Cork underlay for parquet boards. What is the best underlayment for parquet boards? Other draft grounds

The technological revolution is changing the well-known building materials beyond recognition. So, expensive and respectable parquet with the advent of a parquet board with a lock connection goes into the category of floor coverings available to the mass buyer. This type of floor is distinguished by reliability, durability and unique beauty. Natural boards are pleasant to the touch, do not accumulate static charges, and can be sanded several times to restore their original appearance. All this becomes possible if the laying technology is observed, which provides for the laying of an intermediate layer between the base of the floor and the floor covering.

The underlay for parquet is provided not only by Russian building codes (SNiP 3.04.01-87) and rules (SP 71.13330.2011), but also by European standards (CEN) adopted in 2013.

What is the underlayment for?

A parquet underlay is a thin layer of non-woven material in the form of rolls or sheets. Fitted for:

elimination of irregularities in the base of the floor;
compensation of oscillatory movements when walking;
sound insulation improvements;
protection of the floor covering from condensate moisture;
increase the level of thermal protection.

Of the above functions, only the first two are the main ones. Noise, heat and waterproofing are auxiliary.

Leveling of foundation defects. Modern materials and technologies do not allow you to get a perfectly even screed. Even at the self-leveling floor there will always be slightly sagging areas or small tubercles. Surface grinding partially solves the problem, but still leaves behind the smallest irregularities, which after a few months of floor operation lead to the appearance of a “backlash”: subsidence of the boards under the weight of a walking person. In this case, an amplitude of 2-3 mm is sufficient for a creak to appear first, and then the process of destruction of the locks begins.

Eliminates the problem of uneven concrete base substrate. Properly chosen in terms of thickness and physical properties, the material allows you to get an almost perfect surface for parquet flooring.

Compensation of amplitude fluctuations. In the process of walking, parquet boards bend under the weight of a walking person. The whole load is taken by the lock. If you do not take measures to dampen oscillatory movements, the interlocks will quickly begin to collapse. Therefore, its ability to be a damper (from the German word dämpfen - muffle) layer between the floor covering and the floor base is attributed to the main functions of the substrate.

Noise isolation. Concrete in the screed conducts various noises well. The thickness of the parquet board is not enough to dampen sound waves. As a result, neighbors downstairs hear indoor noises, especially footsteps in thin heels, and the owners of the apartment are well aware of what is happening downstairs.

Thermal insulation. The substrate, regardless of what material it is based on, has good insulating properties. Its laying makes it possible to keep heat in the apartment (house), not allowing it to escape through the concrete.

However, here it must be remembered that the installation of underfloor heating under parquet requires other properties from the substrate: reflect heat waves into the apartment or pass them well in one direction. It can be a material with special perforation (let heat through) or a laminated substrate (foil reflects heat upwards).

Types of substrates for parquet (parquet board)

The substrate under the parquet board can be classified according to several criteria:

according to the form of manufactured products;
by the origin of the materials from which it is made;
on the raw materials used.

By release form

Substrate manufacturers offer two options for their products:

rolled - produced mainly from artificial materials;
sheet of cork, needles and polystyrene foam.

By origin of raw materials

Plates and rolls are made from natural (needles, cork) and artificial (polyethylene, polystyrene, propylene, bitumen) material. In some cases, on the shelves of retail outlets, you can see a combined version (bitumen cork). Each of them has its pros and cons, which will be discussed below.

By type of raw material

According to the type of material from which the substrate is made, there are:

polyethylene foam;
polystyrene foam;
foam;
cork;
bituminous cork;
coniferous;
combined (composite).

Polyethylene. Polyethylene substrates can be of several types:

from foamed non-crosslinked polyethylene (NPE), commercially available under the brands: Izolon, Isopak, Isoprol, Penolin, Porilex, etc.;

from cross-linked polyethylene foam (PPE) - produced under the brands "Penolon", "Polyf", "Tatfoum";

foil from foamed cross-linked polyethylene - these are Ecofol, Penofol, etc.

For information: you can read more about the foil substrate in the material "".

These are the cheapest types of damper materials, and therefore they occupy a dominant position in the construction market. Such linings have their advantages:

a sufficiently high level of hydro and thermal insulation;
ease of use - easy to cut with simple styling;
inert to most chemicals;
does not serve as a basis for the reproduction of fungus and mold;
does not fit into the rodent food chain.

At the same time, this type of substrate has several significant drawbacks:

low strength, which manifests itself in the loss of shock-absorbing properties within 3-5 years (compressed);
afraid of ultraviolet radiation - under the influence of sunlight is rapidly destroyed;
low soundproofing properties.

Styrofoam. Expanded polystyrene substrates are available in the form of:

mats (sheets) - brands "Izoshum", "Aberhof";

accordions - "Solid";

rolls - "Izopolin" (Poland).

