Types of substrates for quartzvinyl

Quartz vinyl is a popular choice for flooring because of its ease of maintenance, durability, and aesthetic appeal. But choosing the correct substrate is essential to guaranteeing that your quartz-vinyl floor looks fantastic and lasts for many years. The substrate, which is the layer beneath the flooring that gives it stability and support, has a big influence on how well your quartz vinyl performs and how long it lasts.

Diverse substrate kinds have different advantages and work well in various situations. While some substrates offer superior stability and support, making them ideal for high-traffic areas, others provide excellent moisture resistance, making them perfect for areas like bathrooms and kitchens. Making an informed decision that suits your unique requirements and preferences can be facilitated by having a thorough understanding of the various substrate types.

One of the most popular substrates for quartz vinyl flooring is concrete. It provides a strong, steady base that is resilient enough to support large weights. For a seamless installation, concrete needs to be leveled and prepared appropriately. It’s important to keep an eye on the moisture content of concrete since too much moisture can cause issues with the quartz-vinyl.

Another common option is plywood, particularly in residential settings. It offers an easy-to-work-with surface that is even and smooth. Additionally, plywood is widely accessible and reasonably priced. However, using high-quality plywood is crucial to preventing problems with uneven surfaces or warping over time.

For places like laundry rooms and bathrooms where there is a lot of moisture, cement board is a great alternative. It offers a solid and long-lasting foundation for quartzvinyl and has a high water resistance. Many contractors and homeowners find cement board to be a convenient option because it is also simple to install and cut.

Every kind of substrate has benefits and things to keep in mind of its own. With a thorough understanding of the qualities of various substrates, you can select the ideal one for your quartz vinyl flooring project, guaranteeing an exquisite and durable finish. There is a substrate that will satisfy your needs and assist you in creating the ideal floor, regardless of whether moisture resistance, stability, or simplicity of installation are your top priorities.

What does the concept mean??

Quartz-vinyl is supported by a 1-2 mm ultrathin lining layer. This layer in between offers:

• damping – damping vibrations of the material, noise when walking on the floor covering;
• better shock absorption;
• partial noise and heat insulation;
• reliable protection against possible defects when quartz-vinyl tiles come into contact directly with a concrete base.

Users report a pleasing sense of softness, elasticity, and comfort when using products with quartz vinyl backings.

The finishing floor covering and the screed are separated by an extra layer of specialty material called the underlay. It has an advantageous impact on quartz vinyl’s technical properties.

Is it necessary??

Quartz-vinyl slab manufacturers advise using a backing before installing the flooring, but if the subfloor is perfectly prepared and has a smooth, level surface (sanded), you can skip this step.

Quartz-vinyl installation style with locking mechanism If there are significant amounts of sand concrete inclusions in the top cement-sand layer of the screed, it is advised to lay it on a substrate. The backing will remove any potential minor mechanical damage from the inside as well as the uncomfortable crunch that occurs when walking.

If the quartz-vinyl coating is in the form of adhesive modules, which are glued to the underside of a concrete slab or wooden subfloor (puttyed, smooth plywood), then the underlay is not advised and should not be used.

You can also install quartz-vinyl tiles without a backing on a level wood surface by using the interlocking method. It is also possible to install interlocking quartz-vinyl without a backing by using a dry, prefabricated screed.

As with many cutting-edge, contemporary models, the underlay is not placed on the subfloor’s base if it is already on the tiles.

To guarantee optimum performance and longevity, it’s critical to take into account all of the options when selecting the proper substrate for quartz vinyl flooring. Various substrates, including plywood, concrete, and already-installed vinyl, each have special advantages and disadvantages that can affect the installation procedure and outcome. Although plywood offers a smooth, stable base but requires cleaning and drying, concrete is more resilient but needs to be properly leveled and controlled in terms of moisture. If the vinyl is already in place and firmly affixed, it can function as a practical foundation. Knowing these distinctions will enable you to make an informed choice that will result in the installation of quartz vinyl flooring that is successful.

Requirements for quartz vinyl tiles

A substrate for quartz vinyl must have a minimum thickness of 1-2 mm; 1.5 mm is the most common thickness. Additionally, the substrate needs to be very strong and dense, which is crucial when using quartz vinyl.

The material needs to be able to withstand collapses, deformations, and vertical loads. Another essential and fundamental requirement for a quartz-vinyl substrate is elasticity and resilience.

Only specifically created and intended for this coating—made of incredibly dense and durable composites—may be utilized as the substrate beneath quartz-vinyl. Conventional substrates that are currently in use and composed of cork, isolon, or conifers are not appropriate in this situation.

The quartz vinyl will not withstand operating loads and may fail quickly if the substrate is too loose and soft and does not match the thickness; the locking parts will break.

The substrate must be laid so that the quartz-vinyl tile joints and its sheet joints do not coincide (Pr.: along and across).

What types are there?

Using the substrates that the quartz vinyl manufacturer offers is preferable. For quartz vinyl, there is a unique series of substrates.

