Laminate flooring is one of the most popular types of coverings for different rooms. Its installation can be done independently. To do this, you need to familiarize yourself with the technology of this process, as well as prepare all the necessary materials and tools. The advice of experienced builders will help you figure this out. What is needed for laying the laminate will be discussed in detail below.
Laminate
What do you need to lay a laminate with your own hands? First, the owners of an apartment or house must calculate the floor area. This will allow you to purchase a sufficient amount of materials for installation. First of all, you need to pay attention to the laminate itself. A huge number of different options are on sale. It is necessary to choose a laminate in accordance with the style and color scheme in the interior.
In addition, the material for flooring must have a number of certain characteristics. There should be no defects on the surface of the boards. The color of their surface should be identical, the shade should not differ in different batches. It is worth considering that before installation, the material is laid out in the room on a flat surface. This is necessary so that he adapts to the conditions in the room.
There are two types of laminate on sale. The first group is intended for home installation, and the second - at industrial facilities. The cost of the second group will be higher, so you should not purchase material for domestic use with a very high strength class. This is not practical. The groups of materials that are suitable for a house or apartment include classes 21-23, as well as 31-33. The higher the wear resistance of the surface of materials, the more expensive the laminate will cost. However, its durability in this case is significantly increased.
It is also worth noting that the thickness of the laminate panels can be different, it varies from 6 to 12 mm. The choice depends on how smooth the surface of the base is in the room. The dimensions of the laminate board may vary depending on the manufacturer.
Instruments
What you need to buy for laying laminate flooring? You will need to prepare a number of materials that are necessarily used during installation, as well as the necessary tools. There are certain recommendations for choosing everything you need during installation. All tools should not be purchased. Acquaintances, friends or relatives may have the necessary tool.
You will need to purchase small nails. They will help to make markings, which will subsequently be laid. This greatly facilitates the work. It is also worth preparing a rubber mallet. Sometimes the panels refuse to stand on their intended place exactly. Panel locks do not snap. In this case, a rubber mallet will help to cope with the styling.
A hacksaw or jigsaw should be prepared. During installation, individual panels will need to be trimmed. This is what this tool will require. The teeth should be small. In this case, the cut will be smooth. Otherwise, the edges of the cut material will be torn, ugly. It is best to choose a power tool for operation. So the work will advance easier and faster.
Considering what tools are needed for laying the laminate, it should also be noted the need for a grinder. It is not always used. But sometimes you can’t do without this tool. This tool allows you to make the cut of the panels even.
It is also necessary to apply the construction level. This will determine how evenly the flooring is laid. The level will avoid the appearance of gaps between the slats.
The clamp will allow you to mount the material correctly near the wall. Also in the course of work it is tedious to use a ruler, corner, tape measure.
Varieties of materials
It is also worth considering what materials are needed for laying the laminate. A number of additional construction products will be required to install this flooring. Without such materials, it will be impossible to lay the laminate correctly.
It is necessary to prepare small wedges. They can be cut independently from whetstones. These wedges will need to be installed between the cover and the wall. This allows you to leave deformation gaps. With temperature and microclimate changes in the room, the floor covering will not be deformed.
Waterproofing is also mandatory. Most often, a plastic film is used for these purposes. It is laid on a concrete base. Sealant may also be required. With its help, the lamellas are fastened together. With this method of joining, moisture cannot penetrate the structure of the material and spoil it.
Do I need a sealant when laying laminate flooring? In some cases, you can not do without it. However, there are varieties of laminate that do not require the use of sealant. These are the most expensive types of material. The lamels in this case are of high quality. Therefore, gluing them does not make sense. They do not need moisture protection. Therefore, when deciding whether to laminate the laminate during installation, it is worth evaluating the performance of the material. If it is of high quality, the sealant is not purchased. In other cases, you can not do without it.
You also need to purchase a substrate. It performs a number of special functions. Therefore, during the installation of the laminate , you can not do without it.
Substrate
Considering what is needed for laying the laminate, it is definitely worth noting the substrate. It can be made of different materials. The substrate performs several important functions. It further levels the surface of the base. However, it is worth remembering that in the presence of significant irregularities, it will be necessary to use a cement mortar and saw off the bulge with a grinder.
The substrate additionally protects the laminate from moisture. It also provides additional sound insulation. Without a substrate, it would be cold to walk on a laminate. It also plays the role of thermal insulation.
When choosing a substrate, it is worth purchasing sheets or roll materials, the thickness of which is at least 2 mm. The optimum thickness is 2-5 mm. The choice depends on the unevenness of the base. The thickness of the laminate and its strength are also taken into account. If a cork substrate is used, its thickness can be as little as 2–3 mm. Other varieties are better to choose from 3 mm.
