Choose a linoleum substrate

In general, the substrate is used to solve one problem - thermal insulation. But due to the similarity of the principles of heat and sound distribution (Debye model), it serves as a good sound insulator.

There is another problem that is solved with its help, is the leveling of small roughnesses of the base. In fairness, it is worth noting that not all substrates are called upon to cope with this task. Meanwhile, it is for soft floor coverings, and for linoleum in particular, this side of the issue is dominant.

What are the substrates

They can be divided only by the origin of the material into:

Each of these types of substrates has its own common pros and cons. Although there are some weaknesses that are inherent in most materials.

Immediately, we note that according to the form of release, they can be both rolled and sheet. Thickness varies from 2 to 12 mm.

The following fact is interesting. All materials used for the manufacture of substrates have the same low coefficient of thermal conductivity. The difference of 10-15% between the individual groups, against the general background of finishing materials is not significant. Therefore, this indicator is not applied to comparison. Stand out in this group are goods based on flax and jute. But they stand out in a special group.

Natural substrates

In wide sale there are natural substrates from:

Flax and jute, although different plants, but the material obtained from their fibers, has the same performance characteristics. They are produced using similar technology. They constitute a special group because, unlike all other materials, the air chambers in their thickness are open. Their use is justified if you lay the new linoleum on top of the old.

Felt backing made of wool. Rarely combined with linoleum - it is too soft. Its use is preferable in children's playrooms and provided that large-sized and heavy objects will not be placed in the room. Otherwise, after 1-2 months the furniture will push the floor covering a few millimeters.

Cork backing is made from pre-crushed bark of cork oak. This is a special material, which should be discussed in more detail. In general, cork can be thought of as an intermediate between wood and wax. In its composition, it has both lignin - the basis of wood, and cerine - a component of beeswax. In addition to these ingredients, it contains other components, but they give the cork the qualities for which it is so valued: lignin - hardness, and cerine - water resistance. Cork, as a complex conglomerate of components of natural origin, in addition to everything, has excellent elasticity.

The cork substrate is distinguished by the following characteristics:

• Elasticity,
• Hypoallergenic
• Impermeability.

But waterproofing does not mean that moisture does not have a destructive effect on the cork in its pure form. A feature of the cork substrate, as a natural material, is the presence of air in closed pores. In other words, linen, jute and felt can be compared with mineral wool thermal insulators, but the cork is with foam.

In any case, all substrates of natural components undergo the stage of treatment with flame retardants and antibacterial compounds.

Polymer substrates

This group consists of only two representatives:

There is a very important note here. In the usual form, these are good thermal insulators, but with very poor elasticity. They crumple, and with prolonged exposure, do not restore their shape. Therefore, special technologies are applied that qualitatively change these indicators.

Moreover, the resulting products have even another name:

• Crosslinked polyethylene foam,
• Extruded polystyrene foam.

But in the first case, “crosslinking” occurs by processing the finished product by irradiating a stream of particles with high energy, which leads to the formation of additional bonds between the layers of oligomers.

But polystyrene foam is already being produced using a different technology, with the output of a product with fundamentally different physical characteristics.

As mentioned above, their basic parameters are identical. But there are significant differences:

1. Extruded polystyrene is less attracted to rodents,
2. Emission of harmful substances (styrene), it is higher. Although not beyond the MPC,
3. Expanded polystyrene is absolutely unstable to many household solvents.

If not for the last item, then extruded polystyrene would have no competitors, and so, physically cross-linked polyethylene foam occupies a leading position in this group.

There are foamed substrates with a reflective layer (foil materials). This “upgrade” of the material, by 5-7% increases the coefficient of thermal insulation.

Combo Substrates

This group was formed of such materials, the structure of which includes several ingredients. At the same time, they can be of the same order, such as substrates from a mixture:

• Flax and jute
• Flax, jute and felt.

But there are also substrates based on cork chips, to which a binder of bitumen or rubber is added.

If a mixture of homologous components leads only to a change in price, without a clear improvement in consumer qualities, then mixing materials of different structure will produce a very interesting product. In particular, cork substrates with binders such as rubber or tar, dramatically improve their hydrophobic performance. Of course, you can’t lay them on a raw screed, but you can do without waterproofing. The resistance to biological destructive factors, such as a fungus and rodents, also becomes higher.

