How to properly lay a substrate on the floor?

Choosing the right underlay for flooring is a key point in preparing for floor renovation. The underlay performs several functions at once: it increases sound insulation, provides thermal insulation, evens out small unevenness of the base and protects the coating from moisture. Let's consider the main types and how to properly lay the underlay on the floor

Types of substrates

Polyethylene foam is one of the most common substrate materials. It is lightweight, has good heat and noise insulation properties. It is a roll material that is easy to install. It is suitable for laminate and parquet, but it is important to take into account the thickness of the material so as not to create too soft a base for the floor, which can lead to its deformation.

Polyethylene foam with a closed cellular structure, improved by infrared reflection, which increases its thermal insulation qualities . It is also resistant to moisture and has high noise absorption properties. It is suitable for laying under laminate and parquet, as well as engineered boards.

Cork substrate, has excellent sound and heat insulation properties, and is also an environmentally friendly material. The plug absorbs the noise of the movement and reduces the level of noise transmission between floors. This material is ideal for laying under parquet and parquet boards, where there are strict requirements for sound insulation.

The technical characteristics of the underlay must correspond to the features of the floor covering. For laminate flooring, it is important not only to provide insulation, but also to protect against moisture. In this case, it is worth thinking about moisture-resistant types of substrates or additional protection in the form of a vapor barrier film. For parquet or engineered boards, the requirements for leveling the base and sound insulation may be critical.

The choice of underlay is also carried out taking into account the peculiarities of the operation of the room, climatic conditions and the level of load on the floor. Do not forget about compliance with all construction standards and recommendations of the flooring manufacturer, which must be followed to ensure durability and maintain warranty obligations.

Substrate preparation

High-quality preparation of the substrate is the key to the durability and aesthetics of your flooring. To achieve the perfect result during the installation process, you need to pay attention to three key steps: surface cleaning, leveling irregularities and moisture control:

● The first stage is cleaning the surface. Before you start laying the flooring, you need to pay due attention to cleaning the base from dirt, dust and construction debris. Often it is enough to thoroughly vacuum and wipe the floor with a damp cloth. This will prevent the accumulation of dust under the flooring, which can lead to its wear and deformation.

● The next step is to level the irregularities. Cracks and potholes on the surface should be repaired with specialized floor leveling mixtures. It is important to make sure that the base is absolutely flat, as even small flaws can lead to chips and cracks in the future.

● Finally, control the humidity level. Using special devices such as a hygrometer, it is necessary to make sure that the moisture content of the substrate is within normal limits. A substrate that is too wet is one of the main factors contributing to the development of mould and mildew, and can also lead to deformation of the floor. If the humidity level is high, the floor should be treated with antiseptics and allowed to dry.

At the end of this work, you will have a perfectly prepared surface on which to safely lay the new flooring. Care and attention to detail during the preparation of the substrate are the key to your peace of mind for many years.

Laying of vapor barrier film (if necessary)

Laying a vapor barrier film is often a necessary step before laying a vapor barrier plug when installing floor coverings. The main task of the vapor barrier is to prevent moisture from penetrating from the lower layers or the underlying base into the floor covering. This layer protects laminate, parquet or engineered boards from distortion caused by moisture.

Before laying the vapor barrier, it is important to prepare the surface by cleaning it from dust and dirt. The film is laid with the smooth side down, the rough side up. If the floor is wet, then it is advisable to lay a film with an overlap - this will significantly reduce the likelihood of moisture ingress. As a rule, the overlap should be about 15-20 centimeters.

As for fixing the film, two main methods are used here:

● The first is gluing the outer parts of the film to the walls using construction tape or double-sided adhesive tape;

● The second is the use of special skirting boards that cover the edges of the film after laying the flooring.

To ensure reliable sealing of the joints between individual strips of the vapor barrier film, a special adhesive tape is used. It should be wide enough to overlap the joint of the film strips, and have good adhesion to ensure a reliable adhesion. Tightly glued adhesive tape will not give moisture a chance to penetrate through the joints, providing complete insulation of the floor covering from moisture.

Such care for details when laying the vapor barrier film will avoid many unpleasant consequences in the future and extend the life of your new floor.

Rolling and laying the substrate

When laying a substrate under a floor covering, whether it is laminate, parquet or engineered boards, the correct rolling and laying of the substrate plays an important role. The underlay not only helps to level out minor irregularities in the substrate, but also has sound and heat insulation properties, not to mention protection from moisture.

The first step is to roll out the substrate rolls. It is recommended that all underlay be of the same type to avoid differences in insulation level or properties. Make sure the substrate is completely clean and dry before you start laying.

The instructions for rolling out the rolls of the substrate are very simple - you need to roll out the roll along the long side of the room and cut it to the desired length. It is important that the substrate lies more evenly, without waves and folds, which provides the highest quality and smooth surface for further laying of the flooring.

As for the direction of laying the substrate, it depends on the type of flooring. For laminate and engineered boards, the substrate is usually laid parallel to the boards, and for wooden parquet - perpendicular to the boards. This helps to distribute the load better and provide additional stability and strength to the floor.

When connecting the backing rolls together, use adhesive tape to glue the seams together. This ensures that the substrate does not come apart during the installation of the flooring and after its operation. The joints are glued end-to-end so that there are no height differences that contribute to the appearance of swelling or friction of the boards in the future.

Careful attention to the laying of the underlay avoids problems with the flooring later. By following the instructions, you can be sure that the floor will delight you with its appearance and quality for many years.

Trim excess backing

Preparing the floor for the final coating includes not only laying, but also precise trimming of excess underlay to create an even and neat base. Properly performed trimming of excess underlay along the walls and in doorways will ensure a perfect fit of the flooring and get rid of possible level differences and irregularities:

● The first step is to carefully cut the edges of the substrate along the walls. To do this, a construction knife with new blades is often used to make the cut clean and even. The substrate should be cut in such a way that there is a small gap between the wall and the substrate, which will allow the flooring to "breathe" and expand with changes in humidity and temperature in the room.

● The next step is to remove the protruding parts of the substrate at the thresholds and doorways. This is important, since the substrate protruding beyond the floor level will not only interfere with the free closing and opening of the doors, but can also cause wear and tear of the coating. In these places, as a rule, the substrate is cut exactly along the contours of the openings so that the flooring is ideally connected to the threshold or doorway.

If all actions are performed correctly, the result is a perfectly flat and smooth surface for the subsequent laying of flooring, which will delight you with durability and aesthetic appeal.

Final steps

The final chord when preparing the substrate before installing the flooring is the final steps to ensure the quality and durability of your floor:

● Firstly, you need to carefully check the quality of the underlay laying. This means that you need to make sure that there are no waves, wrinkles and distortions on the surface. The entire underlay should fit snugly to the floor without gaps and layers of air that can lead to creaking and uneven wear of the flooring.

● This is followed by the process of applying adhesive tape to the joints of the substrate, if it is required in the instructions for the type of substrate you have chosen. Using a special tape to glue the joints together will prevent the substrate from shifting, which means that the floor will be more stable and reliable. It is important that the tape adheres tightly, leaving no gaps or air bubbles that can negatively affect the position of the substrate and the final coating.

After completing these final steps, the base will be fully prepared for laying the floor material, whether it is laminate, parquet or other types of coatings. These precautions will greatly increase the likelihood that your floor will serve faithfully for many years, pleasing the eye with its impeccable appearance and maintaining its original quality.