Green laminate flooring. Materials for the manufacture of substrates for laminate. Polypropylene foam pad
Overview of the best of the most popular
In order to recommend the best substrates to you, we took into account the opinions of representatives of manufacturers of the most popular laminate brands, analyzed the reviews of craftsmen and users on specialized Internet resources and construction forums, and the technical characteristics of materials.
Selection criteria
The selection was made by us on the basis of the parameters below, which we offer you to be guided by when choosing.
Noise absorption
By this is meant the absorption of "shock" (reflected and transmitted) noise. The reflected noise you hear when you walk on the floor, the passing one is the one that is heard by your neighbors below. Let's make it clear right away: NO backing will save YOU from the noise of your neighbors under you, it is YOU who save them from the roar of your heels.
Relation to moisture
Substrates from different groups react differently to moisture. Please note that an indispensable condition for the guarantee for laminate from manufacturers is the presence of a waterproofing film with a thickness of 200 microns.
thermal insulation
This indicator is important if the floors are located above basements, unheated garages, walkways.
Density, thickness
For laminate, the ideal is the most solid base. In this case, the wear of the locks will be minimal. The softer and thicker the substrate, the faster the coating will become unusable. If the thickness is more than the optimal (!) 3 mm, then there is a high probability of the appearance of cracks due to the wear of the locks.
Reaction to uneven ground floor
The denser the material (and cork has the highest density), the worse its leveling ability and the more carefully the base should be leveled. The curvature of a large radius you will not align with anything!
Lifetime
Under an expensive laminate with a lifespan of 15 years or more, it is not economically feasible to lay a cheap polyethylene substrate, which will wear out in a couple of years.
Suitable for use with underfloor heating
This characteristic is relevant for those who plan to lay laminate on underfloor heating.
Ease of installation
Some types of roll substrates (from cork, in particular) “strive” to curl up when laying. In this case, it is better to take sheet material.
The best manufacturers (brands) of substrates
Well-known laminate manufacturers strongly recommend using branded substrates for their products. Otherwise, they reserve the right to refuse to consider the claim, if any. However, all of them favor cork substrates from Portugal and VTM brand extruded polystyrene. Excellent reviews about Parkolag and Isoplin from both installers and buyers. Quick Step NPE substrates have proven themselves in operation. But the domestic analogue will provide you with "bubbles" and "waves" after laying. We also do not recommend extruded polystyrene of Russian and Chinese brands: in the product description, their characteristics are overestimated.
OUR RANKING OF THE BEST SUBSTRATES
| Place | Name | average price | Nomination | Description | Our rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The best natural substrates | |||||
| 1. | Premium Cork (Cork), Portugal | 90 rubles/m2 (2 mm) 145 rubles/m2 (3mm) | Natural cork The highest density The lowest thermal conductivity | Material "technical cork" from compressed cork tree bark. It has a high resistance to deformation, good noise and vibration absorption, excellent thermal insulation qualities. Fits exclusively on a thick film. Sold in rolls and sheets. Not recommended for heated floors. | 9 out of 10 |
| 2. | PARCOLAG (Parkolag) | 95 rubles/m2 (3mm) | Bituminous Cork Top Features | Ventilated lining. It is a kraft paper impregnated with natural bitumen with natural cork dressing (granules 2-3 mm in size). It is characterized by high noise absorption, excellent noise and moisture insulation. Roll material. | 9 out of 10 |
| 3. | Isoplaat (Isoplat) | 55 rubles/m2 | Better thermal insulation, acoustics, leveling | Conifer resin-based fibreboard for sound insulation. Levels uneven subfloor up to 4 mm. It is characterized by high thermal insulation, natural ventilation, vapor permeability. Effective damping of "impact" noise, sound dispersion, moisture resistance. | 9 out of 10 |
| Best Extruded Polystyrene Underlays | |||||
| 1. | VTM, IsoPolin (Isopolin) | 55 rubles/m2 | Best value for money | Material - polystyrene film. This rigid XPS underlay sits in the middle between cork and polyethylene in terms of installation complexity and cost. Excellent sound insulation, minimal moisture absorption. Excellent thermal insulation properties that remain in high humidity. | 10 out of 10 |
| The best polyethylene substrates | |||||
| 1. | Tuplex (Tuplex) | 99 rubles/m2 | Most technological | An ultra-modern composite material consisting of polystyrene foam granules between two layers of polyethylene of different thicknesses. It has excellent moisture and noise insulation properties. The membrane construction of the lower layer of Tuplex allows you to ventilate the space under the laminate: moisture seeps in and then is removed under the baseboards. | 9 out of 10 |
| 2. | Isolon PPE | 35 rubles/m2 | The cheapest underlay | Heat-resistant finely porous substrate made of foamed "cross-linked" PPE. Outperforms NPE in all respects. | 8 out of 10 |
| 3. | Foil Izolon PPE | 56 rubles/m2 | foil | Insulating substrate Izolon PPE with a foil layer 14 microns thick applied on one side. | 7 out of 10 |
The best natural substrates
Let us immediately clarify that the natural origin of the substrate in this case does not give any advantages in terms of ecology, since a laminate will be placed on top of it, which, as you know, is an artificial material.