The material has many strengths:

durable - the service life coincides with the service life of the parquet board;
retains elasticity until the end of its service life;
can be laid without waterproofing, which is a great advantage over other types of substrates;
restores its original shape after a long static load;
serves as a good insulation due to the porous structure;
well absorbs sounds - the level of noise absorption reaches 70%;
retains elasticity at temperatures from - 50 o C to + 75 o C (can be laid in the country without any problems);
has exact geometric dimensions, which facilitates the process of flooring;
light weight and compactness make it possible to transport the material in cars.

Among the shortcomings should be noted:

low ability to level the protrusions of the screed - a thickness of 3 mm eliminates the error of the floor base of only 1 mm;
immediately after laying the flooring, it temporarily sags - the problem disappears after 4-5 weeks;
sold only in rolls and packages, resulting in surpluses quite often;
breaks with strong bending;
cannot be laid on a wooden floor or plywood - wood under polystyrene actively rots;
combustible - the composition contains 92% carbon and 8% hydrogen.

Details about the expanded polystyrene substrate can be found in the material "".

The foam pad ("Isopak") is not popular with the Russian population, despite the low price. There are several reasons:

short service life - no more than 10 years, after which it turns into dust;
flammable;
releases highly toxic substances;
bad soundproofing.

The advantages include only good moisture resistance and an affordable price.

Best of all, a cork underlay performs its functions under the parquet - it almost perfectly levels out the errors in the surface of the subfloor. She has:

high heat and noise insulation properties;
practical dimensions;
long service life.

The only downside is the very high price. It is represented by well-known brands in the world: Vintage, Amorim Group, Egen, Wicanders, Sedacor and Steico. Available in rolls and sheets.

For information: detailed information about the cork substrate can be obtained on our website in the work "".

The bitumen-cork substrate consists of kraft paper impregnated with bitumen and a layer of cork chips. It has the same performance characteristics as pure cork material. However, this type of damper has one significant plus: increased moisture resistance.

The coniferous substrate was conceived as an alternative to other types of substrates for a wooden subfloor, since wood is prone to rapid decay under polystyrene and propylene, and rots under polystyrene.

In Russia, it is also laid on top of a concrete screed. However, in this case there are fundamental contradictions. So, on the concrete surface there is increased humidity due to condensation, and the needles are instantly covered with mold in wet conditions. Here, hydroprotection in the form of a film is required, and substrate manufacturers do not recommend laying it on polyethylene.

The substrate has quite a few advantages that buyers like:

durability - the service life is about 20 years (possibly more, but there is no accumulated statistics);
low coefficient of thermal conductivity - serves as an excellent heater;
high density, due to which sharp protrusions (small pebbles) on the surface of the screed are well leveled;
elasticity, which allows to hold a weight of about 20 tons per 1 m 2 without deformation of the underlying layer;
high level of sound absorption (19-22 dB);
fire resistance - at high temperatures, the substrate does not support the combustion process - it is charred;
environmental friendliness - natural materials are used in the production.

Among the disadvantages:

high price;
accumulates water, after which it becomes a favorable basis for the development of mold and fungus;
smells unpleasant in the first few weeks after laying.

Available only in the form of mats. The most famous manufacturers are: the Polish company Steico, Isoplaat (Estonia), LATTIALEIJONA (Finland) and Cezar (Poland). In more detail, the characteristics of the coniferous substrate are considered in the work "".

The combined substrate is represented by the trade mark "Tuplex". She has a top and bottom made of polyethylene film, the middle is made of expanded polystyrene, made in the form of balls. At the same time, each layer has its own functions: the bottom allows moisture to pass upwards, the middle serves as a damper layer, and the top retains water molecules in both directions. This structure of the material allows not to perform waterproofing work.

At Tuplex:

long service life;
good flexibility;
property to perfectly level the height differences at the base of the floor.

However, there are also significant disadvantages:

high price;
the middle layer contains styrene, which is harmful to health, which requires daily airing of the room for 1-2 months after laying the Tuplex underlay under the parquet board.

Criterias of choice

A huge selection of substrates of domestic and foreign manufacturers with different prices and different properties greatly complicate the process of choosing a specific material for parquet. What is the best underlay for a parquet board, what to choose? Based on the advice of experts, we highlight the main and secondary selection criteria.

The main characteristics of the material:

price;
durability;
ability to resist fungus and mold.

The secondary ones are:

thickness;
the level of heat and sound insulation (judging by the reviews on the forums, many city residents put sound insulation in second place, after the cost of the material);
release form.

What is cheaper

In the lower price sector there are substrates based on polyethylene and propylene, on the average polystyrene foam, in the upper one - needles, cork, cork with bitumen and Tuplex.

Immediately you need to cross out all budget materials from the list. The reason is that the low price corresponds to a short service life - no more than 15 years. If in the variant with a laminate such material can be used - the service life of both materials is almost the same, then it cannot be laid under parquet - its durability is 2-3 times higher. There is one more point here: if there are funds for the parquet, then there will also be funds for the corresponding substrate.

