Which substrate should I choose for a laminate?

No matter how beautiful the laminate may look, but if it is uneven or creaks, it spoils all other positive impressions of this floor covering. To make your life more comfortable and remove possible extraneous noise will help a special substrate, which we will continue to talk about.

Types of substrates under the laminate

1. Cork under the laminate . This kind of material refers to natural coatings, which is important when choosing a substrate in a bedroom or a nursery. The plug fits well with mold and rot. It serves for a long time, not bad removes extraneous noise and damages well. The disadvantage is water permeability.
2. Laying a coniferous under the laminate . This material is supplied in the form of a tile. The greenhouse effect does not create it because it allows air to pass through well. Coniferous lining is available in thickness from 4 mm and thicker, which should be taken into account when choosing a material. Also, it is somewhat inferior to the elasticity of the plug.
3. Foamed polypropylene . He is not afraid of moisture and changes in the surface of the floor. The thickness of the material is from 2 mm to 5 mm. The undulating structure of the surface allows a little air to ventilate, which is a positive effect. Disadvantage - under heavy loads, air bubbles burst, and the substrate will deform with time, which reduces its quality.
4. The foil substrate under the laminate . This material is good in that it makes it possible to create an effect comparable to that of a thermos. There are both unilateral foil substrates and two-sided substrates.
5. Styrofoam . This material is durable, withstands significant loads and is capable of smoothing the floor. He also does not miss the moisture. Of the positive qualities, one can still distinguish good thermal insulation.
6. Combined substrates . In the production process of this material, both polystyrene foam and its competitor polyethylene are used. All this allows to increase the useful characteristics of the substrate in the desired direction.

How to choose a substrate for laminate?

The substrate performs the following very important functions:

1. Align the surface . The durability of the locks on the panels largely depends on the fact that on the surface there were no strong differences. The permissible value of this parameter is 2 mm per 1 meter.
2. Protection from moisture . Do not forget that our laminate is made from pressed paper, which does not tolerate a moist environment. This is especially true for cheap material.
3. Protection from cold . If you use surface heating, a substrate with a low thermal conductivity will significantly reduce the efficiency of such a system. There are special materials that should be used for warm floors.

The choice of substrate should be approached carefully. In some cases, great thermal conductivity is not needed, and in others - it is necessary to observe the strictly established thickness of the floor. It often happens that natural materials are not suitable because of the high humidity. We hope that you now know better what substrate to choose for your laminate.