When choosing flooring, each owner country house or apartments trying to find the best option. But what material should you give preference to? One of the best floor coverings is laminate, which does not require careful maintenance. At the same time, its appearance fits beautifully into rooms with different decorations.
It is worth remembering that the choice of laminate for an apartment should be made taking into account several characteristics. It depends on them in what conditions the material will be used. An example is laminate flooring for the kitchen.
On the market building materials There are a large number of floor coverings available that can confuse any buyer. The most common options are parquet boards and laminate, which have proven themselves in different conditions. To make a choice, you need to consider the differences between these materials.
Parquet boards are made from natural wood, and laminate is created by gluing together several artificial elements. The base of the lamellas is a wood-fiber material, which is covered with a decorative and protective layer on top, and a moisture-resistant base is located below.
If you compare laminate and parquet by price, then you should pay attention to the low cost of the first, which is associated with the use of cheaper materials. That is why it is chosen by many of those who are going to transform their apartment. The strength of both floor coverings under consideration is high, so their service life is quite long.
Speaking about the operating time, it is worth mentioning that the parquet will last longer, but at the same time its condition must be constantly monitored. Laminate flooring does not require maintenance, but has a limited service life. Before purchasing, it is worth considering the maintainability of the material. Once serious damage appears on the surface of the laminate, it will not be possible to remove it. In this case, it is enough to sand the parquet board and re-varnish it.
Another factor that worries buyers is the difficulty of installing flooring. Before you buy parquet board, it should be remembered that its installation time can take a whole day. Installation of the laminate takes place within a few hours.
To choose the right flooring, it is worth considering its main characteristics. These include:
All these parameters are important, since the floors in apartments can be very different and in order for the laminate to be installed as reliably as possible, it is necessary to learn about the influence of these characteristics.
There are several classes on the basis of which the material is installed in a particular room. For a bedroom, for example, class 21 flooring is suitable, which is designed for light loads and can last about 4 years. But due to its low quality, it is rarely bought.
All classes, starting from 31, can be used not only in an apartment, but also in places with high traffic. If you purchase it for use at home, the service life increases to 8 years. Class 32 is well suited for the kitchen or living room, as it can withstand heavy loads and at the same time resist moisture. Material with a higher value can last up to 15 years, which indicates its high quality.
When purchasing laminate, you will notice that its thickness ranges from 6 to 12 mm. Many people prefer coating from 8 to 12 mm, as it can withstand heavy loads. In this case, laying thick lamellas is easier than using thin options.
This setting affects reliability during long-term use. If the thickness is less than 8 mm, gaps may form between the parts of the coating, which leads to the ingress of moisture and dirt. At the same time, the thick laminate is equipped with a soundproofing layer, which allows you to create more comfortable conditions in the apartment.
The ease of laying laminate allows you to install it yourself, without involving specialists. To do this, it is enough to know the type of connection of the parts of the floor covering and how to join them. There are 2 main types called Click and Lock. But which one should you prefer? The types of laminate locks differ in the method of joining.
Locke locks are more common and are economical option. They are a special tenon and a similar groove. The parts are connected by hammering one part of the floor covering into another. This is done until each lamella is tightly connected. The disadvantage of the lock is that with prolonged use, gaps may form between the coating elements. Another disadvantage is that panels with this type of connection cannot be partially replaced.
Important ! To make the connections of the lamellas more reliable and protected from moisture, they should be coated with a sealant.
The click lock is more modern and has a special hook that allows you to securely connect each part to each other. It eliminates the occurrence of cracks even after a long period of use. To assemble the panels, you first need to tightly fit each part to the previous one, and then lift it by about 45 degrees, due to which the hook and the groove intended for it are joined. Upon subsequent lowering, the slats are tightly connected, producing a characteristic click.
You can disassemble such a coating and install it back about 4 times. For reliability, the locking connection is usually treated with sealant. If necessary, this composition can be easily removed from the groove.
The choice of substrate for the laminate depends on the period of its use, appearance, as well as the microclimate of a particular room. Therefore, when purchasing this material, you should pay attention to the features of each option:
In order for the flooring to be used for as long as possible, you should consider in advance the types of laminate flooring depending on the room in which it will be installed:
When choosing a floor covering, it is important to think not only about its strength and durability, but also about appearance. But how to choose the color of the laminate? It depends on what kind of decoration is in the apartment. Laminate allows you to choose the appropriate color and texture from a variety of options, which helps you decorate your apartment in the desired style.