Features of application on different floors

IMPORTANT: The substrate should be used regardless of whether it has linoleum base or not. It not only enhances heat - sound insulation and eliminates small irregularities in the base. But it still acts as a defense against contact with the base.

In concrete substrates, after the mat has completely matured, moisture remains. Its emission varies depending on air humidity, its temperature and even on atmospheric pressure. Linoleum, even on a special basis, will take on this destructive effect. To minimize it, the substrate acts. But when using substrates made of natural material, it is necessary to organize waterproofing, using a thick plastic film.

Temperature fluctuations lead to a change in the geometric dimensions of the room. And in concrete, the coefficient of thermal expansion is much more noticeable than in linoleum. In this case, the substrate takes the brunt.

The passage of heat and sound waves through dense materials is detailed in the Debye model. To reduce heat loss and increase sound insulation, it is required to create a “layer cake” on the floor. In this case, the substrate helps out.

Please note that when organizing noise isolation, a very curious phenomenon occurs. With its incorrect organization, you can achieve such an effect when the neighbors hear you, but you do not. In fact, you seem to be comfortable in silence, but the awareness of the fact that someone is hearing you will not let you calm down. Just the substrate and eliminates such an incident.

On a wooden base, all of the above factors are manifested to a lesser extent, but they are present. They are also leveled using a substrate.

Base quality

Even the use of the best substrate will not be able to protect linoleum from damage if there is no even foundation. By small irregularities that the substrate is able to level, we mean protrusions or depressions not more than ⅓ of the thickness of the material. For example, if the substrate is 3 mm thick, then its leveling ability is limited by base defects +/- 1 mm.

The substrate does not eliminate the general slope in the room. But depending on the properties of the material, it can prevent the formation of waves as a result of "sliding" of linoleum. In particular, physically crosslinked foam polymers are much more slippery than cork-based products. Especially if they contain rubber crumb.

Gluing

The substrate can be glued in a continuous layer, but can be fixed. The second option is preferable, as it is cheaper and faster. To do this, use double-sided tape.

But the following rules should be considered:

1. The foundation must be primed before laying,
2. Adhesive tape is pasted in the following order: 1 strip of adhesive tape in the middle of each cut + 1 strip along the edge. But on the edge lines, adjacent sheets / cuts should be fixed.
3. Cloths are laid back to back!

Substrate preparation

Please note that before the flooring, roll materials must be laid down during the day in the unfolded state at room temperature. Otherwise, even being fixed, they will slightly change their sizes. Which in turn will provide the basis for the formation of waves on the surface of linoleum.

What it is?

The substrate is a layer of insulating material that separates the finish coating from the subfloor - lag and / or boards, plywood, concrete base. The material differs in structure, which determines its nature of origin, release form in the form of rolls or plates with various thicknesses of 2-12 mm and capabilities. When choosing a substrate for linoleum, it is important to consider the type of coating itself, in particular, the variety of its base layer.

Modern linoleum is baseless with a homogeneous structure, the scope of which is utilitarian premises, commercial and public buildings, and the main one - its types are mainly used in houses and apartments. Among the main coatings, models based on foamed PVC, fabric, non-woven material - printed / felted felt, TZI with a combined base layer are distinguished.

The most effective coatings are considered varieties of multilayer linoleum with a composite base layer. These are models on a duplicated basis: felt + polyvinyl chloride foam and high-strength products with a calendered base, which differs in a single structure of the base layer of polymer raw materials, pressed with a decorative abrasive coating.

In some cases, the use of a linoleum substrate is fully justified, while in others, an additional layer can become a source of discomfort when walking. To understand whether you need insulating material, we will first deal with its main functions.

What is it for?

If you use a substrate, then in different situations an additional layer:

• Acts as a shock absorber of dynamic pressures. When the rough foundation cannot boast of a perfectly flat surface without small flaws, to hide them you need to put insulating material.
• Compensates for minor flaws in the subfloor with slight differences of up to 2 mm / m2, preventing premature wear of the face coating due to the additional stresses created by surface tension due to bends and fractures.
• It isolates moisture, which is important for apartments located on the ground floors. The reason for cold floors is the unheated, damp basement below.
• Absorbs sounds and helps maintain heat. The comfort of linoleum operation is largely influenced by the noiselessness of the floor covering in combination with its heat-insulating ability.

