Between the floor covering and the base there must be a material that dampens noise, ensures heat retention, and helps level the surface with small level differences on the main floor. For laminate modern industry produces various substrates that are almost impossible to make with your own hands.
Accordingly, a spatial thought arises about how to choose a substrate for a laminate from the existing proposals on the construction market. It is necessary to take into account not only the quality of the product and the reputation of the manufacturer, but also focus on the functionality of the material. That is, understand exactly why you need the underlay, on what basis, for what specific brand of laminate, for what room, and so on.
Choices
Important! There is an opportunity to watch a video about choosing a substrate, there are certain instructions and recommendations, but without a competent approach you will not succeed. Therefore, you need to try to thoroughly understand the types and types of substrates, and then run to the store to buy the goods.
Special materials used as such a substrate hold well impact noises and provide high-quality thermal insulation, then you will no longer need it.
Nuance
Some manufacturers of laminates (namely the floor coverings themselves!) put on the market ready-to-use panels, to which a backing and moisture insulation are attached to the bottom. These are laminates of 32-33 classes of some brand brands with an already integrated substrate.
This is an expensive material, and if you bought something exorbitantly expensive, then look first at the laminate itself before running to the store for a backing. In this case it is not needed.
In more detail
Subtypes
This is to avoid getting into trouble and falling into a trance at the sight of the variety of substrates offered.
Polyethylene foam materials laid under laminate panels can be:
- Chemically cross-linked, foamed or gas-filled;
- Physically cross-linked, a reagent is added to the material during the manufacturing process.
Cork can be:
- Made from natural pressed crumbs;
- Bitumen-cork;
- Bitumen-cork with a kraft base;
- Cork with rubber additives.
Summary
Which substrate to choose for laminate flooring is a highly specialized question; the answer to it depends on many circumstances and factors. , what you will lay it on, in which specific room, who will walk on it and how many times a day, and so on.
With a perfectly level base surface, you need to take care of the outer surface flooring, according to which you will directly parade. And if there are serious differences in the level of the base, more than 2 mm/1 meter, then a substrate even with a thickness of five or more millimeters, regardless of the quality and materials, will not save.
Also today, it is customary to pay more attention to the environmental friendliness of materials, and in the substrate segment, the leader in this regard is not cheap cork. Therefore, focus on your own budget and proceed from the existing conditions.
Content:
When choosing and purchasing laminate flooring, many people forget about the need to use an underlay for this floor covering. Although it is the substrate under the laminate that affects the service life and appearance such a coating, and also provides additional heat and sound insulation of the floor. If you are wondering: do you need an underlay for laminate flooring? Which substrate should I choose? Then, first of all, it is necessary to determine the basic requirements for this insulating layer.
Choice of lining in in this case should be based on conditions such as:
- material and condition of the base;
- class of laminate used;
- humidity and temperature changes in the room being repaired.
In addition, in order to know which underlay to choose for the laminate, you need to understand the requirements for the coating in a given room (for example, the floor will be subject to significant dynamic loads in game rooms oh, or the backing will be used in the bathroom, where it is often humid).
Advantages of laminate underlay
Laminated coating is made from wood, MDF and fiberboard. In addition to their advantages, such materials also have their own disadvantages, which should be smoothed out by a high-quality substrate for the laminate. Therefore, such a layer provides:
- Excellent sound insulation. Laminate floors have one rather unpleasant disadvantage - the loud sound of footsteps, which can be heard everywhere. And the insulating layer laid on the subfloor perfectly absorbs sound. Selected species laminate (usually 32 or 33 classes) can have an integrated sound insulation system.
- A smooth surface, since such a lining smooths out small unevenness of the screed and hides minor differences in the base.
Note! It is unacceptable that the thickness of the substrate under the laminate exceeds 3 mm. Since a layer of insulation that is too thick at the joints will sag and may cause damage to the connecting locks.
- Moisture insulation. The underlay protects the surface of the laminate from moisture and also ensures an optimal microclimate between the base and the new floor covering.