Durability

Given the long service life of parquet boards, it is necessary to look for material with a service life of 30 years or more. These requirements are met by all the remaining materials in the list.

Ability to resist mold and mildew

According to this criterion, only needles are problematic material. It cannot be used in bathrooms, kitchens and apartments on the first floor with a damp basement.

Thickness

For some reason, it is widely believed that the thicker the substrate, the better. Construction forums are generally full of reviews about laying the substrate in two layers, as a result of which excellent sound insulation of the apartment and a good level of thermal protection are achieved. All this is so. There is no point in arguing.

But the owners miss an important point - the oscillatory movements of the board while walking. With a substrate 2-3 mm thick, the amplitude does not exceed 2 mm, which corresponds to GOST and does not affect the strength of the locks. Increasing the thickness of the substrate for each millimeter leads to an increase in the span by an additional 2 mm. As a result, on a substrate with a thickness of 4-6 mm, the parquet board will fluctuate up and down by 4-5 mm, which is a sentence for a lock connection.

Conclusion: the best underlay for parquet boards should be no more than 3 mm thick (ideally 2 mm).

The level of heat and sound insulation

Cork and needles have the highest rates of heat and sound insulation. If these characteristics are in the first place, then the choice is obvious: cork or bitumen-cork substrate. It is still better to use a coniferous substrate on a wood base: board, plywood.

Release form

Specialists prefer to work with material in the form of sheets (mats), which is very important when walking directly on the substrate is prohibited.

Which substrate is better to choose and in what cases

As noted above, there are no other options for a wooden subfloor other than needles. In other cases, the editors advise:

for the first floor, it is better to choose "Parkolag" 3 mm thick with increased heat-shielding properties;
in a children's room with constant running around, screams and squeals, it is better to purchase "Steico Underfloor" or "ReFoam 3002". Their properties allow you to effectively dampen various types of noise;
for private houses on the ground floor, it is best to use Eco-cover 1000x500x3;
if suddenly there is not enough money for a branded substrate, Tarkett 2 mm thick will help.

General recommendation: in terms of price / quality ratio, the best substrates are the brands Izoshum, Aberhof, Solid. If the price factor is not taken into account, then it is advisable to choose a substrate from cork or bitumen-cork material.

Substrate laying rules

Installing the underlay is easy. The main thing is to follow a few simple rules.

The surface of the screed or subfloor must be clean.
When waterproofing the base with a plastic film, the latter is overlapped and wound up on the walls. Joints are glued with adhesive tape.
The elastic substrate is placed on the walls, the cork and needles are laid close to each other, but at a distance of 1 cm from the wall (technological gap).
All seams are taped.
You can not walk on the substrate, with the exception of needles.

Conclusion

Manufacturers of parquet boards write on the packaging that a substrate must be laid under the flooring. If the recommendation is not fulfilled, all guarantees for the parquet board are removed. Therefore, it is better to lay a damper layer of expanded polystyrene, cork or needles between the screed and the floor. Such a layer will not only preserve the integrity of the lock connection, but also improve the sound and heat insulation of the room.

The substrate should not be thicker than 3 mm (ideally 2 mm) and have a long service life. In this regard, it is not necessary to consider as an interlayer materials made of polyethylene and propylene, in which the operational period is limited to 10-15 years.

For laying the substrate does not require special knowledge and experience. A novice in the construction business will also cope with the technological operation.

Before proceeding with the installation of the parquet board, it is required to install a substrate that serves for additional sound insulation, to prevent the effects of floor fumes on the parquet board, to mitigate vibrations from walking, vibrations, and to evenly distribute the load over the floor surface. Depending on many factors, the substrate under the parquet board can be made of materials with different properties.

A substrate is not always used for parquet, but if it is used, then the choice must be approached wisely

Depending on the surface, floor moisture, the need for sound insulation, requirements for environmental friendliness and many other parameters, the material for the substrate under the parquet is selected. The most widespread are the following types:

cork backing;
from foamed polyethylene;
foam backing;
composite substrate Duplex;
bituminous substrate Parkolag.

Like any other materials, different substrates have their own characteristics, pros and cons.

In addition to the types listed above, there are several more varieties, such as polyethylene foam foil substrates, substrates with additional vapor barrier.

It is impossible to determine which substrate is better, since under different conditions the same material can be ideal and vice versa, absolutely unsuitable for installation. Laying a parquet board on a substrate that does not meet the operating conditions will necessitate repeated repairs, so you should carefully weigh all the advantages and disadvantages of various materials.

Advantages and disadvantages of a cork substrate

A good and fairly common option is to lay a parquet board with a cork backing. Due to the fact that cork is a completely safe material, it can even be used in children's rooms and bedrooms. The thickness of the substrate installed under the parquet must be exactly 2 mm.

This is due to the fact that a thinner cork will quickly crumble. A thicker underlayment may wrinkle over time, which will lead to damage to the locks of the parquet board and deformation of the surface.

