In choosing the thickness of the substrate, one should be guided by the condition and quality of the subfloor. A 2mm underlay may only be used if the floor is in good condition. For concrete with small flaws, it is worth choosing a 3mm thick substrate of the isoplate type.
Polyethylene foam substrates
Polyethylene foam substrates have gained their popularity due to their high moisture resistance and good thermal insulation properties. The coating is of no interest to rodents, insects and fungi. Foam backing manufacturers have expanded their product range by combining a layer with an aluminum-based metallized film.
Cork substrates
The use of this type of underlayment under the laminate is important in the case of installing a floating floor and warm floors. Good insulating properties, naturalness of the material and resistance to mold and microorganisms have made cork the leader in this segment.
Produced in the form of sheets and rolls, it is convenient for stacking in small areas. During the operational period, it does not lose its technical properties and linear dimensions. The disadvantages of the material can be considered the likelihood of condensation on the underside of the laminate and the high cost.
Bituminous cork substrates
Kraft paper, bitumen and cork chips are components of bitumen-cork films. Cork sprinkling is made from pieces of 2-3 mm in size, which allows the coating to ensure air exchange at the proper level and prevent the appearance of condensation. It is advisable to use such a substrate when laying an expensive laminate.
Expanded polystyrene substrates
Extruded polystyrene foam is used as the base material for the backing due to its ability to smooth out unevenness in the concrete base well. Expanded polystyrene is the best insulation for a laminate floor. The closed cell structure of the material and its density provide high moisture resistance.
Combined underlays
The "duet" of expanded polystyrene and polyethylene belongs to the category of combined substrates. The smallest balls of expanded polystyrene are located between two layers of polyethylene. High-pressure polyethylene forming the top layer prevents the penetration of moisture, which may be on the floor surface. A thin bottom layer passes the moisture from the rough base to the granular layer, then it is removed to the outside due to the technological gaps.
The underlay, or lining, under the laminate is a thin material that covers the base of the floor for the subsequent laying of the topcoat boards.
The substrate must be capable of performing a number of tasks. The main functions of this material include:
- leveling the concrete base;
- ensuring the elasticity of the flooring;
- providing soundproofing of the floor covering;
- providing waterproofing;
- providing thermal insulation.
The main tasks of the substrate device are to level the base, provide elasticity and sound insulation. Requirements for thermal and waterproofing are considered additional and are imposed when installing floors in rooms with certain characteristics.
Elimination of disadvantages of a concrete base
Any area, even the smallest, cannot be ideally prepared for laminate flooring. On the surface of the screed, processed with a grinder, irregularities remain, which impede the high-quality laying of the lamellas.
If you lay the laminate without using a backing, all errors in the form of pits and bumps will cause the floor surface to bend. To break the integrity of the lamellas, 2-3 mm of deflection is sufficient. As a result, at first, the floors begin to creak, and later the destruction of the laminate board locks occurs, which subsequently leads to the need for a complete replacement of the floor covering.
The lining will help to avoid the described problems. It smoothes out small unevenness in the concrete base and forms a single, level area, which significantly extends the life of the coating.
Elimination of vibration under load
The floor is subjected to a constant dynamic load when walking, as well as the sound effect of reflected waves.
In this case, the provision of the damper (damping) effect is assigned to the substrate. It avoids the effects of sound vibrations and smoothes out the tension in the slat locks that occurs when walking. As a result, the integrity of the coating is preserved.
Soundproofing
The peculiarity of the concrete base lies in the strong sound conductivity of this material, and if you lay the laminate without using a gasket, the sounds from the lower floor will pass through practically without encountering obstacles. Laminate thickness of 8-12 mm is also not a serious barrier to noise penetration.
Downstairs neighbors will be constantly unhappy with the increased audibility from the upper floor. Only the use of a lining will help to avoid the penetration of extraneous sounds.