In addition, the substrate under the laminate has low thermal conductivity. It provides thermal insulation of the floor thanks to its high thermal insulation characteristics. Therefore, the laminated coating and the substrate under it are not economically profitable to use with , since they significantly reduce the efficiency of such a heating system.
Main types of laminate underlays and their features
The construction market offers a wide variety of insulating materials. Therefore, in order to determine which laminate substrate to choose, you need to have an idea of the main types of such material.
Depending on the material used, the lining under the laminated coating can be:
Cork
It is made from natural tree bark chips. This is an excellent insulating layer that is not susceptible to rot or mold. It is environmentally friendly, durable and highly wear-resistant.
But cork lining also has its disadvantages - these are high price this material, so cork should not be used in combination with a cheap coating.
Advice! Cork underlays are not installed in rooms with high humidity(bathroom or kitchen), as they do not tolerate moisture. It is also not recommended to use such a substrate if subsequent installation of a heated floor is planned.
Polyethylene foam
Such substrates based on isolon are the most economical option, with high moisture resistance, low weight and good filling capacity. This material is easy to use, but it tears easily and quickly wrinkles during use.
Expanded polystyrene
Such insulating material usually consists of two layers - aluminum foil and polystyrene. There are also substrates made from a single layer of extruded polystyrene foam.
The advantages of such a gasket include excellent sound insulation, ease of installation, and affordable cost. It serves as good protection against moisture and fungus, and can also hide unevenness of the rough base.
But polystyrene foam material also has its drawbacks: it does not roll out well when laid and can lose its shape under direct load.
To answer the question: which substrate is better for laminate flooring, you need to objectively evaluate the conditions under which it will be used. And also compare its cost with the price of laminated coating.
Cork substrates will become excellent option for installation under expensive flooring, and are perfect for children's and playrooms, as well as for rooms with normal level humidity.
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Polyethylene foam pads are best used in rooms with high humidity and laid on boards. This underlay can significantly reduce the material costs of installing a laminate floor.
Expanded polystyrene substrates are a universal option that has an optimal quality-to-price ratio.
Laying features
When installing insulation on a concrete or stone base, be sure to first lay a layer of waterproof film. This will protect the underlay and flooring from moisture generated by the subfloor. And laying laminate on wooden base can be carried out without using such a film.
Video instructions for laying the substrate and the laminate flooring itself
Please note that the optimal thickness of the substrate for the laminate is 2-3 mm. You should not use several layers of insulation - this will not level the floor and will contribute to the appearance of unnecessary loads at the joints of the lamellas.
The underlay should be laid perpendicular to the main direction of installation of the laminate. The insulation layer also needs to be placed on the walls, then the laminate will last longer.
The installation process itself depends on the type of substrate. For example, polyethylene foam lining is easily attached with tape. And the polystyrene gasket is placed with the foil facing up and connected with special aluminum tapes.
Thus, a special underlay for the laminate will provide sound insulation for the new floor and smooth out minor unevenness in the subfloor. This insulating material has a number of positive characteristics and is available on the construction market in a wide range. Therefore, you can always choose a lining for the laminate that will suit your operating conditions.
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Any person who buys an apartment or makes renovations in it faces the question of purchasing flooring. There are many options for laying the floor, one of the popular ones is laminate. This material is considered durable and inexpensive. To install it correctly, all stages, including preparatory ones, must be followed. It is at this stage of work that the question arises, which substrate for the laminate is better.
Laying backing
The use of the underlay is based on the characteristics of the floor covering material itself. It is made from waste from wood processing plants. That is, sawdust is pressed under the influence high pressure and temperature.
Apply on top of finished sheets decorative layer, repeating the texture of wood. Then, the entire surface is coated with varnish to increase service life. On bottom side Laminate boards have a layer of polymers that protects the material from moisture and mechanical damage.
Locks are installed on all sides of the resulting panel for fastening, so laying the laminate is easy. Place the boards on the screed.
Note! The difference in unevenness on the floor should not be more than 1 mm per 2 linear meters.