It is worth considering that during operation the substrate will shrink. If you want to create high-quality sound and heat insulation, you need to purchase sheets with a greater thickness. For example, if a small child runs around the surface of the laminate, high-quality sound insulation will make his steps quieter. Also on the surface it will be more comfortable to step with bare feet. The coating will be relatively warm.
However, you should not buy too thick type of substrate. Otherwise, it will sag greatly. This can lead to deformation of the coating and breakage of the locks.
Varieties of substrate
Do I need a backing when laying laminate flooring? The answer to this question is yes. This bottom layer has a number of important functions. Therefore, you can not do without it. There are several varieties of substrates.
The first group includes materials made of foamed polyethylene. This option is the most common. However, this group of substrates has a number of disadvantages. Its thermal insulation qualities are rather low. Also, the density of the sheets of foamed polyethylene is small. Therefore, they can be deformed. The cost of such materials is relatively low. It is 35-40 rubles / m².
Experts recommend purchasing instead of the first group of materials substrates of extruded polystyrene. They have a high density. Therefore, the substrate will be pressure resistant. This material also demonstrates high thermal insulation performance. Extruded polystyrene foam is excellent sound insulation. The life of this substrate is long. The cost is about 70-75 rubles / m².
The third group includes cork substrate. This is a high quality material. It withstands significant loads, does not cake. The cork backing has a long service life. Sound and heat insulation characteristics of this material are at their best. If you want to equip an electric underfloor heating system, this material will be most preferred. The cost is about 120 rubles / m².
Another option is a granular polystyrene substrate that is sandwiched between two layers of polyethylene. This is a high quality material. Through lateral gaps, this type of substrate is able to remove moisture. The cost of this material is 120-130 rubles / m².
Other materials
Do I need a film when laying a laminate? This material is used in certain cases. If the base on which the presented floor covering will be mounted is made of concrete or cement screed, an additional layer of waterproofing should be laid. It spreads over the area of the room. On the waterproofing film, it will be possible to lay the substrate under the laminate.
The individual parts of the waterproofing and the backing sheets are fastened together with tape. You need to purchase special building material. It is called masking tape. If you don’t have it at hand, you can use ordinary stationery adhesive tape.
Primer
Do I need to prime the floor before laying the laminate? This procedure is, although optional, but desirable. The fact is that in the process of preparing the rough floor, dust and small construction debris can accumulate on it. Of course, you can wash the floor many times to get rid of such foreign fractions. However, this will require a large amount of effort and time. Moreover, the result may not be high enough even after repeated washing.
So that the floor surface is ready for subsequent manipulations, it is primed. For this, they acquire different compositions. The choice depends on the material from which the rough base is made. Primers are available for porous and smooth surfaces.
Glue
Do I need glue when laying the laminate. It is worth saying that it depends on the type of lamellas. On sale are products with different types of castle joints. For some varieties, glue is indispensable. This question needs to be clarified when buying a laminate. The seller must provide comprehensive information.
The most popular types of castle joints do not need glue. But there is a whole list of varieties that without glue will begin to succumb to vibration over time. This will lead to deformation, the appearance of gaps between the lamellas. Glue in this case become transparent. It should be suitable for working with laminate flooring.
Self-leveling mixture
Non-professional masters often have questions about whether it is necessary to prime the floor before laying the laminate, to apply glue or sealant. Having understood these issues, you need to consider the important nuance of construction work. Often, the rough coating is so uneven that the substrate cannot compensate for the differences in height. In this case, it will be necessary to use self-leveling mixtures. They will prepare the rough floor for subsequent work.
Self-leveling mixtures on sale differ in composition, solidification rate. For a wooden subfloor, you need to purchase varieties that contain reinforcing fiber. It can be synthetic, polymer or made of fiberglass. Such additives increase the ductility of the composition and its adhesion to the base.
Depending on the characteristics of the subfloor, a layer from 1 to 3 cm is poured. In this case, the requirements of the manufacturer of the composition must be taken into account.
If the floor is concrete, a self-leveling mixture is used, which includes M500 cement, fine quartz sand, mineral fillers and plasticizers. Polymeric additives may also be used as an additional ingredient.
Self-leveling mix selection
Considering what is needed for laying the laminate, it is worth saying that self-leveling mixtures are used during installation quite often. They can be made not only on cement, but also on a gypsum basis. The second option is suitable for dry rooms. Gypsum maintains the correct microclimate in the room, so this option is preferable to a mixture of cement.
Self-leveling mixes for rough and finish leveling are on sale. The highest quality products are manufactured by Knauf, Litokol. The products of manufacturers "Henkel Bautechnik", "Bolars", "Founded", etc. are in high demand.
The average cost of packaging self-leveling mixtures is about 250-300 rubles. for 25 kg.
Having considered what is needed for laying the laminate, you can purchase all the necessary materials and tools. The final result of the work depends on the correctness of their choice.