Waterproofing
This function is required for organizing the flooring in rooms located on the ground floor or in areas with high humidity, and therefore, in most cases, the waterproofing properties of the material when installing the base under the laminate are not important. To ensure water protection in standard rooms, it is enough to lay a PVC film under the substrate.
There are special types of pads with a moisture-proof coating, and it is this material that is used in such conditions.
Thermal insulation
Any coating for a laminate, regardless of the material of manufacture, allows you to protect the flooring from heat loss. This barrier will reflect heat waves and prevent heat from escaping through the concrete base.
When organizing warm floors, you will need a special type of substrate that has high thermal conductivity, otherwise the efficiency of the warm floor will be low. Types of substrates
The choice of underlay for laminate flooring depends on the characteristics of the room. Modern industry produces many types of lining, and you can easily select the necessary material for specific operating conditions.
Substrates are distinguished by three main parameters:
- Form - substrates can be rolled or sheet.
- Material - from natural or artificial raw materials.
- Type of raw material - most often lining is produced from: polyethylene foam, polystyrene foam, polypropylene foam, cork, bitumen-cork material, coniferous mixtures and in a combined form.
Polyethylene foam
The most affordable material for organizing the lining under the laminate. It is produced by foaming polyethylene, and as a result, a material is obtained that perfectly resists the destructive effects of microorganisms, has a high level of thermal insulation and waterproofing, and also perfectly lends itself to cutting.
The disadvantages of polyethylene foam include poor sound insulation and low strength characteristics.
Expanded polystyrene
An inexpensive material that has all the necessary qualities of a substrate for a laminate: it evens out small irregularities in a concrete base, copes with high loads without changing the structure, dampens sound waves, and can act as a waterproofing material. Manufactured from extruded polystyrene foam.
Polypropylene
This material is not in high demand due to its bubble structure. During operation, the bubbles burst, the integrity of the canvas is violated, which leads to the creases of the lamella lock.
It is often used as a waterproofing material.
Cork
Natural material copes well with all loads, has increased thermal insulation properties and protects the room from sound waves. The disadvantages include the high cost of a cork backing, so this material is recommended for flooring expensive and durable laminate flooring.
Bituminous cork
A layer of bitumen and cork chips are applied to kraft paper. The result is a durable material with increased resistance to moisture.
Coniferous
For the production of coniferous substrates, natural wood is used. This material has increased sound insulation properties, it evens the screed surface well, absorbs condensation, but, like cork, is quite expensive.
Combined
It is made by splicing three layers. The upper and lower layers are made of polyethylene, and the intermediate layer is made of expanded polystyrene. Such material copes well with high humidity, getting rid of moisture vapor through the porous structure of expanded polystyrene.
Combined underlays have good flexibility, have a long service life, retain their original shape, and level the surface of the screed well. The disadvantages include the high cost and undesirable vapors of expanded polystyrene for health.
Which substrate to choose
The variety of types of lining baffles a novice builder, but experienced finishers can easily determine which substrate to choose for a laminate based on the parameters and purpose of the room in the apartment, as well as the thickness of the customer's wallet.
Selection criteria and material requirements
In order to understand how to choose a substrate for a laminate, you need to decide on the key selection criteria. The general requirements include the following points:
- the expected life of the coating;
- acceptable corridor of material prices;
- operational properties (resistance to aggressive environments);
- the degree of environmental friendliness of the material.
They also select a lining for the laminate according to special criteria:
- degree of moisture resistance;
- thermal insulation level;
- required coating thickness;
- the degree of sound insulation;
- variety (roll or sheet material).
The best substrate for a laminate is one that is suitable for specific tasks, which in turn depends on the location of the apartment and the purpose of the room where the floor is being laid.
To organize the coverage of the rooms on the first floor, it will be correct to use a substrate with increased thermal insulation properties. In the nursery, a substrate with increased soundproofing characteristics is well suited.
For floors with significant (up to 3 mm) differences, thicker underlays are recommended. In private houses located in rather humid areas, in addition to the standard waterproofing of the floor, an Eco-Cover substrate is used, which will protect the room from dampness.
