Substrate Under The Laminate (65 Photos): Which One Is Better To Choose For A Wooden And Concrete Floor, Features Of A Cork And Coniferous Model

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Substrate Under The Laminate (65 Photos): Which One Is Better To Choose For A Wooden And Concrete Floor, Features Of A Cork And Coniferous Model
Substrate Under The Laminate (65 Photos): Which One Is Better To Choose For A Wooden And Concrete Floor, Features Of A Cork And Coniferous Model

Video: Substrate Under The Laminate (65 Photos): Which One Is Better To Choose For A Wooden And Concrete Floor, Features Of A Cork And Coniferous Model

Video: Substrate Under The Laminate (65 Photos): Which One Is Better To Choose For A Wooden And Concrete Floor, Features Of A Cork And Coniferous Model
Video: Concrete Floor Waterproofing & Protection - Cemprotec E-Floor Application 2024, March
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During renovations, laying the flooring is of great importance. After all, the comfort of people living in the house will depend on this. When choosing a laminate, it is necessary to take into account all its pros and cons, and before laying it, it is important to decide on the choice of a substrate. We will discuss this in detail in the article.

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Why do you need it?

For starters, it should be said that laminate is one of those floor coverings that are made from wood-based materials. The disadvantages of such a coating are moisture intolerance, deformation from temperature changes, and high porosity. In order to provide the coating with reliable protection, various substrates and insulated compounds are used.

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They fit on the base of the floor. Also, the substrate can extend the life of the vinyl laminate, so it is worth choosing it responsibly. It is not recommended to lay the laminate on a “bare” substrate without a special backing.

The underlay is primarily used to provide additional strength to the floor covering and also to distribute the load on the floor evenly. If there is no lining, the coating will quickly deteriorate and become unusable.

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Another function of the underlay is soundproofing. Improperly laid laminate flooring can squeak and transmit footsteps, this may be due to the thickness of the panel. Usually its thickness is 8 mm. But even with this size, the laminate is able to withstand heavy loads. This problem can be solved by installing an additional pad that has good sound insulation.

Some manufacturers equip the laminate with a special backing, gluing it to the back of the boards. Such a laminate is not often found, since the price for it is quite high.

Therefore, in order to save money, you can purchase the substrate separately so that it has the characteristics that will suit you best.

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Additionally, the lining can perform leveling function … It smooths out irregularities that are present on the concrete screed. Any small deviations after a while can negatively affect the laminate. Any unevenness and differences in the base can affect the formation of backlash between the panels and the concrete screed. In simple terms, the coating will sag in those places where the gap is extremely large.

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At first glance, this problem may seem insignificant, but later the backlashes will be very noticeable on the floor surface, especially when walking.

Another important function of the lining is waterproofing, since laminate, and many floor coverings, do not tolerate moisture well. In this case, the underlayment implements a moisture protection function, maintaining a suitable microclimate for both the concrete base and the back of the floor covering.

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But first, you should take care of the safety of the coating, before repair work is carried out. First of all, the prepared base for laying the laminate must dry well. This process often takes about a month. Therefore, it is not recommended to rush to install the laminate, otherwise condensation will accumulate between the dry surface and the floor covering.

The soundproofing function of the lining will protect you from various sounds. With a high-quality foil-backed lining, you can avoid the appearance of squeaks of the laminate board.

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The vapor barrier function is necessary so that excess moisture and vapors do not accumulate under the coating. If you lay a substrate with a foil layer, it will be possible to protect the laminate from their negative effects. This lining will provide your coating with durability and will save you money.

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The heat-conducting function is another characteristic that the lining must meet, especially if you plan to install a "warm floor" system. With this heating function, heat will always be distributed evenly over the floor covering. In this case, the concrete base will not heat up.

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A mandatory step in the repair is laying a special lining under the laminate. Therefore, before buying, it is worth knowing all its advantages and disadvantages, so as not to face the problem of poor-quality coating laying.

