Choosing a parquet underlay

Selecting the appropriate underlay for your parquet flooring is essential to guaranteeing its durability, comfort, and functionality. Between your subfloor and the actual parquet, the underlay serves as a stabilizing layer that offers impact resistance, soundproofing, and insulation. The type of subfloor you have, the type of parquet you are installing, and the particulars of the room will all play a role in helping you choose the best underlay out of the many options.

Choosing a parquet underlay requires careful consideration of your subfloor type. The underlay should work with the existing flooring, whether it’s made of wood, concrete, or tiles, to give the required stability and support. For example, to stop moisture seepage from damaging concrete subfloors, an underlay that is resistant to moisture is necessary.

The underlay’s density and thickness are significant additional factors. Generally speaking, thicker underlays provide more comfort underfoot and sound absorption, particularly in areas like bedrooms or apartments where noise abatement is essential. Density is also important because, over time, denser materials offer better support and durability, which helps to ensure that your parquet flooring stays in excellent condition.

Take into account the particular needs of the space where the parquet will be installed. Superior impact resistance underlays can help minimize wear and tear on the subfloor and parquet in high-traffic areas like hallways. On the other hand, underlays that increase thermal insulation may be advantageous in areas like living rooms or basements where warmth is a top concern. This will increase overall comfort.

Finally, it’s important to consider how simple installation is and how well it works with your parquet flooring system. Certain underlays have adhesive strips or vapor barriers built right in, making installation easier and guaranteeing a tight fit. Underlay is a worthwhile investment because it ensures optimal performance and longevity with the parquet flooring system of your choice.

Why do you need a substrate?

A thin layer of non-woven material in the shape of rolls or sheets serves as a parquet board’s backing. Ideal for:

• eliminating unevenness in the subfloor;
• compensation of oscillatory movements when walking;
• improving sound insulation;
• protection of floor coverings from condensation moisture;
• increasing the level of thermal protection.

Only the first two of the aforementioned functions are regarded as fundamental. Auxiliary: heat, noise, and waterproofing.

Balancing the base of defects. Today’s technologies and materials make it impossible to achieve an absolutely level screed. There will always be small bumps or slightly drooping spots on a floor, even one that self-levels. Sanding the surface helps to some extent, but it still leaves tiny imperfections in place. These irregularities cause the floor to appear to "play" after a few months of use, as the boards begin to sag under the weight of a walking person. In this instance, a creaking sound with an amplitude of 2-3 mm is sufficient to trigger the locks’ eventual destruction.

Removes the uneven concrete base underlayment issue. A nearly perfect surface for installing parquet boards can be achieved by carefully choosing the material in terms of thickness and physical characteristics.

Compensation for amplitude. Parquet floors give way under the weight of a person walking on them. The whole load is assumed by the lock. In the event that oscillatory movements are not dampened, the locking joints will soon start to collapse. Consequently, one of the substrate’s primary purposes is to act as a damping layer (dämpfen, from the German word for "to drown out") between the subfloor and the floor covering.

Insulation against noise. Different noises are well conducted by concrete in a screed. The parquet board’s thickness is insufficient to reduce sound waves. Because of this, the owners of the apartment are well aware of what is going on below, and neighbors below do hear noises inside the apartment, particularly footsteps on thin heels.

The substrate provides a solution. Similar to laminate flooring, there are subtle differences in soundproofing parquet floors. Therefore, we suggest that you look at the work "Soundproofing a floor under a laminate" for a more thorough understanding of the issue of shielding an apartment from excessive noise.

Sealing with water. Everyone is aware of the disastrous effects that can occur when moisture comes into contact with laminate flooring. Water scares parquet boards too, though not nearly as much. Condensation moisture from the concrete base poses the biggest threat to it. The underlay keeps moisture from coming into direct contact with the parquet base. We recommend reading the article "Waterproofing under laminate" for curious visitors.

Insulation against heat. The substrate has good insulating qualities, regardless of the material underneath. By installing it, heat can be kept inside the house or apartment and cannot escape through the concrete.

But keep in mind that installing heated floors beneath parquet requires the substrate to have additional qualities, such as the ability to reflect heat waves into the apartment or transfer them effectively in a single direction. This can be a laminated backing (the foil reflects heat upward) or a material with a specific perforation that allows heat to pass through.

Types of substrates for parquet (parquet boards)

Several factors can be used to categorize parquet board underlays:

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

By release form

Manufacturers of substrates provide two choices for their goods:

• roll – produced mainly from artificial materials;
• sheet made of cork, pine needles and polystyrene foam.

By origin of raw materials

Both natural (pine needles, cork) and synthetic (polyethylene, polystyrene, propylene, bitumen) materials are used to make plates and rolls. There are instances where you can find a combined option (bitumen-cork) on the shelves of retail stores. We’ll talk about each of them’s advantages and disadvantages below.

By type of raw material

Depending on the kind of material used to create the substrate, there are:

• polyethylene foam;
• expanded polystyrene;
• foamed propylene;
• cork;
• bitumen-cork;
• conifers;
• combined (composite).

