What substrate to choose under the laminate 2

One of the most popular flooring today is laminate. This material has an optimal cost with a sufficiently long service life. It is beautiful, aesthetic, easy to install and maintain. All these qualities of laminate make it a worthy replacement for classic parquet.

Before you close the floors in the room finishing materials, you should first think about which substrate to choose under the laminate.

The substrate is an insulating layer between the floor and the floor, protecting it from deformation, which can occur under the action of dampness. The fact is that the laminate, like parquet, is made of different wood species, wood fiber boards (Fibreboard), fine fraction (MDF). For all their merits, these natural materials have several drawbacks: they warp from moisture and drying out, swell up, crack under the influence of aggressive media. The use of the substrate significantly mitigates these disadvantages.

The advantages of using an insulating layer do not end there. Sheets of finishing material tend to sag and sag. It creates the feeling of "playing sex."

Note! The substrate, which is made of springy material, in this case serves as a kind of shock absorber between the solid base and the laminate plates, reducing the amplitude of vibrations. The material from which the substrate is made, perfectly absorbs sound, so that, along with moisture insulation, it can perform the function of sound insulation.

How to choose:

• the main function of the substrate is a damper, i.e., preventing vibrations;
• thanks to the volume layer, which has the substrate material, the defects of the subfloor are smoothed
• Most of the canvases of the substrate have high moisture-proof properties;
• with an extra layer, the floor becomes much warmer.

For the production of substrates used different raw materials, so they are natural and artificial (polymeric). 

Substrates from natural materials

Natural substrates are composed of wood of different species. The material is environmentally friendly, harmless (does not cause allergic reactions), does not have a strong odor. Most often for the manufacture of such substrates used raw materials of conifers or cork.

Such material well muffles the sound and absorbs the coating under load. The natural substrate is distinguished by the fact that the thicker it is, the better its protective properties. The height of the layer can reach 5 mm.

The advantages of natural substrates.

1. The canvas, made of coniferous breeds, is implemented in the form of layers of greenish hue. The sizes depend on the manufacturer and may be different. Such a substrate has a high wear resistance and strength, is considered a good insulating material. Not deformed by moisture.
2. Balsa wood is sold in rolls. It has all the qualities of a material of coniferous wood, and sound insulation parameters are somewhat higher. It is used in the decoration of sleeping areas and children's rooms.
3. In the market of finishing materials, bitumen-cork products are also in demand, which are produced and sold in rolls. The paper base is covered with bitumen, and the top is sprinkled with crumb, the diameter of which is equal to two millimeters. The thickness of such a substrate does not exceed five millimeters. The advantage of the material is that it provides continuous ventilation between the floor and the laminate, and this prevents the accumulation of condensate.

Disadvantages of substrates of natural material.

1. The high cost of the material often makes it inaccessible to the average consumer. The natural substrate has a price higher than the artificial one, about 50%.
2. Natural coatings do not like uneven concrete screeds, which sin the floor. A drop of 1.5 mm for every 2–3 meters of surface is allowed. Otherwise the laminate will sag, and its seams will disperse very quickly.

Note! The unique properties of pressed cork sheet substrates allow them to serve for a very long time without changing the original shape. But the parameters of the density of the material do not allow to use it on an uneven basis (the discrepancy is more than 2 mm). For such substrates, the surface should be almost perfectly aligned.

Types of artificial substrates

Substrates under the laminate are of several types, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Izolonovaya

Foamed polyethylene and izolon is a cheap and lightweight material that is not afraid of damp. It can be laid using only scotch tape. The canvas has high noise absorbing properties. The disadvantage of this type of substrate are low depreciation qualities and durability. Unable to withstand the load, the isolon is very quickly compressed and crushed, losing its pomp.

Advantages of isolon as an insulating material:

• can serve as a waterproofing layer between the floor and the floor;
• has a small weight and easy to install;
• the cost of the material is quite low and affordable;
• prevents the appearance of mold.

Disadvantages of the isolon substrate:

• fast deformation under load;
• low strength of the material (quickly breaks).

Polystyrene

This is a two-layer substrate, which has an optimal cost and consists of polystyrene and aluminum foil. Two layers of material, interconnected, perfectly interact. Polystyrene is simple in styling and care, it has a good volume when filling the space between the floor and the laminate and high moisture resistance. It should be remembered that when laying the canvas layer of foil must necessarily be on top. The material is docked with special plates of aluminum stanoli.

Advantages of polystyrene:

• excellent waterproof properties;
• prevents the appearance of mold and mildew;
• has an optimal price with good quality characteristics.

Extruded polystyrene foam

An example of this type of layer can serve as a substrate of extruded polystyrene under the laminate - Izoshum and Teplon. The material has a higher strength than ordinary polystyrene. Maintains significant loads. It is made and sold in the form of plates.

The material is considered the most environmentally friendly among artificial analogues and is widely used in residential premises. In addition, he perfectly hides the irregularities of the concrete surface.