Before laying the covering, pay attention to the condition of the concrete screed prepared as a base. If the surface is flat, then a 3 mm thick substrate will do. And if the base has slight irregularities, then it is better to level it using a 5 mm thick lining.

Most manufacturers advise that the backing is from the same firm as the floor covering. But in fact, this does not really matter, so absolutely any high-quality material will do.

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Today, among the most famous varieties of laminate linings, one can distinguish polyethylene foam, polystyrene foam, combined, coniferous, as well as cork and bituminous ones. Also liners can be divided into types. The sheet lining is produced in the form of sheets.

Suitable for rooms of all sizes, easy to install. Usually, in this form, linings are produced from natural materials that are not harmful and do not accumulate condensate, non-combustible and moisture resistant, warm up well and breathe. Wherein sheet linings have a rigid base that does not crumble and can withstand heavy loads.

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Roll liners are available from most manufacturers. They have a low cost, compared to sheet linings, they are not afraid of temperature extremes, cold air and moisture, and they are not prone to decay. The only drawback is that they are not suitable for high traffic areas, as they are able to quickly miss.

The accordion lining is made of sheets fastened together. It is very easy to fit thanks to its shape.

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Cork

Cork lining is available in rolls and sheets. It is also available with a metallized top layer. It has certain advantages over other materials: high thermal insulation and sound insulation, resistance to decay, mold, the ability to use together with the "warm floor" system and "floating" floors.

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The cork lining under the laminate does an excellent job with its assigned functions. The main disadvantage of a cork lining under a laminate is its cost, especially if it is laying a cheap covering with a short service life. Also, this material is characterized by the appearance of condensation on the back of the floor covering. This can be bad for his condition.

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Polyethylene (Isolone)

Due to such indicators as thermal insulation and moisture resistance, polyethylene foam lining has long been very popular in the construction market. Its synthetic structure is able to provide protection against pests, insects and rodents penetrating under the floor covering. It is very easy to install and lay the polyethylene backing.

Some manufacturers produce such pads with an additional top layer of foil. But the service life of this material is only a few years, which will be unprofitable for the buyer. Indeed, over time, it will quickly sag and become unusable.

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Isoplate substrates are 4 and 8 mm thick. They are specially manufactured for flooring as well as for the renovation of old floors. This can be concrete screed or wooden floors. Isoplat corrects the unevenness of such surfaces, insulates them, provides high sound insulation and moisture resistance.

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The same properties are possessed by polyurethane linings made of expanded polypropylene. The main disadvantage of these materials is that they are not environmentally friendly.

Expanded polystyrene

This lining under the laminate is one of the most popular. It has good resistance to heavy loads. This material is good for rooms with high traffic, as it does not get out. Another polystyrene foam lining is able to level the concrete surface of the base.

Expanded polystyrene is a material with high elasticity, so its thickness will be maintained for a long time. Besides, it is able to absorb vibration when walkingwhich makes the laminate flooring quieter. Its special structure does not allow moisture to pass through and does not allow condensation to form on the coating surface.

This material is of high quality, it is available and costs the buyer very cheaply, but its main drawback is its non-ecological composition.

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Extruded polystyrene, or foam, differs from expanded polystyrene material in a special production technology. It is called extrusion and allows the flooring to acquire special qualities by transforming the polymer. Its cells provide high sound insulation properties. Extruded polystyrene is produced, usually in the form of plates with special markings, which will help to easily install the material on the surface of the base.

This material has good moisture resistance, so there is no risk that the laminate will not swell and deform. The composition of such a material resists bacteria, and is also resistant to caustic aggressive substances, while it does not rot and does not become moldy.

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Another type of laminate flooring is a foam backing. This material is characterized by good thermal insulation properties, but the main disadvantage is that the foam pad is not suitable for residential use. Also, with frequent loads, the lining is rapidly compressed.

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Coniferous

As mentioned earlier, many materials are not environmentally friendly, but, nevertheless, there are exceptions among them. For example, a softwood sheet underlay for a laminate, which is made from wood fiber. It is also called spruce, since it is made from compressed spruce needles. Its porous structure has good sound insulation and has an air circulation function, which will provide the coating with a long service life.