Cork is a very unusual natural material, both in appearance and in properties.

The main positive characteristics of this material include:

the possibility of leveling minor surface defects due to elasticity;
good sound insulation, providing concealment of sounds when walking and noise from neighbors below;
the use of only natural ingredients in the manufacture ensures complete environmental safety;
good resistance to deformation under short-term loads;
thermal insulation, providing comfort of operation;
ease of installation, allowing even a non-professional to install the substrate;
does not support combustion, ensuring the fire safety of the coating;

Despite the high performance characteristics, the cork tends to swell under the influence of moisture and crumble after drying. This usually occurs as a result of laying on a concrete screed without a vapor barrier. A vapor barrier film under parquet can solve this problem.

In order to avoid problems with the floor, each of its layers must be thought out in advance, and you need to start with the mode of operation of the floor in the future

In order to avoid unpleasant consequences, a good solution would be to use a special cork substrate with installed rubber or polyethylene insulation. This type of substrate is much more expensive, so a simple cork substrate is usually used. At the same time, a plastic film is first installed and leveled, and then a regular cork is already laid.

The relatively high cost of a cork substrate somewhat limits its application. It should be noted that during operation the thickness of the parquet board with the substrate may decrease.

Properties of the polyethylene foam substrate

Foamed polyethylene has many remarkable properties that allow it to be used as a substrate for a parquet board, but it cannot be called an environmentally friendly material, which significantly reduces the scope. There are several varieties of polyethylene foam, which differ mainly in the method of foaming, the rest of their characteristics are almost the same. The positive qualities of this material include:

low price range;
the material is chemically neutral, which allows it to resist both the alkaline reaction of the concrete floor and the effects of other aggressive environments;
the chemical composition of the material perfectly resists the formation of mold, fungus, the development of bacteria, the appearance of rodents and insects, so it is very hygienic;
despite the porous structure, polyethylene foam is a good vapor barrier that prevents moisture from the concrete screed from entering the parquet board;
the structure of the material makes it a good heat insulator;
polyethylene foam exhibits good soundproofing properties;
ease of installation (when laying, the sheets are placed butt-to-butt and fastened with construction tape).

The disadvantages of the material include large shrinkage and loss of up to 50% of its properties over time and poor resistance to combustion, accompanied by the release of harmful substances.

Roll of PE foam backing

Penopropylene as a substrate for parquet

An even cheaper, but lower quality material for the substrate under the parquet is polypropylene. It differs from polyethylene in a short service life (no more than 7 years, when it fails it turns into powder) and a greater fire hazard.

When installing expensive parquet boards intended for long-term operation, it is not recommended to use a foam substrate.

For a cheap floor that will last no more than a few years, you can choose polypropylene

Multilayer underlay for parquet Tuplex

Structurally, such a substrate consists of three layers, each of which performs a specific function:

the bottom layer consists of a special porous polyethylene that freely passes moisture;
in the middle layer there are polystyrene foam balls that provide the elasticity of the coating and are freely ventilated due to the distance between them;
the top layer completely blocks any movement of moisture and is made of dense polyethylene;

The moisture accumulating in the middle layer freely exits through the side slots, designed for thermal deformation of parquet boards. Thus, the accumulation of excess moisture inside the coating is prevented, which allows the material to be used in rooms with poorly dried screed or high humidity.

Tuplex is a very interesting-looking artificial material with excellent performance properties.

The high performance of the material is reflected in the price range, which is close to natural cork. At a slightly different price, the use of Tuplex is limited to much smaller frames, since the material is much better resistant to moisture and other substances. In addition, the installation of such a substrate is much easier, since there is a special tape that allows you to quickly and efficiently connect sheets to each other.

Tuplex also has greater elasticity, so it is much less prone to dents than cork. However, the composition of Tuplex does not contain natural materials, so adherents of environmental cleanliness prefer a cork substrate.

Possibilities of using Parkolag

The Parkolag substrate has not received wide distribution. This is due to the presence of bitumen in the composition of this layer and a large amount of harmful substances released during operation. Structurally, Parkolag consists of special paper impregnated with bitumen and sprinkled with pieces of cork, therefore it has many positive characteristics, such as:

durability, ensuring long-term operation of parquet;
good soundproof qualities;
high moisture resistance;
ease of installation;
thermal insulation properties.

However, the presence of bitumen significantly limits its application. It is not recommended to use such a substrate in children's rooms, bedrooms and other poorly ventilated places.

The parking lot is suitable, for example, for industrial premises

Installation of the foil substrate

Foil coating can be performed on PE foam and PE foam substrates. The presence of such a layer on the substrate improves the thermal insulation characteristics of the floor. In addition, this layer creates a vapor barrier, prevents the development of mold and mildew, so no additional polyethylene film is required.

