Laminate laying uneven floor. How to lay laminate flooring on uneven wood floors. Leveling uneven floors with various mixtures
To create a quality floor covering that will last long years, you need to ensure the evenness and rigidity of the base. If this is not done, the floor made of piece parts will begin to creak, shift, connections between elements will break down and cracks will appear. Laying laminate flooring on uneven wooden floors must necessarily be accompanied by certain preparatory work.
Bump detection
Before starting work with your own hands, it is worth assessing the condition of the coating, identifying the presence of damage and deformations. It is important that the surface is not damp or exposed to rot and mold. If such areas are found, they will have to be replaced.
Uneven wooden floors
It is important to determine what types of irregularities adversely affect the laminate. Laying on uneven floors with gaps and cracks is possible. It is only important to ensure that the opening does not exceed 5 cm, otherwise repairs will be required. Differences in altitude pose a great danger. It is they that lead to disruption of the fastening between the parts of the laminate and the appearance of cracks in it. Such defects will need to be eliminated with your own hands, leveling the old floor before laying a new one.
There are several tools that are designed to check horizontality. You can determine how uneven the floor in a room is using the following devices:
- Laser level. Most accurate and increases execution speed. It is important to learn how to work with this device. In most cases, it is not suitable for DIY work, since not everyone can handle it. In addition, the device is expensive, there is no point in buying it just for repairs. It is best if the covering is laid on an uneven floor using simpler tools.
- Hydraulic (water) level. Also distinguished by accuracy. The device is as simple as possible. In principle, such a device can be made with your own hands. All you need is a thin transparent tube of sufficient length and water. It is more convenient to work with the hydraulic level together. The essence of the method lies in the principle of communicating vessels, the water level in which is always the same. One edge of the tube is fixed and the zero mark is marked, and the deviations are determined using the second.
- Bubble level. The device consists of a body with different lengths (in order to lay the coating with your own hands, it is convenient to use a device 1 or 2 meters long). The rail has a hole and a bubble chamber. By placing the device on an uneven old floor, the scale of the problem is determined using a bubble.
- The simplest version of the device for checking evenness is the rule. It is a long strip. The principle of operation is similar to the previous option. The rule must be placed on the old uneven floor and checked for gaps. You can measure their size with a ruler.
Further actions should take into account the size of the elevation differences and the type rough coating.
Methods for leveling the base
Do-it-yourself preparation of a wooden floor for laminate can be done in several ways. Laying on an uneven floor involves the use of the following methods, depending on the defects of the base:
- substrates from various materials(small irregularities);
- leveling with mixtures;
- PVA glue and sawdust;
- scraping;
- laying plywood.
Each method is worth considering separately.
Laying the substrate
Small deviations can be corrected using materials such as:
- isolon (or polyethylene foam, the cheapest options);
- polystyrene with a layer of foil on top;
- wood tiles;
- porous polymer masses;
- technical cork substrates (not resistant to moisture, require additional measures).
Laying the substrate Installation on an uneven floor requires placement perpendicular to the direction of the laminate panels. It is important to choose the right thickness. Materials from 2 to 10 mm are available for sale. It is best to give preference to a layer of 2-5 mm. In addition to its main function, the substrate will play the role of shock absorption and sound insulation. To improve these characteristics, it is not necessary to lay the material in several layers; this is a violation of technology. When laying too thick a substrate under the laminate, the risk of breaking the attachment points of one plate to another increases. This occurs because the thicker the material, the greater its deformation during compression.
When choosing the thickness of the substrate, the thickness of the finishing board. For example, to level a floor under a laminate with a thickness of 8-10 mm, you can use the thickest material with a thickness of 10 mm.
Using mixtures for leveling
In this case, you can use ready-made mixtures for self-leveling floors or cement-based compositions. The purchased mixture is prepared according to the instructions on the package. To make a cement mortar, you need to take 1 part binder to 4 parts sand and move them together. After this, water is added.
