9 best laminate underlays

One of the simplest and most accessible materials. It costs the least compared to competitors, but also has a number of disadvantages. Let's start with the merits.Foamed polyethylene is resistant to the formation of fungus and mold, as well as to pests and rodents. It has good thermal insulation. Due to the presence of closed foam cavities, the material has good protection against the penetration of moisture from the outside onto the laminate.

Let's move on to the cons of customer reviews. One of them is its low load resistance - over time, polyethylene foam deforms and partially loses its positive effects. Another disadvantage is the very small thickness, which is why the material has low sound insulation performance.

Unlike conventional polyethylene foam, the technology for the production of cross-linked fellow is much more complex and includes several stages. As a result, in addition to all the positive characteristics of ordinary polyethylene foam, this material also has other advantages: the highest strength, microbiological resistance, and 20% lower thermal conductivity. The service life of the material is at least 15 years. Other advantages are moisture resistance, excellent sound insulation. The disadvantage is the higher price compared to conventional polyethylene foam.

This type of substrate is made from coniferous wood. It has good sound insulation. The coniferous substrate is made in the form of plates, the material is environmentally friendly. The substrate does not contain any chemicals. The material is resistant to decay, resistant to fire. It is easy to cut and fit. It can be used both in apartments of apartment buildings and in private houses.
The coniferous substrate perfectly smooths out small irregularities of the base, thanks to a thickness of seven millimeters. It keeps heat well, you can walk barefoot on the floor without any discomfort. The material is very strong and durable. A slight drawback of the substrate in the reviews is fragility, you need to be very careful when laying it so as not to break it in unnecessary places.

This type of substrate is obtained by extruding polystyrene foam through an extruder under pressure and high temperature. The material has good strength, due to which it has a high resistance to deformation. Available in rolls and sheets. Its very big plus is its low thermal conductivity, i.e. it retains heat very well. In a heated apartment, the floor will be warm, you can walk barefoot without discomfort.
Due to the peculiarities of production and high strength, the material is very durable. It is also worth noting low moisture absorption - expanded polystyrene can be used even in wet rooms. The material has good soundproofing characteristics.

Another type of combined substrate. It consists of three layers: the two extreme layers are a polyethylene film, the middle layer is a sheet of expanded polystyrene granules. The multi-layered material gives it a number of advantages. This is a very high strength and resistance to stress, excellent sound insulation, good moisture insulation of the laminate due to the polyethylene film. Another plus is the presence of its own air circulation.The material is elastic, hides and hides small roughness of the floor, well extinguishes steps on a concrete and wooden base. It is very easy and comfortable to work with him, easy to stack.

One of the most popular and widely used materials that are used as a substrate. It consists of two layers - aluminum foil, and a second coating glued to it with a special glue. It can be polystyrene or polyethylene. Due to the use of two different materials, the range of advantages of the foil substrate and the scope of its application are significantly expanded. So, it can be used in wet rooms, the foil layer will perform the function of waterproofing. Also, the foil increases the thermal insulation of floors by 30%.
Other advantages of the material are high noise insulation and protection of the laminate from breakage: the substrate softens the load, which eliminates the likelihood of cracks and breakage of locks. The foil base prevents the formation of fungus and mold. Depending on the curvature of the floor, it is possible to lay a foil substrate with a thickness of 2 to 10 mm.

Some laminate manufacturers immediately complete it with a substrate, so you can do without additional laying of the base under the floor covering. The integrated backing consists of rubber that is factory bonded to the laminate and a thin non-woven fabric. It glides perfectly on the screed and has good sound insulation, dampens noise when walking on a wooden and concrete base.The disadvantage of such a substrate is its high cost - a laminate with an integrated substrate, as a rule, is expensive.

The material is multi-layered. Has higher moisture resistance in comparison with a normal cork substrate. The material consists of two layers: one layer is small cork chips, and the second is kraft paper with the addition of bitumen. It also has good sound insulation - it perfectly dampens steps on the floor and other noises. The bituminous layer prevents the penetration of moisture from the outside into the parquet, and the cork layer provides ventilation, thanks to which moisture is removed from the substrate through the skirting boards. The material is also elastic, thanks to which it smooths out uneven wooden and concrete floors well.

Cork underlay is very popular due to a range of excellent features and benefits. The material is not subject to rotting and mold formation; no chemicals are used in its production. The bonding compound that connects the cork particles together is a substance of natural origin - subberin, which is located in the cork itself.

In addition, the cork backing does not lose its shape, perfectly muffles steps, and has good soundproofing characteristics. Also, the material is not affected by rodents and pests. The disadvantages of cork are low moisture resistance and high cost. Therefore, cork substrate is not suitable for damp rooms.