Thermoplastic

Manufacturers provide the material either rolled up or laid out like an accordion. Polypropylene or contemporary wear-resistant polyethylene film are used to create the thermoplastic substrate. She is unique:

• durability;
• moisture resistance;
• absence of unpleasant odors.

The performance characteristics of the material are enhanced by the presence of two layers of vapor and heat insulation. This kind of lining is very easy to install. There is a valve on one side and an adhesive strip on the canvas on the other. The lining is positioned, evened out, and connected from end to end. Take off the glue and protective covering. On this substrate, quartz-vinyl is applied using the locking technique. advantages

• innovative materials guarantee better density and wear resistance;
• minimum thickness;
• easy installation.

Excellent for quartz vinyl.

Cons: Expensive; starts at 300 rubles per square meter or more.

Expanded polystyrene

The model is specifically made for the locking method of installing quartz-vinyl tiles. The strengthened interlocking tiles, improved sound insulation, and longer floor covering lifespan are all provided by the modified, extruded polystyrene foam material. A substrate that is 1.5 mm thick:

1. helps eliminate small unevenness on the floor;
2. protects luxury vinyl tiles from falling objects and strong point impacts.

Because expanded polystyrene has a high compressive strength, quartz vinyl installation requires it. Available as mats or as an accordion.

Simple installation is made possible by the markings on the sheet surface (1 cm squares). Because it can be used for heated floors and rooms with any kind of wear resistance, this material is universal. advantages

• multifunctionality;
• especially for LVT;
• durability;
• high strength;
• noise and heat insulation.

Prolongs the quartz-vinyl tile interlocking system’s lifespan.

Cons: Prices start at 1,500 rubles for a 10 m 2 package.

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)

Contemporary quartz vinyl lining is composed of synthetic rubber, is incredibly elastic, and durable. more heat-shielding qualities and a superior minimum thickness of 1-1.5 mm. ensures longevity and resilience against deterioration and wear. Easy to install: after the roll is spread out and sealed at all joints, the room is covered completely. advantages

• dense and durable;
• not subject to deformation and squeezing;
• minimum thickness is ideal for LVT interlocking quartz-vinyl tiles.

Absorbs foot traffic and keeps the flooring’s technical qualities intact for a long time.

The cost starts at 180 rubles per square meter.

XTRAFLOOR FLEX PRO

One of the greatest contemporary quartz vinyl linings available is the universal IVC Flex Pro Underlay from the Belgian company Flex Pro, which is especially made for models that have adhesive options in addition to locking installation methods.

The optimal base for installing flooring is created by the 1.8 mm thickness and the extremely sturdy and dense structure. has a layer that sticks to itself. When used in commercial facilities with heavy loads and traffic, this is a great solution. advantages

• high quality;
• durability;
• soundproofing;
• better thickness and density;
• multifunctionality;
• reliability and high functionality;
• evens out minor unevenness in the subfloor;
• suitable for locking and adhesive versions of quartz vinyl.

Is compatible with floors that are heated. Tiles will be laid on the substrate quickly, neatly, and easily. The completed floor is immediately usable. and taking apart without endangering the foundation.

Low cost starting at 1,200 rubles per square meter.

Select OSB or plywood from the natural materials to arrange a wooden floor base beneath quartz-vinyl.

Plywood

Plywood is frequently used as a substrate for other finishing coatings in addition to quartz vinyl. Elite grade models that have been sanded (at least on one side) have uniform thickness across the canvas; when installing superior quality plywood, there won’t be any variation in the joints.

Moisture resistance is indicated by the FC mark on plywood, while the FSF mark indicates higher moisture resistance in plywood.

Plywood is expensive, ranging from 1,100 to 2,800 rubles for a 1.4 x 0.3 m slab that is 9 mm thick.

Go here to learn more about using plywood as a quartz vinyl substrate.

OSB or OSB

Although the material is more moisture resistant, it is less environmentally friendly due to the large number of different formaldehyde resins it contains. Builders advise selecting grades 3 or 4, as they have a smoother, even surface and better, more stable thickness.

Selecting a material with a thickness of 9–10 mm is advised to ensure that all of the panels are securely fastened by the fasteners.

Each slab is expensive, ranging from 4,600 to 8,000 rubles and measuring 2.5 by 1.25 meters.

What is better to lay on and how to choose?

The following standards ought to serve as a guide when selecting a substrate for quartz vinyl:

• if there are minor flaws on the base of the cement floor (minimal slopes), and it is planned to install quartz-vnil on an adhesive type, choose the universal Flex Pro, it will correct errors on the surface and provide better adhesion of the tiles;
• for laying quartz vinyl in greenhouses or winter gardens – the same model from Flex Pro is suitable;
• in a wooden house, for arranging a quartz-vinyl coating, they opt for plywood/OSB (of the appropriate grade) – for utility rooms, bathrooms, kitchens they take OSB, for living rooms and bedrooms plywood is suitable;
• polystyrene foam backing – for rooms with the highest load and traffic;
• thermoplastic models – for any room, including domestic;
• innovative EVA – will perfectly prepare the base of the floor for locking quartz vinyl of any room.