Using the mixture to level the floor To level the floor with cement, you need to set the level of the top of the pour. This is usually done by screwing in self-tapping screws. The fasteners are inserted into the uneven floor so that the caps are at the same level. Afterwards, a thread is pulled between them, which will allow you to control the evenness. Laying the mixture between such paths is done with a shovel and trowel. Once completed, you will need to apply a rule that will create a flat surface. This tool is a metal profile that is passed over the surface, removing excess. The hardening of the solution depends on the room temperature. On average, work can be continued after 2 weeks.
The self-leveling floor hardens faster, but the cost of the self-leveling mixture is higher. It is poured with a layer of 1 to 7 mm, depending on the complexity of the surface. Before the top layer hardens, the surface is rolled with a needle roller many times. Drying time ranges from 3 hours to 3 days.
Cycling
The method consists of cutting off the top layer of coating and forming flat surface. The advantages of the method include:
- speed of work;
- simplicity of technology;
- low cost (costs are only required for renting equipment, which may already be required for repairs).
Cycling The disadvantage is the reduction in the thickness of the boardwalk. This can lead to a decrease in its load-bearing capacity and strength. When performing work, it is important to drive the machine smoothly, without effort or pressure. If this is not done, the work will not be done efficiently, and new irregularities will appear.
Laying plywood
The method is suitable for leveling out serious differences. Laying can be done using two methods:
- on glue (if you need to even out differences of up to 1 cm);
- along the logs (if you need to equalize differences of more than 1 cm).
The adhesive connection is carried out after degreasing the surface and priming to increase adhesion. After the glue has dried, the plywood sheets are additionally fixed with self-tapping screws to increase reliability.
Laying plywood When laying along joists, the process is more complicated. First you will need to clean the base. Fasten boards with a section of 15 by 40 mm in one direction with a step corresponding to the size of the sheets. The logs are attached to the wooden flooring with self-tapping screws. Next, lay out the plywood. This must be done so that the joint between the sheets falls on the joist.
For both methods, preliminary cutting of sheets is performed and their subsequent numbering. The distance between adjacent parts is 2-4 mm, between the flooring and the wall - 10 mm. This is necessary so that waves do not appear when the plywood expands.
If the base is leveled correctly, you can begin laying the laminate in the usual way. You only need to take into account the features of the leveling material, since it will become the base for the floor covering.
Laminate coating is becoming more and more popular and in demand. With all its advantages, there is one situation that arises quite often - laminate flooring requires careful preparation and leveling of the base on which it is to be mounted. Is it possible to lay laminate flooring on an uneven floor? Is this acceptable in principle? Let's look at the installation features of this material, which should definitely be known and taken into account when performing it.
How to lay laminate flooring on an uneven floor
During the repair process when dismantling the old flooring, underneath it reveals, as a rule, an unsightly foundation of poor condition. It may have irregularities such as chips, depressions and bumps if it is a concrete base; unevenness and damage to the boards - with a wooden base. In addition, the base may have a height difference of different places. Naturally, the question arises: is it possible to lay laminate flooring on an uneven base and is it necessary to level the floor under the laminate? 
Professionals will answer categorically: laminated panels cannot be laid on uneven floors; the base must be carefully prepared and leveled.
This is actually true, because after laying the laminate on an uneven base, various kinds of surprises gradually begin to appear, not always pleasant. Such a laminated floor sag when walking on it from the load in the form of human weight. This can be explained simply: if there are irregularities in the form of depressions and tubercles, the lamella simply hangs over the depression when there is no load.
A person steps on it, and the lamella bends under the influence of his weight. After some period of time, the laminated floor will have cracks in the joints of the panels, may begin to creak and subsequently become unusable.
Let us remind you that the slats are connected to each other using locking elements, forming a solid canvas on the floor. Locks are divided into types: Click and Lock. 
Both types of locking systems require a carefully leveled base for installation.
Consequences of laying laminate flooring on an uneven floor
If there are significant differences in level or unevenness in the base, the shelf life of the laminated coating will noticeably decrease. When walking on laminate flooring, it is the locking elements that bear the increased load when the base is uneven.
The result will be loosening of the adhesion between the panels and the appearance of gaps between the panels. It is easier for moisture to penetrate into the cracks. The coating begins to squeak, and some lamellas may rise.
Panel locks are often damaged above serious differences in the base level. Very soon the coating will have to be dismantled, the base leveled and re-installed, either completely or partially replacing the failed panels. 
