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There is a substrate that gives. Which underlay is best to use under laminate? Why is multilayer technology used?

Things you should know before purchasing laminate flooring

Laminate, as a material used in construction, has long proven itself with best side, which is why it gained well-deserved popularity. The main components of its success were its durability and wear resistance, at a relatively low cost. Plus, it is quite easy to install, which allows you to carry out installation work quite quickly and efficiently. No less advantage, undoubtedly, is the attractive appearance and ease of care. But, along with this, this flooring would not have such excellent performance characteristics if such an important component as the lining had not been used during its installation.


Photo: www.ualist.com

Let's analyze all the advantages and disadvantages of laminate substrates with our experts.
The functions that the laminate underlay performs are varied. The main ones are undoubtedly: leveling, moisture absorption and sound insulation.

So the function leveling - one of the main ones, since the base of the floor does not always have an ideal surface and is ready for laying laminate, therefore the underlay is a material that can smooth out minor unevenness and imperfections in differences. But, at the same time, it is worth knowing that the ideal material in in this case the substrate will be no more than 2-3 centimeters thick and with a density of 20 kg/m2.

Moisture-absorbing function , which is no less important, since the basis of multilayer panel panels, which is laminate, is pressed wood dust, which has a paper coating on both sides. On the front side, such a panel decorated with wood has a top laminated layer, which means a certain degree of protection; on the bottom side, the base has a more vulnerable and porous coating, which is why it needs
special waterproofing.

Soundproofing function . Due to the fact that the laminate itself is a rather thin coating (in most cases, 8 cm thick panels are used), this fact significantly reduces its sound-absorbing properties. In addition, this flooring is laid on the subfloor using floating technology, which enhances the sound effect when walking, creating resonance.


Photo: strmnt.ru



And now the question arises about what kind of substrate should be or what basic characteristics it should have. Let's look at this in more detail.

Durability- one of the most important criteria. And since the laminate has a fairly long service life, the lining, accordingly, should have excellent performance characteristics. In this case, the main parameters for determining performance characteristics are the density of the material, which is measured in kg per 1 cubic meter. and directly affects resistance to loads, which is already calculated in sq. m. For example, a regular lining made of foamed polyethylene is the most affordable option, with a density of 20 kg/m3. withstands an average of 700 to 900 kg/m2. A substrate of higher quality and cost, following the example of foamed polystyrene or cork, has a higher density - 30-45 kg/m3, which accordingly increases its resistance to loads to parameters from 3 to 6 thousand kg/m2.

Thermal insulation properties substrates are an equally important factor, which should be taken into account to a greater extent if the house has a floor heating system. The increased thermal insulation properties of the material, along with the thermal insulation properties of the floor covering, be it parquet, linoleum or laminate, will reduce the efficiency of heating the room, which is unacceptable in this case.

Environmental friendliness- one of the factors when choosing which many people prefer over a substrate made using natural materials. But, it is worth understanding that the cost of such products will be quite high.

Types of substrates

Currently on the market building materials There are countless materials used as a substrate for laminate and parquet flooring, with different technical performance characteristics. The main ones are: tuplex, isoplat, polyethylene foam foil substrate, extruded polystyrene substrates (arbiton, isosum, teplon), fiberglass substrate and cork substrate, which also has several varieties.


Photo: komfort21.ru Installation of ISOPLAAT slabs


Underlay for laminate isoplat(ISOPLAAT) is considered a universal finishing, noise and heat insulating material. This is a sheet fibrous material made from natural pine wood (100% environmentally friendly). It can be used in a room with high humidity, since this material is capable of absorbing moisture up to 20% of its volume, while its insulating properties and geometric parameters remain unchanged. Izoplat and a number of other wood-fiber materials (for example, the Estonian “Quiet Move”), intended for installation under laminate, parquet and parquet boards, are called Quiet Floors.

Arbiton- a Polish product made from extruded polystyrene using an additional layer of vapor barrier and adhesive tape. The use of this type of underlay eliminates the need to use polyethylene film as a moisture-proofing material when laying the laminate. In addition, it provides excellent heat and noise insulation. This material has a uniform, dense structure, which ensures a long service life, is easy to install and belongs to the category of professional materials.


