Laminate – demanding material, which requires the preparation of a perfectly flat and smooth base. But is the layer of the old coating a suitable basis and is it possible to lay the laminate on the laminate? Consider what the consequences of such a combination may be, and what can be done if your old laminated coating has lost its presentable appearance.
Is it possible to lay laminate on laminate?
An unambiguous ban that would argue that you can not put laminate on the laminate – no. However, to understand all the difficulties that you may have to face, let’s recall the basic requirements for laying laminate flooring:
- the surface that serves as the basis for laying laminated panels should be as flat as possible. If differences in height are permissible, it is only within 1-2 mm per square meter;
- high-quality substrate with good sound and heat insulating properties – a prerequisite for laying laminate;
- Reliable protection against the appearance of fungi at the joints can only be ensured by treatment with special antiseptic agents.
If you decide to lay the laminate on the old laminate, can you meet all these requirements? Yes, but on the condition that the old coating, which remains below, has been preserved quite well, has no visible failures, damage in the locks and panels, and foci of fungal appearance. In this case, the question arises: why then lay a new coating?
It all depends on your wishes. Perhaps you just want to upgrade your interior. But, in any case, if the old laminate does not meet at least one of the requirements put forward – the coating must be dismantled. Otherwise, very soon both layers of laminate will become unusable.
Obviously, if you put a new layer of laminate in the same way that the old coating was laid, then all the irregularities, defects and distortions will not be smoothed, but only vice versa will increase. Accordingly, the coating will be unreliable, or as it is also called – “playing.” In order to maximally smooth out this effect, it is recommended to lay the panels in the direction perpendicular to the old one. Here is the best way to see the video tutorial: how to lay a laminate on top of another coating.
Naturally, the conduct of such work in the first place, a negative impact on the height of the room. Indeed, each new layer of coating raises the floor, which can be a serious obstacle in small apartments. But if the height of the ceilings in your house allows for such space expenses, then on the basis of a complete assessment of the condition of the old laminate, you can decide on its suitability for use as a base.
Helpful advice! In addition to assessing the quality of the coating itself, it is useful to be convinced of the integrity of the substrate. The future functionality of the coating will largely depend on its condition.
It is important to understand that all the above recommendations can only be used if it is a laminate with a locking connection. It is obvious that once having put the panels on glue, it will be impossible to check the condition of the substrate without dismantling the old floor. Therefore, in such cases another technology is used: another layer of heat and waterproofing material is laid between the new and the old laminate. This is the only way to provide yourself with quality flooring. Of course, subject to good condition of the lower layer.
Laying another layer using an adhesive method of attachment, you have to take care of the fact that the two layers of the coating must be reliably separated from each other. This will entail additional costs, but there is simply no other way to resolve this issue.
What kind of substrate for laminate is better: types, properties and specifications. Criteria for selection of material. Varieties of substrates. How to make a do-it-yourself installation Rating of the top 5 manufacturers.
Is it possible to lay laminate on laminate without substrate? It is impossible. Between the layers must be laid quality material that can fill the void formed between the panels, and create additional insulation.
If the old coating meets all the requirements put forward to the base for a new laminate, has no irregularities, defects and damage, then in most cases the laying of the top layer will differ little from the usual installation technology.
Usually laying laminate produce, starting from the location of the window in the room. Sunlight should fall parallel to the seams, and the window opening should be perpendicular to the panels. This method is considered to be the most simple and convenient. But what if you stack the second layer? Where to start laying laminate in this case?
In which direction to put the laminate – depends primarily on the source data that already exist. The question of how to lay laminate: along or across with respect to the original coating, never caused controversy. All experts, as one, agree that the directions for laying two layers should be different. This will help to compensate for existing irregularities and evenly distribute the upcoming load over the entire surface.
Helpful advice! Before you put the laminate along or across the room, pay attention to how to lay the laminate diagonally. This method, although more difficult to install, but looks great and is well suited for combining layers.
