Despite the fact that the laminate has not been produced so long ago, it has already become quite popular. This material stands out not only for its high quality, but is also easy to install. This article will answer the question of many people, how to properly install laminate on a concrete floor.
Material specification
Laminate consists of several layers that are glued together in one element. Locking devices inside allow you to quickly fasten the panels together. Because of its construction, laminate flooring is difficult and impractical to install on uneven floors. Such conditions can cause the material to deform during expansion and the locks (internal parts) simply wear out. This, in turn, causes dust to accumulate inside and reduce the service life. In addition, the floor covering loses its original appearance.
What does the laminate panel consist of:
- The first layer is an anti-static material,which is super strong. It bears the mechanical load.
- To give the laminate more strength, the second layer is acrylate resin.
- The third layer is decorative. It is he who is paid attention to when choosing a coating according to texture, pattern, color for a harmonious combination with the interior.
- The fourth layer is glue that holds the top two layers together.
- Fifth layer is waterproof for longer life.
Alignment
If the floor has some irregularities, this does not necessarily mean that repairs are needed. Uneven for a laminate is a coating with a difference of two millimeters on a plot of two square meters. In addition to the fact that this flooring should not be laid on such a floor, it will also cause problems in the future when installing furniture. Due to this unevenness, the cabinet doors will not close, and the laminate itself will begin to deteriorate and deform. If the concrete pavement is too old, then it needs to be repaired. Cracked areas must be leveled by pouring cement inside. As for large and deep areas, there is a self-leveling mixture for them. At the end of the preparatory work, the floor surface should be sanded.
Substrates and insulation layer
When installing a laminate floor, it is important to ensure that the insulation layer and the surface of the panels do not come into contact. It's all about moisture, which can accumulate. To prevent this process,a protective layer is required. Diffusion membrane is excellent for such cases. Its thickness should be about twenty millimeters. After that, a waterproofing layer must be laid before laying the flooring. This is the best underlay for laminate flooring.
Which base coat options are suitable:
- Mixes containing fine gravel fractions (used for concrete floors).
- Screed of sand and cement.
Do not refuse to carry out preparatory work for the base coat. This is necessary so that the floor is not soaked with moisture and does not spoil the laminate. Also, the screed performs several other functions: soundproofing, leveling the floor and eliminating the likelihood of static discharge accumulation on the surface.
Installation
Over the years of using the material, the technology of laying laminate on the floor has been worked out many times. It's worth sticking with. Work should start from the side of the window. Spacer wings will be needed in order to create a gap between the laminate and the wall. This gap is necessary so that when the temperature changes, the material can freely expand and then narrow. If the size of the room does not allow the use of a whole panel, it should be cut to size so that the remainder is no shorter than forty centimeters. In this case, this cut can be used when laying the second row, which can significantly reduce material consumption.
After that, the installation of the second row begins. It must be laid by applying panels to the previous row underan angle of about forty degrees, and inserting the lock until it clicks. By the same principle, continue work on laying the coating over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe room. Only the last panel should be laid using a special clamp. It helps to securely fix the part in the last row. Skirtings are then laid to hide the gap between the wall and the panel.
Types of mounting
There are basically three ways to install a laminate floor:
- Parallel to the flow of sunlight from the window.
- Parallel to the wall. This method allows you to visually expand the room.
- If the room is very small, then you need to apply diagonal styling. The method is much more complicated, it requires more tools and the invitation of an assistant.
You can choose any mounting method. It does not depend on the construction of the room or the curvature of the walls.
Tools
They are necessary in order to competently perform a laminate floor device. Here are some of them:
- Level.
- Roulette.
- Electric jigsaw.
- Chalk or pencil.
- Hammer.
If these tools are not available in the house, then they can be purchased at any hardware store.
It is also worth noting that no professional skills are required to use this equipment and accessories.
Panel connection methods
It can be assumed that the laminate has a standardconnection method. In fact, there are three methods for connecting panels depending on the type of locks:
- Single locks. In this case, the latches enter the groove one after the other. At the end, fix the locks with glue. If one day it is necessary to disassemble the coating, then the operation can be simplified and accelerated by lightly tapping the panels with a hammer.
- Double locks. This design differs from the previous one in that, in addition to connecting the panels, there is a latch that needs to be fixed.
- Glue. The third method involves gluing one panel to another. It is used in very rare cases. Each part should be individually lubricated with glue. Installing a laminate floor will be too painstaking.
Laying according to the first method can be done alone. For the second and third methods, you will need another person.
If you still have to install laminate flooring on an uneven floor, it is highly advisable to pre-level it. The range of materials for these purposes in hardware stores is huge.
Self-leveling floor
We continue to study ways of alignment. Liquid flooring for leveling a concrete floor is a great option. It will make the surface perfect. The maximum allowable takeoff is about three centimeters in height. There are different types of self-levelling fluids. For the coating to be most effective, you should choose the right mixture. Things to consider when choosing:
- Currentfloor condition.
- Indoor humidity level.
- Temperature in the room.
- What physical activities will be.
- Room functions.
Even before starting work, it is possible to place a layer of waterproofing on an uneven floor. For pouring, you only need a concrete screed. Before work, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the area from dirt and dust, as they can interfere with the reliable fixing of the mixture. After that, it is recommended to go through the primer two times. When the soil is dry, you can pour the screed. But that is not all. Liquid floor for leveling concrete floors has two main types. These are polymeric and mineral liquids.
Polymer blend
It is based on quartz sand. This mixture also contains many other ingredients that act as binders. The advantage is that the material itself already protects the surface from moisture, so there is no need to think about waterproofing. This allows you to lay, for example, a laminate without a screed on a water-heated floor. Here are some of the benefits of such coatings:
- The service life reaches forty years.
- The surface is perfectly flat, without any flaws.
- Resistant to frost.
- Tolerates high humidity.
- Does not collect dust.
Mineral Blend
This concrete floor leveling material contains slightly more ingredients. It contains gypsum powder, cement, quartz sand and fine fractions of rocks. Here are the main advantages of mineral coatings that are used for the devicecovers:
- Eco-friendly blend. Despite the fact that it will be under the laminate, sustainability is important in any case.
- High strength.
- Dries fairly quickly.
- Affordable price.
- Priming before pouring is not required.
- Protects from sounds.
- Economical - the required layer thickness is only one centimeter. This significantly saves money on the purchase of material and time spent on work.
Despite all this, this mixture has its own natural flaws. For example, it is not waterproof. Therefore, such floors under the laminate are suitable only in those rooms where the level of humidity is low. Although it has a long service life - 15 years, it does not exceed the polymer coating. This material is popular with those who want to combine laying underfloor heating with subsequent laminate flooring.
Laying plywood
There is another way to improve the condition of the concrete pavement. This is plywood lining. A fast method that gives quite acceptable strength. Experts say that this is an easy task even for beginners. But how to level the floor with plywood?
Required tools
In order to get started, you only need a few tools that are likely to be at hand. If something is not available, you can buy it at the nearest hardware store. You will need the following tools:
- Level.
- Circular saw.
- Drill.
- Square.
- Roulette.
First of all, you need to remove the old coating, if it exists. It is required to calculate the size of the extreme corners. After that, you can start laying sheets. Between them it is necessary to leave a gap of about two millimeters. In the end, you will need to level the floor along the edges. Additionally, unevenness can be leveled with putty. The method requires minimal time and effort to complete the work.
Conclusion
Summarizing, it can be noted that even a beginner can perform the laying of a laminate. To do this, you just need to put into practice these tips and tricks.