Photo: www.laminat-shop.ru Foamed polyethylene

Polyethylene foam roll backing- foil-coated isolon, it is classified as a new generation of materials with increased thermal insulation properties. Foamed polyethylene foam, which is the basis of this substrate, has an additional backup foil layer. His wide application in construction due to excellent vapor barrier characteristics and increased thermal insulation performance.

Isonoise- a substrate made of extruded polystyrene foam from domestic manufacturers, which provides a decent level of thermal insulation and noise insulation (reduces the impact level by up to 50%). This rigid sheet underlay is laid on the prepared base immediately before installing the laminate or parquet flooring.


Photo: www.otdelka-trade.ru Teplon


Teplon- polystyrene-based sheet material used as a substrate. Quite a hard coating that provides an excellent level of noise and heat insulation.


Photo: delaemremontvmeste.ru Cork substrates

Cork backing- considered one of the the best materials with incomparable technical and operational characteristics. It is not deformable, is not afraid of moisture, and is an excellent heat and sound insulating material. Cork substrate has several types and is manufactured in the form of sheet or roll material. This is how they divide: cork fabric made from cork chips; rubber-cork backing made of cork and synthetic rubber; and, bitumen-cork substrate (kraft paper impregnated with a special bitumen mixture).


Photo: www.laminat-russia.ru Tuplex

Underlay for laminate tuplex- this is a material from Finnish manufacturers that has high elasticity, due to which defects and unevenness of the base are ideally hidden. It is distinguished by: resistance to deformation; excellent ventilation properties, due to which excess moisture between the base and the coating is removed naturally; increased sound insulation properties. It is most often used as a lining when laying floating floors or floors with a heating system. Externally, this material is a two-layer polyethylene film with an intermediate layer in the form of foam granules.

The main disadvantages of various types of substrates

Polyethylene foam substrates have one drawback - the variability of the thickness of the material, plus, substrates of this type have an insufficient degree of sound insulation.

Expanded polystyrene is a substrate, the disadvantage of which may be insufficient leveling ability. Therefore, the base for this material should be prepared with special care, avoiding significant differences in the level of the subfloor (no more than 0.2 cm per 1 m.

Cork substrate, due to its naturalness and high quality, has a fairly decent cost, which sometimes becomes its main disadvantage. In addition, the backing made of cork chips has low moisture resistance, therefore, to use such material in rooms with high humidity, you should choose a rubberized cork backing or cork covering with bitumen impregnation. In general, cork is an ideal material for use as a lining for laminate flooring. And only when laid on a heated floor does its advantage (high thermal insulation) become a disadvantage.

For warmth, choose either a special heating system for laying under the laminate (for example, ALLOC Heating System), or a very thin substrate that will protect against moisture and provide sound insulation, but will not interfere with heat transfer.

Laying features

The main principle that guides the selection of a substrate for laminate flooring is the condition of the base of the floor itself. The smoother and more ideal its surface, the smaller the thickness of the substrate should be chosen, while the rigidity class is also taken into account. The optimal thickness is considered to be 2 mm for a base with an ideal surface and 2-3 mm for a base with an uneven surface and defects. If you use a thicker type of underlay during installation, this will most likely lead to damage to the locking connections of the lamellas and will significantly reduce the service life of the flooring, since the laminate will constantly sag when walked.

The process of laying the substrate under the laminate does not present any particular difficulties, although it has its own rules. The process begins with preparing the base of the floor, which consists of leveling the surface and priming it. After which you can proceed to the main action - laying the substrate. Different experts recommend different installation methods: some believe that the most correct would be to lay the material along the lamellas of the coating, others, on the contrary, across it. The latter method is considered the most appropriate in order to avoid the coincidence of the seams of the coating and the seams of the substrate, which is especially important in large areas. In this case, deformation of the locking connection of the lamellas is inevitable, which is accompanied by a characteristic creaking and crunching sound when walking (Moire effect).