If you are creating a country-style interior, then you need to buy a coating that imitates roughly processed wood. The color should be dark, and the texture should match one of the known types of wood.
Provence is a style that emphasizes simplicity, natural materials, and comfort. The color of the floor should be chosen lighter. Ideal option There will be a coating with an aged and shabby texture.
A Japanese-style room requires the purchase of a covering that imitates bamboo. Diversity color options allows you to select a laminate for your home in accordance with the overall color balance of the room.
When decorating an apartment in a minimalist style, buy material in black, white or gray
Before choosing a laminate for a warm floor, you should pay attention to its characteristics. If you take any type of such floor covering indiscriminately, you can harm your own health, since at temperatures above 25 degrees the material begins to produce harmful substances. This is not a problem if the installation is carried out on a standard base, which cannot have such a temperature. But in the case of heated floors, you need to pay special attention to this.
When purchasing a laminate, you should ask the seller whether this material is suitable for installation on a heated base. In addition, you need to learn about such a characteristic as thermal conductivity. This figure should not exceed 0.15 m2 x K/W. The ideal value is all characteristics ranging from 0.05 m2 x K/W to 10 m2 x K/W.
Important ! Laminate for water floors is not intended for installation on an electrically heated base.
When purchasing material, you should review the information offered by the manufacturer in advance. Among all the data there are conditions for using the floor covering, so it will be difficult to make a mistake. After installation, the laminate should not be used for approximately 48 hours and should be kept at room temperature.
After installing the coating, many people ask the question - which mop to choose for laminate flooring? You can use various devices, but it is better to choose those that are easy to wring out, which prevents the ingress of large amounts of moisture.
Choosing a laminate is always a difficult task. But the thing is that there are now a lot of brands on the building materials market that may not always produce high-quality products. It is important to make a choice in favor of a good and reliable coating, which will also be beautiful and suitable for general style interior Which laminate is better to choose for an apartment? Let's try to figure it out and answer this question.
Laminate as a type of flooring consists of long planks, also called lamellas. The material consists of several layers, each of which performs a specific function. And their number will not depend on the class of material. The thickness of the lamellas can vary from 6 to 12 mm.
Laminate flooring in the apartment
Each lamella is based on thin fiberboard or chipboard, which is made from wood waste and special resins. The material has a fairly high density, due to which it acquires significant density. The bottom part of each board is covered with a thin layer of protective material, which protects the chipboard, which is afraid of moisture, from water. This layer also gives the coating additional rigidity.
The upper part of the chipboard is covered with paper with a pattern printed on it, which will give a certain color to each lamella. Laminate flooring can look like marble, planks, stone, or any other color. Some planks can even be decorated with beautiful patterns. It is thanks to this layer that it is possible to choose a laminate of the color that will best suit the style of the interior.
The upper part of the lamella is covered with a laminated layer. Due to it, the coating becomes resistant to moisture and other external factors. Depending on the class of material, this layer may have different thicknesses. And its texture can be smooth, rough, embossed. Laminate with a wood pattern looks especially good, since the top protective layer can imitate wooden veins.
On a note! Laminate flooring, which is based on chipboard, really does not like water. Under its influence, the material may swell and lose its appearance.
We can say that laminate is layered cake, along the edges of which there are special interlocking connections that allow you to connect coating parts into a single web. Locks are made of chipboard - the base material.
Laminate Kronotex
Laminate has a lot of advantages that allow it to gain an advantage over other types of coatings. For example, if you compare it with parquet, then laying laminate is much easier and faster. Also, when installing this type of coating, it is not necessary to use adhesive compositions. More precisely, they can only be used for gluing joints, but are usually not applied to the lamella itself.
Laminate has a low price and quite good quality. The service life of a laminated coating can be 10 years or more, but everything will depend on its quality and class.
If necessary, damaged laminate is easy to repair, it is easy to maintain, environmentally friendly, does not cause allergies and can be installed in premises for almost any purpose, except industrial ones. But in office and residential buildings this type of coating is now one of the most common.
Of course, laminate cannot be called an ideal floor covering - it also has its drawbacks. For example, it is afraid of moisture and can be deformed under its influence (the exception is material that has additional processing and is moisture resistant). It is also demanding on the quality of the base on which it will be laid - it must be perfectly flat.
In general, the quality of a laminated coating will depend on what kind of laminate was used to create it, as well as the correct installation and proper maintenance.
On a note! Laminate flooring goes well with underfloor heating, which is especially important for those who live on the ground floors or in private homes.