The disadvantage of using the substrate is the creation due to it of a certain softness of the floor. Despite the fact that for some people moving around this floor is comfortable, while others are against it, installing heavy furniture on a soft floor is always fraught with negative consequences. Bulky storage systems can rise unevenly, which will provoke distortion of structures, and furniture with legs under pressure will deform the linoleum, leaving strong dents.

In the case of laying linoleum, it is worth abandoning the use of extruded polystyrene foam. This material in the form of panels having a thickness of 10 to 20 mm is ideal as a substrate for a laminate. But not for such a soft coating as linoleum. If you put panels under it, then the floors will turn out to be shaky, providing unpleasant sensations when walking. The use of MDF panels eliminates a similar problem.

When buying high-quality basic linoleum, the meaning in the additional use of the substrate is lost.

Since most often the preparation of a wooden base, as well as a concrete screed, involves the use of shut-off waterproofing. So, given the pros and cons of the substrate, the need for its use is always determined by specific circumstances.

The classification of substrates is rather arbitrary, therefore, the main criterion by which they are divided into types is the material of manufacture. It can be natural, synthetic, combined type. Regardless of this, all materials differ in approximately the same low thermal conductivity, with a slight difference in its indices from 10 to 15%.

Out of jute

The jute substrate is produced using a coarse textile fabric, the production of which are plant fibers. The general concept of jute is understood as annual spinning plants.

Pros:

• Eco-friendly.
• It has high elasticity and rigidity.
• Provides good sound and heat insulation.
• It is resistant to fire, mold and mildew, as the fabric is treated with flame retardants and antiseptic compounds.
• It simply fits in and qualitatively masks the defects of the subfloor.
• Durable

The purpose of the substrate

Experts who recommend using a substrate for laying linoleum note its three functions: masking unevenness of the floor, its insulation, and also soundproofing. In the event that during the draft stage of work your floor was done poorly, or if you completely missed this difficult stage, the floor surface may be uneven. And even if you took care of its alignment, no one is safe from a small blemish.

Linoleum for home is distinguished by its softness, so all the bumps in the floor will surely come up after laying it. Worse if gaps or wear occur at the site of the tubercles. Linoleum underlay allows you to better hide all these errors and extend the life of your flooring.

As for insulation, it is clear: thin material laid on a concrete floor will not retain heat. Especially if your apartment is located on the ground floor or if you are the owner of a private house with a basement. The substrate in this case will accumulate heat and protect your health.

Given the excellent audibility of modern prefabricated houses, such an advantage as sound insulation in the floor will be only a good plus. The backing will absorb noise coming from below.

Varieties of substrates

So that you can correctly determine among all varieties of linoleum substrates which one is better, you need to know that there are several of them, and each differs in a number of pros and cons. Among the types of material most suitable for modern apartments and houses, experts note the following:

• From jute
• Cork backing,
• Flax coating
• Combined material, it includes jute and linen, as well as wool,
• Foamed variety of penoizol or isolon.

To choose exactly the material that is best suited to your floor, it is necessary to note for yourself the conditions of use of the future floor, your material capabilities, and then rely solely on your preferences.

Jute backing

The jute species consists of the actual jute fiber. Its main advantages are that this material is resistant to decay, burning, and also to mold.

In Russia, this kind of substrate is not very popular because of its high cost. However, if cheapness is not the main condition of your choice, pay attention to the fact that a jute linoleum substrate is an ideal option for those who dream of good thermal insulation of their floor. This is especially true for owners of private houses, the concrete screed in which is often laid either directly on the ground or on the roof of an unheated basement.

In addition to the above advantages, it is possible to note the environmental friendliness and safety of the material.

Having chosen the option from jute, make sure that it is very dense, since a soft substrate under the soft linoleum is a risk of dents on the floor.

Cork type linoleum substrates

As the name implies, it consists of crushed cork. This option is one of the most popular, thanks to a large number of advantages, especially in terms of sound insulation and thermal conductivity.

A cork underlay is sold in rolls, which greatly facilitates the process of laying it (just put the roll at one end of the room and push it towards the other).