As you can see, laying laminate flooring on an uneven floor, concrete or wood, has serious consequences. Therefore, even before the start of installation work, we check the differences visually and the evenness of the base - using a building level. If damaged areas are detected and serious deviations in height values are found, it is necessary to address careful preparation grounds.
Permissible floor unevenness when laying laminate: 2 millimeters per 1 meter of floor.
Is it possible to level a laminate floor using underlayment?
Today we see a large assortment substrate materials:
- natural cork;
- coniferous slabs;
- foamed polyethylene;
- extruded polystyrene foam.
Using cork backing The instructions purchased along with the substrate contain information about the maximum height differences it can level in order to avoid harm to the operation of the laminated coating.
You can find out more about substrates in our other articles.
The underlay for the laminate is mounted on the base immediately before laying the laminated flooring. The slats are connected to each other with locks, but they are not attached to the substrate and base in any way; the covering is installed as a “floating” floor.
The underlay is capable of smoothing out minor imperfections in the base that remain after leveling, but does not provide complete leveling without preparing the subfloor.
If the base has serious variations in height levels, significant depressions and bumps, or damage to the surface, it must be prepared and leveled.
Leveling the floor under the laminate with your own hands
The most common bases are concrete and plank bases; each of them requires a special approach to the leveling process.
Before laying the laminate, you must ensure that the surface acting as a base is level, hard and dry. If this is not the case, perform leveling by eliminating unevenness, dismantling the old covering that cannot be repaired, and also removing the baseboards.
How to lay laminate flooring on an uneven concrete floor
The material used to level the concrete floor under the laminate can be a cement screed, a self-leveling mixture or expanded clay - if a dry screed is used. As a result of leveling, you should obtain a strong, smooth surface with minor irregularities, no more than 3 millimeters.
Checking the evenness of the surface The subfloor needs to be cleaned, waterproofed, for example, by spreading thick plastic film, after which the screed is poured. Installation work with laminate begins when the screed has completely hardened.
Before laying the covering, you must ensure that concrete base completely dry. To do this, cover the floor with cellophane overnight or simply place the jar bottom up. If condensation has formed in the morning, then you still need to wait until the screed is completely dry.
How to check the levelness of the floor before laying laminate?
The evenness of the base under the laminated coating is checked by applying a long level to the surface, and differences in the height of the base plane are revealed.
We carefully inspect the surface of the base: are there any cracks, cavities and bumps that can reduce the quality of laying the laminated coating.
If there is an old coating on the concrete base, it must be removed.
We begin leveling the floor.
You can pour a cement screed. You can do a dry screed. It will be easier to perform leveling on your own using self-leveling mixtures.
When diluting the components of the leveling mixture, proceed exactly according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Pour the prepared solution onto the base. A spatula or a special device in the form of a mop will help to distribute the solution evenly. 
In order for air bubbles to come out of the solution, you need to walk over its surface with a special roller with spikes. It is necessary to wait until the leveling layer has dried, this period is determined by the variety and brand of the mixture used. After this, we spread a layer of waterproofing on it.
Leveling the concrete base If a dry screed is performed during the preparation of the base, fine-caliber expanded clay is poured onto the waterproofing layer. The expanded clay layer should be leveled using a level, then GVL slabs (gypsum fiber sheet) are laid out on this layer, they adhere to each other using screws and glue. We obtain a surface of almost perfect evenness and strength. This method is also called: dry leveling floors under laminate.
Laying laminate flooring on uneven wood floors
The cycle of work on preparing the base begins with a thorough inspection of it, in order to detect cracks, creaking or rotten floorboards, and uneven areas. All identified problem areas must be corrected. Below is a link to an article with detailed description for leveling the plank floor.
Having discovered creaking boards, we firmly strengthen them to the joists. Sometimes it is necessary to partially dismantle the plank base, replace the floorboards and secure the joists more firmly.
Advice: It is more correct to attach floorboards to joists using self-tapping screws rather than nails. They should not be over-tightened to avoid distortion of the floors.
We close the detected cracks and holes with putty. If the plank base has too large unevenness, or there are too many of them, scraping the floor will correct the situation. Floor scraping is done using a scraping machine. It is expensive, so it makes sense not to buy it, but to rent it for a while. 