The sheet lining is laid in a checkerboard pattern without overlap and secured with masking tape. The rolled backing is laid with an overlap on the walls, but without overlap on the subsequent strips with which it is also attached with tape. The cork backing is laid without overlap. For some substrates, a 0.2 cm thick polyethylene film is used as a vapor barrier, which is more often used for cork material.

Laminate flooring is currently one of the most popular and cheap floor coverings. It is characterized by high strength and durability. There is a wide choice of materials on the construction markets. You can choose a budget or luxury option. It is possible to be guided by color and pattern. And if you decide to finish the floor using this coating, then you need to know what kind of substrate for a concrete floor under the laminate can be used. This is exactly what we will talk about in this review.

Why is it necessary to use pads?

The underlay is mandatory for floating floor technology. The quality of the coating will depend on this. In addition, there are several reasons to recommend using a substrate.

  1. Soundproofing. If you do not use a mat under the material, then every step you take will impact the concrete floor. Using a soft and even layer will hide minor noise or friction. There is also a coating that has a built-in backing. In such situations, it is not necessary to lay additional material on a concrete floor under the laminate. We are talking about coverage of grades 32 and 33. However, its cost is quite high.
  2. Using bedding you can level the surface. This is an important quality that should not be forgotten. It plays a special role at the moment. The durability of the locks will depend entirely on the evenness of the base. According to technology, differences should not exceed 2 mm per 1 meter. It should also be noted that if the substrate on the concrete floor under the laminate is too thick, then it is unlikely that it will be possible to hide the unevenness. At the joints when walking, it will begin to sag. If you do not want to change the coating after six months, then you need to carefully prepare the surface for installation.
  3. Moisture insulation. When creating a laminate, pressed paper is used. Therefore, even the most moisture-resistant models should not be tested. IN otherwise the panels will simply swell. A concrete floor underlay under the laminate will help provide additional protection against moisture. Before you start laying the material, you need to wait about a month after the concrete screed has been made. The readiness of the base can be checked using polyethylene. Place it on the floor overnight. If there was no moisture on the concrete in the morning, then you can start laying.
  4. Thermal conductivity. The bedding material has good thermal insulation properties. If you place it under a heated floor, its performance will be reduced. There are special substrates that should be used in such a situation.

What factors should be taken into account when choosing?

At the present stage, almost any hardware store can select a specific substrate for laminate flooring. The price of this material varies in different ranges. How to make the right choice? After all, substrates can differ not only in cost, but also in the material used, thickness and sound insulation.

First of all, you need to find out what condition the floor is in. If the base is flat, then the thickness of the substrate can be 2 mm. If there are slight irregularities, then you should opt for a bedding whose thickness is 3 mm. Together with the laminate, this figure will reach approximately 11 mm, if we take the average parameters.

When choosing a specific material for covering, you do not need to give preference to the manufacturer who designed the laminate you are using. It does not matter. Any company can apply. Some particularly popular materials should be listed.

Cheap lining option

The lining made of polyethylene foam has become very popular. What is the reason for the fame that this substrate enjoys? Its price is the lowest. But, regardless of this, it is characterized by good resistance to moisture and excellent thermal insulation properties. In addition, the substrate made of this material is not susceptible to rodents and microorganisms. All costs will be kept to a minimum, since the litter is easy to install. Often it is supplemented with a foil layer with aluminum. This helps reflect infrared rays.

Disadvantages of polyethylene foam

This substrate also has disadvantages, of which there are quite a few. First of all, not entirely environmentally friendly synthetic materials are used in its production. Over time, the shape of the litter will change. The material will begin to sag, losing its shape. In some situations, after laying the main coating on such a lining, it begins to form. Therefore, when purchasing, you need to think several times whether the savings of 500 rubles are worth it.

The cheapest option is a laminate underlay made by domestic manufacturers. Price per roll of 25 sq. meters reaches about 400 rubles. will cost 100 rubles more per square meter.