At the same time, you cannot lay the boards directly on concrete, otherwise when walking they will knock on the screed and quickly wear out. . It is for these purposes that a lining was developed, which acts as a shock absorber and also increases the level of sound insulation in the room. It also provides the necessary level of vapor barrier so that the coating does not deform during operation.
Which underlay for laminate is better based on its features?
Exist different variants gaskets between the floor and the covering:
- from cork;
- polymers;
- foil;
- pine needles;
- combined options.
To choose a substrate for laminate flooring on a concrete floor, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of each of the listed types.
Cork covering
The main advantage is environmental friendliness. Even in a children's room, you can safely use a cork lining; it does not emit any harmful substances. This material also has a long service life, good performance shock absorption and sound insulation.
In addition to the positive aspects, there are also negative ones. These include:
- high price;
- It is afraid of moisture, so it is not used for heated floors.
Made from oak bark chips. Sometimes they use not only natural material, but also add rubber or bitumen, which reduces the cost.
Thus, it is advisable to use such a coating for dry rooms, without installing heated floors. Most often, cork is combined with inexpensive laminate to make the overall cost of the flooring optimal.
Polyethylene foam backing
Laminate backings (sheets) are made from polyethylene foam in several versions. They all have positive sides, which include:
- High ability to keep moisture out;
- Retains heat well;
- Not susceptible to bacteria and various chemicals;
- Light weight and low price.
Another review:“One friend laid out such a natural base for himself and was unpleasantly surprised by the aroma from it. I couldn’t stand it, I took it to the store, as it turned out, pine needles perfectly absorb all odors. We replaced it with new packaging, everything was fine with it.”
Thus, it is quite difficult to accurately answer the question of which laminate underlay is better. For each buyer, a correctly selected option will be good based on the purpose of use, the humidity in the room and the planned cost of money.
Which underlay for laminate (price per m2) will be more profitable
When deciding which option from the whole variety is most suitable, we suggest looking at a table with approximate prices.
| Image | Company (article) | Variety | Price (RUB/sq.m) |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Tepofol | Foam (2 mm) | 15 |
 | Tepofol | Foamed (4 mm) | 30 |
 | Wicanders | Cork (2 mm) | 120 |
 | Tuplex (RT-011) | Combined (extruded polystyrene foam and two layers of polyethylene film) | 130 |
 | Steico | Natural pine needles (7 mm) | 575 |
 | Coeksribas (CR-105-10) | Cork (10 mm) | 514 |
And also when choosing, you can look at the rating of manufacturing companies, according to buyers:
- The best natural substrates. In first place is Premium Cork (Portugal), this material has high density and low. Made from compressed cork tree bark. Price: 90 rub. per sq. meter (2mm). Next comes PARCOLAG (bitumen-cork version). Refers to a ventilated material. Price: 95 rubles with a thickness of 3 mm.
- Buyers selected VTM and IsoPolin from extruded polystyrene. This gasket is considered the best in terms of price and quality ratio. It has high levels of noise and heat insulation. Price: 55 rub. per square meter.
- Among the polyethylene options, consumers highlighted Tuplex, costing 99 rubles. The backing is made of modern materials that allow you to ventilate the space.
Thus, when you are thinking about which laminate underlay is best to choose, you can rely not only on the material of manufacture, but also on user ratings, as well as pricing policy.
Practical and stylish laminate is an inexpensive and comfortable coating that quickly conquered the market. It is easy to use and easy to care for. But few people know that the durability and appearance of laminate flooring is 90% due to high-quality installation, where the most important thing is to choose the substrate wisely.
And choose it correctly not by appearance or cost, but based on:
- What kind of base will the laminate be installed on?
- What are the humidity and temperature parameters?
- Are there any gender differences?
- What kind of laminate will be installed?
Everything is so serious that laminate manufacturers even have the right to refuse to consider a claim regarding deterioration in the quality of the floor covering if you used the “wrong” underlay. And most of them are loyal only to Portuguese cork backing and extruded polystyrene.
Why does laminate need a backing at all?
The main functions of any laminate substrate are moisture absorption, sound insulation and leveling. A good underlay can really smooth out some of the bumps and minor differences.