Floor scraping is a very noisy, dusty process, and it’s not easy to do it yourself without the skill. There are more easy way To level a wooden floor with your own hands under the laminate - lay sheets of plywood on it. 
Instead of plywood sheets, it is possible to level the floor under the laminate OSB board. The leveling process is similar to laying plywood sheets.
The process of leveling the floor with plywood sheets and installing laminate can be seen in the video:
Before laying the laminated flooring, it is imperative that you first lay out a layer of underlay on the floor.
Video: laying laminate
In this article we tried to consider in detail and get answers to the questions:
- Is it possible to lay laminate flooring on an uneven floor?
- how to lay laminate flooring on an uneven wooden or concrete floor;
- how to level the floor in an apartment under laminate.
We really hope that when you encounter the fact of an uneven subfloor, you will not be at a loss, but will confidently resolve this problem. 
Laminate is a floor covering that has recently replaced many materials. Price category and variety structural drawings satisfies the needs of any category of consumers. Competent attitude towards this product finishing works during the preparation and installation process it will thank you with a long service life. One of the main requirements is a perfectly flat concrete or wooden base on which it is placed.
Why should you fix uneven floors?
The main material for making laminate is sawdust, so it strength characteristics not designed for additional loads. Uneven surface floor leads to deformation lock connection laminate, as a result of which the joints begin to separate. The panels gradually swell and become unusable. It is impossible to lay laminate flooring on a concrete floor even with the slightest irregularities, bumps and height differences.
The presence of depressions also has a negative effect. In such places the panels sag, making not very pleasant sounds when walking. In addition, any unevenness leads to the formation of cracks in the canvas.
Leveling a wooden floor
You can eliminate unevenness in a wooden base yourself by choosing the method most suitable for your conditions:
- lay plywood;
- remove defects with an electric planer or grinding machine.
Before starting work, carefully check the entire wooden flooring. The boards should be dry and there should be no signs of rotting. Even the slightest hint of such defects requires partial replacement of the floor. Otherwise, the boards may swell, which will lead to deformation of the laminate.
Level the floor with plywood when there are many uneven areas or there is no sanding tool. The base material must meet moisture resistance requirements. Plywood flooring has a number of advantages:
- light weight;
- the ability to perfectly level the surface;
- reduces labor costs;
- withstands heavy loads;
- affordable price;
- not demanding during operation.
Sheets of plywood are not laid entirely, but cut into pieces so that there are no long seams. First, fixing slats are installed to prevent the sheets from moving, which are laid with seams staggered. It’s better to coat the plywood itself oil paint, thus enhancing the water-repellent effect. For fastening, self-tapping screws are used, the heads of which should be deepened so that they do not come into contact with the laminate.
Having chosen the second method to eliminate uneven floors, first deepen the heads of the screws and nails. Only then grind until the surface is completely level.
Using PVA glue and sawdust
This method for eliminating unevenness in a wooden floor has been tested by time and professionals. Prepare a not very liquid composition by mixing sawdust with PVA glue. Fix the guides exactly level on the floor, and fill the space between them with the mixture. And so two or three layers, waiting for the previous one to settle. After complete drying, lay down sheets of plywood, fixing them.
At first glance, a concrete floor is an excellent base for laying laminate flooring. However, during the work, unexpected problems arise. Or rather, you will have to feel them at the stage of operation of the floor covering, the service life of which will decrease when the base is uneven. You can check for unevenness using a building level. The permissible difference ranges from 2 mm to 3 mm. Correction is required if the barrier is exceeded.
This type of flooring is most common in apartments and has the most big amount defects:
- concrete sagging;
- cracks;
- plane changes;
- potholes and chips;
- peeled areas.
Each of these shortcomings requires its elimination. And the methods used to level the floor depend on the specific deficiency.
- A small number of concrete tubercles can be cut down with a chisel or sawed off with a grinder. Using a conventional cutting wheel will destroy it. For concrete, you will need a special circle, which is used when working with tiles. Large sagging can be eliminated by using a hammer drill.
