The underlayment is an inconspicuous, but important auxiliary element of the overall design, on which noise and heat insulation, evenness and durability of the flooring depend. When using laminate flooring, it is the underlayment that can reduce the load on the material and give it additional benefits. An overview of the best laminate underlays and a rating of popular products is presented in the material.
Content:
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Underlay features
Laminate underlayment or underlayment is a thin material (most often synthetic) that is placed between the floor screed and the top coat. Its optimal thickness is 2.5–3 mm. If you choose a layer thicker, then folds and deflections form at the joints of individual elements.
The substrate is designed to dampen the load on the locks of the laminate elements, thereby extending its service life.
Laminate refers to floating, that is, not fixed to the base, floor coverings. The substrate under it performs the following functions:
- Levels unevenness (hollows and bumps) on the surface. The laminate, laid immediately on the screed, after a while begins to sag in some places and rise in others. Such backlashes lead to the creak of individual elements and their rapid wear.
- dampens floor vibrations caused by walking on it or the propagation of sound waves, noise
- Enhances the soundproofing of the room. Neither a concrete screed nor thin laminate panels delay noise, so without a buffer layer, all sounds in the apartment will be heard in the next room and from the neighbors below
- Retains extra warmth which, due to the interlayer, does not go into concrete
- Makes the laminate resistant to moisture. An additional underlay function that maintains a microclimate for both the screed and the back of the laminate. Prevents the formation of condensate and deformation of the coating from moisture
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Strength and resistance to deformation are important parameters of the buffer layer under the laminate
A reliable buffer layer between the screed and the laminate should:
- have high thermal insulation properties
- prevent condensation and moisture absorption
- have bactericidal properties
- do not react with alkalis (contained in concrete)
- extinguish the load on the locks connecting the flooring elements to each other
- prevent the development of bacteria and fungus
- do not change the thickness and initial properties during operation
- easy to cut and fast to spread
Types of substrates
Sheet substrate
Depending on the form of release, the underlying layer is:
Roll substrate
Sheet version of the substrate
The underlying material is made from natural and artificial raw materials:
- polyethylene foam
- polystyrene foam
- polypropylene
- traffic jams
- needles
- mixtures of bitumen and cork wood
- combined materials
Polyethylene foam (isolon)
Polyethylene foam is the most common material for the manufacture of a buffer layer between the subfloor and the coating.
Foam backing (uncrosslinked foam) made of synthetic material 2–3 mm thick and 18–25 kg/m3.
Protects the flooring from moisture, rodents and pests, retains heat and suppresses excessive noise. The material is inexpensive, easy to cut and does not create problems when laying.
Additional possibilities for waterproofing have foil substrates with a layer of aluminum, however, they are not durable and lose their shape after 2–3 years of operation.
Use with warm floors does not make sense, because due to the dispersion of part of the air, the heating efficiency is reduced. With strong mechanical compression, it does not restore its structure.
Expanded polystyrene (isoshum)
Inexpensive, but high-quality material for the layer between the floor and the coating - extruded polystyrene foam
Expanded polystyrene is a type of expanded polystyrene the substrate from which has an increased ability to reduce the load on the floor covering.
Inexpensive material, but has decent performance characteristics. Evens out unevenness of the screed and prevents the formation of backlashes in the floor, and thanks to the cellular structure, the laminate remains protected from moisture and condensation.
Stable base on which laminate can be laid even diagonally, but not recommended for use with underfloor heating.
Polypropylene
Foamed polypropylene is inexpensive, and in terms of characteristics it is almost as good as other materials.
A common modification of an inexpensive substrate is foamed polypropylene. It has a bubble structure that allows you to remove excess moisture from the screed without affecting the underside of the laminate.
The ability of the material to retain heat and noise is almost the same as that of other options, but over time it is highly deformed, and the laminate above it sags. The service life limit is 7–10 years; it is better not to take it for rooms with high traffic.
More expensive varieties of polypropylene substrate are available with a foil layer on the bottom or on both sides of the material. It is laid perpendicular to the elements of the floor covering, end-to-end in 1 layer. Improves the performance of the product by fixing it with foil tape.
Cork
Cork is a natural material that gives the flooring additional hydro and noise insulation characteristics.