Another reason for the popularity of this material is its cellular structure. Each cell seems to have hidden a small air bubble. Due to this, the load on the coating is distributed evenly.

If you are looking for the best lining material, and settled on the choice of cork substrate, then you should find out the performance characteristics that manufacturers especially highlight:

• Soundproofing,
• High thermal conductivity, thanks to which you can safely walk on the floor barefoot, even in winter,
• Moisture resistant
• Good resistance to the spread of mold and other harmful microorganisms,
• Protection of linoleum from various kinds of damage.

Despite all the advantages, this material has a couple of minuses. This is primarily its softness. If we stand with our feet on the cork backing, we will feel how pleasantly it springs. But for furniture - this is not the best option, since there is a risk of linoleum deformation under the weight of sofas, cabinets and other bulky items.

The second minus for some buyers seems rather high cost.

Linen background

Flax is one hundred percent environmentally safe material. As for the manufacturing technology of the substrate from this plant, flax is pierced with special needles, and then treated with flame retardants. Thanks to the second point, you can not worry that small pests can start under the floor.

Combined flax, jute and wool backing

If you ask experts what linoleum substrate is better, they will immediately answer you - one that is made from a mixture of natural materials. Such a product is characterized by strength, moderate rigidity, as well as density. This will allow you to forget forever about what a cold floor is.

The universal combined substrate is subjected to antifungal treatment during production, as well as flame retardants, eliminating the risk of insects.

Foamed modification of a substrate of penoizol or isolon

As for this kind of substrates, many experts and even manufacturers of linoleum do not recommend stopping their choice on foam modification. The fact is that when laying the flooring on penoizol or isolon, it will not be possible to achieve perfect evenness, therefore there is a high risk of dents that will not slow down to turn into tears.

If you doubt it, you can conduct a home experiment yourself. Place any sheet of paper on a table or floor and push the tip of a sharp object onto it. The maximum that can happen is a microscopic hole will appear on the sheet. If you put something soft under the sheet and do the same, a sharp object will immediately punch a hole. The same can happen with linoleum laid on the soft surface of the foam substrate.

In what cases is linoleum substrate required

There are not many reasons for placing the substrate under linoleum, however, for someone in the repair process, they can become decisive.

• Cold floor. The backing will protect your feet well from cold concrete under a thin floor covering. This is especially true for those who have children - lovers to crawl on the floor. The warmest “clothing” for any gender is a substrate made of a mixture of jute, linen and wool.
• Uneven floor. Small flaws in the floor, dents will easily hide under the lining.
• Baseless linoleum. If you opted for a coating that consists only of the main layer, then without an insulating substrate in any way.

When you can do without a substrate

If the above three reasons are not your case, then you can safely lay linoleum without a substrate. There can be two options: if your linoleum will be laid on the previous floor, or if you purchased a floor covering based on foam or jute.

In the first case, just before laying a new coating, it is imperative to check the old floor for chips, holes, cracks and other flaws that may “pop up” at the end of work.

In that case, if you choose a floor covering with a lining consisting of several parts: glass fiber, impregnation of PVC, fabric material, cellular PVC, polyester or jute, then the substrate is not required for linoleum.

For our country, the most suitable base is foamed polyvinyl chloride. This material has the same coefficient of thermal expansion as the floor surface, so if it is heated, the floor covering does not deform.

Summing up, we can say that if you get multi-layer linoleum, the basis of which is jute, fabric or PVC, then there is no need for a substrate. But the baseless, laid without heat-insulating linings, will not give you a quality result. And here it doesn’t matter which linoleum substrate is better. It is important to protect the apartment from drafts, and save the floor from bumps.