- Small existing depressions are leveled by filling them mortar. If there are significant defects in the screed, the best solution is self-leveling floors. In this way, numerous and varied imperfections can be leveled out. First you need to clean concrete covering from the remains of the old clean floor. Potholes, cracks, chips are filled cement mortar. Large swells are knocked down, small ones can be left, they will be filled with screed. Treat the prepared surface with a primer. To be sure, walk around the perimeter of the room and mark the level of the subfloor on the walls. When mixing the solution, keep in mind that the mixture should be thick. Then it will not spread, and the possibility of new irregularities appearing is excluded. Let the first layer dry. On final stage prepare a self-leveling mixture or, if possible, buy a ready-made one. The consistency should be such that the solution spreads naturally, creating a perfectly smooth surface. You can lay the laminate only when everything is completely dry.
- When laying panels on concrete floors, dust appears. It's not scary when installation work, but the problem arises during the operational period. Firstly, dust from the screed settles between the joints and subsequently penetrates into the room. Secondly, its particles interfere with the tight fit of the panels, which again leads to deformation. Therefore, when installing a laminate floor, you should follow the advice of experts.
Recommendations for laying laminate flooring on a concrete base
To remove dust from the screed, treat its surface with a primer, preferably in several layers. It is recommended to lay a plastic film under the clean floor, which will protect against dust penetration and at the same time serve as a vapor barrier. This method is used to avoid moisture from concrete mortar on laminate.
Leveling a wooden floor is more difficult than concrete technological process and longer in time. One of the most simple ways To eliminate unevenness of any type of floor, it is necessary to install a leveling substrate, but this is possible provided that the errors are very insignificant. The accompanying instructions for each type of material indicate what size errors the product can eliminate. Leveling abilities depend on the thickness of the substrate and its density. Can be used for uneven concrete, wood covering, linoleum floors, plywood, etc.
Types of substrates:
- polyurethane;
- cork-bitumen;
- foamed polyethylene;
- natural cork.
Each of the listed materials is laid on the surface of an uneven base. If the subfloor is concrete, it is recommended to first lay a layer of polyethylene. The surface itself must be thoroughly cleaned even from small debris. First, the first row of the substrate is laid immediately before installing the laminate slabs, and each subsequent row overlaps by about 30 cm. Secure the seams with adhesive tape or tape. Neither the laminate nor the floor is attached to the substrate.
All types of such leveling materials have excellent characteristics: sound insulation, strength, softness. Therefore, it is advisable to lay a layer of substrate on the leveled surfaces.
Replacing linoleum flooring with a more modern laminate is carried out according to generally accepted principles. When the floor is level, you can safely lay the canvas on top. But if there are irregularities, you will have to rip old material, clear away contamination, and then carry out the whole series of measures, as described above depending on the type of rough foundation.
Do not speed up the process by ignoring these recommendations. The result may be partial or complete dismantling of the laminate, additional financial costs, wasted nerves and time.
Video: how to lay laminate flooring yourself
Laminate is a modern, aesthetic and durable floor covering, presented on the market by a large number of manufacturers and options that differ in design, appearance, operational characteristics and price.
Why you can't lay laminate flooring on an uneven floor
Buyers often ask whether it is possible to laylaminate flooring for uneven floors. The answer is unequivocal - it’s impossible, and for several reasons:
- with minor unevenness, the laminate can “play” under the weight of a walking person, and best case scenario the panels will simply separate at the joints, forming gaps, and the lamellas will have to be constantly adjusted to each other;
- deflection over larger irregularities can lead to fracture of the laminate locks, and then the gaps that arise during operation can only be eliminated by replacing damaged panels;
- significant defects in the base, such as large chips, cavities or swelling, lead to fracture of the panels themselves, which irreversibly damages appearance floor covering and may be hazardous.
How to prepare floors for leveling
Before how to lay laminate flooring on an uneven flooror level it, make sure there are no serious defects: large cracks, cavities, swelling and chips on the concrete base, significant deflection of the joists wooden structure, traces of dampness or mold, as well as other damage. The use of damaged floors can lead to the appearance of extraneous sounds when walking, damage to the finish coating, or be dangerous to life and health.
