How To Choose The Right Substrate For Laminate, Which Is Better Cork Or Expanded Polystyrene

2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 07:54

• Purpose of the substrate
• Underlay functions
• Lining types
• Laying technology
• Video advice for choosing the best substrate for laminate

Laminate is a new high quality floor covering that meets many requirements. But it will correctly perform its functions only with proper compliance with the technology of its laying, which consists not only in preparing the base, but also in the type of lining material. And what kind of substrate to choose for a laminate depends on the type of subfloor and its additional functions. For example, heating.

Purpose of the substrate

The substrate fulfills a wide variety of functions by its intended purpose. Although, it would seem, a substrate is necessary in order to put everything under something. It's not so simple, because the base material can be any: concrete, old wood covering, tiles, etc. All this accordingly requires a certain lining material, but there is one requirement that each of them must strictly fulfill - ventilation. Accordingly, the best underlay for your laminate flooring is one that provides good ventilation for both the subfloor itself and the topcoat. Why ventilation is needed, probably, it is not worth specifying, but it will still be appropriate to recall. It is necessary for the drying of the coating and the subfloor from condensation, possible dampness and beauty. Thus, excluding the possibility of the appearance of fungus,mold and other dislike. All this not only destructively affects the laminate itself, but is also very dangerous for human health, who will breathe in the spores of these harmful formations.

Underlay functions

In addition to ventilation, the lining material performs several other important functions:

1. Noise isolation. The second most important function, which, like nothing else, is important for a quiet life. Laminate is a very dense material that will be a good conductor of sounds generated on its surface. Due to its dense structure, it will be transmitted to the reinforced concrete slab, which is also a good conductor and at the same time a resonator, amplifying the sound many times over.
2. Smoothing out small irregularities. Any lining under the laminate has a soft and at the same time elastic structure of the material, which makes it possible to compensate for all pits and protrusions, creating an ideal front surface.

If you have an unpleasant creak or floor bends, then advice on how to eliminate laminate creaks will help you.

Lining types

There are several types of laminate substrates on the market. Each of them has its own specific purpose. Unfortunately, without it, laying the coating is impossible, because its perforated type is not on sale, and is not planned for production. In addition, such a floor will not become a decorative and protective coating, but a torment for housewives.

So, today the following types of lining materials are on sale:

• expanded polystyrene;
• bung;
• cork rubber or bitumen-cork.

The most common use is precisely expanded polystyrene under the laminate. Why? Because it is a closed cell extruded material. In addition, it is one of the cheapest used for flooring. It has the following properties:

• not subject to decay and crumbling over time;
• has no interest in rodents and parasites;
• resistant to moisture.

In addition, the expanded polystyrene laminate backing retains heat surprisingly well. Due to its resistance to humid environments, it can be used on any substrate: wood, tiles, bare concrete, etc. To increase the effect of heat transfer and accumulation, a layer of foil is laid that reflects infrared rays (directly heat itself), concentrating them in the inner space of the room.

Also, the expanded polystyrene substrate will not change its geometric dimensions and thickness with prolonged exposure. This is primarily due to the dense structure that can withstand heavy loads. That makes it possible and necessary to use it in rooms with high traffic and high noise levels, because the porosity of the material effectively isolates the sounds generated when walking on the laminate, even in heels.

The next type is a cork backing for a laminate. It is a material of natural origin and mechanical processing. It is an excellent heat insulator, even more so than the first option. Also, the material, having a sufficiently high longitudinal strength, will become an excellent basis for a floating floor. At the same time, it will not lose its shape and will not stop performing its direct functions. Laminate cork backing is not subject to decay and mold. As a high-quality material, cork bark lining is highly sustainable. This makes it possible to use it in premises of any type of purpose: kitchen, bedroom, living room, etc.

Being a good thermal insulator, the cork substrate has rather low ventilation characteristics, due to which condensation can form on the lower surface of the laminate. The second disadvantage of this material is its high cost, which makes it impractical to use it with cheap coatings.

The next type of backing material is the rubber cork backing. Due to the production technology, it has improved air exchange rates in the space under and above the cover. For its production, kraft paper impregnated with bitumen is used. In general, this material has good waterproofing properties. Pieces of cork with sizes from 2 to 3 mm are glued to the upper surface, which, in fact, provides the necessary exchange. By its very nature, cork rubber is the most suitable material for laminate backing. But there is also a disadvantage, which is its high cost.

Considering all of the above options, choosing a lining material is not so difficult. But one should take into account the properties of the material from which each substrate for the laminate is made, which one is better, it will help to understand its stability parameters and characteristics.

If the substrate for the laminate is correctly selected, a warm floor is guaranteed. After all, the health of the whole family depends on this. In addition, all considered types of substrates can be used in conjunction with floor heating systems.

The main criterion for choosing a material is the thickness of the substrate. Parameters such as thermal insulation and sound insulation directly depend on it.

Laying technology

To ensure a comfortable living and a perfectly flat floor surface, the underlay should be laid using the appropriate technology. The first and main condition for laying the material is its location across the direction of the laminate boards. This allows the floor to provide the greatest strength and resistance to heavy loads. The second condition for compliance with the technology is waterproofing. For this, a layer of polyethylene film must be laid under the substrate, if such is not provided on the substrate itself. It is also very effective to use foil. It will not only become a waterproofing agent, but also an excellent heat reflector.

Laying the cork underlay under the laminate consists in its ideal joining without overlaps with gluing the edges using double-sided tape. In this case, the tape is glued to the sub floor. Along the edges of the walls, it is necessary to leave a distance that will be an outlet for moisture when it accumulates under the substrate. This is taken into account when using any of the types of materials.

If extruded polystyrene foam is used under the laminate as a substrate, then it is necessary to settle its sheets diagonally to the direction of the front covering elements. This makes it possible to counteract the movement of the floor under loads. Styrofoam sheets should be stacked in a checkerboard pattern, excluding the possibility of coincidence of joints with the coating. The effective thickness of this material is 3 mm, which ensures its necessary stability.

Before laying any type of substrate, it is necessary to level the substrate as efficiently as possible. This will allow fewer problems when laying the laminate and then using the floor.

Today, extruded polystyrene foam substrate for laminate is one of the most popular and affordable due to its high performance in mechanical stress on compression and resistance to humid environments. Its thickness depends on the type of roughness in the rough ground. The more there are, the thicker the material should be.

Video advice for choosing the best substrate for laminate