Despite the fact that the laminate began to be produced not so long ago, it has already become quite popular. This material stands out not only for its high quality, but also easy to install. This article will answer the question of many people how to lay a laminate on a concrete floor.
Material characteristic
Laminate consists of several layers that are glued together in the same element. Locking devices inside allow fast fastening of panels to each other. Due to its construction, the laminate is difficult and inappropriate to lay on an uneven floor. Such conditions can lead to the fact that the material is deformed during expansion and the locks (internal parts) simply wear out. This, in turn, causes the accumulation of dust inside and reduces the life of the device. In addition, the flooring loses its original appearance.
What the laminate panel consists of:
- The first layer is an antistatic material that is heavy-duty. It takes on mechanical stress.
- To give the laminate more strength, the second layer is acrylate resin.
- The third layer is decorative. It is he who is paid attention to when choosing a coating according to texture, pattern, color for a harmonious combination with the interior.
- As the fourth, glue is used, which fastens the upper two layers together.
- The fifth layer has water-resistant properties to extend its life.
Alignment
If the floor has some irregularities, then this does not necessarily mean the need for repairs. Uneven for the laminate is a coating with a difference of two millimeters on a plot of two square meters. In addition to the fact that this floor should not be laid on such a floor, it will also cause problems in the future when installing furniture. Due to this unevenness, the cabinet doors will not close, and the laminate itself will begin to deteriorate and deform. If the concrete coating is too old, then it needs to be repaired. Cracked areas must be leveled by pouring in cement. As for large and deep sections, then for them there is a self-leveling mixture. At the end of the preparatory work, the floor surface should be sanded.
Substrates and insulation layer
When installing a laminate floor, it is important to ensure that the insulation layer and the surface of the panels do not come into contact. It's all about moisture that can accumulate. In order to prevent this process, it is necessary to lay a protective layer. The diffusion membrane is excellent for such cases. Its thickness should be about twenty millimeters. After this, it is necessary to lay a waterproofing layer before laying the flooring. This is the best laminate backing.
What are the options for basic coverage:
- Mixtures containing small fractions of gravel (used for concrete floors).
- Sand and cement screed.
Do not refuse to carry out preparatory work for the base coverage. This is necessary so that the floor is not saturated with moisture and does not spoil the laminate. Also, the screed performs several more functions: soundproofing, leveling the floor and eliminating the likelihood of static discharge accumulating on the surface.
Mounting
Over the years of using the material, the technology of laying the laminate on the floor has been repeatedly worked out. It is worth sticking to. Work should start from the side of the window. Spread wings will be needed in order to create a gap between the laminate and the wall. This gap is necessary so that when the temperature changes, the material can expand freely and then narrow. If the size of the room does not allow the use of the whole panel, it should be cut to size so that the remainder is not shorter than forty centimeters. In this case, this trim can be used when laying the second row, which can significantly reduce the consumption of material.
After this, installation of the second row begins. It must be laid by applying panels to the previous row at an angle of about forty degrees, and inserting the lock until it clicks. According to the same principle, continue work on laying the coating over the entire area of the room. Only the last panel should be installed using a special clamp. It helps to securely fix the part in the last row. Skirting boards are then laid to hide the gap between the wall and the panel.
Types of installation
There are mainly three methods for installing a laminate floor:
- Parallel to the flow of sunlight from the window.
- Parallel to the wall. This method allows you to visually expand the room.
- If the room is very small, then you need to use diagonal styling. The method is much more complicated, requires more tools and an invitation to the assistant.
You can choose any installation method. It does not depend on the construction of the room or the curvature of the walls.
Instruments
They are necessary in order to correctly perform the installation of the floor from the laminate. Here is some of them:
- Level.
- Roulette.
- Jigsaw.
- Chalk or pencil.
- Hammer.
If these tools are not available in the house, then they can be purchased at any hardware store.
