What underlayment to choose for laminate flooring.
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Choosing an underlayment
What types of underlayments are there for laminate flooring? There are many types. A variety of raw materials are used in their production – natural, polymer, or a combination of both.
Cork Underlay
This material is made from natural tree bark, crushed and pressed using a special technology. The rolling process allows for the production of a sheet of any thickness. Its environmental qualities are unquestionable, but cork's disadvantages are well-known:
1. It is important to install a waterproofing film under the cork underlay. Cork itself is inert to moisture, but it can allow condensation to pass through, which can negatively impact the laminate flooring.
2. Cork underlay is sensitive to mechanical stress. Before installing it, the subfloor must be thoroughly sanded. This is especially true for wooden planks, as nails or staples with angled corners can tear the underlay.
3. It is not recommended to install underfloor heating under cork. It retains heat well—the surface will not become icy. Furthermore, high temperatures can dry out the underlay, causing it to crumble over time.
Cork is typically used in bedrooms and children's rooms, where safety is paramount. There are also underlayments made with cork chips and other materials, such as rubber or bitumen. These products are considered technical and are used in commercial spaces, such as retail spaces, walkways, and other areas.
Coniferous Underlay
A completely natural underlayment is one made from pressed pine needles. The material appears as greenish slabs of varying thicknesses. Its main advantage is its eco-friendliness. However, natural materials do have some disadvantages:
• Low hygroscopicity will be detrimental to laminate flooring, as it will allow condensation to penetrate the MDF board. Additional waterproofing is essential.
• Coniferous boards are fragile and can be damaged even when cutting and marking the material.
• It is important to maintain optimal temperature and humidity in the room; otherwise, the underlayment boards will either dry out or swell, resulting in damage.
It's a good idea to strive for natural materials, but they should be chosen in accordance with the specific needs of the room. Eco-friendly products last no more than 5-7 years.
Polystyrene underlays
These options come in sheets, rolls, or slabs. What is laminate underlay made of? It consists of small pressed granules.
The main advantage of these underlays is their resistance to moisture. Furthermore, the material is an excellent heat retainer. The slabs do not rot and are often perforated to remove condensed moisture. Purchasing the required quantity of polystyrene underlay is several times cheaper than natural polystyrene. All these advantages make it popular with consumers. Disadvantages: it is susceptible to decay, releasing toxic gases into the atmosphere.
Combined Materials
Advances in the production of synthetic underlays are constantly producing new products. Parcolag and Tuplex are among them.
These are polystyrene underlays for laminate flooring with the addition of polyethylene layers, with polymer granules sandwiched between the film. Underlayments offer all the positive qualities of synthetic materials, but with several improvements. The advantage of a composite underlayment is the ability to ventilate the space beneath the laminate. It's easy to install—the material is flexible and easily molded.
Sizes and Forms
When choosing an underlay for laminate flooring, the initial parameters of the material, especially its thickness, are important. It's important to remember that increased comfort, such as heat retention and noise reduction, will only be achieved by installing thick underlayments during the first few months. Later, due to the compacting insulating layer and the resulting play, owners will experience broken laminate locking joints, which will ultimately require replacement. The maximum underlay thickness for laminate flooring is 4 mm, while 2 mm is optimal.
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