The truth, known even to inexperienced craftsmen, is that thick laminate is much more durable, reliable and resistant to damage. various types external influence. Such boards have stronger locking joints, which ensures reliable adhesion of individual lamellas to each other. The thickness of the material also affects the insulating properties of the floor. You can determine which laminate is ideal for use in certain conditions by familiarizing yourself with the coating classes.
Attention! The thinner the laminate, the thinner its protective layers, which means that such a coating cannot be called reliable. It is suitable for use only in rooms with low traffic.
You can determine which laminate is in front of you by looking at the packaging. It should contain several numbers that inform the consumer about the class of lamellas and, accordingly, about their strength and quality. The first informs the buyer about the thickness of the bar, the second - about its reliability and possible conditions operation. The thickness of the coating with the first number 2 will start from 6 mm. But this type has minimal strength characteristics. It is not recommended to drag furniture along it, as scratches may remain.
If the first digit is 3, then the coating will have a thickness of 7 mm or more. These types of lamellas are among the most durable and wear-resistant. This type of coating can also be installed in residential buildings, despite the fact that it is classified as commercial. This laminate is especially suitable for people with pets or small children who don’t mind playing active games right in the house.
The second value on the product label tells the buyer about the strength of the coating. It is determined under production conditions by conducting special tests on a special machine - tiber. And the more revolutions this machine can withstand the laminate, the stronger it is. For example, a laminate with a marking where the second digit is 1 can withstand from 6,000 to 10,000 tiber revolutions, 2 - from 10,000 to 18,000, 3 - from 18,000 to 25,000 and 4 - more than 25,000 revolutions.
Table. Laminate classes.
| Class | Recommendations for use |
|---|---|
| 21 | Suitable for installation in bedrooms and living rooms, provided that the traffic in the apartment is insignificant. |
| 22 | The material can be placed in the nursery, bedroom or living room. |
| 23 | The coating will withstand the load experienced by the floors in the hallway of the apartment, in the kitchen or hallway. |
| 31 | A material that is used for finishing floors in offices, hotels, and living rooms. Suitable for apartments with a significant rate of traffic and activity of residents. |
| 32 | The slats are able to resist the impact that occurs on the floor in a boutique, doctor's office, or waiting rooms. They can also be used in residential buildings in any room. |
| 33 | A very durable type of slats that is not afraid of being trampled underfoot by people passing through large offices, trading floors and other public spaces. |
| 34 | The most durable type of laminate that can be used for finishing floors at train stations and airports. Due to its high cost, it is not used in apartments. But if you lay it in a residential area, the service life of such a coating will be practically unlimited. |
In general, for finishing floors in an apartment, laminate of classes 31 and 32 will be optimal in terms of wear resistance, strength and reliability. Class 33 coverage is sometimes purchased for the corridor or hall, as well as the living room.
There are now types of lamellas on sale with two types of locking connections. Type of connection Click It is a slightly curved tenon and a groove that matches its shape. The panels of the next row are installed into the previous one at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the floor level, after which the lamella is carefully placed on the floor. At this moment the lock makes a click - it snaps into place and connects two adjacent planks well. This type of connection is highly reliable and allows, if necessary, to easily disassemble the entire coating without damaging it.
Connection type Lock is a traditional “tenon and groove” - two lamellas are connected to each other by driving a straight tenon into a narrow groove. In this case, the planks will have to be driven together with a hammer. Laminate flooring with such locks is more difficult to install than the previous one. And it won’t be so easy to disassemble it without ruining the individual strips. This type of laminate is also less reliable - over time, the locks usually become damaged and cannot connect the individual slats.
On a note! Previously, the laminate was connected to each other using glue, but now this technique has faded into the background due to its inconvenience. In this case, glue was applied to the ends of the lamellas, they were joined together. It was impossible to disassemble this type of coating without damaging parts.
The optimal laminate option for self-installation is a laminate with Click locks. It will be the easiest to assemble, and if a mistake is made, it will be possible to quickly disassemble it without spoiling it.
Of course, when choosing this type of coating, the pattern and color of the material are important. Fortunately, there are a huge variety of laminate shades and textures, and purchasing one that will harmonize with the entire interior will not be difficult.
If you have doubts about the color of the floor in the room, it is better to buy laminate flooring in a neutral wood color. It will suit almost any style, with the exception of “high-tech” (in this case it is better to buy a gray or white). You can also opt for a coating that imitates parquet.