So, why does laminate need a moisture-absorbing underlay? The fact is that this material essentially consists of multi-layer panel panels, which are actually compressed wood dust, coated on both sides paper covering. And only with front side laminate has a laminated decorative layer, which is at least somehow protected from moisture, while the base at the bottom is extremely vulnerable due to its porosity.
The soundproofing function is also necessary, because laminate is a very thin coating, and when installed using the “floating” method, the noise effect when walking will be even greater. And this is just the most important thing. The substrate actually plays a fairly large role in future warmth and comfort.
What material is better to choose from?
So let's figure it out modern materials and look at the provided photo instructions on how to properly lay such substrates.
Option #1 - environmentally friendly and durable cork
This environmentally friendly and pleasant-to-touch material is usually chosen as a substrate for laminate flooring in bedrooms and children's rooms. Cork does not rot or mold, it lasts a long time, perfectly absorbs footsteps and protects against noise. The most valuable property of a cork substrate is that even over the years it practically does not deteriorate.
Option #3 - polystyrene foam (for heavy loads)
Today, both Russia and China actively produce extruded polystyrene substrates under the most different brands. And each product has its own characteristics. This underlay is also not considered officially approved by laminate manufacturers. But, if you take one, then give preference to the VTM or “Isopolin” brands - you can hear the most good reviews about them.
Expanded polystyrene is durable and can withstand heavy loads. It does not allow moisture to pass through and is able to provide good thermal insulation. Here's how it's laid out:
The disadvantage of such a substrate: in the first years it even outperforms rolled cork in terms of quality, but after 6-7 years it already loses its valuable properties. This substrate is also very toxic when burned, and the fire itself spreads very quickly through it. Be careful! Also, expanded polystyrene has insufficient leveling ability; such a substrate can only be placed on a perfectly flat floor.
Option #4 - coniferous substrate (valuable ventilation)
This popular material must be purchased in the form of tiles. The pine lining is not as flexible as cork, but is highly breathable. Those. "breathes".
Option #5 - foil backing
This material creates the effect of a thermos, for which it is appreciated. In a specialized store you can find both single-sided and double-sided substrates.
Option #6 - plastic film
Yes, polyethylene backing is actually used today. In just three years, the film under the laminate will lose its properties, just like the class 21 laminate itself, which is no longer on sale. But still, a floor of this design is still being installed - for the commissioning of budget facilities, where the most important thing is appearance and low cost (the density of the film is about 25 kg/m3, while that of cork is 220 kg/m3.)
But not just any film is suitable for this purpose - you need to take one that is 0.2 mm thick in rolls and lay it with a 20-centimeter overlap. Here, a polyethylene film on top and bottom ensures vapor tightness, and polystyrene foam granules located between the layers absorb noise. Moreover, there are gaps between the granules for accidental moisture.
The underlay should be spread perpendicular to the panels. There is no need to bend it onto the walls.
Option #7 - combined and integrated substrates
This material uses both polyethylene and expanded polystyrene. If you are satisfied, then choose a fairly thin substrate that will provide the necessary sound insulation and protect from moisture, but will not interfere with heat transfer.
Some craftsmen use other materials as a substrate for laminate. And in some ways they are right: for example, instead of an expensive cork backing, you can put the same cork sheets that are used to cut out cup holders - cheap and cheerful, and the same properties. And there are also punctures when material that is completely unsuitable for this purpose is placed under the laminate. If you decide to take this risk, remember: the substrate must be bactericidal, mold-resistant and absolutely inedible for insects and rodents.
There are also integrated substrates - these are rubber that is glued directly to the laminate in the factory (some manufacturers do this) and covered with a thin non-woven material. It glides well over the screed, does not warp and significantly reduces noise when walking. You've probably heard that some companies produce laminate with valuable sound-absorbing properties, but its price, naturally, is much higher.
How thick should the substrate be?
There is a popular myth: the thicker the substrate under the laminate, the better. And some even put it in two layers to achieve even greater sound insulation and warmth. But here lies one important negative point: such a substrate under a point load (for example, from a standing heavy object or person) can compress too much, and the boards can even break, unfortunately.
