Laying a laminate on a concrete floor with a substrate with your own hands

If you will be laying a laminate on a concrete floor with a substrate, then you must first familiarize yourself with the technology of work. This kind of flooring is quite new in the market of the corresponding materials. Due to not too high cost, practicality and aesthetic appearance it became for many the most optimal option. You can lay the house of the finish coat on any surface. Thus, quite often a concrete foundation is used for concrete flooring. This procedure is common and simple for self-implementation.

Characteristics

In appearance, the lamellas resemble boards, the thickness of which can vary from 7 to 12 millimeters. As for the width, it varies from 17 to 30 centimeters. Before laying a laminate on a concrete floor with a substrate, you should familiarize yourself with the basic dimensions. So, the length is most often equal to the limit of 1 to 1.5 meters. The structure of the material resembles a multilayer pie, the individual layers in it perform a certain role, namely, the basic, decorative, protective and stabilizing. Depending on the method of manufacture, a laminate of a higher or a direct pressure is distinguished. The service life of this coating, if it is not subjected to flooding, will depend on the surface layer, namely the protective film. If it is a high-pressure laminate, then this component is multicomponent.

For reference

In addition to expensive melamine and acrylic resins , aluminum oxide or corundum is used, which increases the strength properties. The protective film increases durability, and also prevents exposure to ultraviolet and chemicals. If you are laying a laminate on a concrete floor with a substrate, then you should know that under the protective film is a decorative layer, which can be a special foil or paper. From this layer will depend how much the coating is aesthetically pleasing.

Preparation of concrete base

How well and qualitatively the coating will be laid depends on the condition of the base. The surface should be flat, horizontal, protected from dampness. The surface must be noise and heat insulated. If you previously removed old floors, then the surface should be leveled. Elevation differences should not be more than 2 millimeters per square meter. If they are more significant, then you can try to eliminate them with a special mixture or bring down the protrusions. If such a technique is not possible, then a new screed should be set up.

Recommendations for the conduct of preparatory work

It is often enough to lay a laminate on a concrete floor with a substrate only after a cement or concrete covering has been built, but each of them assumes a long drying out. As for modern materials by the type of self-leveling floors, they allow for the manipulation of preparation in a shorter period. The thickness of such coatings can be very significant. They dry up quickly. Many manufacturers emphasize that after a few hours after filling is possible to walk on such sexes. Experts do not recommend hurry, walk on the surface though and you can, but you do not need to rush mount the cover. Full drying of such a surface will occur in a few days.

Mounting the substrate

Laying the laminate on a concrete floor with a substrate is made using a certain technology, which provides for the installation of a waterproofing layer. In the role of the cheapest option is the usual film, the canvases of which are overlapping. The edges will need to be connected with the help of building scotch. Experts consider this option not the best. It is preferable to use substrates made of expanded polyethylene or extruded polystyrene foam, they have noise-absorbing properties. More expensive, but also effective option is bitumen-cellulose substrate, it includes cork powder. When choosing this option, remember that it is not compatible with the system of warm floors and assumes the presence of special breathable skirting boards. Sufficiently convenient and polymer substrates, which have a self-adhesive base, which is why they are very easy to stack. Without the use of a substrate, it is possible to do only in the case when a four-layer laminate is installed. This is due to the fact that its lower layer performs the same function. However, it should not be in this case to save on the use of waterproofing material.

Stacking technology

Laying the laminate on a concrete floor with a substrate (photo presented in the article) provides for the acclimatization of materials in the room for 2 days. This will prepare the laminate for installation work and protect it from deformation. Due to the fact that during the installation work a surface will be formed that does not have a clutch base, it is necessary to leave a gap near vertical surfaces, the width of which should be 10 millimeters. If the laminate is laid on the concrete floor with the substrate by hand, then the installation work must be carried out in such a way that the long side of the lamella is directed along the light flux. Once the wedges are in place, which is necessary to ensure clearance, you can lay the first row, which will be located at the wall surface. After the first row is completed, you will need to determine the length of the last workpiece, given the width of the gap. The remainder of the lamella can be used at the beginning of the next row, but this rule is only valid when the element is not less than 30 centimeters. Otherwise, the wizard will need to prepare another panel. Laying a laminate on a concrete floor with a substrate is a job that involves the presence of waste. However, if you use the above method, the waste can be reduced to a minimum, ensuring the displacement of the joints, which, in the opinion of experienced masters, is very important. If necessary, the last row should be trimmed in width.

Conclusion

You should remember that the laminate is not laid on an uneven concrete floor with a substrate. In this case, you risk getting a finish coat, which will deform and not last long.