Advice! The optimal color of the laminate is the one that will harmonize with the door jambs or furniture in the apartment according to color scheme. It can also contrast with furniture. In both cases it is impossible to make a mistake.
For the kitchen it would be good to purchase a laminate that imitates ceramic tiles or stone. The main thing is to buy a coating that is resistant to moisture (this is commercially available).
When choosing, you should pay attention to the texture of the laminate. For example, glossy material, of course, will not leave anyone indifferent, but it will require constant cleaning using special means. A textured, non-shiny coating is much easier to care for - it will maintain a neat appearance longer.
There are now a huge number of laminate manufacturers, because demand creates supply. And the main thing here is not to fall for the bait of marketers, but carefully and carefully, without rushing, to choose exactly the coating that will not only suit the appearance, but will also be of high quality and durable.
Companies that have gained popularity due to their quality:
It is these companies that enjoy the trust of consumers. They are always concerned about the quality of their products and strictly monitor the production of lamellas. This means that the coating will be not only beautiful, but also reliable.
How can you check the quality of laminate flooring at home? It's simple - you can buy one lamella and dip it in water for 20 minutes at home. After that, the condition is assessed. If the plank begins to smell unpleasant, then, most likely, low-quality resins were used for its production and it is hazardous to health.
It is also important to pay attention not only to the environmental friendliness of the planks, but also to their strength and geometry. All lamellas must be even, and the denser their supporting base, the more reliable they are. If the planks are waxed, this is very good, since this measure simplifies installation and will not allow the material to creak. A moisture-resistant laminate is chosen for the bathroom - in this case, its base will have additional treatment with a special compound.
Let's look at how the process of installing lamellas on a concrete base occurs.
Step 1. Since this type of coating is quite demanding on the evenness of the base, it is well cleared of debris and, if necessary, is leveled using self-leveling mixtures or plywood (plasterboard and other similar materials can also be used). It is easy to check the evenness of the base - to do this, use a long level, which is placed on the floor, and then evaluate the possible gap between it and the rough base. Maximum permissible size The gap is only 2-3 mm. Also, the evenness of the base can be determined using a square and laser level. The height from the floor to the level of the beam should be the same everywhere. After this, the floor can be immediately coated with primer.
Step 2. The required amount of laminate that will be needed for installation in a particular room is calculated. To do this, measurements are taken from the room (length and width), the floor area is calculated, which is then divided by the area of one panel. In this way, the number of strips can be calculated individually.
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WITH The modern choice of floor coverings is amazing. You can choose any texture, material, color and cost of your floor. Increasingly, laminate is being used for floor finishing, and therefore buyers will be interested in knowing which laminate is best to choose for an apartment.
Laminate flooring in the apartment
Laminate has become so firmly established in the terminology of builders that many people think that this is the name of the coating. It's actually a shortened term for laminate flooring.
As the name suggests, the laminate is based on a unique wood-fiber board that is water-resistant and glued with resin-impregnated paper. You can depict any drawing on paper, so there are especially many of them. But often used is the drawing of a cut of wood as the most natural. With two layers of paper, they are laminated using synthetic resins and get the well-known coating.
Since there are as many as 5 layers in the resulting slab, the coating has the following properties:
The brands Balterio, Parkelam, Faus, Kronotex, BerryAlloc, LaminatPark, Haro, VarioClic, and many others are popular brands when deciding which laminate company to choose for an apartment.
First of all, laminate is classified according to its wear resistance. Because they can walk on it all day long office workers, then the requirements for this type will be increased. But at home, laminate flooring also has factors that influence its increased stability. Pets may run on it, liquids may be spilled on it, and heavy objects may fall on it. Therefore, according to the type of use, several classes of this coating can be distinguished, differing in wear resistance:
Related article:
What thickness of laminate is best to choose for your apartment is up to you to decide, but remember that the thicker it is, the faster and easier it is to install, and is also famous for its increased sound and heat insulation properties.
The laminate is connected to each other using a locking method, which in turn is divided into Click and Lock types.
The very first known coating compound, which is also the most economical. The lock for the laminate is obtained by milling. It looks like a tenon, on one side of which there is a special tenon and a fixing comb, and on the other side there is a milled groove.
When undertaking renovations in urban housing, owners often wonder which laminate is best to choose for an apartment, because the quality of the floor covering will directly depend on its service life. Laminate makes it possible to make the floor not only beautiful, but also warm, easy to clean, and does not require periodic measures to restore its aesthetic appearance. There is a temptation to save money by choosing a coating with low load resistance, which is quite suitable for the bedroom. But what if there are small children in the house who play, run, try to roll on chairs, or if there are animals in the house? Will the coating withstand such tests? What do manufacturers offer in this case, what brands should you pay attention to.
