps and cracks in the substrate. All space enclosed by walls should be covered with the selected substrate. The laying technology must not be violated;
materials that are too thick should not be used, as they have cushioning characteristics. Installing heavy pieces of furniture and appliances on the floor with such a layer of the substrate will lead to deformation of the laminated panels. See also: "".

Outcome

After reading all of the above, each owner will be able to select and install a substrate that will meet all the criteria. Such a layer will be of high quality and will last for many years. You should not rush for materials with a very low cost, since there are a number of other nuances that determine their effectiveness. If difficulties arise, you can always turn to specialists who will take responsibility for the purchase of the necessary materials, their installation and putting the floors into operation.

Laminate is an inexpensive and very popular flooring. It can be found in many modern and apartments, even more people want to buy it and put it in their homes.

Despite the simplicity of laying, it must be done correctly, in compliance with all the rules of flooring. A separate subject of attention is the substrate.

Here you need to know exactly which side to put the substrate under the laminate, which variety to give preference to.

The service life of the coating, appearance, convenience and comfort depend on the correct choice and laying technology. You can buy more modern types of laminate, where the manufacturer produces a look already equipped with a substrate, but they cost a lot of money and are not suitable for every consumer within the budget.

What is an underlay

This is a layer of insulation that keeps the laminate in direct contact with the subfloor.

The role and tasks of the substrate is to create shock absorption and securely hold the cover panels.

They are produced from different materials, each has its own technical characteristics,.

But all, without exception, carry out the tasks assigned to them.

The truth and the requirements for them are put forward appropriate:

Biological neutral pluses and minuses
moisture resistance
Antiseptic qualities
Heat and sound insulation
High depreciation index
Deformation resistance

Features of the use of the substrate

One of the key points of laying is the correct choice of the side of the material.

For example, which side to put the substrate under the Stiroplex laminate?

This can be found in the annotation for use written by the manufacturer.

There are several features of using the considered one that are very important to take into account:

No matter how expensive and high-quality the substrate is, it will never replace a high-quality even screed. But the requirements for the use of laminate - perfectly flat surfaces.
It is not recommended to buy expensive types of substrate for a cheap laminate. Here you need to strive to achieve the maximum balance in terms of cost and compliance of materials.
Too thick a layer of the substrate can cause deformation (sagging) of the laminate in places where the pressure on it is too large and prolonged - cabinet legs, heavy stoves, pianos and other pieces of furniture.

When laying the footboard on a “bare” floor, a cold base is obtained. If the thermal insulation properties come to the forefront, then it is better to choose the appropriate types of substrates.

Functions assigned to the substrate

Laying laminate without the use of a substrate is quite acceptable. But avoiding such consequences as deformation when walking, subsidence of the material and other unpleasant situations is unlikely to be avoided.

Experts do not advise saving on the substrate, because the elimination of all subsequent troubles will cost much more. The functions assigned to the substrate are as follows:

Depreciation. The peculiarity of the material (substrate) is that it is able to recreate the shapes of the floors, thereby eliminating the formation of sharp height differences. And having a porous structure, the substrate creates a reinforcing layer.
Noise isolation. Laminate laying technology provides for the organization of the substrate, if it is not laid, then when walking on the material in shoes with heels, their clatter will be clearly and loudly heard. Even a child with bare feet will make some kind of loud knock.
Moisture resistance. If a wet monolithic screed was used as a leveling of the floors, then, after a certain period of time, condensation will definitely appear on it. In the absence of a substrate, it, having a detrimental effect on the laminate, can render it unusable. To avoid this, a layer of polyethylene is laid on the concrete base, then the substrate, and only then the laminate boards.
Thermal insulation. This requirement is especially true when used in a private home. To improve the thermal insulation properties, it is recommended to use special types of substrates.

It is very important not only to choose the right substrate, but also to lay it correctly. Which side to put the substrate under Teplon and what surfaces does it generally have? More about this in the following subsection of the material.

Which side correctly fits the material on the floor

Some subspecies of substrates are produced with a corrugated surface.

They are laid under the laminate with it down, and gloss up.