Expensive cork material

Don't know which underlay to choose for laminate flooring? Pay attention to cork bedding. They are perfect for floating floors. This natural material. However, it is not susceptible to mold or rotting. Excellent ability to insulate heat. Throughout the entire service period, the substrate will not lose its size and characteristics. This material is sold in the form of rolls. There is also a sheet backing for laminate flooring. There are species that back side have a self-adhesive layer.

The substrate is characterized by high cost. For this reason, it is not advisable to use it together with cheap coatings. However, the durability of the products is high. Among the disadvantages, in addition to price, water permeability should be highlighted. For this reason, condensation may appear under the coating.

Bitumen lining for laminate

The backing can be made from kraft paper with the addition of a material such as bitumen. The top of the lining is covered with fine cork chips. Due to the use of bitumen, this type of underlayment does not have the disadvantages that characterize the sheet underlay for laminate made of cork material. The bitumen lining does not allow moisture to pass through and is capable of blocking sounds. The material will breathe, which prevents the formation of condensation. As in the case of cork, it is advisable to use this type of lining only with expensive coating. This is due to its high cost.

Extruded polystyrene foam

Quite often, extruded polystyrene foam can be used as an insulating material. It is perfect for those rooms that are characterized by high loads. It can be used to smooth out uneven surfaces. Such a substrate is an effective insulation due to the presence of a significant amount of air in its composition. Rigidity allows you to maintain its shape, effectively absorbs sound, and prevents moisture penetration. Using polystyrene foam on the floor will give you a comfortable walking experience.

Combined option

Required warm base under laminate? Enough interesting option can be considered a combination of polyethylene with expanded polystyrene. This material is usually sold in rolls. Its thickness reaches 3 mm. Due to its structure, such a substrate is capable of ventilating the room. The top layer does not allow moisture to penetrate inside. The bottom layer passes it to the granules, through which it comes out using special gaps.

New in construction stores

Coniferous bedding for covering is a new product. It is very difficult to find due to its high cost. However, sometimes you may come across “Izoplat” - a substrate for laminate flooring that is completely environmentally friendly. In addition, it is capable of allowing air to pass through. For this reason, a greenhouse effect will not be created under the coating. However, the elasticity of needles is noticeably inferior to that of cork material. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that the thickness of the tiles reaches 4-5 mm. This contradicts many of the requirements put forward by laminate manufacturers. The tiles must be laid diagonally.

What should you consider when installing? Reviews

Now we should talk about how the substrate is laid under people who were able to do this, they will help to understand this issue.

  1. If the concrete screed is fresh, then before laying it is necessary to lay thin polyethylene. If the house is old, then this procedure is not mandatory.
  2. Thoroughly clean the floor of debris and dirt. In addition, the base must be completely dry.
  3. For cutting, you should use regular scissors or a construction knife. It is necessary to overlap the walls. Then it can be closed using a plinth.
  4. It is not recommended to lay several layers at once to compensate for unevenness. One is enough. If the unevenness cannot be covered with the material, the base will need to be leveled first.
  5. If the material has corrugation, it should be directed downward. In such a situation, it will be possible to hide some irregularities. The foil lining should be laid with the reflective side up.
  6. It is recommended to install them end-to-end. There should not be any overlap. For fastening should be used This will help prevent the material from moving.

Conclusion

If all the recommendations mentioned above are taken into account when laying the material, then the laminate will last a very long time. Naturally, the final choice in favor of a particular substrate must be made based on your own material capabilities. However, you must try to purchase only high-quality and natural products. Otherwise, new repairs may be required within six months.

To level the base before laying the floor covering, use Various types linings A lining with a reflective surface made of a thin layer of aluminum foil, in addition to leveling functions, has a number of positive properties, the main one of which is the ability to retain heat in the room. This type of substrate is produced on various bases.

Based on foamed polyethylene

This type of underlay is one of the most inexpensive materials with a reflective surface, which makes it the most popular option for organizing a base under a laminate. Foamed polyethylene allows for reliable sound insulation of a room, has good thermal insulation properties and is a vapor barrier. Applying aluminum foil to the surface of this material allows you to increase the thermal insulation characteristics and service life of the substrate.

