Cork underlay for laminate: characteristics of the material

Among flooring on one of the first seats is laminated. This is due to excellent characteristics, ease of maintenance and installation. In addition, the material looks nice and is relatively inexpensive. The duration of operation depends on the repetition stacking technology material. Cork underlay under laminate is attracting increasing attention from buyers. For details about the features of the material contained in this publication.

Cork underlay for laminate: short on material

Durability laminate coating and its durability is directly dependent on the reliability of locking lamella system. Point pressure (for example from large furniture legs) can cause sagging of the material breaks or the formation. The substrate can evenly distribute the load on the floor surface.

Made of natural cork underlay for laminate flooring is considered particularly reliable and high-quality pictures. Today, it is the raw material is an elite, but to choose it is not always advisable, since the cost is high. This means that the buyer cork backing you need to weigh the pros and cons.

Technical tube made from the bark of the cork oak, which grows primarily in Mediterranean Europe. The main supplier of cork Portugal is.

The peculiarity of the cork oak is that to remove the bark from this tree can be about thirty times during the life of the plant. The bark is removed from the first twenty-five oak. This tree has a high regeneration, however it does not perish, but recovered. Thanks to this feature the bark can be removed again after nine years. improved quality of the raw material C each time.

To get the cork oak bark is dried in natural conditions, after which it is crushed. The resulting granules are compressed and processed by steam, which is released under the influence of natural glue - suberin, thanks to him, the granules securely communicate with each other.

It is important! The answer to the question whether it is possible to lay laminate without substrate, rather negative. It can be used only if the structure has a lamella layer damper. However, the cost of such material is very high, and it is found in the construction market is extremely rare.

The substrate made of cork: the purpose and species

Choosing what to put under the laminate, be guided by such criteria:

• value of the expected load of the floor covering;
• humidity level;
• UV indicators, temperature and heat fluctuations.

Laminate - quite sonorous flooring, and this is its main disadvantage. The substrate, in addition to other positive characteristics, has the ability to absorb excess noise while walking or in case of fall to cover various items.

Most substrates ensures:

• depreciation;
• sound and heat insulation;
• alignment.

For manufacturing a substrate material are:

• synthetic;
• natural;
• combined.

Adding to the cork granules allows additional substances to change specifications main component in accordance with the purpose of the room.

We consider four types of cork substrate depending on the constituent components.

Classical natural substrate of technical corks made without synthetic additives. Often the roll and the sheet. The material is characterized by a natural and absolutely safe for health, as well as excellent noise and heat insulation performance. In addition, it has a low weight. This substrate is not subject to decay, but it is not recommended to use it in the bathrooms. It should be remembered that the laying cork backing for laminate requires flatness. To improve performance the material should be treated with antiseptic.

Bitumen-cork substrate. The feature of this material is that it consists of two layers applied on kraft basis: the top layer - the bitumen, lower - cork chips. This combination makes the resulting raw material in a wonderful waterproofing material. The joint is absolutely necessary glue tape.

Rubber cork substrate. It represents a combination of elastic crushed cork and synthetic rubber. Thanks to this indispensable material in buildings with a high level of humidity. Moreover, this kind of substrate has excellent heat and sound insulation characteristics. This material is suitable for use in the system "warm floor".

Foil insulation is made of cork. Used to create the so-called warm floors. Basis - cork, joined by reflective foil film.

Round cork material thickness of 2 to 4 mm (or more) was used as substrate. Suberic applied substrate to a wall or ceiling, as well as an independent floor covering. In this case, the thickness of the material is from 4 to 10 mm. Appearance of cork fabric pretty decent, so to show his guests do not feel ashamed.

Alternative tube material - is linen, polyethylene, jute substrate for linoleum or laminate.

It is important! Experts do not recommend the use of bitumen-cork underlay in the living room, as well as the system "warm floor" because of the presence in the composition of refined petroleum products - bitumen.

Specifications and properties of cork under the laminate

Positive feedback received cork underlay due to its excellent technical characteristics. During the selection of the material necessary to consider matching criteria:

• -180-260 density kilogram per cubic meter;
• stretching strength - at least 2 kilograms per square centimeter;
• Compressive deformation - no more than 10% at a pressure of 7 kilograms per square centimeter;
• residual deformation - approximately 0.2% at 2 hours after cessation of exposure;
• thermal conductivity - not exceeding 0,037-0,043 W / (m * K);
• Absorption - on a scale from 0 to 1 is 0.85;
• fire resistance - B2 class.

It should also be noted that natural cork contains antiseptic components through which substrate tube will not rot and is not damaged by rodents.

It is interesting! For gypsum partition panels 10 cm thick made special cork ribbon rolls 1000h9,5h0,6 cm size. It is fastened with a mounting adhesive on the perimeter walls to the walls, floor and ceiling. This material is used as sound-proofing material. The tape prevents the propagation of sound waves in the adjoining impact-type structure.