The layout scheme is chess.

But before use, the floor surface should be covered with plastic wrap.

Laying technology requires gradual laying out so that the laminate plates do not move.

If the substrate you have chosen is foiled on one side (aluminum layer), then it should be on top.

Otherwise, it may be damaged by bumps and protrusions on, even the most insignificant ones.

To quickly and effectively level the floor surface, you can use self-leveling compounds. They are easy to apply, dry quickly, but there is one very important requirement for their use - height differences should not be too large. The substrate is laid with the smooth side up.

Before buying, any consumer asks a lot of leading questions to managers and sales consultants in hardware stores. Most often, he receives a lot of information about the brands that they present. But you can’t put a brand on, and therefore you need to understand at least a little who and what produces and sells.

For laying the substrate and laminate, see the video:

Why is underlayment needed for laminate flooring?

For surface leveling. This is one of the most important qualities of such material. Of course, such a layer will not smooth out large irregularities, but it will be able to cope with small height differences of 2-3 mm per linear meter. At the same time, you do not need to rely on the fact that a large coating thickness will be able to level out irregularities of 5-6 mm - it will bend at the joints. But you don’t want all the seams to come apart in six months and you start the repair again, read;
for soundproofing. This is an auxiliary layer, which is often used in apartments of high-rise buildings, where every step gives off a sound. Such an even soft layer hides noise from walking and impact sounds;
for thermal conductivity. This bedding reduces the efficiency of the warm floor, because it has good thermal insulation properties. For warm flooring there are special types of layers, so it is better to use them;
for moisture insulation. No matter how you praise the new lamellas, they are all made of pressed paper, which means that even moisture-resistant types swell when in contact with moisture. Laying guarantees additional protection of the finish from moisture from the concrete base.

It is also very important to choose the right material for such an intermediate layer. Today, the modern market offers a variety of options. We advise you to pay special attention to options from:

Isopora;
polyethylene foam;
extruded polystyrene foam;
traffic jams.

! The thickness of such a litter is of great importance, since it is it that helps to smooth out small bumps and depressions in both wood and concrete pavement.

Do you have additional questions? You can find the answers in the video of laying the substrate under the laminate . Good luck!

Video - laying the substrate under the laminate.

Laminate is very popular among domestic developers due to a good combination of quality and cost. Floors are laid within a few hours, depending on the size of the room. Mounting technology involves the use of special substrates. During installation, laying of the substrate under the laminate is supposed.

Final leveling of the surface. According to existing regulations, the difference in height of load-bearing bases cannot exceed two millimeters per linear meter. On the one hand, this is not much and satisfies the requirements for most floor coverings. But not for laminate. The fact is that the lamellas are only a few millimeters thick, and even with such slight differences in height, deflections of the coating appear. As a result, premature wear of locks and tenon-groove joints, the appearance of creaks when walking, problems with the front surface. There are substrates that copy the profile of the surface and in this position take the load from the laminate.
Improvement of sound insulation parameters. At present, many foreign traditions appear in our country. There they do not change their shoes in indoor shoes in the house, this is done for various reasons. Walking on laminate flooring in hard-soled shoes causes quite strong sound effects. Laminate perfectly conducts sound, and in some cases amplifies them. The task of the substrate is to dampen vibrations, depending on the materials of manufacture, the noise reduction can be more than 20 dB.
Thermal conductivity. There are types of substrates (cork, jute, coniferous) that have low thermal conductivity parameters. Even a thickness of 4-5 mm has a noticeable reduction in heat loss, the floor is pleasant to the touch, and the comfort of staying indoors without shoes increases. You need to know that the cheapest pads cannot retain heat and dampen sound vibrations. As always, you should not expect much positive effect from cheap goods, except for financial savings.
Hydroprotection. Only certain types of polymer substrates can perform this function; as an addition, aluminum foil or polyethylene film is sometimes fixed on them. Laminate reacts extremely negatively to direct contact with water or prolonged use in conditions of high humidity. The substrates perform the function of effective hydrobarriers. But not all, there are those who themselves require protection from moisture.

