Coniferous underlay for laminate pros and cons

When arranging the floor covering, in addition to preparing the floor and the coating itself, a softening and cushioning layer between them is also important. As such a layer, when laying a laminate, a coniferous substrate is used, which also has its pros and cons. Let's consider it in more detail.

Coniferous substrate

The substrate is a resin-bonded chopped wood fiber of coniferous trees. It is an environmentally friendly material with good soundproofing properties. It is porous, which allows air to pass through.

REFERENCE.Such a substrate is used when laying laminate, carpet, parquet and linoleum in residential premises, with the exception of rooms with high humidity (bathroom, toilet, kitchen).

It is advisable to lay on the wooden floor. In the case of laying on a concrete base, it is necessary to first lay a plastic film for waterproofing. However, this is not recommended by the manufacturers of this substrate due to the possible formation of condensate. And laminate manufacturers remove the guarantee for their products in the absence of waterproofing.

There are 2 types:

1. rolls - the material is laid starting from the wall to the center;
2. sheets - the material is laid in strips, gluing together with glue or duct tape.

The cost of a gasket is affected by its size and thickness. The thickness indicates what unevenness of the floor surface the substrate can handle:

• 3.6 mm - with small irregularities;
• 4 mm - with irregularities of 1 mm;
• 5 mm - with 1-2 mm irregularities;
• 7 mm - with 3 mm bumps.

IMPORTANT.When carrying out work, personal protective equipment must be used to prevent dust and needles from entering the skin and lungs.

Benefits

The use of coniferous substrate for laying laminate has the following advantages:

1. good sound insulation of the room is ensured (due to the use of this gasket, sound that is possible when walking on the floor is absorbed);
2. leveling the floor surface due to high density (small roughness and unevenness are leveled);
3. the gasket is capable of absorbing water (this eliminates the risk of deformation of the coating from the laminate);
4. thermal insulation of the room due to the porous structure of the material;
5. ecological purity of materials used in the production;
6. simplicity of laying (special tools and skills for laying are not required);
7. resistance to deformation;
8. long term of operation (minimum 7 years);
9. it doesn’t burn, it only charred.

Disadvantages

The coniferous substrate has the following disadvantages that must be considered when choosing a material and during laying:

• high cost of material;
• can not be used in rooms with high humidity (absorbs moisture well and dries poorly, and with a large amount of water is destroyed);
• the material has an unpleasant odor that will disappear only after a few weeks;
• gasket is able to absorb odor;
• natural needles used in the manufacture of laying, can become a place for the development of dangerous fungi and mold, if the base under it is wet;
• in case of laying on an uneven base with differences of more than 4 mm, due to the dense texture, the substrate bends;
• easily breaks and crumbles;
• not suitable for allergies in residents.

How to stack

For proper installation, the installation instructions must be observed:

1. After unpacking, you need to leave it in the room for up to 3 days.
2. Waterproof with plastic wrap to prevent moisture or condensation from entering the concrete base.
3. Laying gaskets is best done diagonally to prevent possible overlapping joints of the substrate and the laminate. To do this, cut a piece with a knife or scissors at an angle of 45 degrees.
4. It is necessary to leave a gap between the sheets of material because of the possibility of its expansion depending on the temperature and humidity in the room. Retreating from the wall 5 mm, the sheets are stacked at an angle of 45 degrees. A gap of 1-2 mm is left between the sheets.
5. To fasten the edges together, a heat-resistant metallized adhesive tape is used, since the adhesive tape simply does not stick to the surface of the sheet.

ATTENTION.The edges of the material are uneven, so voids can occur under the finish, which can lead to subsidence under the weight of a person. However, this will pass over time as a result of shrinkage of the gasket.

The coniferous substrate under the laminate, being an environmentally friendly, soundproofing, leveling and heat insulating material, has a number of advantages and disadvantages. They, as well as the price of laying and the material itself, the purpose of the room and the presence of surface irregularities must be taken into account when choosing a suitable layer. With proper waterproofing of the room, such a gasket can extend the life of the laminate.