When the repair is nearing its end, it's time to lay the floor. Most often these days, people give preference to such a material as a laminate, which is universal, looks very neat and beautiful and is able to last for decades. However, before this wonderful coating is on your floor, you need, as they say, to prepare the soil so that it is more firmly fixed. This is where the question arises as to which substrate under the laminate is better, what its thickness should be, and what material it should be made of.
Brief description of the substrate
Before we begin to compare the different types of this “underground” layer, we will understand what it is. Indeed, in order to understand which substrate under the laminate is better, you need to know its functions and purpose, otherwise it will be very difficult to make the right choice. So, firstly, even in the newest apartments, the floor is not perfectly flat. Of course, the screed in some cases compensates for this drawback, but when laying a decorative coating over time, irregularities will begin to squeeze under the weight of the residents of the apartment and furniture. In this case, the substrate performs a cushioning function and prevents the laminate from sagging in those places where there are small depressions or cracks. Also, this coating performs a soundproofing function. That is, those noises that come to you from the neighbors from above will be less noticeable thanks to this auxiliary floor layer.
Additional substrate features
If you still doubt whether a substrate for a laminate is needed, then carefully consider its following properties. Firstly, this additional layer allows you to save more warm air in the apartment. At the same time, it does not allow cold, thereby serving as a heat insulator. The substrate will become an additional conductor of heat, if your house has a heated floor, and if there is no such system, then it will simply give the room more comfort. An important function of this material is also to protect the tree from moisture. It absorbs most of the vapors, so the water sensitivity of the laminate is noticeably reduced. This allows this flooring to last longer and not spoil prematurely. And now, in order for you to understand which substrate under the laminate is better, we provide a list of all existing coatings that can be used for repairs.
Material - the basis of any substrate
The types of this floor covering are strictly divided into groups depending on the materials from which they are made. For example, one of the most common options is foamed polyethylene. As a rule, it is sold in the form of wide rolls of foil and has a completely negligible thickness. It is worth remembering that this material can only be mounted under a laminate, and it is strictly forbidden to combine it with a parquet board. The price of this coating is extremely affordable, so it is often used during budget repairs of an apartment or for arranging an office space. The fact is that this “foil” is very sensitive to mechanical damage, therefore, voids often appear under the laminate if it is laid. Nevertheless, the material performs the shock-absorbing and insulating function, therefore, it is in great demand.
Cork cloth is one of the best choices
One of the common types of “underground” coatings is cork under the laminate. The price of this material is quite affordable for everyone, and its quality is quite high. Therefore, cork rolls diverge from the shelves of construction stores quickly, and in apartments they serve for a very long time and with high quality. It is worth noting that this material is combined not only with a laminate, but also with a parquet board, however it cannot be installed if the apartment has a heated floor. This is due to the fact that the cork coating has low vapor barrier properties, and moisture that will evaporate from the pipes can damage the decorative floor layer. Also, do not forget that this layer is mounted together with a cellophane film, which compensates for the low vapor barrier. In this case, both the decorative coating and the cork under the laminate will serve you for a long time. The price of such a substrate will range from 150-300 rubles per square meter, which is quite affordable in our time.
Parklog rolls - a lot of warmth and comfort
Now let's talk about how dense and thick the substrate should be under the laminate. How to choose exactly the option that will perfectly absorb the floor covering and at the same time will not take up a lot of free space? The answer is simple - you need to give preference to such a coating as a parklog, or, as it is often called, kraft paper. It is sold in rolls, the price of which varies depending on thickness and quality. However, even the most budget options are a dense and at the same time flexible canvas, insensitive to mechanical damage. This is a substrate under the laminate 3 mm thick, due to which the coating perfectly levels the floor and prevents further deformation of the laminate. It also has excellent vapor barrier properties, so the wood retains its qualities better. However, it is worth remembering that on top of this kraft paper you need to impose a thin layer of bitumen, which for the first time after the repair will emit a characteristic smell.
Duplex is a repair brand that will fix all errors
For many years now, all builders have been repeating that the best substrate for a laminate is a tuplex, which is sold in rolls. This material does not have a specific name, so it is called in accordance with the manufacturer, but this does not make its quality worse. It is a multilayer film, the thickness of which does not exceed three millimeters. The cellophane layers are located on the outer edges of the coating, and the foam granules are in the middle. Thanks to this simple structure, this coating ideally retains and even increases the heat in the room, and at the same time it also has soundproofing and absorbing properties. Cellophane, which is part of the tuplex, does not allow moisture to pass through, so the board remains completely intact. It is noteworthy that this material can also be put on a wet screed, if it is necessary to finish the repair urgently. Over time, moisture from the concrete is absorbed into the substrate, and this problem will be eliminated.
Natural materials are the most expensive
But from a more respectable and expensive coatings, a coniferous laminate substrate made of natural raw materials stands out. It is produced in the form of sheets of various sizes, the thickness of which is 3 or more millimeters. It has a characteristic dark green color and a slightly fleecy surface. This allows the material to retain the greatest amount of heat in the house, but not to retain air. That is, this lining “breathes”, at the same time fulfills heat-insulating and sound-insulating properties, and also absorbs all unnecessary moisture, thereby prolonging the life of the tree. However, the coniferous laminate substrate is not sold in hardware stores. It can be made to order, and its cost will be much higher than its cellophane and cork counterparts. Also, this material is combined with a parquet board, and has served for more than a dozen years.
Which is better: sheets or rolls?
Today, there are two main varieties of auxiliary coating, which is mounted under any floor: a substrate for a laminate sheet and roll. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, so we will briefly consider them now. In the first case, the plates, regardless of their thickness, should be as close to the walls as possible. The distance between them should be extremely minimal, and all joints are treated with waterproof adhesive tape (in extreme cases, you can use tape, but the result will be less quality). Roll sheets begin to be laid from the outer wall, gradually filling the middle of the room. You need to cut off the strips with a small margin, just in case, and if something remains to stick out from under the decorative coating, then it can easily be cut off. In this regard, the question of which substrate under the laminate is better is for you to decide, since these are already issues of not the quality of the material, but the installation process.
Optimal lining thickness
So, we have already learned almost everything about the quality and types of lining for wooden flooring. Now we turn to its aesthetic qualities, namely, to the parameters. Many people, choosing the right material, begin to wonder what thickness of the substrate for the laminate should be in their apartment. Now we will consider this issue in detail. Mostly this size depends on the differences in the floor itself, that is, on the size of its defects. If the depressions have a size of from 2 to 5 millimeters, then an average thickness of 3 mm is suitable. If the irregularities are more significant, then materials with a thickness of up to 8 mm, or even more, can be used. This will level the floor and prevent further sagging of the laminate.
A few tips for laying the substrate
As already described above, many linings do not have a cellophane base, and this is important in conditions of high humidity. Therefore, before installing the material, make sure that this layer is laid, which will prevent the appearance of moisture in the room. An exception are substrates that are already stitched with this material.
Materials such as foil and polystyrene retain heat very well and are inexpensive. Therefore, the linings for the laminate, made on their basis, are often mounted in apartments, where temperatures are always low. Well, of course, it is important to pre-level the floor with a concrete screed, and not to hope that the substrate will take on these functions. The smoother each new layer, the longer the decorative flooring will last.
Little conclusion
Now you know that one of the necessary stages of repair is laying such material as a substrate under the laminate. How to choose, what type of preference and how to mount it - this process can be described in full colors only by the master of the matter, however, how to do all this. The article gave general rules and recommendations regarding these works, which can be used if you make repairs in the house yourself. However, it’s not worth starting such work without experience.