Polythene. Polyethylene substrates come in various varieties:

• made of foamed non-crosslinked polyethylene (NPE), sold under the following brands: “Izolon”, “Isopak”, “Isoprol”, “Penolin”, “Porilex”, etc.d.;

• made of cross-linked polyethylene foam (PPE) – produced under the brands Penolon, Polifom, Tatfoum;

• foil made of cross-linked polyethylene foam – these are “Ekofol”, “Penofol”, etc.d.

For further details, see the material "Foil backing" for more information.

Since these are the least expensive varieties of damping materials, they have a monopoly in the building industry. These linings have the following benefits:

• a fairly high level of hydro- and thermal insulation;
• ease of use – easy to cut with simple installation;
• inertness to most chemicals;
• does not serve as a basis for the proliferation of fungus and mold;
• does not fit into the rodent food chain.

However, this kind of substrate has a number of noteworthy drawbacks:

• low strength, which manifests itself in the loss of shock-absorbing properties within 3-5 years (compressed);
• afraid of ultraviolet radiation – rapidly deteriorates when exposed to sunlight;
• low sound insulation properties.

Polystyrene that is expanded. Expanded polystyrene substrates come in the following forms:

• mats (sheets) – brands “Isoshum”, “Aberhof”;

• accordions – “Solid”;

• rolls – “Isopolin” (Poland).

The content is strong in many ways.

• 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 big advantage over other types of substrates;
• restores its original shape after prolonged static load;
• serves as a good insulator due to its porous structure;
• absorbs sounds well – the noise absorption level reaches 70%;
• retains elasticity at temperatures from – 50 o C to + 75 o C (can be installed in the country without any problems);
• has precise geometric dimensions, which facilitates the flooring process;
• Light weight and compactness allow the material to be transported in cars.

Among the drawbacks, the following must be mentioned:

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

The material "Substrate for polystyrene foam laminate" has additional information about the polystyrene foam backing.

Propylene foam. Russians do not like Isopak (polypropylene foam backing), even though it is inexpensive. There are various causes:

• short service life – no more than 10 years, after which it turns into dust;
• highly flammable;
• releases very toxic substances;
• poor sound insulation.

The only benefits are the reasonable price and good resistance to moisture.

Cork. Under parquet flooring, a cork underlay works best because it nearly perfectly evens out surface irregularities. She possesses:

• high heat and sound insulation properties;
• practical sizes;
• long service life.

The extremely high cost is the only drawback. backed by globally recognized brands, including "Vintage," "Amorim Group," "Egen," "Wicanders," "Sedacor," and "Steico." Rolls and sheets are available.

For more information, see the work "Cork substrate for laminate" on our website for comprehensive details about the cork substrate.

Asphalt-cork. Kraft paper that has been impregnated with bitumen and a layer of cork chips make up bitumen-cork substrate. possesses the same qualities of performance as unadulterated cork. But one big benefit of this kind of damper is that it’s more resistant to moisture.

Evergreen. Coniferous underlayment was designed as an alternative to other underlay materials for a wooden subfloor because wood rots quickly under propylene and polystyrene foam, and under polystyrene itself.

It is also laid on top of a concrete screed in Russia. But in this instance, there are inherent inconsistencies. As a result, condensation causes a high level of humidity on concrete surfaces, and in humid environments, pine needles quickly grow mold. This needs to be waterproofed with a film, and the substrate’s manufacturers advise against putting it on polyethylene.

Customers enjoy a number of advantages that the underlay offers:

• durability — service life of about 20 years (possibly more, but there are no accumulated statistics);
• low thermal conductivity — serves as an excellent insulator;
• high density, due to which sharp protrusions (small stones) on the surface of the screed are well leveled;
• elasticity, allowing you to hold a weight of about 20 tons per 1 m2 without deformation of the underlying layer;
• high level of sound absorption (19-22 dB);
• fire resistance — at high temperatures, the underlay does not support the combustion process — it chars;
• environmental friendliness — natural materials are used in production.

• high cost;
• accumulates water, after which it becomes a favorable basis for the development of mold and mildew;
• unpleasant smell in the first few weeks after laying.

Exclusively available as mats. The most well-known producers are "Cezar" (Poland), "Isoplaat" (Estonia), "LATTIALEIJONA" (Finland), and "Steico" (Poland). The work "Coniferous substrate and its features" goes into further detail about the properties of the coniferous substrate.

Amalgamated (composite). The trademark "Tuplex" designates the combined substrate. It is composed of polystyrene foam in the shape of balls, with polyethylene film on top and bottom. Additionally, each layer performs a different role: the top retains water molecules in both directions, the middle acts as a damper layer, and the bottom permits moisture to pass upward. It is possible to avoid performing waterproofing work because of the material’s structure.

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

But there are also some serious drawbacks:

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

Criterias of choice

It is very challenging to choose a specific material for parquet because there is such a large variety of underlays available from both domestic and foreign manufacturers, all with varying prices and properties. Which underlay is best for parquet floors—and how should one choose? We will highlight the primary and secondary selection criteria based on professional advice.