The disadvantage of foamed polyethylene is its low strength, which affects the durability of the substrate. If you plan to use expensive types of laminate as a finishing coating, the use of this underlay is not advisable, since its service life will not be comparable to the service life of the floor covering.

This material is produced in rolls, the thickness varies from 2 to 10 mm, but in practice, a lining with a thickness of 3-5 mm is most often used.

Polystyrene based

Polystyrene is a foam plastic processed using a special technology using high temperatures. Polystyrene-based leveling materials are produced in the form of separate sheets, which are recommended to be glued with tape during installation.

This material perfectly resists static loads and does not change its shape under prolonged exposure to dynamic loads. Polystyrene is also an excellent sound absorber and acts as insulation.

Coating the base with aluminum foil additionally gives the material waterproofing properties, which makes it possible to place this coating in rooms with high humidity. The cost of a foil polystyrene coating is quite high, but the positive properties and ease of installation cover this unpleasant point.

Cork based

The most expensive type of coating with a reflective surface. They are most often produced in the form of rolled material. It has a more durable structure compared to previous options, a longer service life, and higher heat-protective and sound-proofing properties.

It perfectly levels concrete bases, but is not suitable for laying under the finishing coat in rooms with high humidity. The disadvantages include the high cost of this coating.

Advantages and disadvantages

The foil backing for laminate has a number of advantages and disadvantages. The positive properties of this material include:

  • ensuring sound absorption of noise penetrating into the room through the floor slab;
  • the ability to reduce heat loss through the floor by at least a third;
  • ensuring protection of the finishing coating from mold and mildew;
  • increasing the elasticity of the substrate, which increases the service life of the entire floor covering;
  • providing vapor barrier and waterproofing of the finishing coating.

The negative properties of substrates under laminate with foil include:

  • low working life of the coating based on foamed polyethylene;
  • high price for all types of substrates with a reflective surface.

Initially, a coating with a reflective layer was developed for use as a base for the installation of heated floors. Due to their increased waterproofing and thermal insulation characteristics, such coatings are successfully installed in rooms with high humidity under the finishing coating of ceramic tiles, which is a definite plus.

How to style

Before placing the substrate under the laminate with foil, you should study the sequence of work:

  1. Before installation, the rolled material is cut to length and left to rest in the room for 10-12 hours. This period is enough for the stripes to straighten out.
  2. The flooring of the first line is carried out with an allowance of 50-100 mm on the walls. Subsequently, before installing the plinth, excess material is cut off with a construction knife. The material is rolled out with the reflective side facing up, since this is how the foil backing is laid.
  3. It is not recommended to walk on the foil substrate, so laying the next strip is carried out simultaneously with the advancement of the process of laying the lamellas. The substrate strips are installed end-to-end, after which the contact area is glued with special tape with a metallized coating.
  4. If foiled sheet material was chosen for the substrate, then in this case the laying pattern will differ from the rolled version. The sheets are laid out staggered so that the joints do not overlap. To ensure a uniform surface of the substrate, the joints should also be taped with metallized tape. The edges of the sheet material are not placed on the wall and are mounted end-to-end; the advancement of the laying of the substrate occurs, as in the case of rolled products, along with the advancement of the laminate line.
  5. The laminate should be laid in such a way that the joints of individual boards in length and width do not coincide with the places of contact of the sheets or backing sheets.

When working with wooden bases (for example, plywood), the work process is similar to the process of installing laminate flooring on concrete bases.

In addition to laying laminate flooring over a foil backing, there is a method for installing linoleum using a backing with a reflective surface. Typically, linoleum with a backing is laid directly on top of the concrete screed. The reflective ability of the substrate is enough to ensure a normal microclimate in an apartment with such floors - it performs the function of heat protection, sound insulation and vapor barrier.

Novice builders, having learned about the positive qualities of a substrate with a reflective surface, try to use it when installing floors made of wooden structures, but they do not always understand how to put a substrate with foil under chipboard, boards or plywood.

Indeed, the properties of the foil backing make it possible to increase the protective characteristics of the floor covering, but when this material is laid on a wooden base, the integrity of the carpet is broken by self-tapping screws, which negates all the advantages.