For the production of the material, cork chips are used, glued together with the natural substance suberin. It is absolutely safe, therefore it is often used in children's rooms.
It is produced in rolls and sheets, it can have a layer of foil, and can be used together with an electric underfloor heating. Withstands heavy loads, can be operated without replacement for up to 25 years.
Expensive material, but provides excellent sound and thermal insulation. Prevents the processes of decay and the spread of mold. The material glides and acts as a damper as the laminate elements expand under the influence of temperature and humidity.
Protects the flooring from moisture, but does not compensate for differences in the screed and does not prevent condensation on its reverse side. That is why a plastic film is often placed under the cork.
To protect the material from moisture, its surface is also covered with bituminous mastic or rubber.
Coniferous
The underlying layer of needles is laid diagonally
One of the few natural materials that is used as an underlayment. It is made from coniferous wood, therefore it is hygroscopic, environmentally friendly, retains heat well, and does not let noise through.
It is expensive, so it is better to use when finishing with a high-end laminate. It is produced in the form of sheets, which are recommended to be glued together with adhesive tape during installation.
In the process of laying such a substrate, no additional devices and materials are needed: glue, film. The only drawback of needles is that it is prone to mold.
Manufacturers recommend laying the pine needle underlay diagonally and not parallel to the flooring elements.
bituminous cork
Bituminous cork product may release harmful resins when heated
The material consists of two layers: the lower one is made of craft paper with an admixture of bitumen and the upper one is made of cork chips 3 mm thick. The substrate is reliable, but expensive: it is advisable to lay it with a high-quality laminate.
Provides soundproofing, keeps heat and does not allow formation of condensate. However, when heated, it begins to emit harmful substances and an unpleasant tarry odor, therefore it is not recommended for installation in residential premises. Due to the bituminous base, it has a lot of weight, which makes it difficult to install.
Combined
Combined material combines the characteristics of polyethylene and polystyrene
The 2 mm thick substrate looks like a sandwich: between two polyethylene layers there is a layer of expanded polystyrene balls. This structure provides free passage of air, flexibility and strength.
The uniqueness of the material also lies in the fact that it allows moisture to be removed from the screed, but not to pass it to the laminate, but to be removed through the voids in the layer of balls. During operation, the combined substrate does not lose its characteristics and does not flatten.
Such a product is perforated - with small holes that provide ventilation, while maintaining high rates of heat and sound insulation. It glides well and dampens impact noise.
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Properly chosen thickness of the substrate - a guarantee of long-term operation of the floor covering
Different types of substrates are produced in various thickness modifications: soft ones are usually thinner, and strong ones can reach 10–12 mm.
The following parameters of popular materials are common:
| Underlayment | Recommended Thickness |
|---|---|
| Foamed polyethylene | 3 mm |
| Cork | 4 mm |
| Combined substrate | 3 mm |
| Extruded polystyrene | 2–5 mm |
| Needles | 4 mm |
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Top 5 underlays by thickness
The best underlayment options, depending on the thickness:
| Substrate thickness | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2 mm | ALLOC (Silent System) | From a manufacturer from Norway, it has increased soundproofing qualities, reducing the noise level by 50%. Produced in rolls of 15 m, has a dense but porous structure |
| 3 mm | duplex | The substrate of the Finnish corporation in rolls 30 m long, 110 cm wide. It consists of 2 layers: the lower one is made of polyethylene film and the upper one is expanded polystyrene in granules. Provides good sound absorption and load resistance due to high strength |
| 4 mm | Icopal (Parkolag) | The bitumen-cork two-layer underlay equalizes the pressure between the base and the laminate and muffles even the sound of footsteps. Cork chips provide additional ventilation, and kraft paper with bitumen prevents moisture absorption into the bottom layer of the floor covering. |
| 5 mm | Acoustic Group (Shumanet–100) | The material consists of a mixture of bitumen and fiberglass with a layer of artificial felt applied.Reduces the level of impact noise (index 26 dB), solves the issue of waterproofing. Available as a roll 10 m long |
| 7 mm | Skano Fiberboard (Isoplat) | Coniferous natural substrate protects against leaks, provides sound insulation of 22 dB and thermal insulation comparable to heaters. Perfectly levels the surface of the subfloor, remaining durable for a long time |