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Laying coniferous litter will not cause much difficulty, even for a person who is laying the coating for the first time. After using it, reviews of satisfied buyers who provided their housing reliable and environmentally friendly floor, confirm this.

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The only drawback may be the high cost of the material.

Metallized

Such a gasket consists of two layers - isolone or polystyrene, as well as a foil layer. The thickness of such insulation is no more than 5 mm. The metallic backing can be used in a cold room. The foil coating increases thermal insulation and resistance to temperature changes, and the polystyrene layer provides good sound insulation in the room.

This material has high moisture resistance, so you don't have to lay an additional layer of plastic wrap. Plus a metallic lining reliably protects the floor covering from the penetration of various fungi and mold.

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The material is used for floor repairs in those rooms where there is a high risk of moisture penetration into the concrete screed. This includes the bathroom, toilet, kitchen and basement. Before choosing a substrate for a laminate, you need to consider its thickness.

It can be up to 10 mm. The thickness to be selected depends on the type of floor covering and the level of floor differences. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that over time, polyethylene foam can sag, therefore, if the thickness of the lining is incorrectly selected, the quality of the installation of the laminate and the period of its use decrease. For installation under the laminate, you need to buy a lining with a layer thickness of up to 2 mm.

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Other options

The rubber backing is an integrated material as it adheres directly to the laminate during the manufacturing process. The rubber cover has a thin protective layer of a special material that can increase the lining's shelf life. Rubber is one of the durable materials that does not deform over time, and does not deteriorate when exposed to moisture and water.

Its sound insulation is at a high level, so it is able to absorb various noises and vibrations when walking on the laminate. The only drawback of this material is its high cost.

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The bituminous lining is made using special raw materials. Bitumen is applied to dense kraft paper, which acts as the underside of the lining. This material is very durable and resistant to moisture. Parts of this lining dock together without overlap and are fastened with tape.

The jute substrate is distinguished by the fact that it is made from non-woven fabric, which contains plant fibers in its composition. Its production takes place at a high temperature by punching the fibers, which are fixed to each other. Thus, a fabric is formed that is highly durable and resilient. To make the material resistant to decay, it is treated with a special agent.

Although the jute lining easily absorbs moisture, it does not deform and returns to its original appearance when dried.

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Teplon is one of the modern insulating materials that has the best heat and sound insulation. It is widely used for insulation and soundproofing of floors.

The rubber cork lining is made of cork and rubber. This combination provides this material with high waterproofing. Packaged and sold, usually in rolls.

Felt insulation is made of wool by felting. It turns out to be very dense, since the wool fibers are treated with steam and special agents that protect the felt insulation from fire and decay. Its main advantages are environmental friendliness, good thermal conductivity, abrasion resistance.

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Plywood is one of the natural materials that is ideal for laminate or other flooring. It can withstand heavy loads, evens out uneven floors and is an affordable material.

Fiberboard is also suitable as a backing for laminate flooring. This material is made from wood fiber. Fiberboard is a natural material, just like bamboo backing or plywood. Its main advantage is that it does not emit volatile chemical compounds.

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Combined types

The composition of the lining of the combined type contains the synthesis of various materials, for example, polyethylene or expanded polystyrene. The most famous is such a lining produced by the "Tuplex" brand. Its main feature is that it has two layers of polyethylene, between which there is one layer of expanded polystyrene balls. This structure able to provide good air circulation. The thickness of the backing is about 3 mm.

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It is sold, as a rule, in rolls. You can put this material on any base, as it does not allow moisture to pass through, has high strength and the ability to smooth out the imperfections of the base. Duplex bends well and retains its thickness throughout the entire period of operation.

Which is better?

To decide which substrate for the laminate is best suited, first of all, you need to pay attention to its technical characteristics and quality. Today there is a wide variety of assortments, so making a choice is not easy.

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The substrate for the laminate should have a long service life, because you will be using it for many years. If we take such a parameter as thickness, then here it is not recommended to use too dense liningotherwise it will quickly start and ruin the flooring.