When giving preference to laminate as a floor covering, you first need to study the inherent advantages and disadvantages of this material. First, let's look at positive sides decisions to choose high-quality laminate flooring for residential premises in an apartment:
Now let’s pay attention to the disadvantages of the material in order to choose a high-quality laminate for your home:
So, you need to select flooring for your apartment based on a whole list of checkpoints. If you still decide to give preference to laminate, study its types - after all, not everyone is designed for an apartment.
When producing this type of coating, upcoming loads are taken into account. Flooring materials are usually divided into two large groups.
Household laminate - this coating is not designed for high operating loads and is intended exclusively for residential premises. It is generally accepted that the service life of such material is about 5 years. Wear resistance is high, the pattern is protected from abrasion by a special layer, the panels do not deform under load. A special type of laminate is sold for heated floors.
Commercial laminate - used in industrial and commercial premises with high traffic and high intensity of movement of furnishings. This material has a longer service life. Laminate flooring is durable, wear-resistant, but also resistant to moisture. When comparing quality and price, especially when there are small children or pets in the house, when choosing flooring in an apartment, buyers prefer the commercial option for residential premises. 
Types of laminate
These 2 groups can be purchased freely. But there is another variety - the so-called premium class. This laminate is custom-made and used in production facilities, warehouses and logistics centers.
That is, a floor covering that can withstand not only a large number of people, but also light equipment or vehicles. An example of such a class 42 laminate can be seen at Sheremetyevo Airport. Naturally, it is not advisable to use it in an apartment. Well, unless you plan to drive around the apartments by car. There are other characteristics by which this flooring is classified.
click is a more modern option. Does not require styling or tapping skills. It can be easily assembled and disassembled. During operation it is more reliable than the first option. Types of locks
square (tiles) – does not require the use of a substrate. More expensive than the rectangular option. 
Square Rectangular Panel design - there is a huge variety of solutions that are offered to customers. From the classic imitation of a wooden surface to stone, fabric and even reptile skin. Moreover we're talking about not only about color, pattern, texture, finishing coat
. For example, you can purchase slats that imitate “oak”. But in one case the surface will not just be rough, but will imitate the relief of wood fibers, and in the other it will be glossy, as if the floor had been generously covered with a layer of varnish. Designer collections stand out separately when an original drawing is applied to the slats - maps of the seas, drawings by Leonardo da Vinci or images of favorite children's heroes.
Under the tree 
Under the stone 
Under the skin 
Metal look 
With an image The material differs in the texture of the top layer and among all the variety the following options can be distinguished:
Glossy 
Country 
Shea tree 
Aged wood 
Raised In addition to types, laminate manufacturers divide it into classes, of which there are 17 in total. Markings indicating the degree of abrasion resistance start with number 21 and end with number 43. The higher, the more resistant the material is to loads:
The main criterion for classifying a material into a certain class is the thickness of the protective layer, the thicker it is, the higher the class.
However, it should be noted that recent trends in interior decoration show that laminate with a wear resistance class of 31 and higher is increasingly being used for apartments. Let's look at the most popular categories for apartments.
| Laminate class | Characteristic | Suitable for |
| 21, 31 | Low load - small room traffic in terms of the number of people, low intensity of external influence. | Bedroom, office, storage room. |
| 22, 32 | Average load class 32 is optimal for home use. Has moisture-resistant impregnation. Heels and a fallen cigarette are not scary. | Living room, children's room. |
| 23, 33 | High load 33 – for premises with high traffic – bars, restaurants, gyms. Can be washed frequently and is not afraid of heels and furniture legs. | Kitchen, dining room, corridor. 33 can be laid even in the bathroom. |
| 34 | Kitchen, bathroom, hallway, corridor. Almost eternal. | |
| 41 | Moderate load inside the production area. | Not used for apartments. A room with seated workstations. Rare use of light equipment. Assembly lines, installation, engineering workshop. |
| 42 | Not used for apartments. In standing workplaces using light equipment or vehicles. Warehouses, logistics centers, workshops with electronic or automated lines assemblies. | |
| 43 | High load inside the production area. | Not used for apartments. It is used in rooms with intensive use, with active use of vehicles and equipment. Workshops, warehouses, large logistics hubs, factory production. |
How to choose a laminate for an apartment, taking into account the functional characteristics of the premises and the operational load on the floor. Let's look at each case separately.