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The underlying layer will help to evenly distribute heat from the warm floor
In order for the underlying layer to serve for a long time and not change its original properties, it is important to select its correct combinations with the base - the floor, which happens:
- concrete
- wooden
- electric warm
- water
Recommended underlayment combinations are shown in the table:
| floor type | Substrate type |
|---|---|
| Concrete | Suitable for all varieties |
| Wood | Polyethylene foam, polystyrene foam, cork, coniferous |
| Warm electric | polypropylene or polyethylene foam with an additional lavsan film for even heat distribution |
| warm water | Extruded polystyrene foam, cork |
The thickness of the substrate is selected for ease of installation and operation according to the following principles:
- If the floor is even (concrete screed), a thin layer of 2 mm is used
- Small irregularities in the base are smoothed out by a 3 mm thick material
- When choosing a cork substrate, they are guided by indicators of 2-3 mm, and polystyrene foam, which quickly sags, is better to take with a margin of thickness - 5 mm
- If the room needs additional sound insulation or protection from the cold, then choose a thicker layer
- The thickness does not affect the properties of polyethylene foam, polystyrene and isolone in any way, and in the cork layer it enhances the characteristics exponentially with sealing
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The best cork product is the Portuguese brand Premium Cork
According to the recommendations of experts and reviews of people who have already installed underlays for flooring, the following brands deserve trust:
- Premium Cork (Portugal)
- Tuplex (France)
- VTM and Arbiton (Poland)
- Izoshum, Petroform (Russia)
- Quick Step (Belgium)
- Steico, Aberhof (Germany)
The best options from natural and artificial materials
| Substrate | Brand | Specifications and Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Cork | Premium Cork | Very dense, with low thermal conductivity, absorbs not only noise, but also vibration. Durable, not subject to deformation, produced in the form of rolls. Not recommended for use with underfloor heating |
| bituminous cork | Parkolag | Ventilated roll material, high levels of hydro and sound insulation |
| Coniferous | Isoplaat | Eliminates surface defects, has vapor impermeability, dampens impact noise. The product is not available with a thickness less than 5 mm |
| Styrofoam | IsoPolin | It has a rigid structure, minimal moisture absorption with high sound insulation ability |
| Polyethylene foam | Isolon PPE | Cheap but good quality material. Supplied with a foil layer for additional moisture protection |
| Combined | Tuplex | Allows you to ventilate the space between the subfloor and the coating, absorbs moisture and removes it under the plinth |
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With warm floors, foil underlayment is most often used.
When choosing a buffer layer between the subfloor and the laminate, it is worth considering the purpose of the future flooring:
- Soundproofing is important for children's rooms so that neighbors do not complain about loud screams and clatter
- The rooms on the first floors need additional insulation
- Waterproofing is an important characteristic for private houses
- To level the floors quickly and without additional costs, the thickness of the substrate is at the forefront.
- Uniform distribution of heat and ease of installation of underfloor heating will provide shelves with a foil layer and a porous structure
The best combination options are collected in the table:
| Purpose / task | Product |
|---|---|
| Children's room | ReFoam 3002, Steico Underfloor, Premium Cork |
| uneven floors | Petroform |
| The optimal combination of price and quality | Tarkett, Tuplex |
| Under the warm electric floor | Arbiton Cork, Startfloor Barlinek |
| On the first floor | Parkolag |
| For a private house | Eco-cover, Isolon PPE |
The substrate is an important element when installing a laminate, which you do not need to save on. Made from natural or synthetic materials, underlayment can complement the performance of a floor covering and extend its lifespan.
The final choice is best made, taking into account the tasks, the nature of the base and the planned life of the laminate.
About how to choose a substrate for a laminate, what types exist and what properties they have, experts tell in the video:
How to choose a laminate flooring? Thickness, types, tips for choosing and laying
The best substrates for laminate: for all types of coatings. Review and rating of the best products on the market (Photo & Video) + Reviews
Recommendations for choosing the underlying layer for different types of floors: wooden or concrete, warm electric (water), are presented in the video:
How to choose a substrate for a laminate or parquet board. Substrate for laminate and parquet boards
The best substrates for laminate: for all types of coatings. Review and rating of the best products on the market (Photo & Video) + Reviews
The article is great! If we had known this information a little earlier, we would not have made mistakes when choosing a substrate.