How to level the floor under the laminate 2

Laminate is one of the most commonly used flooring. High quality, strength, ease of assembly, durability - the main qualities of such coatings. However, the laminate is quite a capricious material, because its installation requires a perfectly flat floor surface. In the article we will tell how to level the floor under the laminate with their own hands, as well as demonstrate the video instruction.

A bit about laminate

This flooring was first seen 37 years ago in Sweden. Since its inception, laminate flooring has won the particular love of consumers.

Laminate plates are a floor covering consisting of 4 main layers:

1. The first layer is the base.
2. The main layer of wood board.
3. Decorative coating.
4. The fixing layer protecting a decorative covering from external damages.

There are 4 classes of laminate:

1. For use at home.
2. For use at home with high loads.
3. Coating with a high level of durability for use in public places.
4. Especially strong covering for use on sports facilities.

Alignment

Before you install the laminate, you must achieve a flat surface. Why level the concrete floor?

• Grooves and cracks in the floor surface can cause deformation and failure of the laminate plate.
• Uneven surface creates an uneven load on the coating.
• Laminate, installed on a flat floor surface, has a longer life.
• A coating laid on an uneven floor may creak under load.
• Laminate plates are displaced and rub against each other when they are laid on an uneven base.
• Moisture can penetrate through cavities, potholes and cracks.

Method for determining surface evenness

Before starting work, determine if there are any irregularities on the floor surface. To do this, experts use the following method:

• Determining the level of evenness using a laser level. Work will also require beacons - height indicators. They should be placed around the perimeter of the room. Using a laser level, you can determine the height of the hillocks and protrusions on the floor surface, as well as find out whether there are slopes or slopes on the horizontal surface.
• Work with the rule. This tool helps to find out if there are irregularities on the floor and what size they have.
• If there are no special tools at hand to identify the level of irregularities, you can use the following improvised means: plywood sheet, corner, ruler, straight board.

Preparatory work

To obtain optimal results, it is necessary to calculate in advance the quantity of building materials required.

• To correctly calculate the exact amount of materials, it is necessary to calculate the perimeter and area of ​​the room where the alignment will occur.
• When determining the length and width of the room should also take into account the unevenness of the surface, leave allowances for window and door openings and other projections.
• When calculating should take into account the possible level of surface irregularities. To do this, on each side you need to add 10-20 cm;
• For the proper installation of laminate panels often require their trimming. Therefore, the counting result should be increased by at least 10%.

Work features

Before leveling the wooden floor under the laminate, it is necessary to make a preliminary analysis of the state of the base surface. It depends on which alignment method to choose:

• If, when determining the level of flatness of the floor, it turned out that the skew of the surface is no more than 1.5 cm, the work is performed using a mixture with a self-leveling function.
• If the height of the irregularities is about 0.5 cm, the laminate panel is fixed in a floating way, no additional alignment is necessary.
• If you decide to do without leveling the surface, place the substrate under the panel and make a film to protect it from moisture and steam.
• If the unevenness of the floor has large values ​​of differences, it is necessary to carry out capital work on leveling the surface.

Level the base

There are several effective ways to work. Their choice depends on the material of the floor surface. Consider the most common types of surfaces:

• Concrete base.
• Wooden floor.

Work with concrete surface

The most common type of surface. Unfortunately, it is the concrete base that is most susceptible to destruction. To make the alignment, use the following methods of work:

• Grinding method.
• The use of self-leveling compounds.
• Manufacturing cement screed.
• Use sheets of hardboard or cardboard as a tie.

Grinding method

It is used with a slight level of irregularities. It is carried out with the help of professional equipment. For work, you can invite a team of specialists or perform grinding yourself, taking the equipment for rent.

Note! In rooms with a small area grinding can be carried out using emery paper.

After sanding, the floor surface must be primed or coated with a self-leveling compound.

Self-leveling compounds

Can be used with an irregularity level of up to 5 mm.

The main stages of work:

1. Preparation of the mixture. The maximum time of the performance of the finished mixture - no more than 15 minutes. Therefore, it is recommended to prepare it in small portions.
2. Determining the level of the highest point of the surface and marking the height along the walls.
3. Surface priming.
4. Installation of waterproofing the floor with their own hands.
5. Fill the mixture in small portions. Level the mixture with a spatula.
6. After applying the layer, it is necessary to allow the mixture to harden within one week. It is necessary to exclude the possibility of drafts and sudden changes in temperature.

Cement strainer

This method is recommended when there are significant deviations, the curvature of the floor.

For work, you can use the mixture or prepare it yourself. It should consist of the following ingredients:

• Cement (part 1).
• Coarse sand (3 parts).
• Clean water (3 parts).

The consistency of the resulting solution should resemble thick sour cream.

Stages of work:

1. Installation and marking of the height level along the walls.
2. Installation of lath-beacons on the surface.
3. Between the installed beacons applied ready solution.
4. Cement is leveled with a crossbar.
5. Grouting the surface.
6. Within 24 hours the mixture will dry. Over time, you need to remove the used slats. The holes left after them to close with cement.
7. To give the surface strength, it is necessary to produce its moisture 2 times a day for 28-30 days. During this period there should be no drafts and temperature drops in the room. The surface is recommended to cover with a layer of polyethylene.

Dry screed

One of the popular alignment methods. Allows you to significantly reduce the time of repair work.

1. Preparing the floor surface. Installation design in order to fasten materials.
2. Marking the surface and determining the level of height.
3. Applying a layer of waterproofing.
4. Installation of sheets of hardboard, chipboard, plywood or cardboard.
5. Anchoring materials.

Alignment деревянной поверхности

Consider,. The main work is as follows:

1. From the wooden surface it is necessary to remove all damaged elements and replace them with new ones.
2. Nailing and strengthening the main boards.
3. Installation of a waterproofing layer.
4. Install dry screed using plywood sheets or fiberboard.
5. Conduct surface polishing. It is performed using special equipment.
6. Apply a coat of primer and putty.

The peculiarities of the main stages of work on leveling the floor surface under the laminate can be found by watching the video. 

Video

Alignment пола можно выполнить самостоятельно, для того, чтобы узнать как – смотрите видео: