While reusing the base layer may be attractive, using a carpet base layer with laminate flooring will cause problems in the long term. The base of the carpet is usually much thicker than the laminate base. It is usually around 10 mm thick, while the laminate base is usually around 3 mm thick. Simply put, the base of the carpet is too thick.
Most laminate floors are 1 mm to 3 mm thick. Most carpet coverings are 8 mm to 10 mm thick, too thick for laminate flooring installations. Now you may think that adding cushion equals a “softer” floor. If you reuse the thick padding of your carpet, the floor will be too inflatable and could damage the locking system.
Pay special attention to the warranty when installing the subfloor. Failure to follow their instructions may result in the cancellation of the warranty. Laminate floors are a strong, cost-effective floor covering that will last for many years. However, for some subfloors, the underlayer is not strictly necessary, it is recommended.
The base helps the laminate planks to be evenly distributed in the subfloor and supports the locking system between the planks to ensure that the floor is sturdy. Preparation is the secret to placing a laminate, a top layer of real wood or a solid wood floor that is durable and looks fantastic. The lower subfloor must be smooth, dry and level. And before the floor falls, you will have to place a lower layer, as this will facilitate its placement, help it last longer and improve acoustic and thermal insulation.
In general, the base for laminate floors is between 1 mm and 3 mm thick, while most carpet layers are between 8 mm and 10 mm thick. This thick padding would not provide adequate support to laminate floors, potentially damaging your floors. The added height will make it difficult for individual laminate boards to interconnect, leading to a poor fit or a short-lived floor finish. You're probably wondering if you can install laminate flooring over an existing carpet or carpet base.
The answer is no because the base of the carpet is designed to be soft and elastic, while the underlayer of the laminate floor is reasonably stiff. The base of the laminate floor must be rigid to prevent the laminate boards from bouncing, which will eventually damage their joints. Therefore, to make it clear when installing a laminate floor, it is best to use a specific base for laminate flooring, since the price can vary quite a bit depending on the quality of the base layer. The Dreamwalk Heatflow base has been specifically designed for use with underfloor heating systems and wooden or laminate floors.
The base is 2 mm thick with small holes drilled at regular intervals that allow heat to rise and penetrate. A plastic vapor barrier layer is also attached to the radiant floor heating base, which prevents moisture from entering the wood or laminate floor. The polyethylene foam base is the cheapest base layer available for beginners, but this doesn't mean it's a bad choice. As long as your project meets certain criteria, there is no reason why the polyethylene foam base should not be used and fulfills its purpose perfectly.
The foam plastic base is usually white, approximately 2 mm thick, and is designed for use on perfectly level wooden subfloors. It should not be used on concrete subfloors. If you have a concrete subfloor and intend to install your floor using the floating method, you will almost certainly want to use a layer of foam with a built-in vapor barrier. This prevents moisture from the concrete subfloor from rising to the ground and causing problems related to expansion and movement.
If you think about it, any floor that is going to be installed with nails, that is, on a wooden subfloor, would compromise the vapor barrier properties of a base layer, so all that is needed is a normal layer of foam or rubber to ensure that any problem related to humidity and humidity is resolved by other means. It is essential that the subfloor is clean, level and moisture-proof. Laminate floors need a base, whether you place them on concrete or on a old wooden subfloor. The base layer provides many benefits, such as reduced noise, thermal insulation, greater comfort for the feet and extended floor life.
We recommend not placing laminate or hardwood floors on tile surfaces or old floors, as they may not be level and can hold moisture and moisture under a new floor. The use of a base layer adds additional costs to the installation of laminate floors, but in the long term, the base layer adds more lifespan to laminate floors, not to mention their performance, making it cost-effective. Before you lay your laminate floor, you should carefully consider the type of base you are going to use. We repeatedly insist on the importance of preparing the subfloor so that it is as flat and uniform as possible before placing the floor and, therefore, in theory, a lower layer should never be used to take into account the unevenness of the subsoil.
There are several underlayment products to choose from when choosing a subfloor for laminate floors, and it's useful to know the features to look for. A common mistake is to use carpet padding or other soft, thick underfloor, thinking that it will somehow increase the comfort of walking on a laminate floor. It is important to remember that a high-quality underfloor will serve the floor even better than a low-haired carpet in general. The assembly process for Rapid Fit and Twin Clic laminates is basically the same, with one key difference depending on the plate locking system.
These types of carpets should not have laminate floors on them, as they do not provide sufficient stability to support the floor. In laminate flooring installations, the subfloor is the thin, flexible sheet of elastic material that is installed on top of the subfloor to serve as...