It is believed that laminate is not the best for the kitchen. the best choice, because this is a place with high humidity due to the formation of steam, water splashes and the prospect of spilling liquids. If there is a dishwasher and washing machine in the kitchen, then you should add the risk of flooding to everything else.
On the other hand, the presence of small children in the house creates a need to make the floor warmer. In this sense, the use of laminate is justified, especially considering that it allows the installation of heated floors.
If you choose between moisture-resistant and water-resistant, then the latter is much preferable in the kitchen. It is protected from water, and even if you spill something and liquid flows into the joints, swelling will not occur.
Bathroom I want it to be pleasant and warm to step on with bare feet. But it can get wet in the bathroom. There is an obvious advantage here waterproof laminate . If the moisture-resistant material is based on HDF boards, then the base of the water-resistant laminate is polyvinyl chloride. Plastic will withstand even 100 percent water. In addition, this laminate has a structure with special channels similar to PVC panels for heat and sound insulation. Additional installation
The decorative layer has double protection from a wear-resistant film. Laminate has high abrasion resistance and is impact resistant - scratch, drop heavy objects, nothing will happen. The best option for a bathroom would be class 32-33 laminate, which is of high quality.
How to choose good laminate for residential premises? Since the bedroom is a room where the traffic intensity is quite low compared to other rooms in the apartment, the best option for it would be class 31 material. It is recommended to choose this laminate if you are planning to install a heated floor system. However, if the bedroom during the day serves as a living room, office, nursery and recreation room for all household members, then you should give preference to a more durable flooring - class 32 laminate will be just right.
Which laminate to choose for an apartment with multifunctional rooms? Consider the load that constantly affects the coating - the weight of furniture and interior items. The thickness of the lamellas varies from 6 to 12 mm.
In addition, laminate flooring is quite noisy. When moving, you can hear the cover clicking. Such noise is unacceptable for a bedroom or nursery. Before laying the laminate, use cork substrates or a foamed polystyrene seal. They are dense and thick enough to reduce noise levels. 
Living room 
Children's 
Cabinet 
Bedroom
This part of the apartment is subject to intense loads due to high traffic. Apartment residents cross the hallway area several times a day. Sand and soil particles are applied from the street along with shoes, which are no worse sandpaper have an abrasive effect on the floor covering. Simply put, they scratch it. As in the kitchen, this room is exposed to high humidity. IN rainy weather Water is brought from the street, and in winter snow, which melts when shaken off, forming puddles on the floor. Of course, you can rely on the doormat, but more rational decision It will still be a high-quality moisture-resistant laminate.
Additional stress factors include small children, pets, and equipment for outdoor sports. Dogs even click their claws on the floor when walking; cats periodically try to use floor coverings instead of scratching posts. And in a fit of play, furry pets release their claws, regardless of the floor covering. Athletes and children bring skis, skates, and sleds from the street, which with metal parts can leave serious scratches and even potholes on the floor if the coating is not strong enough. Children can easily knock something over on the floor while playing, causing the canvas to get scratches and dents.
Choosing a laminate for an apartment is not everything, because in order for the slats not to make noise, to fit tightly to each other, and for the floor to be sound and heat insulating, you need to choose the right substrate for the laminate. Let's look at what the construction market offers.
Cork backing is a natural, eco-friendly material, expensive. In production, pressed oak bark chips are used. The material may also include the addition of rubber or bitumen. The material is durable, practically does not compress under load, and provides high heat and sound insulation. Best smoothes out uneven subfloors. Among the disadvantages: cork is afraid of moisture and is unsuitable for installing heated floors. For the bathroom, kitchen, hallway - definitely not. For children's rooms, living rooms, game rooms- great choice. 
Cork
Polyethylene foam backing is an option for those who want to save money. Depending on the foaming method, they are divided into several types, but the characteristics are generally similar. Resistant to moisture, low thermal conductivity, do not react with chemicals, inert to bacteria. It's convenient to work with them. As for the disadvantages, polyethylene foam is short-lived, loses its shape over time and is sensitive to ultraviolet radiation. Good for laying on a plank base in a room with high humidity. 
Polyethylene foam
The polystyrene foam backing has two layers - the polystyrene foam itself and the foil. There are single layer substrates. This type of underlay is easy to install, affordable, and does a good job of hiding minor defects in the base. Sound insulation is good, compatible with heated floors. The disadvantage is that during use there is a chance of losing shape. 
Expanded polystyrene