Cork underlayment Premium Cork (Cork)
Rating 9 out of 10
Photo: vopros-remont.ru
Average price in Russia: 90 rub./m2, thickness 2 mm (145 rub./m2 - 3 mm thick)
Advantages: One of the best substrates made in Portugal, Spain. Very high density means that both the laminate itself and the locks of the laminate are resistant to deformation under loads. Due to the high damping properties, the floor will not “play” over time. Due to its very low thermal conductivity, it is a good floor insulation above unheated rooms. Since it dampens noise well, it will be an excellent solution for children's playrooms. Can be used with high-end laminate without requiring replacement, 25 years. Unlike the Chinese counterpart, it does not crumble, is good in installation and operation, and does not harm the laminate.
Flaws: High price. Noisy on poorly leveled ground. It is best to apply on wooden floor, plywood, chipboard. Absorbs moisture, therefore requires concrete waterproofing and is not recommended for wet rooms and kitchens.
Typical Reviews
“It is necessary to carefully remove the base under the cork! I encountered this…”
“... it's hard to lay. When the roll ends, the cork tends to pull back strongly, and there are fears that it, crumpled, will fall under the laminate.
Parkolag (Parkolag)
Rating 9 out of 10
Photo: strmnt.ru
Advantages: High noise absorption, wear resistance, very high moisture insulation make this ventilated underlay one of the best. Cork powder, which retains its elasticity, contributes to the long service life of the laminate, and bitumen prevents the penetration of moisture from the concrete screed. The presence of air exchange prevents the formation of condensate, fungus, mold. Maintains linear dimensions under very significant pressure and changes in temperature and humidity conditions. A reliable underlay that will be an excellent solution for expensive laminate brands and will serve without causing problems for many years.
Flaws: Cannot be used under underfloor heating.
Reviews:
“Compared to technical cork, as a mixed version, it is more versatile, moreover, more wear-resistant. Wins in terms of a barrier to excess moisture.
“As a substrate, I always liked Pargolag, about which I heard a lot of tales, such as bitumen stinks not like a child, etc. All this is nonsense.”
“I bought a parking lot for laminate flooring. Excellent! And there is no smell, and teeeee…”
Isoplat (Isoplaat startfloor barlinek)
Rating 9 out of 10
Photo: bug.ua
Advantages: An ideal substrate for underfloor heating due to its absolute safety when heated. Due to the porous structure, it has good noise and sound-absorbing, acoustic and heat-insulating properties, and heat resistance. The special structure of the bottom layer allows free air circulation, providing ventilation properties. In addition, thanks to antiseptic impregnation, it is protected from fungus and mold. In terms of elasticity, thermal conductivity, resistance to compression, sound absorption, durability and naturalness, it is similar to cork. As for thermal insulation, due to the thickness of Isoplat, it is 3 times higher and comparable to soft insulation.
Flaws: Plates of smaller thickness are not produced.
Reviews:
“I have a 5 mm isoplaat under 33 laminate. Elastic, warm to the touch, dampens noise well. With two small children, the neighbors downstairs simply don’t hear us (their opinion).”
Best Extruded Styrofoam Underlays
VTM, IsoPolin (Isopolin)
Rating 10 out of 10
Photo: skill-spb.ru
Average price in Russia: 55 rub./m2 (thickness 3 mm)
Advantages: A stable base for laminate flooring, making even diagonal laying of laminate comfortable. Due to the closed moisture-proof pores, it is an ideal waterproofing. Optimally selected density is expressed in a sufficiently high resistance to external pressure and at the same time the absence of strong rigidity. The latter quality compensates for floor irregularities up to 3 mm and enhances sound insulation: the impact sound absorption index approaches cork. Technical characteristics are similar to Isoplat plates. Mechanical pressure does not have a destructive effect on the structure, so VTM and IsoPolin substrates do not lose their high heat and sound insulating properties over time. Service life more than 10 years.