Preparing floors for leveling
Universal methods of floor leveling
Before how to lay laminate flooring on an uneven wooden flooror a concrete base, you should get rid of the detected defects, however, leveling methods vary depending on the design and material of the floor, as well as its curvature. Modern technologies provide and universal methods leveling floors for laying laminated panels.
Laminate underlay is an easy way to deal with minor unevenness.
Underlay for uneven floors for laminate flooringPerfect for those who are faced with minor flaws in the base. Modern roll materials made of polyurethane, polyethylene foam, natural cork, as well as bitumen-cork and bitumen-rubber mixtures, depending on the thickness of the coating, allow you to level out unevenness up to 5 mm per linear meter(at acceptable value this indicator is 2mm/l.m.).
Underlay for uneven laminate flooring is perfect for those who are faced with minor flaws in the base
It should be noted that with an increase in the thickness of the bedding layer, it is necessary to increase the thickness of the lamellas in order to ensure the reliability of the locks and their strength. Iflaminate underlay for uneven floorsis not able to cover existing flaws, other alignment methods should be used.
Dry screed: how to level floors quickly and without unnecessary dirt
Installing a dry screed is a more complex and time-consuming method than using a substrate, but it allows you to bring even a very uneven floor to one level and get rid of constant slopes. Bulk materials used in this method (usually expanded clay) have excellent vapor and moisture permeability, which will prevent dampness from lingering in the structure for a long time.
Dry screed is suitable for both concrete and wooden bases, but the methods for preparing them are different. On concrete floor Large cracks, chips and depressions are repaired. Wooden base is cleared of excess debris and then covered with chipboard sheets. At the end preparatory work by bubble or laser level Beacons made of metal profiles are set to mark the height of the backfill, and then granular material is poured and distributed flush with them. Subsequently, gypsum fiber sheets, plasterboard or plywood are laid on the already leveled surface in 2 layers with offset joints, after which they should be glued with a special adhesive composition and connect with self-tapping screws.
Dry screed is suitable for both concrete and wooden bases
Methods for leveling concrete floors
There are 2 more methods suitable for leveling a concrete base, however, their significant disadvantages are the inevitable use of water and the need to wait for the composition to set and gain strength. Depending on the mixture used and the method chosen, this time ranges from several hours to several weeks.
Cement screed - a time-tested method
Device cement screed- a method known for many decades to obtain the ideal floor level in premises of any purpose, even with significant differences in base heights.
Rack beacons are set according to the desired floor height (it is recommended to use thin metal profiles, which subsequently will not need to be removed), the original surface is cleaned of small debris and dust, after which it is filled with cement mortar (you can make the mixture yourself or purchase a ready-made one), which is distributed level with the beacons. When the solution sets, to obtain more smooth surface You can additionally level it with a float. Depending on the brand of cement, installation of the finishing coating can begin after 14-28 days, when it has gained strength.
Cement screed - a time-tested method
Self-leveling screed - a modern method for those who don’t want to wait
Self-leveling screed is a more modern, faster and easier way to make the floor level. The algorithm of actions differs slightly from working with cement mortar: it is recommended to pour the leveling mixture from the highest point of the base, and after pouring and distributing it throughout the room, it must be rolled with a special aeration roller to remove air bubbles and avoid the appearance of cavities.
A significant advantage of this method is the relatively short drying time of the mixture, which is several hours (indicated on the packaging of the mixture).
The principles of leveling a wooden floor are fundamentally different from how a concrete base is leveled to the required level. Wooden floors can be leveled using materials such as plywood, OSB or chipboard. The safest, strongest and most durable is the first of them. For residential premises, sheets with a thickness of 13 mm or more are used. Algorithm for performing the work:
- Wooden floors are checked with a long bubble level. In areas where the boards stick out especially strongly, it is worth tightening them to the joists with long screws, and hammering back the nail heads that have come out. You can also trim off protruding elements with a hand plane or power tool.
- sheet material is laid out over the entire area of the room to try it on, cut off excess parts, make cuts for risers and other obstacles.
- Sheets are marked around the perimeter and in the center. It is recommended to place the points where the screws will be screwed in at a distance of about 2 cm from the edge of the sheet, 15-20 cm apart. In the marked places, holes are drilled with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the screws.