What criteria to choose the substrate

Technical parameters A specific type of underlay should be selected taking into account the individual characteristics and existing operating conditions of the floor.

load-bearing base

Table. Types of bases

Base	Characteristic
	They tend to absorb moisture, the substrate must serve as a reliable barrier, otherwise the lamellas may become damp. It is better to use substrates made of foamed polymers, they do not absorb water. It is allowed to use materials with special additional coatings, most often thin aluminum foil is used for such purposes.
	This is a rather complex material for the base under the laminate, constantly changing its linear dimensions in accordance with the relative humidity values. The substrate must compensate for possible fluctuations, while shifting loads cannot be transferred to the finish coat. According to these parameters, the requirements are satisfied by all types of substrates available in the implementation.

In addition, it is necessary to take into account the number of storeys of the premises. For the first floor, sound conductivity is not critical, strong knocks do not create inconvenience to anyone. If the room is on the second floor, then the substrate should effectively dampen sound waves and prevent them from propagating to the lower floors.

Thermal conductivity of the substrate

Selection criteria depend on the characteristics of the arrangement of the floor and its placement.

Heating floor. The better the substrate conducts the body, the higher the efficiency of the system. Modern heating elements can be mounted without a top substrate, they can resist the forces acting on the flooring. If the system does not provide for such a mounting option, then it is recommended to use materials based on polymer foam as a substrate. It has an insignificant thickness, under the influence of loads it is strongly compressed, which further increases the thermal conductivity.

It is strongly not recommended to use cork, jute or other materials that do not conduct heat well as a substrate. They not only reduce the heating efficiency, but also create unfavorable operating conditions for the heating elements. Electric mats always operate at elevated temperatures, which significantly accelerates the process of physical aging.

Floor on the first floor. The task of the footboard is to reduce heat losses from the heated floor to cold ceilings. In this case, it is recommended to use materials with low thermal conductivity coefficients. The less the laminate is cooled, the more comfortable the stay in the premises.

Substrate under the laminate "Izoshum"

Floor on the second floor. As you know, warm air always rises up to the ceiling. Further, the energy is transferred to the floor slabs and the floor of the second floor. There is no need to interfere with the natural movement of thermal energy and try to insulate the laminate flooring on the second floor as much as possible. It is much more cost-effective to use this energy for automatic natural heating of the floor surface; it is recommended to install elements with high thermal conductivity here.

As can be seen from these examples, the right choice of materials for installing a laminate floor not only affects the parameters of the microclimate in the premises, but also saves money on the maintenance of buildings in the winter.

Moisture isolation

All floors that have wood among the structural elements must have effective natural ventilation. This rule also applies to laminate flooring. But in practice, unfortunately, quite often there are serious violations of the requirements of building codes and regulations. It is very difficult, and sometimes technically impossible, to make ventilation in already operated premises. You have to use special additional methods to protect wooden structures from high humidity: apply impregnations, install waterproofing barriers. The substrate can only function as such a barrier if it is made from closed honeycomb polymers. All other materials are permeable to moisture, and some are considered absorbent and require protection themselves.

Rating of popular materials for the manufacture of the substrate

	Name	Rating
#1	Foamed NPE	⭐ 97 / 100
#2		⭐ 96 / 100
#3	Coniferous	⭐ 95 / 100
#4	jute	⭐ 94 / 100
#5	Cork	⭐ 93 / 100

Manufacturers offer developers several types of materials, each of which has individual technical parameters and is recommended for use in specific cases.

Foamed NPE

The material of manufacture is polyethylene foam with open pores (non-crosslinked), recommended for use on concrete bases. Thermal conductivity 0.031 W, combustibility group G2, can be operated at a temperature not exceeding +90°C.

The cheapest underlay, recommended for use under ordinary laminate floors.
A large assortment. The substrate is sold not only in rolls, but also in panels (the second option is denser, therefore it is better to use it).

Small operational period.
Air impermeability.

foam underlay for laminate flooring

jute

The thickness is 4 mm, natural bast fiber is used for manufacturing, it has high noise and heat insulation parameters, it can compensate for significant differences in height. Does not emit active chemical compounds into the air.