Flaws: Not suitable for areas with high traffic and load (ballrooms, fitness clubs, etc.). Not suitable for underfloor heating.
Reviews:
“In terms of laying properties and resistance to sagging, XPS underlay and Isoplat are almost identical.”
“As a builder, I can say that it is pleasant and easy to work with him, many customers require just such a substrate.”
“In the Olympic Village… there is a huge demand for this substrate among understanding people.”
The best polyethylene substrates
Tuplex (Tuplex)
Rating 9 out of 10
Photo: ekopol.kiev.ua
Average price in Russia: 99 rub./m2 (thickness 3 mm)
Advantages: Tuplex underlay adapts to the shape of the base, smoothing out small imperfections. Superbly absorbs impact noise, drowning out the sound of heels. This quality allows us to recommend Tuplex for both residential and office use. Thanks to its low compression (14 times less than polyethylene foam), it retains its shape well and prevents the laminate from sagging. The unique structure of the material allows moisture to be removed naturally, but this advantage is reduced to zero in the presence of a waterproofing film. Suitable for underfloor heating.
Flaws: The heating efficiency from underfloor heating is lower compared to traditional heat-conducting substrates due to the dispersion of part of the air.
Reviews:
“The best… I've worked with is Tuplex. Very easy to fit."
“I heard complaints about it. Key takeaway: Styrofoam balls deform over time… Maybe that’s not the case, but it’s worth thinking about.”
“... I tried for compression - it is not restored. Although the annotation says otherwise.
Isolon PPE
Rating 8 out of 10
Photo: www.web4market.biz
Advantages: Good heat and noise absorbing parameters of “cross-linked” polyethylene with closed pores, its environmental friendliness, resilience and elasticity, increased moisture resistance and hydrophobicity, inertness to “chemistry”, bacteria and relative cheapness make the Izolon PPE substrate (not to be confused with Izolon NPE!) preferred for use in residential and public buildings. These qualities can be maintained by Izolon PPE for a long time under any operating conditions. Does not deform under load, does not burn and does not emit toxic substances. Over time, it does not collapse, does not lose stability and strength, unlike gas-filled polyethylenes Isolon NPE, Penofol, Poliizol, etc. The service life under normal conditions is more than 25 years. The best solution for underfloor heating.
Flaws: Despite the good thermal insulation performance, you should not count on the thermal insulation of the floor with a material thickness of 2-4 mm.
Reviews:
“If you take Izolon, then the PPE is white with very dense small bubbles, but not our NPE!”
“Compared to cork, Izolon has much worse compression and recovery.”
Foil Izolon PPE
Rating 6 out of 10
Photo: www.dom-laminata.ru
Advantages: In addition to the advantages of Izolon PPE, the foil layer, which is a reflective thermal insulation, enhances the heat, vapor barrier properties, reduces heat loss by 97%. Important: the effectiveness of foil thermal insulation is higher, the higher the temperature difference between the subfloor and the room. For the first floor with a concrete floor, foil Izolon PPE is useful, for an apartment on the fourth floor there will be no gain in temperature. But as a heater, it goes well with an infrared warm floor.
Reviews:
“In order for the foil to give a tangible effect in heat reflection, the temperature should be. around 60°C. Therefore, the foil on the foam ... a good marketing ploy ... ".
"...living in a plastic bag requires constant ventilation."
What is the best underlay to buy?
To the same group of materials, even professionals often have a diametrically opposed attitude, and most often poorly reasoned. Our rating of the best substrates does not give an unequivocal answer to this question - the choice is yours. Study the characteristics of the material and choose the one that best suits the tasks, the degree of evenness of the base and your financial capabilities. At the same time, keep in mind that thicker does not mean better, the thickness of the substrate should not exceed 3-4 mm, unless a larger one is allowed by the laminate manufacturer.
Due to its practicality, laminate flooring has become very popular. But in order for such a coating to fully reveal all its positive qualities, a substrate for a laminate is needed. The lining smooths out the unevenness of the floor, is both vapor and sound insulation.
Of course, there are a lot of materials for making substrates, they all have different characteristics and they are all good in their own way. Among other things, the lining performs the function of a kind of shock absorber - so that the floor covering does not bend under loads and does not play when walking. Let's look at what types of substrates for laminate flooring are.