- To avoid squeaking and other extraneous sounds that appear due to small debris (shavings, splinters, etc.) under the plywood, it is recommended to thoroughly sweep or vacuum the floor before installing the sheets.
- The sheets are attracted to the base sequentially; it is more rational to start from the corner of the room farthest from the entrance.
How to lay laminate flooring correctly
Even when installed on a perfectly flat floor, it is necessary to lay a backing underneath the laminate, which will significantly reduce the noise when walking, and will also allow you to distribute the load on the coating in a more gentle manner. On plank floor the substrate is laid along the floorboard, and the panels themselves, on any base, are laid across the substrate. Sheets of underlying material are connected to each other with adhesive tape (either fastening along the entire joint or pointwise is allowed), and do not require additional fixation on the existing floor.
When the leveling layer is completed and the underlay is laid, you can begin to lay the laminate. Recommendations for correct installation panels:
- thoroughly clean the floor before starting work;
- between the walls and the surface of the floor covering it is necessary to leave a temperature gap of 10 to 20 mm in size so that the laminate can freely “float” during thermal expansion;
- in rooms of significant size, gaps for thermal expansion must be arranged every 10 m along the direction of the panels and every 8 m across;
- wedges for fixing gaps can be purchased in specialized kits for laying laminate flooring or made with your own hands from leftover boards or plywood;
- For lamellas that will be laid along the wall, it is worth carefully cutting off the locks on the side of the temperature gap; for this, manual and electric jigsaw, or a hacksaw with fine teeth;
- the panels are laid in strips and connected at the sides in a manner appropriate to the type of lock;
- the seams on the short sides of the lamellas are spaced at a distance of at least 30 cm from each other to avoid joints in the shape of a cross - this increases the strength of the joint, helps to avoid breakage of the locks, and makes the connection more durable;
- ready-made strips of panels are usually connected in assembled form, but some manufacturers use locking designs that allow several rows to be laid in parallel, which greatly facilitates installation, and the possibility of this method of assembling the coating is indicated on the packaging;
- To connect the final elements of each row, as well as all panels in the last row, it is recommended to use a mounting bracket designed for laying laminate flooring.
Many people dream of laminate flooring in their home or apartment. And at present this is not a problem, since at the moment there is a large amount of diverse material. You just have to go to the store and choose the laminate that you like best.
But the work doesn’t end with the purchase. After all, the main task is laying the laminate. Of course, you can contact special companies and pay a round sum of money for it, or you can try to do it yourself.
If you decide to install laminate flooring yourself, and you have a wooden floor in your house, then most likely during installation a problem such as an uneven floor may arise. In this case, you will have to level the surface, and then lay the laminate. Since the problem with an uneven floor is quite common during installation, I would like to talk about this point in more detail.
The maximum difference should not exceed 2-3 mm. If the difference is greater than this level, then surface unevenness should be eliminated. Otherwise, over time, the laminate will begin to sag and “play.” This will reduce the service life of the laminate flooring.
Leveling a wooden floor under laminate
There are two ways to level an uneven floor:
- Grinding machine or electric planer;
- Plywood flooring.
Before starting leveling, you should thoroughly inspect the floor and check its strength. If you find rotten boards, it is better to replace them before laying the laminate. Otherwise, after a while you will have to dismantle the entire laid laminate.
When leveling the floor using the first method, you need to take care that there are no obstacles for grinder, namely nails or screws. If necessary, hide all protruding caps. Then sand the floor surface until all irregularities disappear. You can measure the surface using a building level.
If you don’t have a grinding machine at hand, you can use the second option is to lay moisture-resistant plywood. Many people believe that plywood can be replaced with a sheet of chipboard, but this is a mistaken opinion. 
Chipboard is not recommended for a simple reason: formaldehyde compounds are used in its production. And if moisture gets on the leaf, it will start to bubble and release formaldehyde. Such release may have serious consequences for human health.
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Before making plywood flooring, you need to install wooden rivers on which the plywood sheets will be attached. A good plus The plywood will be coated with oil paint based on drying oil for greater moisture resistance. Then we carefully lay the plywood on the slats and fasten it with self-tapping screws.