In addition, it is undesirable to arrange such a sandwich when the finishing coating is linoleum; in this case, the wooden base ends up in the gap between two insulating surfaces, which leads to rotting of the wood and the appearance of fungus.

Laying a foil lining can be done on top of a wooden base before laying laminate or linoleum. With this installation, everything positive characteristics linings are retained.

What thickness to choose

When choosing a foil backing for laminate, you need to decide on the thickness of the material. The thickness of the lining depends on the preparation of the base:

  • For concrete foundations with differences in height of no more than 1 mm, pads with a thickness of 2 to 3 mm are suitable;
  • if height differences within 2 mm are detected, it is recommended to lay cushioning material 4 mm thick;
  • the maximum permissible deviation of the base in height is 3 mm, such an error can be leveled out with a substrate 5 mm thick;
  • if the differences in the base are higher than the specified values, it is necessary to take measures to level the surface by laying a self-leveling mortar or pouring a new screed.

Which side should you put the foil backing on?

There is a clear answer to this question: the lining is laid exclusively with the foil side up. This ensures that heat waves are reflected into the room, which reduces the amount of heat loss by a third.

Today, laminate is becoming increasingly popular, mainly due to its technical indicators: comparative durability and wear resistance. In addition, this finishing material is also relatively inexpensive, easy to maintain, and easy to install. In order for the flooring to last longer, it is necessary to choose the right underlay for the laminate.

Let's start with the fact that laminate is mostly wooden. finishing material therefore, its disadvantages will be the same as those of wood: high porosity, sensitivity to moisture, warping. Laminate flooring is constantly “breathing”, and this needs to be compensated somehow. In addition, such material bends when stepped on, but the substrate has shock-absorbing properties that soften the deformation of the laminate.

The service life of a laminate floor depends on the type of underlay chosen for it. However, no one can give any guarantees if the floor is laid without a substrate. Therefore, it is necessary to approach its choice very seriously.

The main functions of the underlay are to increase the strength of the laminate and evenly distribute the load on the floor. In its absence, the floor will soon become loose, leading to its failure. Therefore, it is important to know in advance what load the laminate floor will have to withstand during operation.

Types of substrates

There are four types of substrates. Each is designed for specific conditions. What are laminate substrates made of, what are their differences, advantages and disadvantages?

Izolon

The most affordable type of substrate is polyethylene. She is not afraid of water and does her job well. However, the big disadvantage is the short service life. Only a few years will pass, and the substrate will lose its shape and become sensitive to stress.

Minuses: Isolon, or polyethylene foam, is not a very durable material. It quickly compresses under load and breaks easily.

pros: Izolon underlay is one of the cheapest, it is moisture resistant and weighs little, is very easy to install and has good fillability, it is convenient to attach it with tape. In addition, isolon has relatively good noise insulation properties and is not affected by fungus and mold.

Polystyrene

The polystyrene backing is very easy to use. It comes in small sheets. This material copes with its task no worse than a cork backing. It can level the surface, sound and heat insulate the room. However, the durability of polystyrene material leaves much to be desired.

As a rule, such a substrate is two-layer: polystyrene and aluminum foil connected to each other. You need to lay it with the foil facing up, and use adhesive tape made of aluminum staniol (or foil) as a connection.

Minuses: In terms of cost relative to isolon, it is a more expensive option for underlayment under laminate. In addition, due to the fact that such a substrate rolls out worse, its installation will be more difficult, and its resistance to press will be the same as that of isolon, i.e. practically none. Therefore, if you are in doubt about how to choose a substrate, then before purchasing it is better to weigh all the pros and cons so as not to overpay extra money.

pros: good fillability, resistance to mold and moisture.

Cork backing

A cork backing is best suited for a child's room. Thanks to it, after any load, dimensions and parameters are restored. In addition, it can play the role of a good heat insulator. Its properties and dimensions will not be lost for a long time. The only problem is that it can only be laid on a perfectly flat surface.