Typically, such a substrate is used for the installation of parquet boards on floors with a high moisture content. These rooms include rooms located above the basement, a bathroom, a kitchen.

Roll of foil backing

Conclusion on the application of all types of substrate

It is impossible to install a parquet board without a substrate, as this will lead to premature failure of the coating, excessive noise when walking, deterioration of thermal insulation and other properties.

You should carefully choose the material for the substrate under the parquet board in each particular room. For example, the use of a cork substrate is highly undesirable in bathrooms and sanitary facilities, and polypropylene foam is not suitable for halls with high traffic.

Substrate thickness and other theoretical information

Perhaps the most common misconception among buyers is the belief that the thicker the substrate, the better. Allegedly, it will be softer to walk and the load on the parquet board or laminate will be less. This is not true. According to the standard, the maximum height difference when laying laminate and parquet boards is 2 mm per 2 m². This includes both the drop of the base itself and the shrinkage of the substrate. Soft materials such as foam backing or cork backing will compress when pressed. The larger the layer of such a substrate, the greater the height difference. The difference in height creates play on the locks of the laminate or parquet board, which causes increased wear of the lock joint and the appearance of a creak. What is most offensive is that the parquet board creaks and the lock does not break off immediately, but after a few months without the possibility of timely detection of a laying defect.

Based on the above, the standard substrate thickness is 2 mm. Such a thickness with a well-leveled base, even with complete damage or the absence of a substrate fragment (for example, due to poor-quality laying or underlay strips that have parted) allows you to keep within the standard allowable difference. Please note that most parquet board manufacturers state in their laying requirements that a cork underlayment with a thickness of 2 mm is required. With a non-standard substrate, even in a warranty case, the manufacturer may refuse, but in practice, the manufacturer only cares about the thickness.

Stores often sell cork 4, 6 or 8 mm thick, but such materials are not intended by manufacturers for laying laminate and parquet boards.

Another myth is that the base can be leveled with a substrate. Substrates for laminate and parquet board perfectly follow the shape of all floor irregularities. To level the floor in cases where it is impossible to use hardening mixtures (often due to saving work time), it is necessary to use solid materials - either gypsum or other sheets, or moisture-resistant traditional plywood.

Almost all types of substrates (except for Tuplex and based on bituminous mastic) have a porous structure that is not protected from moisture. When laying on plywood or leveling dry sheets, additional moisture insulation is not required. If parquet boards and laminate flooring are laid on a screed, dew appears on the surface of the screed due to the temperature difference, therefore it is highly recommended to lay a 200 micron or slightly thicker polyethylene film under a moisture-proof substrate with a wide overlap.

More often, the substrate was sold not in rolls, but in sheets. For example, a cork. Sheet materials have no advantages and convenience when laying, except for a greater profit for the manufacturer.

Propylene foam backing

The cheapest substrate, which is often bought under the laminate. Nothing particularly bad can be said at first glance - it satisfies the requirements for laying, does not react to moisture. One caveat - the collapse of the foamed propylene occurs on average after 7-10 years, after which the substrate turns into powder, losing the necessary properties of hydro and thermal insulation. In addition, foamed propylene rolls may lie in storage for a couple of years before being sold to the consumer. All foamed polymers are flammable, much more dangerous than wood, especially when taking into account the high toxicity, as a result of which the use of such a substrate is prohibited in many buildings.

Cork backing

Traditional underlay for parquet boards. Cork is the best natural sound and heat insulator and a completely natural product, so it’s really an excellent material. The only serious minus of the cork is that it swells from water. The cork underlay is available in different thicknesses; under the parquet board and laminate, only a cork underlay with a thickness of 2 mm should be used. If the substrate is thinner, it crumbles, significantly reducing the life of floating floors. If the cork is thicker, there is an excessive load on the locking joint. The lack of moisture protection should not significantly affect the choice, because. the inner layers of the parquet board, and even more so the laminate, are much more afraid of moisture. If the cork substrate is laid on a concrete screed or self-leveling floor, be sure to lay a 200 micron-thick polyethylene film with a wide overlap on the bottom and walk along the joints with moisture-proof tape.

Sometimes you can find exotics in stores - a cork substrate with a ready-made polyethylene layer. Good, but the cost is too high, it's easier to buy two layers separately.

Substrate Duplex

Substrate Duplex - a material of three layers. The bottom layer is a porous film that allows moisture to pass from below into the middle layer. The middle layer is stuffed with expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) balls that maintain a constant layer height. Between the balls there is an air layer with good ventilation. The top layer is a polyethylene film.

Together, this is especially effective in case of insufficiently dried screed or if there is condensation on the screed due to intermittent heating of the room. Moisture penetrates through the pores into the middle layer and is well ventilated through the air ducts along the perimeter of the room in the places of gaps between the parquet board and the wall. Thus, the risk of damage to the parquet is significantly reduced.