The material retains its original shape.
Long service life.
Fire and moisture resistance.

High price.
With prolonged exposure to heavy objects, dents may form.

jute backing

Cork

The crushed cork tree bark is pressed and glued together with substances that are safe for the human body. It has a thickness of 2-3mm, reduces noise by 22 dB.

can be used in any premises;
long service life;
good soundproofing characteristics.

Afraid of moisture, during laying it is necessary to apply special construction measures to exclude direct contact with wet surfaces.
High price.

Coniferous

Innovative technology makes it possible to produce a substrate from wood fiber with needles, the weight is not more than 240 kg / m3 with a thickness of 7 mm. Reduces impact noise by 25 dB, thermal conductivity 0.05 W/(mK). Perfectly evens out irregularities that exceed the permissible limits, has a pleasant smell, and has a beneficial effect on the respiratory tract.

Heat and sound insulation.
Eco-friendly material.

Cannot be used in a high humidity environment.

Production material - extruded polystyrene foam, characterized by increased physical strength, can withstand loads up to 11 t / m². It does not lose its original properties when heated to +60°C, it belongs to the G4 group in terms of combustibility, density is 50 kg/m².

Affordable price.
Additional leveling of the floor.
Easy installation.

Low leveling ability.

HPS substrate

Consider examples of laying three types of substrates: cork, polypropylene polystyrene foam. It is these materials that are most widely used among users and raise questions from inexperienced builders. Once again, we remind you that due to non-compliance with the installation technology of the laminate floor, big troubles will arise in the future. Eliminating them is much more difficult than exactly complying with existing regulations.

Features of installing a cork substrate

There is no need to talk about the advantages of the material, but the disadvantages need to be voiced.

High price. This is one of the most expensive types of substrates. By the way, according to professional builders, its very high cost does not correspond to equally high performance. The price is artificially high due to the skillful advertising campaign of manufacturers.
Reacts negatively to high humidity. Like any natural materials, cork rots and is affected by fungi in conditions of high humidity. Synthetic adhesives protect the material a little from such processes, but over time, these compounds cannot inhibit the development of microflora.
Pressed mats made from crushed cork are characterized by high rigidity characteristics. On the one hand, this is good - the substrate withstands significant forces on the lamellas. On the other hand, it does not fully compensate for differences in height, which in some cases can cause unpleasant sounds when walking on a laminate floor.

How is the underlay installed?

Step 1. As a big rule, check the evenness of the base, remove all debris and dust.

Important. As already mentioned above, the allowable difference in height of the base under the laminate is ± 2 mm per linear meter. But not in the case of a cork substrate, it is necessary to prepare ideally even bases for it.

Why? The thickness of the cork is 2 mm, in order to compensate for the difference of two millimeters, the material on the tubercle must shrink to zero. This is impossible to achieve even theoretically, let alone in practice. There are suggestions to use a thicker substrate, but then its cost will exceed the price of a laminate coating.

Step 2 Roll out the roll. Align exactly against the wall and roll the backing across the room. Make sure it is parallel to the wall. If the geometry of the room is incorrect, then leave a small gap along the interior partition, maintain the further parallelism of the substrate. Its edges are perfectly even, this is ensured by the peculiarities of the production technology.

Step 3 Near the opposite wall, slightly bend the substrate and cut off the excess roll with an ordinary mounting knife. Do not allow overlaps on the wall, carefully cut. It's okay that the substrate rises a little, while laying the laminate, the base will level out.

Step 4 Correct the position of the first strip of the row and begin to roll out the second. Make sure that there are no cracks and overlaps, the edges must be strictly parallel.

Step 5 Glue the joints with masking or ordinary tape. Due to this, the position of the substrate is stabilized and it will not move during further work.

Using the same algorithm, continue to lay the substrate over the entire area of the room.

The fact is that the cork quickly crumbles, when walking or various construction works, mechanical damage often appears. This is not critical, but unpleasant and indicates insufficient qualifications of the performers.

