Why do you need a substrate under the laminate and the most common mistakes when choosing it: find out now, so you don’t shed tears later
Anyone who has decided to lay laminate floors in their apartment should first purchase an underlay for this type of flooring from a hardware store.
Why is a laminate underlay needed and what mistakes every second person makes when choosing it, was explained by the expert of the online publication "BelNovosti", designer Yulia Tychino .
First, a few words about what the underlayment is. It is nothing more than a soft building material, thanks to which it is possible to achieve normal adhesion of the rough and finish coating without nails or staples.
Another advantage of the underlay is that it ensures that there is no creaking when walking, and also protects the floor from deformation.
Retaining the heat of floors, absorbing acoustic noise, providing a sufficient level of vapor barrier - the list of advantages of underlay for laminate flooring can go on and on.
And now – about the mistakes that are encountered literally at every step when it comes to choosing a substrate for laminate.
Perhaps the most common of them is that this element was completely forgotten. Be sure to include this material in the repair estimate, so that later, when all the money has already been spent, you do not have to buy the cheapest option.
The second "mistake" regarding the underlayment occurs when they try to correct significant defects in the floor with its help. Remember that the maximum that most underlayments are capable of is to level out a difference of no more than 2 mm.
The third mistake is recorded when you buy material from unverified sellers or manufacturers, especially when it comes to polyethylene backing - this product says goodbye to its properties just by being exposed to direct sunlight for a long time.