The floor covering arrangement is made simpler if you choose a quartz vinyl model that comes with a branded backing; you don’t need to lay the backing separately.

What should not be used?

It is essential to properly choose special rigid backings under the locking quartz vinyl; do not use materials that are inappropriate for a given circumstance. Cork and coniferous backing, for instance, are not the ideal choices. The thin quartz vinyl structure under point and continuous impact (high traffic) transfer loads to the backing and essentially do not redistribute them. Furthermore, pine needles and cork won’t be able to resist these effects.

The coniferous substrate will be badly dented, and the cork will crumble. This means that the sturdy, collapsing base will be gone beneath the quartz-vinyl. It will quickly destroy the modules’ locking connection, necessitating the replacement of the quartz-vinyl coating.

Materials that are excessively soft and thick should not be used as the lining for quartz-vinyl. One of the fundamental guidelines for installing quartz-vinyl interlocking tiles—that is, the requirement for a dense and sturdy base—will be broken by them. This results in the creation of densities and voids, making quartz vinyl useless.

Materials and consumables for installation

In order to lay a substrate beneath quartz-vinyl, the following supplies and consumables need to be ready:

• pencil, ruler and square;
• construction measuring tape;
• laser level for checking the flat surface of the base;
• knives or scissors – for cutting the laid material;
• stitching rollers or rubber hammer.

Construction tape and fasteners are required. Certain substrates require a specific glue to be mounted; this glue needs to be ordered ahead of time in the necessary quantity. Before installation, waterproofing material is applied to the base if needed. Use a premium sealant to keep the substrate’s joints sealed.

Artificial material substrates are typically used for concrete bases, while plywood or artificial duplex (polyethylene) is the substrate of choice for rooms in wooden houses with wood subfloors.

Advantages and disadvantages

One can discern the subsequent benefits and drawbacks of utilizing a substrate for quartz-vinyl tiles:

Advantages

• dampens noise, makes steps soundless;
• hides small roughnesses – minimal errors are corrected;
• protects quartz vinyl from abrasion and defects that may occur over time if the concrete base has large sand/concrete fractions;
• good shock absorption;
• comfortable thermal insulation – additional heat retention;
• the substrate significantly extends the service life of quartz vinyl;
• can also be used as a waterproofing layer;
• versatility;
• you can choose the most optimal one from several types.

Installation is quick and easy. Its thinness and good heat transmission make it appropriate for any heated floor.

Minuses:

• additional financial costs;
• an appropriate substrate should be selected;
• will not help level the floor;
• There are types of models that cannot be combined with quartz vinyl (cork, pine needles).

The general installation work for the floor arrangement is a little behind schedule because the underlay is being laid.

Average prices for different types

Models from domestic brands are more reasonably priced but may not be as high-quality as those from foreign manufacturers, whose products are much more costly due to the wide variations in substrate prices.

As an illustration:

• Polish model Underlay for quartz-vinyl tiles LVT Secura LVT Click Smart (1.5mm) costs 380 rubles./m 2 ;
• quartz-vinyl substrate (LVT, SPC, WPC) soundproofing Royce 1.5 mm (11.25 m 2) costs 275 rubles./m 2 ;
• model Alpine Floor Silver Foil Blue Eva 10kv. m. a roll costs 280 rubles./m 2 .

High-end materials can cost up to RUB 1,300 per square meter, including Flex Pro’s IVC Flex Pro Underlay.

Substrate Type	Description
Concrete	Durable and provides a solid base for quartzvinyl. Must be clean, dry, and level.
Wood	Common in homes, must be structurally sound and free from moisture.
Existing Vinyl	Can be used if in good condition, clean, and well-adhered to the subfloor.
Ceramic Tiles	Tiles must be stable and grout lines should be filled for a smooth surface.
Plywood	Often used in renovations, needs to be securely fastened and free from imperfections.

For quartz vinyl flooring to be both long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing, the correct substrate selection is essential. Every kind of substrate has unique benefits, so it’s critical to know your needs and the conditions in which the flooring will be installed. The lifespan of your flooring can be extended and future problems avoided with proper preparation, regardless of whether you’re working with plywood, concrete, or already installed tile.

Concrete substrates are a common option because of their stability and strength. They offer a firm base that limits movement and lowers the possibility of cracking or warping. But before installing, make sure the concrete is clean, dry, and smooth to prevent any flaws from showing through the vinyl.

Another typical substrate, particularly in residential settings, is plywood. It is adaptable and suitable for use on uneven surfaces. A stable base can be created by installing plywood correctly, but it’s crucial to make sure it’s dry and firmly fastened. Minor flaws can also be filled in and extra support can be given by using an underlayment.

Because less extensive demolition is required, using existing tile as a substrate can also save money. Here, it’s important to make sure the surface is level and the tiles are firmly affixed. To create a smooth surface, any loose or damaged tiles should be replaced or repaired, and it might be necessary to fill in the grout lines.

In the end, the kind of quartz vinyl you are using and the particulars of your project will determine which substrate you should use. A gorgeous, durable floor that improves the overall appearance and feel of your room can be achieved by carefully weighing your options and properly preparing the substrate.

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