One of the most common flooring today is laminate. Since it was invented by a Swiss company in the 1980s, the material has undergone many significant changes. Today, manufacturers provide a huge selection of textures, colors and quality of panels. Laminate is practically in no way inferior to parquet. Ease of installation and maintenance, beautiful appearance, durability, comfort - all these qualities of the material win over consumers.
To ensure that the operation of the floor covering does not cause problems, it is necessary to lay a substrate under the laminate. Without it, even high-quality material will not bring the desired effect and will not last long. Cork underlayment for laminate flooring, according to experts, is one of the best. Thanks to her, the life of the coating will increase significantly, there will be no complaints about it.
Why do you even need a laminate underlay? The types of panels are varied, but even the highest quality and thickest of them require a perfectly flat floor. Laminate forms a separate layer and is not attached to the base in any way, so if the floor is too curved, then inin some places you can hear a characteristic knock. This leads to a reduction in the service life of the coating. If the curvature is insignificant, about 3 mm, then the substrate under the laminate will help to solve this problem. Cork bedding is most effective in this case, although polyethylene or foil can also be used.
In addition to smoothing out irregularities, the cork underlay under the laminate also performs a shock-absorbing function. If the panels are placed on the subfloor, then there will be a clattering sound, it will be very difficult to walk quietly on such a floor, except barefoot or in soft slippers. The backing will prevent the panels from hitting the floor and will cushion the footsteps. In addition, it allows you to significantly insulate the floor. The cork underlayment under the laminate also absorbs the noise coming from the working household appliances.
Although there are quite a few types of substrates, most experts advise choosing from cork oak. It is, of course, more expensive, but you should not save on quality. The cork underlayment under the laminate fully justifies its price, since it performs all its functions flawlessly. There are several types of such a substrate, but all of them have high heat and sound insulation properties, protect the laminate from decay and moisture. Available in rolls or sheets.
The most common backing is made from compressed cork chips. There is also a cork-rubber version, made from a mixture of rubber and cork chips. Such a substrate reduces vibration from the operation of household appliances,prevents the formation of mold on the laminate. A bitumen-cork option is also possible. The substrate is produced by applying cork chips on bitumen-impregnated kraft paper. To ventilate the space between the laminate and the substrate, the latter lies powder down. By choosing bitumen-cork, you can not use waterproofing materials.
A cork underlay enhances the performance of any laminate, even the lesser quality ones. Although, if you are already spending money on an expensive substrate, then it is necessary that the floor covering also matches it. Using quality materials once, you can enjoy the result for many years.