Cork underlay for laminate: advantages and disadvantages of the material

From cork completely hypoallergenic, so it can be safely used in the kitchen, in the living rooms and children's bedrooms. Even the continuous operation cork substrate does not lead to the separation of harmful substances.

Since cork underlay for laminate flooring is expensive, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons before beginning work to ensure that the material really is suitable for premises where it is planned installation of a new floor coverage.

Advantages of the substrate tube are:

• long life - the life of the natural material is 30 or more years without any quality loss, if you follow all the necessary requirements for laying cork backing;
• Excellent thermal insulation - low weight and high density converted plug in a remarkable insulation;
• high level of fire protection - even though the material is made of wood, it is poorly illuminated that provides increased resistance to fire;
• Easy to install;
• the material is very elastic and durable, resistant to damage and deformation;
• capable of penetrating damp vibration and noise of the high tones;
• the material is easy to transport, because it is light;
• It does not accumulate static electricity;
• It does not lose its characteristics under low temperatures;
• of the natural cork are natural antiseptics, thereby avoiding putrefaction processes, the occurrence of mold and mildew;
• cork material indoor reduces the level of radiation, as well as eliminates negative environmental effects and implications of poor quality materials.

As with any building material substrate of cork, except advantages and disadvantages it has to be known. This is a fairly brittle material, so the transportation and storage should be given special attention. The main disadvantage - the high price it is a cork backing, which is unacceptable for the average buyer, but considering all the unique characteristics, it can be considered to be justified.

We do not recommend the use of cork backing in wet areas such as kitchen and bathroom. It does not save the material and the structural noise caused by operation of the drill, and so lift. D.

Before laying the insulation slug should take care of additional waterproofing layer. Cork substrate and the system "warm floors" incompatible. Although the material has excellent characteristics that experts do not recommend installing surface, wherein the substrate bed cork too massive pieces of furniture.

It is interesting! In the market of building materials can be purchased cork laminate substrate under which do not need. He appeared not so long ago, but it is more common in homes and apartments.

How much is the substrate for laminate: a review of the construction market

The substrate for the laminate of the tube applies to expensive materials, the value of which depends on its thickness and on the degree of brand recognition. Made in many European countries, as well as Russian companies.

The most common cork substrate made in Portugal, which is represented by the following brands: Vintage, Amorim Group, Egen, Wicanders and Sedacor.

Related article:

What a substrate under a laminate better views, features and specifications

The main criteria for selecting the material. Variety of substrates. How to instal their own hands. Ranking the top 5 manufacturers.

Manufacturer Vintage offers roll cork underlay under laminate 3 mm in cost from 318 to 374 rubles. behind m²And also the material thickness of 2 mm (the price - about 150-168 rub. per square meter) and 4 mm (the price - 260-294 rubles m²).

Under the label Amorim Group produced rolled products Premium Cork, Cork4U and Floorwood Portugal Cork. Price cork backing 3mm Premium Cork company is 189-243 rubles per square meter. The substrate 2 mm thick will cost an average of 89-173 rub for m². Cork substrate 2 mm Cork4U producer is 99-115 rubles per square meter, a thickness of 3 mm - 180-230 rubles 4 mm - 248-290 rubles. Floorwood Portugal Cork offers its customers a cork backing 2 mm at the price of 145-175 rubles per square meter. m and a thickness of 3 mm cost 213-320 rubles.

Also on the Russian market of building materials products found German companies Parkolag and Tarkett, the Polish company Decora and Spanish manufacturer Ibercork, as well as many other manufacturers. The cost varies from 49 to 576 rubles per square meter.

The first substrate price under the laminate depends on the thickness. The formation of value is also influenced by the density of the material, a variety of technological methods of manufacturing, cost of raw materials and transportation costs producer. That is why one can observe sharp jumps prices for the same type of technical cork.

Cork substrate for laminate of two types - a roll and sheet. cork roll length is usually 10 m, width - 1.4 meters or 1 substrate sheet has the following parameters:. Width - 61 cm, length - 91 cm. The thickness of the sheet roll and the web varies from 2 to 10 mm.

When you purchase the material need to focus on where it is stored, if the substrate is not damaged and whether the package leaks broken edges. It is also important to consider the quality and grade laminate slats. When laying laminate 31-32 class will be executed, it is possible to use an inexpensive substrate made of polyethylene foam or other alternative materials. If the material is more expensive and quality, for example, cover 33 class, the purchase of cork insulation prolong sex life.

It is important! Experts say that the purchase of cork backing economically feasible and fully justified when laying the floor covering is performed in a dry room with differences of less than 1 bases mm.