Cork has always been considered the most expensive type of finishing - and in the case of a laminate underlay, it remains just as expensive. But the point is in its merits. Before laying the laminate on the substrate, it should be primed with a water-repellent compound.

Minuses: moisture-resistant, so it is not advisable to use it in rooms with high humidity.

Pros: It is almost not pressed, has good heat-insulating and sound-proofing properties, and is environmentally friendly.

Special materials

Some companies can offer their own proprietary developments: polymer porous substrates, compressed tiles made from wood fibers. Basically, they are of good quality - although it is impossible to judge all materials unequivocally well.

Tuplex is considered the ideal substrate. It is moisture resistant and can protect the floor from fungus. However, you will have to pay too much for quality material. Not every person can afford to purchase such a substrate.

What thickness is best?

If you believe that the thickness of the substrate will more than compensate for all the unevenness of the floor, then you are deeply mistaken. After all, before working on laying the floor covering, the floor will still have to be leveled, and any substrate is eventually pressed - as a result, a difference in the heights of the substrate occurs, and sooner or later your laminate floor will go to the landfill.

A vertical gap appears in some places between the substrate and the floor. As a result, the laminate dies are deformed at the joints. Moreover, the thicker the substrate under the laminate, the larger the gap between the dies is observed. Therefore, the substrate should be thin, 2-3 mm, and the floor difference should be a maximum of 1.5 - 2 mm.

In addition, even under the substrate you can put ordinary polyethylene film, such as is used in the construction of greenhouses. This film will serve as an excellent moisture protection for concrete floors.

The best underlay for laminate is chosen depending on your preferences and financial capabilities. Therefore, each person can choose the option that suits them.

Nowadays, people renovate their homes much more often than they did 20–30 years ago. And the point is not that the materials have become of poor quality, but quite the opposite. More modern, bright and attention-grabbing new items appear on the market every day. And, naturally, buyers have a desire to update their home, thereby creating a more favorable microclimate there. This trend also applies to laminate. But when buying modern laminate, consumers often do not think that its service life and quality will largely depend on what kind of substrate will be used for it.

Role of the substrate

The laminate is installed using special locks, which give strength to the entire plane of this flooring.

But when the load is concentrated in one place, this strength is lost, resulting in breakage of the locks. So, when taking a step, we transfer the weight of our entire body to the heel and thus exert pressure with the mass of our entire body at one point. The situation is even worse when walking on laminate flooring in shoes with heels.

Therefore, in order to avoid breaking the locks, it is necessary to lay a layer that will soften this load. The role of such a layer is precisely performed by the substrate.

When laying laminate flooring, you can use absolutely any choice of substrate, but you cannot exclude it from the installation process. After all, not a single laminate manufacturer gives a guarantee for their products if they are used without such a substrate.

Below is a video about how the substrate works:

Advantages of the substrate

Soundproofing

A special feature of laminate flooring is the loud sound of footsteps on it. This is quite an unpleasant moment for both apartment residents and their neighbors. This happens due to the fact that the laminate has a small thickness (the most common coating is 8 mm thick), and also as a result of floating installation, in which a cavity is formed between the laminate and the floor, which plays the role of a membrane that transmits sounds. The use of a substrate that absorbs sound and creates a sound insulation effect will help eliminate this drawback. Some manufacturers make laminate with a built-in backing, but the price of such a product is much higher than usual, so it would be more rational to purchase the backing separately. The sound insulation of the substrate is indicated on the packaging.

Leveling the surface

Often the floor has unevenness, which negatively affects the installation of floor coverings. After just a couple of months of using laminated parquet installed on an uneven surface, gaps may appear, which will be noticeable even if they are small.

The underlay will help smooth out uneven floors; the thicker it is, the greater the differences it can hide. But everything is good in moderation, and an excessively thick substrate (more than 3 mm) will sag at the joints of the laminate planks, which can lead to breakage of the locks.

Moisture insulation

The substrate is capable of creating a favorable microclimate between the floor and the coating, retaining moisture coming from concrete or cement.

Thermal conductivity

The substrate under the laminate has high thermal insulation properties, so you don’t have to spend money on purchasing and installing a “warm floor” system.