What is a substrate: the main functions of a linoleum substrate

Substrate - a shock-absorbing damper building material that performs insulating functions and excludes the possibility of contact of the floor covering, including linoleum, with the floor surface. Due to this, it is a highly functional material, the purpose of which is as follows:

• Compensation for uneven floors and leveling the base. The importance of this function is due to the fact that linoleum is often laid on a concrete base, which is not always characterized by a perfectly flat surface. Even minor depressions, cracks and tubercles only accelerate the wear of the PVC coating. Using a substrate that compensates for all flaws, you will extend the life of the popular flooring,
• Thermal insulation functions. This functionality of the substrate becomes especially relevant if there is an unheated, for example, basement, cooling the floor surface under the base of the floor, as well as if the structure of the linoleum you bought does not provide for the insulation layer. The substrate, characterized by high thermal insulation performance, can completely replace the missing thermal insulation layer. The use of a substrate as a heater is popular when arranging floors in a children's room,
• The backing is an effective sound absorber. This property will be especially relevant for residents of apartment buildings, forced to listen to the sounds coming from the lower floors. The substrate, laid under the flooring, not only muffles the sounds coming from below, but also makes the room more comfortable.

When is it necessary to use linoleum underlay?

Given the above functions of the linoleum substrate, we list the main situations where it will not be possible to do without its use.

• Cold floor - one of the first reasons, the presence of which necessitates the use of a substrate. Linoleum underlay will prevent the penetration of cold from unheated lower rooms. In this case, experts recommend using a jute or combination substrate, consisting of a mixture of jute, linen and wool. It is these varieties that are characterized by maximum thermal insulation functions,
• Uneven floor - A common reason for using the substrate, since few people can boast of perfectly even floors. The substrate compensates for minor irregularities and cracks in the concrete screed, increasing the operating life of the floor,
• The use of baseless linoleum, Another reason to remember the need for a substrate. There are varieties of linoleum, made without using a base. Alone, they are not able to provide a perfectly smooth and warm surface of the floor, and therefore are complemented by a substrate.

In all other situations, you can refuse to use a substrate, including in the case of linoleum flooring on an old floor covering and laying more modern linoleum made on a jute or foam basis.

Linoleum substrate: main varieties

There are several varieties of linoleum underlay, which you can buy at any hardware store. Consider the brief characteristics of the most common materials used as linoleum substrates.

Cork linoleum backing It is a heat and sound insulating material made from crumb bark of cork oak, pressed under the influence of pressure and high temperatures into a single canvas. A completely natural material, possesses not only heat and sound insulating functions, but also the bactericidal action characteristic of it due to the remains of the essential oils produced during the life of the tree. In more detail, the characteristics of the cork substrate as the most demanded material among the varieties listed below will be considered below.

Linoleum jute backing - Another type of thermal insulation material made from natural raw materials. For its manufacture, natural jute fibers are used, previously impregnated with an antiseptic and a flame retardant, which helps to improve its fire-fighting properties and prevents decay. A jute substrate is a non-woven fabric made by punching fibers bonded to each other during rolling under the influence of high temperatures (up to 1500 degrees). Due to the fact that jute fibers are a material of plant origin, jute substrates are characterized by a unique ability to absorb moisture, restoring their original consumer characteristics after drying,

Linen background made entirely from natural flax. The technology of its production is in many ways similar to the previous material. Thanks to the use of linen backing, you will maintain effective ventilation between the floor covering and the surface of the floor, which will be the best preventive measure to combat high humidity and mold. The production cycle of the linen substrate at the final stage includes the procedure for treating the canvas with antiseptics, which subsequently impede the development of rot and insects,

Combined substrate in equal proportions containing jute, linen and wool fibers, is a reliable insulation layer with a high density index (500-700 g / sq. m with a thickness of 2-3 mm). It is the best choice if you are looking for the substrate with the highest wear resistance and high thermal insulation characteristics,

Fiber or coniferous substrate is the know-how in the construction market. It is made from compressed wastes of coniferous wood and is characterized by high heat and sound insulation properties. The only drawback that can be judged by the reviews of some consumers is the unpleasant odor that disappears soon after using a floor equipped with a coniferous substrate,

The foamed linoleum substrateis characterized by the greatest popularity, due to its price, which is one of the lowest in comparison with other varieties of substrates. As foamed materials for the substrate, isolon and penoizol are used, which have high thermal insulation characteristics. However, experts do not recommend giving preference to the substrate of this variety, since in case of its use the floors acquire excessive softness and elasticity, which contributes to the premature loss of the initial appearance of the coating. Over time, the foamed substrate wrinkles and forms bumps protruding on the surface of the floor covering.

Read more about cork substrate: types, specifications

As mentioned earlier, for the manufacture of cork substrates, pressure-compressed granules are used which are obtained from the bark of cork oak.