Tuplex underlay is by far the best “lazy” underlay for parquet boards and laminate if you don’t want to look for waterproofing polyethylene under the cork. Duplex has a price approximately equal to the cork substrate, however, it is usually supplied in rolls of 33 m², which is not always convenient. If desired, you can find rolls of 10 m² in stores. Tuplex in any case guarantees waterproofing, regardless of the professionalism of the installers, so parquet manufacturers like to recommend such a substrate (Karelia and Kahrs, for example).

Bituminous substrate

Bituminous mastic underlay is a new product on the Russian market, but actively promoted by several chains of parquet shops. The main advantages are noise, heat, moisture insulation. We confirm that these advantages exist, but the sellers are silent about one thing - bituminous mastic emits formaldehyde in large quantities, especially in hot weather or when laid near heat pipes. Because of this feature, bitumen-based materials are banned in many countries and institutions. Recently, in Moscow and a number of regions, the use of bituminous materials for roofing has been banned, huge amounts of money are being invested in converting asphalt with bitumen into paving slabs only because of environmental problems.

Coniferous substrate

Actively promoted product on the Russian market. The thickness of the substrate is 4-7 mm, so you automatically lose the warranty for parquet or laminate. In any dispute, the parquet manufacturer will say that you have used a non-recommended underlay, regardless of who is at fault in your case. The main problem - an attempt by companies promoting a coniferous substrate to sit on two chairs - is recommended both as a material for the base (i.e. a competitor to GVL, OSB and plywood), and as a damper (other substrates). The material cannot fulfill both purposes, because. in the first case, the rigidity of the material is required, and in the second, softness. Below is a press release from one of the popular manufacturers of softwood substrates with technologist's comments.

"Completely environmentally friendly material that does not contain chemical elements." Debatable. Due to what particles of needles are kept, what is the composition of the glue / resin?
"Removes uneven floors up to 3 mm, depending on the thickness of the substrate." For what? If due to softness, then an additional load on the locks (the service life of parquet / laminate is reduced, creaking, cracks at the ends may appear).
“The porosity of the softwood substrate prevents moisture from accumulating under the floor covering and weathers it, passing it through itself, which prevents the appearance of mold and fungus.” No, the author does not understand the issue. For the occurrence of a fungus, you need: a) the absence of sunlight; b) absence of drafts; c) the presence of a nutrient medium. Everyone has A and B, but cellulose is just a breeding ground for the fungus. The use of pine needles increases the possibility of fungus. Or glue is used that closes the cellulose, which is not immediately environmentally friendly.
“Over time, it does not dry out and does not sag.” Debatable. Due to what then aligns, if not sags?
"Aligns the humidity in the room by absorbing or releasing moisture when it is deficient in the surrounding air." This is a reference to the properties of wood. Then fungus.

Backing with a foil layer

The foil layer is a good hydro-, heat-, noise insulator and is rather an improved version of the original substrate material. The foil is usually a polyethylene foam substrate, the main qualities of such a substrate are described above. Foil underlay is recommended for laying on logs with rigid fixation of the board, as well as for inexpensive laminate with a service life of about 10 years.

Which underlay is best?

In our opinion, it is better to use either Tuplex or cork underlay under laminate and parquet board (with or without a polyethylene layer, depending on the base). Yes, and cork is the best substrate for underfloor heating.

We hope our underlayment review will save you and your floor.

Before installing the parquet board, a substrate is laid on the base, which allows you to eliminate small differences in height of the screed and additionally serves as a heat and sound insulating material.

Depending on the type of base, different types of substrates are used. So, any materials are suitable for concrete, and breathable products are laid on a rough wooden flooring.

Consider what types are used in finishing work:

Foamed uncrosslinked polyethylene

This material is considered the most inexpensive. It is used when laying boards on concrete floor slabs. Non-crosslinked polyethylene is an excellent way to arrange on the basis not only the substrate, but also high-quality waterproofing. Produced in rolls.

Pros - simple installation, which even a novice in decoration can handle, and low cost.

Cons - over time, the material loses its elasticity and is pressed through. In addition, when exposed to ultraviolet rays, uncrosslinked polyethylene is destroyed.

Manufacturers supply several types of non-crosslinked polyethylene products:

without cover;
with the application of a layer of polymers;
with a foil base;
with a metallic reflective layer.

Laying sheets is done end-to-end with sizing with adhesive tape.

Several manufacturers are engaged in the manufacture of non-crosslinked polyethylene: Isopak, Pleneks, Penolin, Izolon, Isopol.

Cross-linked polyethylene

It is produced in the form of rolls. The structure of the material is closed-porous. Used for laying on concrete bases.

Cross-linked polyethylene is distinguished by the method of cohesion of the material:

chemical. Polyethylene is heated in special ovens with the addition of chemicals that allow the structure to be crosslinked and foamed. The thickness of such material is 4-15 mm;
physical. Extra strong material with a service life of 15 years. It has lower thermal conductivity than non-crosslinked materials. Thickness 0.5-15 mm.