Important points when choosing a substrate

When choosing this material, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:

  • the degree of pressure relief on the laminate locks;
  • level of thermal insulation;
  • moisture resistance;
  • good microventilation;
  • bactericidal;
  • resistance to alkalis;
  • environmental friendliness.

Also, when choosing a substrate, you need to take into account the material from which the “subfloor” is made. For example, cork is most suitable for a wooden floor. The choice is influenced by the evenness of the “subfloor”. If the floor is perfectly flat, then you can use a film with a thickness of 2 mm; if there are uneven surfaces, the substrate used should have a thickness of 3 mm. And, of course, an important factor influencing the choice should be the correspondence between the price and quality of the purchased product. Buying a very cheap substrate may lead to the need to replace it quickly, but buying too expensive material is also not advisable.

Advice ! For rooms with high humidity, such as a bathroom or kitchen, polyethylene foam film is perfect.

You can also watch the video “How to choose a substrate?”

Types of substrates and their characteristics

Polyethylene foam

This type is very popular. This popularity is due to the fact that it has high moisture resistance and thermal insulation, prevents the appearance of fungi and bacteria, and is not of interest to insects and rodents. In addition, it is quite economical; after its installation there is practically no waste. Often this type of substrate has an additional metallized layer. Foil films using aluminum are also produced. The disadvantages of polyethylene foam backing are poor UV tolerance and a tendency to lose shape, which leads to sagging.

Cork

The cork substrate is able to maintain its technical properties throughout the entire period of operation, and is also not susceptible to the formation of fungi and mold. It is an excellent base for a floating floor and has excellent insulating properties. The disadvantage is that this material has a fairly high price, so it is not advisable to use it for laying under an inexpensive laminate with a short service life. Another “minus” is the possibility of condensation forming on the underside of the laminate.

Advice ! Natural cork backing is perfect for laying in the bedroom and children's room.

Bitumen-cork

The basis for the bitumen-cork substrate is kraft paper with an admixture of bitumen. This type of film is covered with cork chips on top, which consists of pieces 2–3 mm in size. This substrate perfectly absorbs sound, prevents the penetration of moisture and, consequently, the formation of condensation, provides air exchange, and equalizes pressure. It is advisable to use it when laying expensive laminate flooring.

Expanded polystyrene

This film eliminates floor unevenness well, increases the resistance of the laminate to heavy loads, perfectly absorbs vibrations, is quite moisture resistant, and provides a high degree of thermal insulation. Thanks to its high density, it retains its structure and shape for a long time. This type of underlay is perfect for intensively used rooms.

Combined

For their production, polyethylene and expanded polystyrene are used. This is a fairly popular type. The combined film is produced in the form of a “sandwich”, in which polystyrene foam balls are located between layers of polyethylene that have different characteristics. The bottom layer is thinner. Through it, moisture from the floor is carried to the granules, and then through special technological gaps it is removed outside. Top layer made of polyethylene high pressure, prevents the penetration of moisture from the surface of the floor covering to the base of the floor. This type of substrate is sold in rolls, the film thickness is 3 mm.

Special

Thanks to the created natural ventilation this type is capable of removing moisture from under the laminate. The use of this type of film reduces the installation time of laminate parquet by 2-3 times thanks to the built-in moisture-resistant membrane. Also, special substrates provide high level soundproofing.

Coniferous tiles

Coniferous tiles are a new product on the construction market. This material is absolutely environmentally friendly. Due to its ability to easily pass air, it completely eliminates the possibility of a “greenhouse effect” occurring under the floor covering. When choosing this type of substrate, it is worth considering that it is inferior in elasticity to cork film, and also has a fairly large thickness (4–5 mm), which contradicts the requirements of manufacturers. Coniferous tiles are laid diagonally. This type of material is quite rare in stores due to its high cost.

The correct installation technology combined with the use of high-quality materials will give the most effective results, and your flooring will last you more than ten years. Of course, the choice is influenced by material capabilities, but as they say: “The miser pays twice,” so it’s better to buy high-quality material once and this will really help you save not only money, but also more precious time!