Also one of the frequently asked questions is: How to lay laminate flooring on an uneven concrete floor? There are no tricks to leveling a concrete floor. This is done simply using a cement mixture. To work you will need a wide spatula.
We apply cement mixture onto the surface and smooth with a spatula. We bring it to the desired level and wait for it to dry completely. That's all the work on leveling the concrete floor. In addition, a concrete base is best suited for laying laminate flooring.
After you have prepared and leveled the floor for the laminate, we begin to lay the underlay. You should not abandon the substrate, as the service life of the laminate will be very short. In addition, the substrate serves as sound and moisture insulation.
There are several types of substrate:
- Polyethylene. The most sought after and popular substrate. It has good sound insulation and high moisture resistance. Very convenient for installation.
- Cork. Perhaps one of the expensive substrates. It also has excellent sound and moisture insulation qualities. Perfect for uneven floors. Very high quality material that is resistant to rotting and deformation.
- Bitumen-cork . The substrate consists of kraft paper and bitumen, and its surface is covered with cork chips. This crumb absorbs sounds quite well, and the bitumen prevents water from penetrating, thereby preventing rotting.
- Expanded polystyrene. A good material for laying laminate flooring. It has good moisture resistance and high noise-absorbing effect.
- Combined. The substrate consists of two materials: polyethylene and expanded polystyrene. The substrate itself consists of two dense layers of polyethylene, between which there are polystyrene foam balls.
- Special. Possesses high qualities, reduces the sounds of footsteps to a minimum. Possesses natural ventilation. Easy to install and takes a lot of time. But there is one small drawback - the price.
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To lay the underlay under the laminate, you will need some tools: tape, tape measure, ruler, knife and pencil. It is best to use tape to secure the sheets of backing.
Laying laminate flooring with your own hands
Before you start installing laminate flooring, you need to create a suitable environment for the work. The temperature should not be more than 30, and humidity from 45 to 70%. It is important to follow the instructions when working to avoid installation errors. Let's analyze all the work point by point:
- First of all, we prepare the surface. You need to clean it well of debris. A vacuum cleaner is best suited for this task.
- Then we lay the first backing. The film can be corrugated, in which case the corrugated surface should face down. And if there is foil on the film, then it should be located up.
- The second row of the substrate must be laid, moving 40 cm from the joint of the mat of the first row, then the seams of the mats must be glued with tape or adhesive tape.
- The underlay must be applied to the walls, but not more than 5 cm.
- Once the underlayment has been laid, you can begin laying the laminate. The first panel should face the wall with its tenon, the next one is inserted into the groove of the first panel at an angle of 45 degrees. This must be continued until the first row is completed.
- The second row is assembled in the same way as the first, and then inserted into the locks of the previous row. To avoid gaps between panels, you can adjust the boards with a hammer, while protecting the laminate from impacts with a metal bracket. Each completed row ends with a wedge insert.
- You can also make the panel connections stronger. To do this, you need to use a special glue for laminate flooring. When working with glue, after each row, you need to wait a little until the glue dries completely, wait about 10 minutes. If during connection, glue leaks onto the outside, immediately wipe it off.
- AND the last stage will mask the gaps that have formed between the panels. In this case we use sealant. We apply it, let it dry and carefully remove the excess using sandpaper.
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This completes the work of laying the laminate. When installing laminate, there are no complex parts, so you can easily handle this work yourself.
There are several simple and important rules on the care of laminate flooring that must be performed. this will significantly increase the service life of the laminate.
Basic rules for caring for laminate flooring:
- Do wet cleaning only with warm water;
- Wipe the coating dry after cleaning;
- Do not apply detergents, V which contain abrasive elements;
- It is prohibited to use household chemicals, which contains acids and alkalis. These compounds corrode varnish:
- Do not use to clean stains metal brushes or mesh.
Need to know! Laminate doesn't really like water. If there is a large ingress of liquid during cleaning, the laminate will inflate and its locks will separate.
To keep the laminate in excellent condition, wet cleaning should be done no more than 2 times a week. For cleaning, you need to use only a soft cloth, which you need to wring out well. It is also recommended to add detergents specifically designed for cleaning laminate flooring to a bucket of water. They do not leave streaks and wash away greasy stains well.
