Whether a linoleum substrate is needed - its main functions
The substrate is the basis for a finishing floor covering, which performs three main functions: smoothing the unevenness on the floor surface, its insulation and sound insulation. The basis of the floor is necessarily aligned before laying the cover, but even when carrying out all necessary work, no one is immune from the appearance of irregularities afterwards.
They can arise because of poorly executed concrete screed, heavy load, impacts and drops of heavy objects. Linoleum differs in its softness, so all the defects that have been formed will be clearly visible. The substrate will help mask these irregularities and extend the life of the finishing coat.
A good substrate is also a good insulation, increasing your chances that in the cold season, heat losses in the house will be minimal. Of course, laying linoleum directly on the cement-sand screed is fraught with the fact that the floor will be quite cold. As a consequence, walking on such a surface will not bring special comfort. Moreover, the cold floor does not have a beneficial effect on your body. In this case, the linoleum substrate can play the role of a floor heater.
This function of the substrate is especially important for those who live on the ground floor of a multi-storey building or in a private house with a basement.
The soundproofing properties of the substrate are equally important. They allow you to significantly reduce the level of noise penetrating into your home from neighbors from the bottom, if any. For houses of old construction, this is especially important - without soundproofing you will hear how the neighbor who is living two floors downstairs gets a bath.
Of course, today there are several materials that can be used as a substrate for linoleum. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages, determining the degree of their suitability for operation in the conditions of your residence. It only remains to determine whether there is a need to use a substrate in your case. If so, feel free to choose!
Which substrate is better?
Immediately it is worth mentioning that experts almost unanimously oppose the use of a foamed substrate. The reason is that most types of household linoleum are rather soft. Add to this the foam material - as a result you will get impressive dents on the floor surface, even from slightly heavy objects, let alone furniture. Today, as a basis for finishing the floor, you can choose:
- jute backing;
- natural linen;
- plywood or fiberboard;
- material of a mixture of flax, jute and wool;
- cork material of high density and degree of rigidity.
So, the jute leaf will be an ideal option when it is necessary to improve the insulation of the floor: when laying the concrete screed directly to the ground, there is no heating in the room. Jute substrate is made of natural materials, which makes it environmentally friendly and safe for humans. Moreover, due to its ability to pass air, this material regulates the microclimate in the room.
Choose the product with the highest density!
The requirement of rigidity, in principle, applies to all kinds of substrates. Rigid materials will minimize the risk of dents and the effect of a spring when walking. It would seem that these requirements are completely consistent with plywood or fiberboard, but this is not entirely true.
Practice has shown that plywood significantly reduces the service life of household linoleum, and the fiberboard does not tolerate high humidity and temperature changes, which leads to deformation of the substrate and, accordingly, the floor covering. That is why most experts recommend the use of cork material.
Cork substrate - practical basis for linoleum
Today cork material, which is sold in building stores in rolls, is one of the best for the device of a substrate for linoleum floor coverings. This is due to its excellent performance properties and unusual cellular structure. In millions of cells there are small air bubbles that contribute to a uniform distribution of the load on the coating.
So, the cork substrate is an excellent soundproof material, which will not let foreign sounds from the lower floors. In addition, this eco-friendly material keeps the heat well, which makes it easy to walk on the floor barefoot even in severe frosts.
Unlike fiberboard, the plug is resistant to high humidity in the room. This feature allows you not to worry about possible deformation of the substrate. Moreover, this material provides additional protection for linoleum.
Thus, to answer the question of whether a substrate is needed, it is possible after a careful analysis of those conditions in which the floor covering will be used. Only after that you can choose the material, focusing also on your own preferences, financial possibilities.