How to put a substrate for laminate: expert advice

For laying the laminate or any other such coating is necessary to prepare a base - the floor screed. That put under the laminate onto the concrete floor? The best solution - is the use of cork backing. Properly it can put even the most inexperienced builder. However, there are some rather important facts that must be taken into account.

Even before the paving work cork rolls need to cut out the size of the room. Finished pieces recommended for a day or two left in the deployed position to the substrate and placed dealt without waves and blistering.

The distance between the material and the wall around the room at home should be 1 cm. During cutting, this rule is also to be observed. To do this it was easier, between the wall and the substrate can put the bar thickness of 0.8-1 cm. Some material master record tape around the wall, but this technique does not always help to maintain the required location of the substrate.

Sheets of cork is necessary to lay close to each other, and the resulting joints should be connected with adhesive tape construction. Stacking the second row to be performed on the basis of brickwork: should begin with the sheet halves for connection joints offset, and the third row - again with the entire sheet.

Cork substrate is easily damaged, so folding should be done as follows: initially positioned a substrate sheet which is shrouded by several rows of the laminate sheet is then positioned next tube and so Further. laying work perform better not to tie, and with the already laid flooring.

It is interesting! Many are interested in the question of which side is put under the laminate substrate. For the material of the net technical margin jams there, but bitumen cork underlay is always laid down a layer of cork.

How to lay laminate flooring on uneven floor without alignment

It is very important to choose the right thickness of the substrate. When choosing the material should take into account the thickness of the laminate. If the floor has a thickness of less than 8 mm, a suitable substrate is 2 mm. If the lamella is thicker better to choose the material thickness of 3 mm. Cork substrate 4 mm or more is not recommended for use.

3-4 mm thick material would be enough to align the substrate roughness, is not more than 2 mm. If the swings and floor defects are more significant, it is necessary to carry out additional actions. If the concrete base must be leveled via a solution or fine leveling screed. Wood coating required to sort out and pull up the board. If necessary, should replace the damaged boards with new ones if need be, they should be ottsiklevat or sanded.

Laying cork substrate may be performed on the plastic film or directly on a concrete base. In the first case a dense film to be selected (100-150 microns). The joints of the two webs lapped operate (3-5 cm). Do I need to put under the laminate film, everyone decides for himself.

It is important! To determine the level of differential bases used long building level applied at different locations. Thus defining the maximum deviation.

How to choose the thickness of the cork substrate: 3 mm, 4 mm or more

From a properly chosen thickness of the substrate for laminate flooring depends durability. Error in selecting the thickness of the buffer layer becomes the cause of breakage interlocks laminate coating. During the selection of the material is important to rely on the following facts:

1. The substrate of 2 mm thickness is suitable for use in premises with perfectly smooth surface. To equalize even the smallest curvature (1 mm) of active material is not suitable.
2. The substrate layer of 3 mm is used for the average thickness of the laminate allows to correct unevenness of 2 mm.
3. Stopper 4mm creeps under thicker and expensive slats. It makes it possible to level roughness height of 3 mm.
4. Cork substrate of 5 mm and the thickness is almost never used in multi-storey residential buildings and individual houses.

It is important! The view that the thicker the substrate, the better - is wrong. Technical cork thickness greater than 4 mm quickly deformed and destroyed by static loads of heavy furniture. Such deflections cause the slats to breakdown locks. In addition, the thick lining bad dampens vibrations.

How to lay laminate without thresholds throughout the apartment

Laminate, laid a solid canvas, has good quality and aesthetic appearance. Such stacking to form a single floor covering - hard work, which requires the use of high quality materials, as well as professional skills.

When laying laminate with thresholds between rooms can choose different strength classes lamellas separately for each room, and in the case of a continuous stacking his class is determined by the maximum load. Typically for stacking lamellae without thresholds should be selected laminate strength grade 33 or higher.

When laying laminate without necessarily thresholds must first lay substrate. The optimum thickness of the substrate is 3 mm. Excellent for that suitable cork. It is very important to prepare the foundation - it should be as smooth, smooth and dry.

Useful advice! Manufacturers of building materials are advised not to carry out a continuous laying laminate over a large area. This is due to the properties panel change the linear dimensions under the influence of temperature and humidity in the house.

The use of a substrate made of cork under the laminate makes it possible as long as possible to keep intact interlocks strips. The material is also perfectly able to reduce the level of various external noises, to prevent heat losses through the floor covering. Many users had positive feedback about the cork underlay for laminate.

Significant material has disadvantages. Mass use only prevents the high price of cork insulation. However, the cost is fully justified by a number of advantages. There is another weakness of the cork backing - waterproofing, so you need to make sure that the material is not in contact with moisture for a long time.

It is important to remember that too thick substrate is not an indication of quality of material for the laminate. Carefully pick up the substrate, taking into account the characteristics of the flooring.