For rooms with standard technical characteristics, it is sufficient to use 2 mm roll material.
Substrate thickness
The standard mistake of poorly informed apartment owners is to lay the thickest possible flooring under the laminate flooring. Thus, in their opinion, the best thermal insulation and noise protection is achieved. The reasoning is correct, but the nature of the bending behavior of the laminate board is not taken into account.
When distributing the vertical load, in the case of using a thick substrate, the board deforms at the point of adhesion to the adjacent board. As a result of prolonged dynamic action, the locks on the lamellas lose their properties and break.
When choosing a substrate for a laminate, you should take this feature into account and select a material with a thickness of no more than 3 mm, since the main purpose of the lining is to level the floor surface for the subsequent organization of the finish coating, and special advantages (thermal insulation, sound insulation and waterproofing) depend more on the quality and type of material ...
The main criterion for choosing the thickness of the material for laying the laminate is the quality of the base surface. If the concrete screed has significant differences, it is recommended to use a 3 mm thick backing, in other cases it is enough to lay a material with a thickness of 1 to 2 mm, which provides the necessary insulating characteristics.
An exception may be a lining for thicker (up to 33 mm) and expensive laminate panels, in this case, a lining material with a thickness of up to 5 mm is used.
Substrate rating
Above, the main conditions for choosing a substrate were considered. What is the best lining for a particular room depends on its purpose and location, but there is an objective rating of the highest quality materials, which takes into account all the pros and cons of the coating.
The most popular types include the following brands:
- Izolon;
- Duplex;
- Iznoise;
- Eco-cover;
- Petroform.
Izolon, Tuplex and Petroform are produced in the form of rolls, Izoshum and Eco-Cover are sheet materials.
The most popular and inexpensive linings include the following types:
- Petroform, 2 mm thick;
- Izolon, 3 mm thick;
- Jermaflex, 3 mm thick;
- Isoplaat Startfloor Barlinek;
- Isopolin.
Laying the underlayment under the laminate
Cut out the backing. Any novice master will be able to lay a substrate for laying laminate flooring. It is enough to adhere to the following rules:
- Before laying the underlay, you must clean the floor surface from dirt and dust.
- The next step is to lay a PVC film, which performs the function of waterproofing. The edges of the film should go on the walls by 5-8 cm, the joints are glued with tape.
- The underlayment can now be laid. The sheet material is laid end-to-end, the rolled material is cut off with a margin on the wall.
- The connecting seams are fastened with tape.
The sheet underlay for the laminate is laid out immediately over the entire surface of the floor. If roll materials are used, each new piece is laid after laying the laminate on an already prepared surface. This order of laying is necessary to preserve the consumer characteristics of the substrate under the laminate in rolls, since roll materials are more delicate and it is not recommended to walk on them during the laying process.
Related Videos
A sheet underlay for laminate is an integral attribute of a floor covering, which simultaneously performs several functions that ensure a long service life of the floor. When choosing a damper, you need to take into account a number of features that affect many characteristics of the coating. One of the most important criteria is the optimal layer thickness.
Is a backing always needed?
Laminate is made of artificial materials, which have significant disadvantages:
- sensitivity to mechanical stress;
- warping.
Only the substrate for the laminate is capable of leveling these disadvantages. After all, the heat and sound insulation properties of the floor, moisture resistance and its service life depend on its presence. In this case, the damper layer must meet certain requirements:
- The material must be neutral to interaction with chemical reagents, especially alkaline;
- The bactericidal properties of the lining should exclude the possibility of mold growth under the coating;
- The material must be inedible for insects and mice;
- The damper structure should provide floor ventilation;
- The laminate underlay is designed to neutralize the serious stress on the lamellar locking system.