Principal attributes of the substance:

• price;
• durability;
• ability to resist fungus and mold.

The latter ones consist of:

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

Which is cheaper?

There are substrates based on polyethylene and propylene in the lower price range, polystyrene foam in the middle, and pine needles, cork, cork with bitumen, and "Tuplex" in the upper price range.

All budget materials must be crossed off the list right away. The low cost is associated with a limited service life of no more than 15 years, which explains why. Such a material cannot be installed beneath parquet flooring because parquet has a 2-3 times higher durability than it does. However, it can be used with laminate, as the two materials have nearly equal service lives. One more thing to consider in this situation is that funding for parquet flooring will also likely support funding for the appropriate substrate.

Note: The author embraced the idea of not taking into account any more materials that were rejected during the comparison process.

Durability

Searching for a material with a service life of at least thirty years is necessary, given the lengthy lifespan of parquet boards. Every item still on the list satisfies these conditions.

Property to resist mold and mildew

Only pine needles are a problematic material based on the given criterion. It is not suitable for use in ground floor apartments with wet basements, kitchens, or bathrooms.

Thickness

There is a general perception that a thicker substrate is preferable for some reason. Reviews of two-layer substrate installation, which provides the apartment with good thermal protection and excellent sound insulation, are common in construction forums. Everything is accurate. It is pointless to argue.

However, the owners overlook a crucial detail: the board’s oscillatory walking motions. The amplitude does not surpass 2 mm with a substrate that is 2-3 mm thick, in accordance with GOST, and this has no effect on the locks’ strength. The span increases by 2 mm for every millimeter that the substrate thickness increases. Consequently, the parquet board will shift up and down by 4-5 mm on a substrate that is 4-6 mm thick, which is fatal to the locking joint.

In conclusion, a parquet board’s optimal underlay should have a maximum thickness of 3 mm (ideally, 2 mm).

Level of heat and sound insulation

The best materials for insulating against heat and sound are cork and pine needles. If these qualities are prioritized, it becomes clear which substrate to use: bitumen-cork or cork. On the basis of wood, it is still preferable to use coniferous substrates like plywood and boards.

The form of release

When it comes to prohibiting walking directly on the substrate, experts prefer to work with material in the form of sheets, or mats.

Which substrate is better to choose and in what cases

As previously mentioned, the needles are the only alternative for a wooden black floor. In other situations, the editorial staff suggests:

• For the first floor, it is better to choose Parkolag with a thickness of 3 mm with increased heat -shielding properties;
• It is better to purchase “Steico Underfloor” or “Refoam 3002” to the children"s room with constant running around, screaming and screens. Their properties allow you to effectively extinguish 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 will help 2 mm thick.

Overall advice: "Isoshum," "Aberhof," and "Solid" are the best brands of substrates when it comes to price/quality ratio. Selecting a substrate composed of bitumen-cork material or cork itself is advised if cost is not a concern.

Selecting the appropriate parquet underlay is essential to guaranteeing the durability, comfort, and functionality of your flooring. The underlay acts as a base to smooth out subfloor imperfections, insulate against cold, and aid in sound absorption. Think about things like moisture resistance, leveling purpose thickness, and underfloor heating system compatibility when choosing an underlay. These components not only improve the comfort and toughness of your parquet flooring, but they also play a major role in preserving its quality over time. You can make sure that your investment in parquet flooring is supported by a dependable and efficient underlay by making an informed decision based on your unique flooring needs and conditions.

Rules for laying the substrate

The underlay is simple to lay. It’s important to abide by a few basic guidelines.

1. The surface of the screed or subfloor must be clean.
2. When waterproofing the base with polyethylene film, the latter is overlapped and placed on the walls. The joints are glued together with tape.
3. The elastic backing is placed on the walls, the cork and pine needles are laid close to each other, but at a distance of 1 cm from the wall (technological gap).
4. All seams are taped.
5. You cannot walk on the substrate, except for pine needles.

Selecting the appropriate parquet underlay is essential to guaranteeing the durability and functionality of your flooring. As a foundation, the underlay reduces noise, guards against moisture, and offers support and insulation. You should take your subfloor into consideration when choosing an underlay. For concrete subfloors, moisture-resistant underlays might be necessary to stop damage over time.

The type of parquet flooring you’re installing is another crucial consideration. Certain underlays are made to go well with particular kinds of flooring, like laminate or engineered wood. Underlays for laminate flooring with strong sound absorption capabilities can lower noise levels and improve the comfort and quietness of your house.

Consider the space where the flooring will be installed as well. Living rooms and hallways, which see a lot of foot traffic, might benefit from underlays that provide additional cushioning and durability. On the other hand, thermal insulation may be given priority in bedroom underlays to provide more comfort underfoot.

Finally, it’s important to think about environmental factors and ease of installation. Certain underlays are constructed from recycled materials or have adhesive strips integrated into them, which can make installation easier and support environmental objectives. Selecting the ideal parquet underlay not only improves the functionality of your flooring but also makes your living area cozier and more productive.

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