Nontraditional materials

In modern construction are gaining popularity substrate developed by the manufacturers themselves on the basis of their existing materials. Their quality characteristics and performance properties are not inferior to well-known brands. For example, a new generation of laminate substrates are:

• polymer porous mass from Silent System;
• polystyrene foam sheets;
• fibreboard from Uni-softboard.

These materials are not yet fully utilized, so it is not yet possible to clearly define their main advantages and disadvantages. According to consumer reviews, such substrates have the right to exist and are in demand in the building materials market.

Tuplex Material (дуплекс)

The idea of ​​a three-millimeter substrate is that between two layers of polyethylene there is a filling of polystyrene foam granules. This structure of the substrate makes it possible to completely remove moisture from the concrete and prevent the appearance of fungus and mold. Tuplex has excellent technical characteristics. The disadvantage of the material is that the manufacturers of laminate and floorboard, impose strict requirements on the covering film (200 microns) if you do not use a proprietary substrate with moisture insulation properties.

The high price of Tuplex and the presence of similar characteristics of cheaper material make the substrate less popular than extruded polystyrene foam.

From technical traffic jams

Cork, as a substrate for laminate, has the best cushioning properties. This material is practically not wrinkled and perfectly absorbs sound. Loads are not able to change the shape of such a layer. The canvas from the technical tube is implemented in rolls, which is an advantage when laying (uniform rolling). The disadvantage of the material is its instability to moisture and moisture. Additional measures should be taken before laying it under the laminate: cover with water-repellent composition or material. As a mixture of coating suitable bitumen mastic. A rubber or polyethylene are good waterproofing material that does not have unpleasant odors. 

Pluses cork substrate:

• in the cork coating there are no chlorine and freon impurities completely, which makes it ecological and safe;
• durability and wear resistance;
• high depreciation properties.

Cons technical traffic jams:

• low moisture resistance, which makes it more suitable for surfaces that are not exposed to dampness;
• treatment with antiseptics and an additional waterproofing coating are necessary;
• имеет высокую the cost.

Bitumen based

The bituminous substrate is a new material in the construction market, which is rapidly gaining popularity. Its success provides good sound insulation and heat insulation, as well as high moisture resistance.

The disadvantage of the material is a high content of formaldehyde in bitumen mastic, which is the basis of the substrate. This characteristic has called into question its existence in the markets of many countries. In Russia, this fact is trying not to advertise.

Specifications

What characteristics are priority when choosing:

• Performance properties. Durability and reliability - the main parameters of the substrate.
• Easy and simple installation. The easier the substrate is laid, the longer it will last.
• Compliance with the thickness of the material (2-3 mm), ensures the absence of excessive depreciation.
• Optimum values ​​of cost and quality.

Do not rely on the fact that the thick substrate reliably hide the unevenness of the floor, and the laminate will last a long time. As is already clear, all types of substrate are compressed, crushed, this property of the interlayer will lead to premature deformation of the covering material. Therefore, before doing finishing work, it is necessary to carefully and carefully prepare the surface, filling up all the potholes and irregularities.

You should also take into account the fact that the instability of the coating, which are uneven load will lead to deformation of the gaps between the joints of the laminate. If the substrate layer is too thick, the seam width between the joints will be about 5 mm. This state of affairs will indicate poorly laid laminate. The ideal substrate layer is 3 mm. The allowable floor height difference is no more than two millimeters, since the laminate does not tolerate an uneven surface.

Advice from manufacturers

• The choice of substrate should be made carefully and carefully. It is undesirable to use "handicraft" canvases. The substrate must be marked that it has been successfully tested in the manufacturer’s company (brand name). In another case, the client will be denied a claim to the product. This rule often does not apply to cork substrate from Portugal or made from extruded polystyrene foam.
• If the thickness of the insulating layer exceeds 3 millimeters, the claim will also be denied.
• The combination of substrates is also unacceptable.
• The substrate under the laminate, regardless of its properties and characteristics, fits the junction, the strips are tightly fixed with adhesive tape.

We lay the substrate under the laminate

The algorithm for performing work on the laying of plates and mats coniferous substrate:

1. Before laying, it is necessary to clean the leveling surface of the subfloor from debris (you can vacuum it).
2. Perpendicular to the window (light source) fits the first row of the substrate. It does not matter what angle to start.
3. Departing from the junction of the reservoir of the first row of about 40 cm, fit the second layer (like bricks).
4. About 5 cm of material overlaps the walls, the rest is cut off after laying the laminate.
5. The material on the seams is fixed with adhesive tape (tape), indented approximately 20-25 cm from the end of the mat.
6. The laminate flooring is performed after laying and fixing two strips.

There is no need for laying all layers of the substrate at once. It can lose its protective properties because in the process of laying laminate its layers will be broken by shoes and falling tools. It should cover the area of ​​approximately 2-3 rows of laminate.

It is very important to know that with residual moisture on cement screeds, the surface should be covered with polyethylene, and only after that should the work begin.

Choosing a substrate, you should pay attention to two factors:

• material characteristics;
• the cost.

The construction market offers a huge range of diverse materials. Therefore, applying quite a bit of effort, everyone will be able to choose a substrate with optimal parameters of price and quality.

Video

This video describes the different substrates and their styling method: