Which laminate flooring is better

Today, a laminate is often chosen as a flooring - the material is beautiful, wear-resistant, moisture-proof and durable. Laminate mounting technology involves the use of a special substrate. Different types of such linings are presented on the construction market, and the choice of the best option for a simple layman is difficult. What are the substrates and how to be guided when buying, this will be discussed in this publication.

Why do I need a laminate backing

The substrate under the laminate prevents the creaking of lamellas, performs the function of additional heat and sound insulation, extends the life of the coating. This is a kind of damper that dampens fluctuations from the effects of loads and is a shock absorber. The vapor-permeable gasket between the subfloor and the finish coating eliminates small irregularities in the base and acts as a desiccant.

Which laminate flooring is better

Laminate lining, including vinyl, is available in rolls or sheets. There are natural, synthetic and combined options with different technical and operational characteristics.

Popular Views:

  • cork;
  • coniferous;
  • polyethylene foam;
  • polypropylene;
  • EPSP - extruded polystyrene foam;
  • combined - a symbiosis of several materials.

We will analyze each view separately.

Cork backing

The main advantage of such a substrate is environmental friendliness. Non-toxic cork wood laying is used without fear for arranging flooring in a child’s room. The cork is quite durable, has good sound and heat insulation characteristics. The sheet material is resistant to deformation, but is afraid of moisture and is not used on substrates with large differences in height. The service life of the cork layer is twice the life of a cheap laminate, so buying an expensive lining for an inexpensive coating is not practical.

A kind of cork substrate for a laminate on a wooden floor is a bitumen-cork analog. This roll sheet under the laminate is made of kraft paper, which is impregnated with bitumen and sprinkled with fine crumb of a cork tree. Unlike cork, the bitumen-cork layer is moisture resistant.

Coniferous substrate

Coniferous substrate is made of natural wood materials. The raw materials used are waste from woodworking production, in particular sawdust of pine and spruce. The porous structure provides good heat and sound insulation. Coniferous lining material eliminates small roughnesses of the subfloor, acts as a shock absorber, has vapor permeability and absorbs condensate, thus protecting the laminate from getting wet. A product with high technical characteristics in comparison with synthetic rolled analogues is not cheap, but it justifies its price more than justifiably.

ATTENTION! Buying an expensive laminate, do not stint on a high-quality and durable substrate. However, working with such material requires professional skills.

From polyethylene foam

The foam backing is made by foaming polymer. This type of heat and moisture insulation is the cheapest and, accordingly, the most popular for laying on concrete with an average consumer.

Material Advantages:

  • high insulating properties;
  • resistance to any microorganisms, in particular to mold and fungus;
  • unattractive as food for rodents;
  • simplicity in work - it is easily cut with tailor's scissors.

IMPORTANT! A negative factor when choosing this material is instability to deformation. In just a couple of years, polyethylene foam is flattened, as a result of which its shock-absorbing properties disappear.

Made of polypropylene

A polypropylene substrate, consisting of a huge number of air bubbles, deforms even faster than the previous counterpart. In areas of high traffic, the material becomes thinner, and differences in height appear on the coating. Roll material, unlike sheet material, is more convenient to install, since when using it there is no need to fasten the pieces with tape. Waste is minimal, and a flexible film is cut with scissors. The undoubted advantage of the polypropylene substrate for the apartment is its moisture resistance.

Extruded Polystyrene Roll

The substrate in rolls of extruded (foamed) polystyrene is the best option for the layer between the concrete base and the laminated coating. The material has good cushioning, high sound absorption, eliminates small errors of the subfloor.

The porous structure of expanded polystyrene is capable of absorbing moisture, preventing condensation from settling on the lamellas. The use of this material eliminates the need for a waterproofing membrane.

Combined

Combined is a mixed version consisting of expanded polystyrene and polyethylene. This is a roll of material from 3 layers - polystyrene foam balls enclosed between 2 differently functional layers of plastic film. The top layer of polyethylene prevents moisture from getting inside the material, and the bottom layer has vapor permeability and allows condensate to escape through compensation gaps.

IMPORTANT! It looks like a simple, but in fact high-tech material that protects the laminate from getting wet and extends the life of the floor covering.

Advantages of combination gaskets:

  • flexibility - able to take any form of foundation;
  • durability - does not decay, does not crack;
  • resistance to pathogenic microflora - not afraid of mold and fungi;
  • acts as a level of base errors.

How to choose a substrate for underfloor heating

When installing a warm floor, the substrate is given special attention. The material must have good thermal conductivity, so "anyhow" option is not suitable here. The perforated membrane has high heat-conducting characteristics, which, along with other functions (shock absorption, sound insulation, moisture protection), freely transmits heat.

As a cushioning layer when installing a warm floor, you can use OSB-plates - sheets with a size of 250 × 120 cm. The average price of a plate with a thickness of 0.9 cm is 500 r. Other common options are unfolded polyethylene or corrugated board.

Watch the video: Laminate Flooring: Best Laminate Flooring 2019 Buying Guide (March 2024).

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