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What kind of substrate to buy under the laminate

This WordPress post provides an overview of the different types of substrates available to buy for use with laminate flooring. It emphasizes the many advantages of using a high-quality substrate, such as greater durability, increased sound insulation, and a more consistent overall finish. It also provides key information on selecting the right type of substrate for the job, ensuring optimal performance and an outstanding result. With the right substrate, you can rest assured that your laminate flooring will look and feel fantastic for years to come.

What kind of substrate to buy under the laminate

Let’s first figure out exactly what functions a laminate underlay should perform and why it is so important:

  1. Soundproofing. Without a backing, that is, underlayment under the laminate, the floors will emit a booming thud when walking. Your downstairs neighbors will even hear the clatter of the dog’s claws, and children’s games in the apartment will turn into a scandal. And it will be unpleasant for ourselves to constantly hear a knock when walking around the house. A soft and even underlay layer is designed to hide all small noise.
  2. Thermal insulation. The substrate has thermal insulation properties, the floor is warmer. For this reason, when installing a warm floor, you should choose a special type of substrate..
  3. Moisture insulation. We wrote about how the laminate is arranged and the features of its choice. Recall that this floor covering contains pressed paper, for this reason, even moisture-resistant options are afraid of high humidity. The underlay will block the access of moisture from the concrete floor.
  4. Leveling the base. The substrate is capable of leveling small irregularities in the floor screed, which is important for laminate locks that last longer on a perfectly flat surface.

What kind of substrate to buy under the laminate

Now let’s talk about the types of underlays. In the first place will be the most inexpensive and therefore quite popular polyethylene foam. Such a substrate has good heat and sound insulation properties, is not afraid of rodents and microorganisms. Polyethylene foam is very easy to install, fast and effortless. However, after three years of service, the cheap synthetic material may shrink and lose its properties. The price of a roll of foamed polyethylene for 25 square meters can be only 400 rubles, there are more expensive options.

What kind of substrate to buy under the laminate

Expanded polystyrene. This is already a much more reliable option, the foam polystyrene substrate is able to withstand heavy loads, and because of its good sound insulation properties it is often called “quiet running”. Sold in rolls up to 1 mm thick or in plates. The price of one square meter of 5 mm thick expanded polystyrene backing can be about 120 rubles.

What kind of substrate to buy under the laminate

Bung. Many laminate manufacturers do not get tired of “singing praises” to a cork substrate. In fact, we admit that this is an environmentally friendly, strong, durable material, which is most often found in children’s rooms and bedrooms as a substrate for laminate flooring. The cork is not afraid of mold and decay, it retains heat well. However, the cork is water-permeable, that is, condensation may appear under the coating. When choosing corks as a substrate, be sure to lay polyethylene on the concrete floor. The price of a ten-meter roll of technical cork with a width of 1 meter and a thickness of 2 mm will be about 1,500 rubles.

What kind of substrate to buy under the laminate

A bitumen-cork substrate can be distinguished separately. It consists of a layer of kraft paper with the addition of bitumen and a layer of fine cork chips. More resistant to moisture than just cork backing. Such material is good at delaying sounds. The price of 15 running meters of a bitumen-cork substrate 3 mm thick will be about 1,700 rubles.

What kind of substrate to buy under the laminate

Coniferous substrate. A novelty that has not yet received such widespread acceptance as other options. Environmentally friendly, breathable, but not as resilient as cork. In addition, the thickness of wood fiber tiles is from 4 to 6 millimeters, that is, the layer is thicker than in almost all the options we have described. The price of a square meter of a coniferous substrate is about 110 rubles.

Experts advise you to first choose a laminate, and then find out what kind of substrate the manufacturer advises to use for it. Correlate the noise insulation properties of the substrate, its heat-saving properties and the cost of the material. If you have a perfectly flat screed, then you can ignore the thickness of the substrate. If your floors are cold or the audibility through the ceilings is significant, then pay attention to a thick substrate, possibly from cork. For a thin laminate, you should not choose a backing made of thick polyethylene foam, over time it will sag and the laminate will disperse.

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Comments: 2
  1. Owen Foster

    Can someone please advise on the type of substrate that should be purchased to go under laminate flooring? I’m a bit confused and I want to make sure I choose the right one for the best results. Any recommendations or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

    Reply
    1. Nova Matthews

      When choosing a substrate for laminate flooring, it’s important to consider factors like moisture resistance, sound insulation, and smoothness. One commonly recommended option is high-density foam underlayment as it provides good support and noise reduction. A vapor barrier may also be required for concrete subfloors to prevent moisture issues. Additionally, make sure the substrate is compatible with the specific type and thickness of the laminate flooring being installed. Consulting with a flooring professional or following the manufacturer’s recommendations can help ensure you make the right choice for optimal results.

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