There are several varieties of cork backing:

• Classic cork backing, in the manufacture of which only natural components are used, including binders. A distinctive feature of the classic substrate is the absence of synthetic resins in its composition, which characterizes it as one of the most hypoallergenic materials that does not emit any harmful substances during operation. In addition, it is an anti-static and fireproof material,
• Cork rubber substrate, in which rubber acts as a binder. It is advisable to use a rubber-cork substrate in rooms with high humidity, as well as in apartments located on the ground floor of the building. In addition, the rubber-cork substrate is chosen when the linoleum is laid on a concrete screed that has not completely dried out. This is due to its increased, in comparison with the classical substrate, sound and vibration isolation characteristics,
• Bitumen-cork substrate, for the manufacture of which kraft paper is used, impregnated with bitumen, top coated with pressed cork chips. This coating is characterized by high waterproofing properties, but due to the fact that bitumen emits caustic smoke during the burning process, it is forbidden to use a bitumen-cork substrate for installation of flooring in residential premises.

Specifications cork substrate:

• The density of the material is 200-250 kg / cu. meter,
• The average tensile strength of the material is 2 kg / sq. cm,
• The thermal conductivity is 0.043 W / mK,
• The moisture content of the material does not exceed 7%,
• Depreciation characteristics - under the influence of pressure of 7 kg / sq. cm compression ratio not more than 10%,
• Noise absorption level - not less than 16 dB,
• Dimension deviation: for a width - not more than 0.5 mm, for a thickness - not more than 0.2 mm,
• Fire safety - the material is not prone to fire, the level of fire resistance is S-209.

Important! Cork substrate for linoleum, the price of which depends on the thickness of the material, is made in the form of rolls and sheet panels, which differ not only in size but also in price. If the thickness of the roll cork substrate does not exceed 2-4 mm, then for sheet panels this indicator can be 4-10 mm.

Advantages of cork backing:

• Long service life and high wear resistance of the cork substrate (the wear period of the material can exceed 170-200 years). In this regard, if you plan to replace linoleum after a while, the cork substrate is so wear-resistant that it does not need to be replaced,
• Due to the porous structure, the cork substrate is characterized by low weight and high insulating characteristics,
• Simplicity of cutting and ease of installation,
• Prevents the growth of mold and other harmful microorganisms,
• Preserves the original performance of the flooring, preventing premature wear,
• The possibility of using cork substrate as an independent material for the decoration of ceilings and walls.

Disadvantages of cork backing:

• Tendency to deformation under prolonged mechanical stress,
• Due to the low thermal conductivity, it is forbidden to use a classic cork substrate on a floor equipped with water heating. For these purposes, there is a special cork substrate with a foil coating,

• Due to the fact that cork substrate is a material made from organic raw materials, it is not recommended to use it in rooms with high humidity without arranging additional waterproofing. For these purposes, there is a special rubber-cork substrate made on the basis of cork granulate modified with rubber.

Laying a cork substrate: preparatory measures

Due to the fact that the laying of the substrate must be done on a clean base, experts recommend vacuuming the floor surface before installing it directly. In addition, it is necessary to carry out preliminary leveling of the floor, since the permissible differences in its level should not exceed 40% of the thickness of the substrate.

In the event that you are installing the flooring on a wooden floor, experts recommend lining it with chipboard sheets. Make sure the strength of the wooden base, and if it is not in doubt, the cork substrate can be laid directly on the wooden base without arranging an additional waterproofing layer.

However, experts believe that it is best to lay linoleum on a concrete base, after its preliminary preparation. To level the concrete base, use special leveling mixes.

Important! Before proceeding with the installation of the flooring, check the surface of the floor for humidity. To do this, spread cellophane on a concrete base and fasten it along the edges with tape. After 12 hours, check its condition: if there are no dew drops on its surface, the concrete base is completely ready for laying the flooring.

To ensure the most efficient laying of the cork substrate, a few days before installing the flooring, bring it into the room where it will be installed. This is necessary so that it acquires the temperature and humidity of the environment of the room in which it will lie, which contributes to its more even installation. In the process of laying the coating, follow the microclimatic parameters of the room in which it will be produced. Air temperature should not be lower than +18 degrees with a relative humidity of at least 60%.