If you decide to install a "warm" floor, then you will need to lay perforated insulation under it, as it can provide high heat transfer.

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It should be noted that it is also necessary to pay attention to the following criteria: insensitivity to aggressive substances or materials; the presence of antiseptic treatment; thermal conductivity and moisture resistance; the presence of protection from insects and rodents; high strength and durability.

You also need to know that a high-quality lining allows you to increase the life of the laminate.

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Which one to choose?

To make the right choice, when buying a lining for a laminate, you must take into account all the advantages and disadvantages of this material. It should be said that it is not difficult to lay it, but it should only be done on a flat surface, otherwise the floor covering will quickly become unusable.

The lining must have high thermal conductivity, sound insulation, vapor permeability, resistance to mechanical stress, and the seller must also have a certificate of conformity. If we compare customer reviews, then it should be said that inexpensive materials are most popular, but they have an unnatural composition, which makes them less environmentally friendly.

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On concrete

Concrete is one of those materials that does not retain heat and forms condensation. Even with good processing, it is difficult to keep its surface smooth. For such a base, a lining is suitable, which will have high thermal insulation properties and protect the flooring from temperature extremes.

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The types of substrates can be different, both from artificial materials and from natural ones. Polyethylene foam, polystyrene, as well as cork and conifers are perfect. It will not be superfluous if make the base even, dry and clean in advance.

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On a wooden base

For a wooden floor, those substrates that have good vapor permeability are best suited. This can be explained by the fact that wood is a natural material that must "breathe". Otherwise, the wooden base can quickly rot and deteriorate.

For such a base, cork, coniferous or composite materials, bitumen-cork material, polyethylene foam and polyurethane foam are best suited.

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On the "warm floor"

Before moving on to the flooring, you need to figure out what kind of lining is suitable for the laminate on the "warm floor". First of all, it should not change its shape under the influence of heat and not release harmful chemicals into the air, that is, it should be heat-insulating, and also be able to microcirculate the air.

It is recommended to use a material made of polystyrene "Tuplex" or foamed polyethylene. But the most environmentally friendly option would be a cork backing.

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Also, when choosing a lining for a laminate, pay attention to the special marking, which will indicate whether it is suitable for a warm floor.

Options

Substrate sizes vary. Its main qualities depend on this. For example, a thick backing provides good sound insulation and provides high protection to the flooring. But such material is best used for its intended purpose. After all, it can quickly shrink, and the laminate and its locking joints deteriorate.

Typically, the thickness of the laminate substrates varies between 3 mm and 10 mm. The best option would be a thickness of 5 mm or 2 mm. Natural substrates are usually wide, and those made from artificial materials tend to be very thin. They are ideal for a flat floor with height differences of no more than 3 mm.

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Styling

It is not necessary to have professional skills in order to choose and lay the substrate in the apartment correctly. You can do the work yourself. You just need to follow certain rules. The main point in laying the substrate is its location. First, the underlay needs to be laid under the laminate. in the opposite direction, as with careless movement, part of the floor may shift. Secondly, the substrate should be installed on the walls.

To make the coating last as long as possible, do not use a damaged or damaged backing, but replace it immediately with a whole one. It is recommended to lay the underlayment across the laminate, as this will not overlap the joints and laminate panels.

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Otherwise, the boards will sag, thereby shortening the life of the coating. Another important point is which side to lay the lining on. It all depends on the type of material. If it is embossed film, then lay it with the ribbed side down. And the material from the foil base should be located on top.

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But first you need to level the surface, on which the substrate will creep. In order to provide good vapor barrier to the coating, you will need dense polyethylene, the sheets of which are overlapped with tape. A film securely glued in this way will not allow moisture to penetrate.

The roll liner should be installed along the longest side of the room. Sheet fits on the entire surface of the room.

It is important to know that you need to lay the material in one layer. If you put a double layer under the laminate, then it will quickly deteriorate and squeeze.

In the next video, you will find an overview of laminate substrates.

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