You can find advice to roll out the cork backing in such a way that the junction lines are perpendicular to the lamellas. Practice shows that there is no difference, the direction of the strips does not affect the quality of the flooring. But if you want to do them across, then it won’t be worse, this option has the right to exist.

Features of laying the foam polypropylene substrate

The substrate is also sold in rolls, the laying technology is almost the same as described above. It is advisable to prime the concrete base before starting work, this will ensure tightness and eliminate the appearance of dust during the operation of the floor.

It belongs to the middle class both in terms of price and performance. Of the shortcomings, the most important should be called - the composition contains styrene, which, when burned, releases very toxic substances. True, any smoke harms the body, but these compounds cause an almost instantaneous loss of consciousness.

The material is quite durable, for a long period of time does not lose its original strength and elasticity, minimizes the likelihood of sips. Good dampening of sound vibrations. In addition, expanded polystyrene has low thermal conductivity and is completely opaque to water vapor. The mats are perfectly cut with a mounting knife, stacked in a checkerboard pattern and fixed with adhesive tape.

Despite the different materials used to make underlays, there are general laying tips for everyone. We provide professional answers to frequently asked questions.

Is it possible to level the base due to the substrate?

It is possible, but very conditional and only within small limits. Manufacturers attribute this property to their materials solely for advertising purposes to attract consumers. Do an experiment, squeeze any substrate with your fingers. If it is very easily deformed (foamed polypropylene), then what loads can such a floor withstand? The laminate will bend freely over the recesses, the substrate will not be able to withstand additional loads. In this regard, experienced builders are strongly advised to achieve maximum accuracy during the preparation of the supporting base, and not rely on the substrates to level the marriage.

Why do substrates have aluminum coatings on the outer surfaces?

The traditional explanation is that such coatings do not allow moisture to pass through and reflect infrared heat rays. What's in practice?

Indeed, aluminum reflects infrared rays a little, due to this, thermal energy can be saved. But its value is so insignificant that during the calculation of the heat balance of the floor it is completely ignored. But aluminum is an excellent conductor of heat during the contact of the laminate with the substrate in the opposite direction.
The foil is impervious to water, but does not stretch, and is easily damaged when tensile forces occur.

It is much more profitable to use an ordinary cheap polyethylene film as a waterproofing layer or to prime concrete surfaces with special compounds.

How does underlayment affect floor performance?

As for the heat saving indicators, the effect is almost imperceptible and may not be taken into account. We have already talked about the leveling effect. The noise reduction remains. A noticeable reduction in sound waves gives only foamed polystyrene foam and cork. But these materials have a relatively high cost and have a noticeable impact on the estimate. It is recommended to use them only in those cases when the floors are made in the rooms of the second and higher floors.

In all other options, it is not advisable to lay such expensive materials for the sake of illusory benefits. And the reduction of heat loss must be achieved during the construction of walls and ceilings, the thickness of the insulation of these elements is always more than 10 cm, and in the northern regions it can exceed 20 cm. Now compare the thermal conductivity parameters of identical materials with a thickness of 20 cm and 2 mm. Will the effect of applying the substrate?

Video - How to choose a substrate for a laminate

Conclusion

The use of underlays is necessary when laying so-called floating laminate floors. This is the simplest technology that attracts builders with the speed of execution.

Previously, laminate floors were recommended to be laid on glue, due to this, the likelihood of squeaks, deflections and other unpleasant phenomena was completely excluded. The base lined up perfectly under each lamella. In addition, a cheaper laminate without complex locks was used for laying on glue. No pads were needed.

But this technology requires much more time and effort, which builders and manufacturers categorically did not like. So the so-called floating method appeared. And the floors, in principle, should not float, these are stable structures. The final decision on the method of laying the laminate should be taken by the customer after a careful analysis of all the features of the premises.

Kronospan laminate prices

Kronospan laminate

Video - Cork substrate

Choosing the right underlay for laminate flooring increases the life of the coating and minimizes the risk of squeaks when walking. And what can be done if such a problem has already appeared, is there an effective technology for eliminating the defect? Experienced builders have several ways to eliminate unpleasant sounds, which ones can be read.