Laying the cork backing: walkthrough

Consider in more detail the procedure for laying the cork substrate:

The first stage involves the arrangement of waterproofing. To do this, polyethylene with a thickness of not more than 0.2 mm is spread on the floor, leaving a small allowance on the walls to form something that resembles a pallet. The edges of the plastic film are fixed on the wall with tape.

Despite the fact that most construction literature recommends arranging a waterproofing layer on a concrete base, and linoleum manufacturers also adhere to this point of view, laying waterproofing only makes sense if you live on the ground floor and there is an unheated room underneath, for example a basement. The need for this measure in this case is due to the possibility of condensation on your side of the floor. In all other cases, there is no need to lay a waterproofing layer.

In the case of using a roll substrate, roll the roll from one wall to another and cut it back to back, according to your measurements, or cut the roll into strips of the width you need in advance. To connect the parallel strips of the substrate, use waterproof construction tape,

If you purchased a substrate in the form of panels, lay it in a “brick order”, which is necessary so that the joints of the panels do not fall on each other. As in the case of a rolled substrate, glue the joints between the panels with waterproof construction tape.

Important! During the laying of the substrate, move along it carefully, and in the process of laying linoleum with no less caution, make it flooring, which will prevent damage to the cork substrate with construction tools or shoes.

Laying linoleum on a cork substrate is no different from laying it on a concrete or wooden base without a substrate.

Despite the fact that cork flooring belongs to a higher price category, compared with other types of substrates, it is characterized by a mass of undeniable advantages that cannot go unnoticed by the masters who decided to repair the flooring.

What is a backing?

Linoleum underlay is a special material that serves as a layer between the floor covering (in our case, linoleum) and the floor.

Laying linoleum

The functions that the substrate performs are as follows:

• Leveling uneven floors,
• Thermal insulation
• Noise isolation.

Depending on the type of material from which it is made, the substrates are quite diverse. Each of them has its pros and cons that will help determine which linoleum substrate is better.

Jute

Such a substrate consists of jute fibers. Previously, only sacking and ropes were produced from plant fibers. Now jute fibers are used in the manufacture of building materials.

Apart from naturalness and environmental safety, a jute substrate has the ability to absorb moisture and remove it, while not letting it go further and not getting wet. To prevent mold and parasites, it is treated with special means. The main disadvantage of such a substrate is its high price. Therefore, it is used quite rarely.

Synthetic

In contrast to natural materials, substrates made of different synthetic materials act. Among them, foil is especially popular. It consists of two layers connected by a special glue. The first layer is aluminum foil, and the second layer is polyethylene foam or polystyrene.

Foil substrate is safe for health, has not only heat-insulating, but also waterproofing properties. Suitable for use in rooms of any purpose.

Natural

For those who prefer natural materials, the market offers a novelty - coniferous substrate. The manufacturing process is similar to the production of a laminated coating, but wood fiber is not tightly pressed. For its manufacture, softwood is used.

The material has sound and heat insulating properties, but is fragile in use. Under a substrate on a concrete floor, a plastic film must be used to prevent moisture absorption.

Cork

Another type of natural layer is a cork substrate made from crushed bark of a cork tree by pressing.

Cork is an excellent material that is not toxic, does not burn, has antistatic properties.

Among the shortcomings of such a material is its high cost and soft structure, which is subjected to punching with heavy objects.

It is important to know that the cork substrate for linoleum should be of the maximum degree of rigidity.

Foamed

This type of material is quite common in production. Foamed substrate has good heat-insulating and sound-absorbing properties, affordable price, but it is not recommended to use it under linoleum. Under it, the substrate is wrinkled and loses its properties.

Good heat insulator

The base for linoleum

Before proceeding with the laying of the flooring, it is necessary to carefully prepare the base of the floor. Linoleum in its structure is elastic, and eventually repeats all forms of the base on which it fits.

Therefore, any foundation before laying must meet the following requirements:

• Strong and flat surface
• Solid floor base
• Lack of traces of paint,
• Lack of moisture and greasy stains.

Meeting these conditions will help extend the life of the coating.

On concrete base

Remember that laying linoleum on a concrete floor is carried out at a temperature not lower than 18C and humidity not higher than 68%. Before laying, the floor covering is spread out, leveled, and time is given for the material to “lay down”. Then proceed to the cutting of the material.