So, even if the substrate is slightly thicker than 3 mm, the connections of the lamellas may become damaged over time, because the laminate is not designed to deflect when a person walks. And here are the consequences: the boards bend, the locks quickly wear out and appear large gaps, from which the floor then not only creaks - it “rumbles.” The smoother the base, the thinner the substrate can be taken. But still take into account the level of its rigidity.
Here correct styling substrates:
What does the modern market offer?
Modern companies produce special substrates specifically for laminate. They cost a lot, but they are durable, moisture resistant and retain heat and sound well. Let's look at the most popular of them.
Most in demand today coniferous substrate"Izoplat". You will find it on sale in sheet form. fibrous material, which consists of pine wood. “Izoplat” is capable of absorbing up to 20% of its own volume, without changing either its insulating properties or tightness. Its analogue is the Estonian product “Quiet Move”.
Izoplat slabs are still inferior to a cork substrate in terms of elasticity and restorative qualities. Besides, minimum thickness these slabs are 5 mm, and therefore you can forget about the warranty on the laminate.
"Teplon" - sheet polystyrene material, rigid and with good level sound and heat insulation. But any materials with “air granules” inside do not withstand constant dynamic loads and quickly deteriorate.
Foil “Izolon” is a new generation of rolled polyethylene foam substrate. It is based on polyethylene foam and a layer of foil. Result: excellent thermal insulation properties, vapor barrier and durability.
The Polish product "Arbiton" consists of extruded polystyrene with additional vapor barrier. This substrate has a uniform, dense structure, and installation is quite simple, despite the fact that Arbiton is considered a professional material.
Tuplex backing made in Finland. Its main advantage is its high elasticity, which well hides defects and unevenness of the floor, while remaining quite resistant to deformation. At the same time, the substrate also has high ventilation properties, allowing excess moisture between the coating and the base to be removed in a natural way. This substrate looks like a two-layer polyethylene film, where foam granules serve as an intermediate layer. Moreover, the bottom layer of the film has a hole that allows moisture to pass through - thanks to this, condensation does not form. Tuplex is often chosen due to the ability of this substrate to significantly reduce noise - up to 20 dB. This substrate also has good thermal insulation and vapor barrier properties.
The "Parkolag" substrate is produced in Russia, and in its structure and properties it clearly resembles the overseas "Tuplex". Positive qualities there is a lot, but there are also upsetting nuances: the substrate arrives inside out, and after opening the rolls on the floor, it needs to be turned over. And this is no longer easy - if handled carelessly, it falls asleep cork chips.
The famous “Isoshum” is a domestic substrate made of extruded polystyrene foam, which reduces noise by up to 50%. It looks like a hard sheet, which is quite convenient to use. Here's how:
How to lay the underlay correctly?
When laying the underlayment, the most important thing is to avoid the coincidence of its seams and the seams of the covering. The sheet lining should be laid in a checkerboard pattern, not overlapping, but secured masking tape. The rolled backing must be laid with an overlap on the walls, and on the next strips without any overlap - only with tape attached. Do you understand why this is so? Overlapping joints will simply create an uneven surface on which the laminate cannot be laid.
All other types - according to the attached video instructions.
Do you need a film under the substrate?
And now another one important point. Despite the advertising of most manufacturers that their substrate is better waterproofing, it is still highly advisable to additionally put plastic film on the floor. Moreover, take one with parameters of at least 200 microns. If you miss this moment, then none of your claims will be considered by the companies.
But, interestingly, sometimes builders convince you not to put film between the substrate and the floor - they say, mold will quickly grow there. And there is a grain of truth in this: if you don’t dry the concrete before laying the laminate, it will happen. But this is already a direct violation building codes, the consequence of which can be not only fungus. Simply purchase a moisture meter and measure the base.
You can check whether similar problems will arise in the future like this: cut the film 1x1 m and place it on the floor. Tape along the edges, creating a complete seal with the temporary backing. If the film remains dry in the morning, everything will be fine.