Another option to rehabilitate the old laminate, which has ceased to suit you with its appearance – to repaint it in a different color. Is it possible to paint laminate? Yes, you can, only you need to do this taking into account some features of this material. You can not just pick up a brush and update the old panels with floor paint. Consider how you can return to it an attractive appearance and not degrade its technical characteristics.
Everyone knows that the main disadvantage of laminate – water permeability. And this is the first thing that will have to be considered in the process of painting the coating. The structure of the panels is arranged in such a way that when water hits the surface, it absorbs it quickly enough. This has a very negative effect on the laminate itself. To prevent this from happening when you start applying paint, you need to choose the right material.
Alkyd or polyurethane compounds are considered to be the most suitable paint for laminate. Due to their ability to form a film on the surface, they are better suited for use in such cases. However, before starting work, it is necessary to check the compatibility of the natural protective layer of the panels and the paint components.
Helpful advice! The film formed on the surface of the laminate as a result of staining must be durable. Otherwise, soon it will simply collapse under the influence of mechanical factors.
The first thing you need to start preparing the old coating for painting is the perfect cleaning of the surface from all sorts of dust and small particles of debris. This is necessary so that in the process of sanding there is no damage or scratches. What do you need to grind the surface? This is a mandatory step that provides high-quality adhesion of paint to the laminate and prevents it from further slipping in one layer. So skip this step is not recommended.
When the sanding process is completed, you will have another cleaning. Remove any dust that forms on the surface with a damp sponge and allow the surface to dry completely.
Helpful advice! To protect the walls from possible contamination by droplets of paint, use a wide building tape.
When the floor surface is completely dry and clean, you can start applying a primer. It is best to use an oil-based solution. Applying a uniform layer, wait until it is completely dry. After that, you can begin to paint. To fix the paint, experts recommend using a polyurethane sealant, applying it in an even layer over the entire floor surface.
Laminate is considered a relatively stable coating when it comes to the effects of various kinds of mechanical factors. However, over time, scratches will still appear, no matter how hard you try. Therefore, in order to avoid this, a protection method was tested in practice, involving the application of varnish on a laminate. We will try to figure out how effective this method is, and whether it is worth using it in your home.
Arguments against the application of varnish on laminate:
- According to the classical technology of applying varnish on wooden surfaces, there should be several layers. And the first must be absorbed to ensure reliable adhesion of varnish and wood. But the manufacturing technology of laminate provides for the complete elimination of pores into which one or another liquid can penetrate. As a result, the varnish applied on the laminate is not absorbed, but remains completely on its surface. Over time, this can lead to cracks and damage;
- When using the floating method of laying, a certain mobility of the panels relative to each other is allowed. Over time, at the junctions where the panels are not fixed, the lacquer can be damaged and cracked.
From all this we can conclude that the laminate can be varnished, but only if it was laid perfectly smooth and even.
A significant role is played by the choice of lacquer itself. You should not expect that you will be able to use the usual composition, which is recommended for covering wooden floor. It is better to choose an option based on polyurethane or acrylic. But there are options designed specifically for the laminate. Their composition reliably strengthens the surface, preventing scratches and damage.
Preparing to varnish on laminate is in many ways similar to painting tips. The result of your work is a clean, dry and even surface. It is unacceptable to clean the surface with the skin. Yes, and other methods of processing wood for laminate are not suitable. All you can do is use a special paste to help hide visible surface defects.
Directly varnish should be applied with a wide soft brush or a special roller. It is better to start from the corner of the room, gradually moving towards the exit. The applied layer will dry very quickly, so try to act clearly, avoiding inaccuracies.
Thus, all of the above exactly answers the question of whether it is possible to lay laminate on the laminate? With the substrate – you can. In addition, there are many other options for updating the laminate flooring. Laminate can be painted or varnished, and thus significantly reduce repair costs.