The coating is laid out taking into account the location of the picture, and a margin of 10 cm is left at the edges. After gluing the coating, the residues can be carefully trimmed. All formed seams should be placed from the window in the direction of light so that they are invisible. For styling you will need such tools: roller, knife, ruler.

Concrete foundation preparation

There are several options for laying linoleum on a concrete floor, which, if desired, can be combined:

• Without glue - a quick method, used in small rooms,
• On tape - while linoleum is fixed with adhesive tape, which extends the life of the
• Using mastic or glue is the most effective way of laying, and is necessary for rooms with a large area.

The choice of installation option depends on the area of ​​the room and the loads. But in order to avoid the formation of folds and waves, it is better to stick it. Also, in each case, it is determined whether a substrate is needed for laying under linoleum on a concrete floor.

On the wooden floor

The wooden floor may be the basis for the flooring. Linoleum underlay on a wooden floor is not required, as floor boards keep heat well. Only the floor in front of the flooring needs to be prepared. Replace unsuitable boards, clean them, hammer all protruding nails and repair all cracks and crevices.

Wooden floor base

After leveling, a primer is applied to the wooden floor, which creates a protective layer from moisture, insects and mold. After the boards have completely dried, you can start laying flooring material.

Sometimes plywood is laid on a wooden floor as a linoleum substrate. In addition, plywood can thus hide all the bumps in the wooden floor. The plywood is laid with an offset, cleaned, and the seams are sealed with putty.

Uncoated laying

Laying linoleum is similar to that on a concrete floor. In the process, the question arises: do you need a linoleum substrate on plywood in addition, as a heater? Of course, it can be used as an additional measure to extend the life of the floor material.

See what insulation under linoleum on a wooden floor is better to use. Usually it is soft and loose materials that easily take shape.

Linoleum on linoleum

It is possible to line a new coating on old linoleum in the absence of defects on it and the inability to remove it from the floor surface. In this case, the old coating will serve as an insulating layer.

Defect restoration on old linoleum

If there are flaws or tears on the old coating, restoration is required beforehand. After that, the surface is sanded with sandpaper, and a primer is applied. Only after such preparatory work can new flooring be laid.

On ceramic tiles

When linoleum is laid on a ceramic tile, the tile is first cleaned of all contaminants, the joints are smeared flush with the tile. After the leveling solution has dried, you need to polish the surface well, after which the final screed is done. After the screeds have dried, the flooring can be laid. It is recommended to lay linoleum on a substrate in order to avoid sagging it at the joints.

Ceramic tile screed

It is difficult to lay linoleum on a glossy tile. This will require significant financial and physical costs. Therefore, such a flooring should be removed, and not lined with a coating on it.

Uneven floor

Often the surface of the floor is not perfect smooth. Even after a concrete screed, there may be minor imperfections on the surface, which will be noticeable after the flooring. These shortcomings will help to eliminate a special linoleum substrate on a concrete floor, and also make it more comfortable to walk on it.

Elimination of defects

When the backing can be neglected

In addition to the cases listed above, the laying of linoleum occurs without a substrate. These include laying the flooring on the old flooring or when using multilayer linoleum. When flooring on an old coating, it is pre-checked for bumps, flaws that can shorten the life of a new coating.

Without backing

In multilayer linoleum, the lower layer acts as a substrate. The most common lower layer of a multilayer coating is polyvinyl chloride.

Its expansion coefficient is the same as that of the flooring, which means that when heated, linoleum will not warp.

Conclusions - what in the end lay

In the end, I want to summarize, and answer the question: do I need a linoleum substrate?

With high-quality preparation of the base of the floor, when all the bumps and flaws are eliminated, linoleum can be laid without using a substrate. In addition, there are species that are already available with an insulating layer, they do not need an additional layer.

In the absence of a flat surface, the presence of a cold floor and the use of baseless linoleum, laying the substrate is mandatory.

The choice of material as a substrate is diverse. Natural substrates have an environmentally friendly composition, but have a high price. Synthetic are affordable, have excellent heat and sound insulating properties. The final choice depends on the financial capabilities, the expected life of the coating and offers on the construction market.