They produce crosslinked sheets of low-pressure polyethylene and linear low-density polyethylene in the form of single-layer products, self-adhesive sheets, sheets with a metallized coating and a foil base.

Manufacturers: Polyfom, Penolon-R, Tatfoum, Isolon 500, Penol.

Products made of extruded polystyrene foam do not allow moisture to pass through, so they are not suitable for wooden bases. It is best to lay them on a screed or self-leveling floors.

Expanded polystyrene substrates are more expensive than polyethylene products, but they have higher strength, heat and sound insulation.

They are produced in the form of rolled material, sliced slabs or "accordion". Additionally, reflective layers can be applied to the expanded polystyrene base. Manufacturers: Balterio, Solid, BauMaster, Bonkeel, Vintage, Arbiton.

Coniferous substrate

It is produced in the form of mats made from pressed fibers of coniferous wood. Has a light green tint. The basis of the substrate is paper impregnated with a moisture-resistant composition.

The level of sound absorption is high, good performance under compression load. The peculiarities of this material include the need to lay joints perpendicular to the lock line of the parquet board, which implies an increased consumption of an expensive substrate.

The disadvantages also include the low resistance of the material to the appearance of mold, a pungent odor and the possibility of allergies in the residents of the house.

Manufacturers: Isoplat, Steiko. Read more about this substrate.

Construction cardboard

Designed for mounting boards on plywood or wooden base, also suitable for laying underfloor heating. It is produced in separate sheets or rolls, it is possible to apply a foil layer.

The material is impregnated with water-repellent compounds. The density is high, but the soundproofing properties are low. Not suitable for floors in wet areas.

Installation of sheets is carried out end-to-end with gluing the seams with adhesive tape.

Cork substrates

Products based on pressed cork elements are produced in the form of individual sheets or rolls. This environmentally friendly material is considered the best option for laying parquet or laminate, but its cost is higher than all other types of substrates.

Cork underlays perfectly withstand the load without changing the original thickness. Service life not less than 50 years. The cork does not rot, does not deteriorate by insects, has low flammability and high thermal and sound insulation qualities, and is easy to install. We wrote more about this type of substrate.

In places with high humidity, bitumen-cork or rubber-cork substrates are used.

The new material is intended for floor coverings that are laid in a floating way. Consists of 3 layers. The basis is a perforated membrane, in the middle is granulated polystyrene foam, the top layer is a polyethylene film. Side flaps are provided for rallying individual sheets.

The thickness of the product is 3 mm. "Tuplex" perfectly copes with high static and dynamic loads, has increased sound insulation and can be used for underfloor heating.

Criterias of choice

When choosing a substrate for a parquet board, you should focus on several main criteria:

Thickness

When it comes to determining the thickness of the bedding material, many people think that the maximum thickness is preferable - the floor becomes warmer, and the sound insulation increases. If we consider the issue based on the laws of physics, everything is correct - a warm and soundproof floor can be made by laying a thick layer, but here we must also take into account the work of the floor covering under load.

The thicker the lining under the finish coating, the higher the amplitude of oscillation under load.

According to GOST, this indicator should not exceed 2-3 mm, which provides a substrate of the same thickness, but if you lay a double layer of 4-6 mm, the amplitude will double, which will cause a break in the lock joints.

Given the negative impact of thickness on the safety of connecting locks, the ideal option for parquet is a material with a thickness of no more than 3 mm.

Price

Low cost underlays are commonly used in laminate flooring. This is due to the period of operation of the coating, which does not exceed 15 years, then it is necessary to completely change both the laminate and the substrate.

The parquet is designed for operation from 50 years, so you cannot choose cheap and short-lived options.

From durable materials, cork, coniferous or bitumen-cork products are usually chosen.

Durability

Durability is similar to the cost criterion. For parquet, you should choose strong and durable products made of cork or needles.

Insulating properties

The ability of the substrate to isolate the coating from sound and cold air depends on the substrate material. It is better to lay a cork or bitumen-cork substrate on concrete or self-leveling floor. It is better to lay coniferous material on wood or plywood.

What and in which case it is better to choose

Which substrate under the parquet board is better depends on the operating conditions.

Expert Finisher Tips:

for floor finishing equipment on the ground floor, it is better to choose 3 mm material with reinforced thermal insulation, for example "Parkolag";
if wooden flooring acts as a base, coniferous sheets will be the best substrate for a parquet board;
for a children's room, "Steico Underfloor" is suitable, which perfectly dampens noise;
for individual buildings on the ground floor, Eco-cover or 2 mm Tuplex is suitable;
in rooms with high humidity (entrance hall in a private house) it is better to lay bitumen-cork products;
in other cases, it is recommended to use materials that are optimal in terms of cost and characteristics, for example, Isoshum, Aberhof, Solid.

