2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-24 22:24
- The importance of a flat floor
- Concrete surface
- Application of cement-sand mortar
- Wooden base
After buying a laminate flooring, you should also think about the condition of the subfloor. It is the laminate that is very picky about all parameters of evenness. Not only the process of laying the floor covering will depend on the initial surface, but also its durability and operational period. Preparatory work should be given special attention so that the effectiveness of the work done is great. Preparation will depend not only on the chosen method of carrying out the work, but also on the type of foundation, which will require certain recommendations. So you should decide in advance on what kind of floor for the laminate is in the room.
The importance of a flat floor
If the rough base in the room does not meet all the requirements of the laminate, the first thing that will fail is the locks.
At differences in floor heights, the locks will not be in a clear horizontal position, and when walking on the floor, they will be constantly exposed to the effect, bending from side to side. Over the course of a short time, individual elements will come out of the locks and will be noticeable, extraneous sounds will begin to appear, and the appearance will change for the worse.
A poorly prepared base will also adversely affect the laid laminate. Existing planks with rot, as well as emerging microorganisms, will transfer excess moisture to the flooring. The same applies to the concrete surface, if there are even minor cracks or potholes, protrusions, pits or other defects in it. They should be disposed of so that the laminate can confidently serve a long period of time.
The leveling process itself will depend on what kind of base will be located under the laminate and how the surface is prepared for laying the floor covering. The most basic question should be clarified - which floor is better to use under the laminate to preserve all the qualities and characteristics of the floor covering.
Concrete surface
Concrete quality can vary. Sometimes only minor differences in floor level will be visible, and sometimes noticeable cracks, potholes, delamination will appear. In each of these cases, the method of work used will also differ. But even here you should be aware of how to quickly level the floor under the laminate.
When the floor surface has differences of no more than 5 mm per square meter in the room, then self-leveling mixtures are usually used. Before pouring it, you should completely remove all debris and dust from the base, using even a construction vacuum cleaner.
Do not forget to treat the surface with a deep-penetrating primer, which will increase the level of adhesion of the subsequent pouring with the base. Before pouring, the highest point in the room is determined using the level. It is she who will be the starting point for pouring the solution, so that the mixture is evenly distributed over the entire rest of the surface.
The solution should be created from a ready-made mixture, which can be found in absolutely any hardware store. It is on the packaging that there is an instruction according to which kneading is done to fill the floor in the apartment under the laminate. No lumps should be in the finished solution, since all this will negatively affect the final quality.
After pouring, a spatula is used, with which the final distribution of the self-leveling mixture on the surface occurs. It remains only to walk with a special needle roller to get rid of the air bubbles that have appeared. If this is not done, so-called "craters" will appear on the surface in a short time, indicating that the floor in the apartment was filled with poor quality under the laminate.
Within a day, the mixture begins to harden. But you should forget about laying the laminate for a few more days, so that excess moisture can leave the solution.
Application of cement-sand mortar
The base under the laminate is not always of such high quality that it is enough to use self-leveling mixtures. Often it is necessary, if not to dismantle the old concrete screed, then to bring it into proper condition.
Much more work will have to be done here. Initially, we get rid of excess debris, knock down significant protrusions, remove damaged areas and areas of screed delamination. Old paint must be completely removed. The same goes for oil stains. In some cases, in order not to waste a lot of time, it is easier to carry out a complete dismantling up to the floor slab.
When all these steps are completed, the surface should be covered with a layer of primer to increase the level of adhesion. It is very difficult for a novice builder to fill the solution without beacons on his own. For this reason, they are distributed over the entire floor surface in the room. Usually, ordinary mortar beacons are made, which in the future can not even be removed, since they cannot bring any harm.
After placing the lighthouses, a mixture is prepared according to the proportions of all components, and its even distribution is made with a spatula over the surface. As for the thickness of the fill layer for leveling the base for laying the laminate, the optimal height will be 30-50 mm. But even here the surface quality will play a significant role.
It is possible to lay the laminate on such a cake only when the leveling layer is completely dry. Usually this time is 28-30 days. Previously, no specialist recommended starting work, since there is a large amount of moisture in the screed, which can negatively affect the flooring itself. In addition, you will need another layer of self-leveling mixture to finally give the floor horizontally.
Wooden base
The base of the floor made of wood has its own characteristics when preparing it for the subsequent laying of the laminate. First of all, you should evaluate his condition. There may be times when it will be enough just to sand the surface and start working on the flooring. In this case, it will be very cheap to level the floor under the laminate. But most often you have to replace the boards with new ones, since they are already out of order. But such work does not require much effort, even a novice builder can handle it.
Attention is paid to underfloor utilities. It is best to check their condition and, if necessary, replace the pipes and wiring with a new one, so as not to later access the elements after laying the laminate.
To avoid damage to all subsequent layers under the laminate, as well as to create a flat surface, the caps of screws or nails must be completely sunk. There should be no protrusions. After that, puttying and additional grinding of the sub-floor in the room are performed.
Heat should not escape from the room, under any circumstances. For this purpose, a layer of insulation is laid under the floor covering. There are a large number of its options. The specific option will depend on the location of the room relative to other floors and heated or unheated rooms.
If there is no point in leveling the wooden base due to its old age and severe deterioration, then it is best to remove it completely to the floor slab and create a new surface, even, specially designed for laying laminate flooring.
There are a huge number of ways to level the floor under the laminate. The most important thing in this case is to choose exactly what will meet not only the quality of the base, but also the requirements. It is not always possible to carry out additional pouring of a concrete screed or to lay plywood sheets for horizontal position, since this will all reduce the distance from the ceiling to the floor.
The negative manifestation of such actions is constriction and the feeling of a "falling ceiling", since it will be much closer to the human body. The best option for a poor foundation is to dismantle up to the floor slab and start from scratch. In this case, you can even win a few in centimeters and create a completely different design from the one that was previously. Moreover, here you can choose the appropriate type of laminate with coloring, any color and shade.
Everyone must decide for himself what is best to do in order not only to save money, but also to get a high-quality foundation in the end. To do this, you can make concrete pouring under the laminate, up to the removal of old boards, or leave the wooden base as a "foundation". In each case, the list of work performed will differ. As for the laminate, for a start it is best to carry out high-quality preparation work, create an initial microclimate at the proper level for the floor covering, both from the side of the room and the subfloor.
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