Which substrate is better for laminate? Substrate under the laminate is coniferous. Substrate under the laminate - how to choose?

When the repair is already coming to an end, it's time to lay the floor covering. Most often these days people prefer a material such as laminate, which is universal, looks very neat and beautiful and can last for several decades. However, before this wonderful coating is on your floor, you need, as they say, to prepare the soil so that it will be more firmly entrenched. This is where the question arises: what substrate under the laminate is better, what should be its thickness, and what material should it be made of.

A brief description of the substrate

Before we begin to compare the different types of this "underground" layer, we will understand what it is. After all, 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 coupler in some places compensates for this disadvantage, however, when laying the decorative coating over time, irregularities will begin to be squeezed under the weight of the tenants of the apartment and furniture. The substrate in this case performs a damping function and does not allow the laminate to sink in places where there are small depressions or cracks. Also this coating performs soundproofing function. That is, those noises that come to you from the neighbors from above will be less noticeable due to this auxiliary floor layer.

Additional substrate functions

If you still have doubts about whether you need a laminate substrate, then carefully consider its following properties. First, this additional layer allows you to keep more heat in the apartment. At the same time, it does not let the cold pass, thus serves as a heat insulator. The substrate will become an additional conductor of heat if your house has a warm floor, and if there is no such system, it will simply give the room more coziness. An important function of this material is also the protection of wood from moisture. It absorbs most of the evaporation, so that the sensitivity to water in the laminate is markedly reduced. This allows this floor covering to last longer for you and does not deteriorate ahead of time. And now, in order for you to understand which substrate is best for a laminate, we provide a list of all existing coatings that can be used for repair.

The material is the backbone 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 an absolutely insignificant thickness. It is worth remembering that this material can be mounted exclusively under the laminate, and it is strictly forbidden to combine it with a parquet board. The price for this coverage is extremely affordable, so it is often used during budget repairs of an apartment or for arranging an office space. The fact that this "foil" is very sensitive to mechanical damage, so often under the laminate in the case of its laying emptiness. Nevertheless, the material performs a cushioning and isolating function, so it is in great demand.

Cork canvas - one of the best choices

One of the most common types of "underground" coatings is a cork substrate for a laminate. The price of this material is quite affordable for everyone, and its quality is high enough. Therefore, cork rolls diverge from the shelves of building stores quickly, and in apartments they serve very long and qualitatively. It is worth noting that this material is combined not only with laminate, but also with a parquet board, but it can not be mounted if the apartment is equipped with a warm floor. This is due to the fact that the cork coating has low vapor barrier properties, and moisture, which 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 substrate under the laminate will serve you for a long time. The price for such a substrate will fluctuate in the range of 150-300 rubles per square meter, which is quite affordable in our time.

Parkolag-rolls - a lot of warmth and comfort

Now let's talk about how thick and thick the substrate under the laminate should be . How to choose exactly the option that will ideally absorb the floor covering and does not take a lot of free space? The answer is simple - you need to give preference to a coating such as parcolag, 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 budgetary versions represent a dense and at the same time elastic web, insensitive to mechanical damage. This is a substrate for a laminate of 3 mm thick, so that the coating perfectly level the floor and prevent further deformation of the laminate. It also has excellent vapor barrier properties, due to which the tree retains its qualities better. However, it is worth remembering that on top of this kraft paper you need to apply a thin layer of bitumen, which in the first time after repair will emit a characteristic smell.

Tuplex is a repair brand that will fix all mistakes

For over a year now, all builders have been saying that the best substrate for laminate flooring is a tuplex that is sold in rolls. This material has no specific name, so it is called according to the manufacturer, but this does not make it worse. It is a multilayer film, the thickness of which does not exceed three millimeters. Cellophane layers are located on the outer edges of the coating, and polystyrene granules are contained in the middle . Thanks to this simple structure, this coating perfectly preserves 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 tupleks, does not allow moisture, so the board remains in full safety. It is noteworthy that this material can also be laid on a damp screed, if it is necessary to finish repairs urgently. Over time, the moisture from the concrete will be absorbed into the substrate, and this problem will be eliminated.

Natural materials are the most expensive

But from more respectable and expensive coatings, there is a substrate for softwood laminate made of natural raw materials. 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", simultaneously performs heat insulation and soundproofing properties, and also absorbs all unnecessary moisture, thereby prolonging the life of the tree. However, the substrate for coniferous laminate is not sold in construction stores. It can be made to order, and its cost will be much higher than that of its cellophane and cork counterparts. Also this material is combined with a parquet board, and has served more than a dozen years.

Which is better: sheets or rolls?

Today there are two main types of auxiliary coating, which is mounted under any floor: a substrate for laminate sheet and roll. Each of them has its own merits and demerits, so we will now briefly consider them. In the first case, the plates, regardless of their thickness, should be as close as possible to the walls. The distance between them should be extremely minimal, and all joints are treated with an adhesive waterproof tape (in extreme cases you can use scotch, but the result will be less quality). Rolled linens begin to be laid from the extreme wall, gradually filling the middle of the room. Cut the stripes with a small margin, just in case, and if something remains sticking out from under the decorative coating, it can easily be cut off. In this regard, the question of what kind of substrate under the laminate is better, it's up to you, since these are already issues not of the quality of the material, but of the editing process.

Optimum lining thickness

So, about the quality and types of lining under the wooden flooring, we have almost all learned. Now we turn to its aesthetic qualities, namely, to the parameters. Many people, choosing the right material, begin to wonder about the thickness of the substrate under the laminate should be in their apartment. Now we will consider this issue in detail. Mostly this size depends on the differences of the sex itself, that is, on the size of its defects. If the cavities have a value of 2 to 5 millimeters, then a coating with an average thickness of 3 mm is suitable. If the irregularities are more significant, then materials can be used, the thickness of which is up to 8 mm, and even more. This will allow you to level the floor and prevent further subsidence of the laminate.

Some tips for laying the substrate

As already described above, many pads do not have a cellophane backing, which 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. Exceptions are the substrates that are already stitched with this material.

Such materials as foil and polystyrene, perfectly retain heat and at the same time are inexpensive. Therefore, the linings for the laminate, made on their basis, are often mounted in apartments, where there are always low temperatures. And, of course, it is important to pre-level the floor with a concrete screed, and not to hope that these functions will assume the substrate. The smoother is each new layer, the longer you will have a decorative floor covering.

A small conclusion

Now you know that one of the necessary stages of repair is the laying of such material as the substrate under the laminate. How to choose which type to give preference and how to mount it - this process in full colors can only describe the master of this case, however, as well as perform all this. The article provided general rules and recommendations for these works, which can be used if you are doing repairs in the house yourself. However, all the same, it is not necessary to proceed to such works without experience.