Foamed polyethylene
The most inexpensive roll substrate. In addition to the attractive price, the advantages of this material are:
- Excellent moisture resistance.
- It is not subject to formation of a mold and fungi.
- Good thermal insulation.
- Undemanding to the subfloor (permissible difference in height up to 4 mm).
But, like most inexpensive materials, polyethylene foam is not without its drawbacks:
- Weak mechanical strength - easily torn.
- Relatively quickly sags under the influence of loads.
Basically, this type of lining is used for inexpensive repairs and commissioning of budget facilities.
Foil polyethylene foam
The next type of substrate is also made from foamed polyethylene, but has a base. It is the foil base that makes it possible to somewhat improve the technical characteristics of the substrate. There are two ways to lay this material:
- If it is necessary to protect the laminate from the effects of a damp or cold floor (for example, on the ground floor above a damp basement), the substrate is laid with the foil down.
- To reduce heat loss or when installing underfloor heating, lay foil up.
A version with double-sided foil is also available, but this material is more expensive.
Advice! When installing polyethylene foam pads, the joints must be glued with ordinary or masking tape on both sides. A foil substrate - with aluminum tape.
Extruded polystyrene
Such a substrate for laminate flooring is the best solution in terms of its properties and pricing policy. This material has the following characteristics:
It is produced in the form of sheets, often a greenish tint. Also, on the basis of extruded polystyrene foam, such a lining as "Isoshum" is known, which is used as an excellent soundproof damper for laminate flooring.
The only disadvantage of this substrate is the high toxicity of smoke during combustion, which makes one more attentive to fire safety.
cork material
The lining made of crushed natural cork tree bark is the most environmentally friendly material of all manufactured linings. In addition, it has such positive characteristics:
Among the shortcomings it is worth noting:
- Afraid of moisture.
- Pretty high price.
- High demands on the surface of the subfloor.
Advice! If you decide to lay a cork damper, then it is necessary to lay a layer of waterproofing on the subfloor (especially concrete). Rolled polyethylene film is suitable for this purpose.
Varieties of cork substrate
Several varieties of this material are also produced, for example, bituminous and rubber-cork linings, each of which has its own nuances:
- Bitumen-cork material has an increased waterproofing property.
- The damper based on rubber and cork has a pronounced depreciation characteristics.
Common to these materials is the fact that it is not recommended to mount them on underfloor heating.
coniferous material
This laminate substrate has appeared relatively recently and reviews about it are mixed. Someone praises, some scold, and we will figure out what technical characteristics it has. Let's start with the positives:
- The environmental friendliness of the material is beyond doubt.
- Large thickness (5–7 mm) contributes to excellent leveling of the subfloor.
- Good heat and sound insulation abilities.
- When wet, it does not lose its properties and retains its shape.
It is worth noting that such a substrate is produced in the form of green mats, which break and crumble quite easily and often.
Advice! In order not to spend your money on a low-quality product, you should consult with the seller about the product warranty. The better the material, the longer its warranty period.
Other materials
Other types of linings are also produced, among which the following materials stand out most noticeably.
fiberglass damper
Although this lining material does not have pronounced flaws, it is rarely laid under the laminate. Among the advantages are:
- Increased strength to various influences, which has a positive effect on the resistance of the material to deformation.
- The environmental friendliness of such a substrate allows it to be used even in a children's room.
This rolled underlay is optimally combined with the thin look of the laminate and laid on a pre-leveled subfloor surface.
Underlay for quick laying
A unique lining is also produced - an accordion. All sheets of this lining are fastened together and stretched like an accordion. This laminate underlay allows you to quickly and easily install any floor covering. This material has the following properties:
- High density, as a result of which the damper does not sag or compress.
- Excellent water-repellent characteristics are combined with the ability of the material to pass air. This allows the laminate to "breathe".
- Acceptable soundproof performance.
- Ease of transportation and installation, because the packaging does not take up much space.
In addition, the accordion pad has a special corrugated packaging, which not only makes it easy to transport and store the material for a long time, but also clearly demonstrates all its advantages.
Advice! For each type of laminate, the manufacturer most often recommends a specific damper. It is important to read and follow these guidelines. In case of gross violation of the instructions, the manufacturer can even remove the warranty period from their products.
Having studied what laminate substrates are made of, you can choose exactly those damper specifications that you need from the whole variety of materials. A wide range will allow you to make the right choice without much difficulty.