It is also worth noting that the use of this equipment and auxiliary equipment does not require professional skills.
Panel Connection Methods
It can be assumed that the laminate has a standard joining method. There are actually three methods for joining panels depending on the type of locks:
- Single locks. In this case, the latches enter the groove one after the other. At the end, fix the locks with glue. If one day you need to disassemble the coating, then the operation can be simplified and accelerated by lightly tapping the panels with a hammer.
- Double locks. This design differs from the previous one in that, in addition to connecting the panels, there is a latch that needs to be fixed.
- Glue. The third method involves gluing one panel to another. It is used in very rare cases. Each part should be individually lubricated with glue. The installation of the laminate floor will be too painstaking process.
Laying by the first method can be done by one. For the second and third methods, you will need another person.
If you still have to perform installation of the flooring from the laminate on an uneven floor, it is highly advisable to level it first. The range of materials for these purposes in construction stores is huge.
Bulk floor
We continue to study alignment methods. A liquid floor for leveling a concrete floor is a great option. It will make the surface perfect. The maximum allowable take-off is about three centimeters in height. There are different types of self-leveling fluids. To ensure that the coating is the most effective, you should choose the right mixture. What to consider when choosing:
- The current state of the floor.
- The humidity level of the room.
- The temperature in the room.
- What physical activity will be.
- Room features.
Even before starting work, it is possible to place a layer of waterproofing on an uneven floor. For pouring you need only a concrete screed. Before work, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the area from dirt and dust, as they can interfere with reliable fixation of the mixture. After this, it is recommended to walk with a primer two times. When the soil is dry, you can fill the screed. But that is not all. The liquid floor for leveling the concrete floor has two main types. These are polymer and mineral liquids.
Polymer blend
It is based on quartz sand. This mixture also contains many other ingredients that are binders. The advantage is that the material itself already protects the surface from moisture, so there is no need to think about waterproofing. This allows you to lay, for example, on a water floor heating a laminate without screed. Here are some of the benefits of such coatings:
- The term of operation reaches forty years.
- The surface is perfectly flat, without any flaws.
- Resistance to frost.
- Withstands high humidity.
- Does not collect dust on itself.
Mineral mixture
This concrete floor leveling material contains slightly more ingredients. It contains gypsum powder, cement, quartz sand and small fractions of rocks. Here are the main advantages of mineral coatings that are used for coating devices:
- Environmentally friendly mix. Despite the fact that it will be under the laminate, environmental friendliness is important in any case.
- High level of durability.
- It dries quite quickly.
- Affordable price.
- Priming before pouring is not required.
- Protects from sounds.
- Profitability - the required layer thickness is only one centimeter. This significantly saves money on the purchase of material and the time spent on work.
Despite all this, this mixture has its natural disadvantages. For example, it is not moisture resistant. Therefore, such floors under the laminate are suitable only in those rooms where there is a low level of humidity. Although it has a long service life of 15 years, it does not exceed the polymer coating. This material is popular with those who want to combine the laying of a warm floor with the subsequent laminate flooring.
Plywood laying
There is another way to improve the condition of the concrete pavement. This is the alignment of plywood. A quick method that gives quite acceptable strength. Experts say that this is a simple task even for beginners. But how to level the floor with plywood?
Necessary tools
In order to get started, you will need only a few tools, which are likely to be at hand. If something was not available, you can buy it at the nearest hardware store. You will need the following tools:
- Level.
- Circular Saw.
- Drill.
- The square.
- Roulette.
First of all, it is necessary to remove the old coating, if it exists. It is required to calculate the size of the extreme corners. After that, you can start stacking sheets. Between them it is necessary to leave a gap of about two millimeters. In the end, you will need to align the floor at the edges. In addition, you can smooth out irregularities using putty. The method requires minimal time and effort to complete the work.
Conclusion
Summing up, it can be noted that even a beginner can perform the laying of a laminate. To do this, you only need to use these tips and tricks in practice.