In addition, the backing layer is able to eliminate minor irregularities on the rough surface, as well as act as a shock absorber to cushion impacts while walking on the surface. Based on the foregoing, it becomes clear that the substrate in the case of installing a laminated coating is simply necessary.
Substrate thickness
The thickness of the substrate can vary in a significant range: from 0.8 to 10 mm. Each of the types should only be used in accordance with the condition of the subfloor, as well as the thickness of the laminated boards. The dimensions of the backing layer discussed below are the most common:
- Laminate underlay 2 mm. Thin damping layer with excellent shock absorption properties. Most often it is used for laying lamellas, the thickness of which does not exceed 5-6 mm;
- Laminate underlay 3 mm. This type of lining reduces the noise level when walking on the surface, and is also suitable for the "warm floor" system. Often it already comes complete with class 32 and 33 laminate;
- Laminate underlay 5 mm. Thick damper suitable for commercial premises. Improves the performance of the coating, extending its life.
Tip: This material is used for laying lamellas, the thickness of which exceeds 10 mm. Since the laminate floor is “floating,” thinner boards will sag on too thick substrates.
Determining the optimal damper thickness
Many experts state that the thickness of the backing layer should be approximately 3 mm. This is enough to eliminate minor defects on the rough base and provide cushioning. However, with significant height differences of 3 mm, the damper will be practically useless. But this does not mean at all that a thicker lining will be able to solve this issue.
The fact is that the soft backing material on which the laminate is laid can provoke breakage of the locks located at the ends of the connected lamellas. This often happens during the operation of a floor laid on an uneven screed. As a result, large gaps appear on the surface, which subsequently leads to the pulling out of individual planks from the floor.
In the case of using dampers made of artificial materials, such as polyethylene or polystyrene, it is better to give preference to small thicknesses up to 3 mm. Such materials quickly deform and become thinner in places of greatest mechanical stress. This can lead to play between the laminate and the substrate. Therefore, the greater the thickness of the flooring, the more gaps are formed between the boards and the screed.
If the thickness of the flooring together with the synthetic backing is not enough to bring the floor to the same level with another room, it is better to use a slightly thicker cork flooring. Firstly, it is little deformed and pressed, and secondly, it has a significantly longer service life. This need arises when renovating private homes.
Often, the floor level in the corridor and rooms is different, which leads to the appearance of small sills. Dense substrates 3-4 mm thick can eliminate this problem.
Damper types and sizes
The thickness of the substrate under the laminate depends not only on the size and thickness of the lamellas, but also on the type of materials used. Therefore, before purchasing flooring, you should study its varieties:
- Izolon. This type of material has excellent water resistance, so it can be installed in rooms with high humidity. At the same time, several types of isolon are distinguished:
- With a thickness of 1 to 1.5 mm. It is made in rolls, the width of which is 80-90 cm;
- With a thickness of 2 to 10 mm. Available in the form of ribbons with a width of up to 50 cm;
- With a thickness of 20 to 60 mm. Most often it is produced in the form of rectangular slabs.
- Foil material. It is made on the basis of isolon, in addition, it contains a thin layer of foil, sometimes on a self-adhesive base. The damper perfectly retains heat and resists moisture. Available in rolls up to 120 cm wide and up to 5 mm thick;
- Cork flooring. A very durable material with good sound and heat insulation. There are several types of it:
- In the form of a sheet with a thickness of 2 to 4 mm. It is treated with a special antiseptic that prevents the development of mold under the floor;
- Elastic cork flooring. Has good sound insulation. In this case, the layer thickness varies from 1 to 5 mm;
- Bituminous cork damper. A durable coating that can withstand severe stress. As a rule, manufacturers produce substrates with a layer thickness of up to 5 mm.
- Composite lining. Consists of 3 main layers: film-polystyrene-film. Usually sold in rolls with a layer thickness of 3 mm;
- Expanded polystyrene material. One of the cheapest dampers with a thickness of 0.5 to 6 mm. However, with prolonged use, it can become thinner, which will lead to damage to the floor.