How to lay underlayment under parquet

To lay the underlay under the parquet, you need to perform the following steps:

Clean the concrete base from debris and dust.
Install waterproofing. The polyethylene film must be overlapped. The joints are sealed with tape. The edges of the film lead to the walls to a height of 100 mm.
A substrate made of elastic materials is laid out with a factory edge on the walls. Cork and coniferous sheets are laid end-to-end, leaving a gap of 10 mm from vertical surfaces.
The joints of the canvases are glued with adhesive tape.
All products, with the exception of conifers, are laid out as the parquet board is laid. You cannot walk on the laid sheets.

Among the floor coverings parquet board occupies a special place. With its help, you can quickly and efficiently create a unique and reliable coating that will last for many years. But for this it is necessary to adhere to certain requirements in the process of laying it. One of these requirements is a correctly selected and laid substrate under the parquet board. It performs a number of important functions, namely, it allows you to increase the level of noise, heat and sound insulation. To achieve the maximum effect from the substrate, you need to know about some features of its installation.

To choose the best option for the substrate under the parquet board, you need to pay attention to their characteristics and operating conditions.

What you need to know about underlay

The first thing to consider when choosing a substrate is its thickness. Contrary to popular belief that the thicker the better, softer and quieter to walk, the thickness of the substrate under the parquet board should not exceed 2 mm. This is due to the allowable height difference of the base for parquet boards of 2 mm per linear meter. The fact is that during the operation of one or another type of substrate, no matter how good the material is, it compacts over time, and if its thickness is too large, then a difference of more than two mm will appear. As a result, the parquet board will begin to creak, and unwanted play will appear at the joints, which will increase over time, and the lock joint will crack. That is why manufacturers produce a substrate with a standard thickness of 2 mm, which makes it possible, even with a large shrinkage, to maintain an allowable difference and keep the floor covering intact. In stores you can find a substrate with a thickness of 4, 6, 8 mm, but it is intended for other purposes and flooring.

The second important point when choosing a substrate is its ability to at least partially level the base under the parquet board. This possibility is somewhat exaggerated, since the substrate under the parquet board completely repeats all the irregularities of the base. Of course, there is also a requirement for a permissible 2 mm drop, but if the base has significant flaws, the substrate will not save the situation. Therefore, in the case when it is not possible to level the base with a self-leveling mixture, sheets of moisture-resistant plywood or gypsum fiber are used.

The third important parameter is the resistance of the substrate to moisture. All types of substrates, except for Tuplex, polyethylene foam and those based on bituminous mastic, have a porous structure and absorb moisture well. Therefore, for such substrates, it is necessary to make a vapor barrier layer from a polyethylene film 200 microns thick.

Polyethylene foam underlay for parquet board - the cheapest and most affordable material

Foamed polyethylene is perhaps the cheapest and most undemanding material for the substrate. It is produced in various thicknesses, but, as in the case of cork, a certain thickness of 2 mm is required for a parquet board. Due to its closed-type porous structure, polyethylene foam does not absorb and does not let in moisture, it has excellent heat, sound and noise insulation properties. It is not afraid of rotting or exposure to most solvents. The main disadvantages of polyethylene foam are its artificial origin, poor resistance to fire, over time it shrinks heavily and loses up to half of its original performance.

Polypropylene foam underlay for parquet board

Expanded polypropylene - toxic and flammable, not the best option for residential premises

This backing is similar to polyethylene foam, but there are key points that make them very different. Firstly, polypropylene material is more toxic and flammable. Secondly, polypropylene foam is less durable, its service life is 7-10 years, after which the substrate turns into dust. Even despite its low price, such a substrate is not the best option for parquet boards in residential premises.

Underlayment for parquet board Parkolag has good performance properties, but is extremely toxic when heated

This type of substrate is based on bituminous mastic. Its main advantages are good noise, heat and moisture insulation, the price is also quite affordable. Its main disadvantage is the high toxicity of bitumen, which releases formaldehyde at high temperatures, which is why bitumen has been banned in many countries.

Underlayment for parquet board Tuplex is a universal multi-layer material with optimal characteristics

Perhaps, Tuplex is the ideal among all floorboard substrates. This artificial material consists of three layers, each of which performs its role. The first - the bottom layer - is a porous film designed to hold the middle layer together and let moisture in. The middle layer is small balls that help keep the shape of the material, and the gaps between them act as ventilation. The third - the top layer - is an ordinary polyethylene film that acts as a vapor barrier material.

Duplex underlay is perfect for all types of substrates. It can be laid directly on a concrete screed without worrying about high levels of humidity. Due to the presence of an air gap in the middle of the material, moisture is easily removed and then gradually evaporates through the expansion gaps between the wall and the floor covering. The price of Tuplex is approximately the same as for cork, so many, guided by the natural origin of cork, choose it.

It is impossible to single out the undisputed best substrate. In many ways, the choice depends on personal preferences and the size of the budget for repairs. It can only be noted that it is worth choosing environmentally friendly materials that will maintain health and can last for decades.