Styling features
After you have decided on the optimal flooring size and type, you will have to install the floor covering. The process is quite simple, so even a beginner who has never been involved in floor repairs can handle it. It is only important to follow the instructions, which will allow you to lay the flooring with high quality.
The sheet is laid in two stages:
- First stage
- Before starting work, the rough base must be cleaned of dust and dirt, and then dried;
- Then it is necessary to provide additional waterproofing of the floor;
- For this, a strong plastic wrap is most often used, which is placed on top of the base;
- Use regular scissors to cut off the excess film;
- It is important that the film overlaps the walls;
- In the process of laying the material, the waterproofing layer may slide off. Therefore, it is advisable to fix it with tape.
- Second phase
- Now you need to place the underlay perpendicular to the lamellas. This is necessary so that during the installation or operation of the floor covering, its individual elements do not move;
- As in the case of a waterproofing film, the substrate should overlap the walls, thus forming a bowl;
- If the interlayer has a grooved surface, it is desirable that it be laid facing the subfloor. Then it will help align the base;
- In the case of a foil damper, it is desirable that the foil is turned upwards;
- When laying the roll interlayer, connect adjacent sheets with molar tape;
- To fix individual boards of cork or pine needles, you need to use either a stapler or glue.
Important! It is strongly not recommended to lay the damper in several layers for leveling the base. This can lead to very dire consequences. Firstly, under the influence of the load on the covering, the floor will sag, and the locking system will be damaged, and secondly, the layers of the litter may shift relative to each other, which will lead to the formation of voids under the floor.
Subject to all the rules for choosing a substrate, as well as the method of its installation, the floor covering will serve you at least 10 years. At the same time, the damper layer will provide a good level of noise and heat insulation. Moreover, a high-quality interlayer significantly reduces the load on the interlocking joints between laminated boards, which allows the floor to remain “new” for a long time.
There must be a material between the flooring and the base that dampens noise, maintains heat, helps to level the surface with small level differences on the main floor. For laminate flooring, modern industry produces various substrates, which are almost impossible to make with your own hands.
Accordingly, a spatial idea arises about how to choose a substrate for a laminate from the proposals existing on the construction market. It is necessary to take into account not only the quality of the goods and the reputation of the manufacturer, but also focus on the functionality of the material. That is, to understand what exactly you need a substrate for, on what basis, for which particular brand of laminate, in which room, and so on.
Choice options
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 be able to get anything good. Therefore, you need to try to thoroughly understand the types and types of substrates, and then run to the store for the goods.
Special materials used as such a substrate keep impact noise well 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 substrate and insulation from moisture are attached from below. These are laminates of 32-33 classes of some brands with an already integrated substrate.
This is an expensive material, and if you bought something exorbitantly expensive, then first look at the laminate itself, before running to the store for a substrate. She is not needed in this case.
In more detail
Subtypes
This is so as not to get screwed up and plunge into a trance at the sight of the variety of substrates on offer.
Polyethylene foam materials laid under laminate panels can be:
- Chemically cross-linked, foamed or gas-filled;
- Physically stitched together, a reagent is added to the material during the manufacturing process.
Cork can be:
- From natural pressed crumb;
- Bituminous cork;
- Bituminous cork with a craft base;
- Cork with rubber additives.
Summary
How to choose a substrate for a laminate is a purely specialized question, the answer to it depends on many circumstances and factors. , on what you will lay it, in which particular room, who will walk on it and how many times a day, and so on.
With a perfectly leveled base surface, you need to take care of the outer surface of the floor covering, on which you will directly defile. And if there are serious differences in the level of the base, more than 2 mm / 1 meter, then the substrate even with a thickness of five or more millimeters, regardless of quality and materials, will not save.
Also today, it is customary to pay more attention to the environmental friendliness of materials, and in the segment of substrates in this regard, it is not cheap cork that is in the lead. Therefore - focus on your own budget and proceed from the existing conditions.