Laminate over Different Surfaces

hollinses

New Member
I was hoping to lay some laminate down in our kitchen diner which used to have carpet in the dining section but laminate in the kitchen. After removing the old carpet and laminate I have found that the kitchen has a concrete floor but the dining room has wooden floor boards. I have left the underlay in place in the kitchen because without it there will be about a 1cm difference in height between the floors.

Do I need different underlay for each section or can I use one for both? Can I use the underlay in the kitchen to maintain a similar height between the floors and place more underlay of top of it?

Thanks
 
Going over different surfaces is fine but don’t use underlay to make up a height difference. It will give a slight bounce to the boards and over time will likely separate the joints.
 
Going over different surfaces is fine but don’t use underlay to make up a height difference. It will give a slight bounce to the boards and over time will likely separate the joints.

I was hoping that with the laminate being 12mm I might be able to get away with it.
What would you recommend instead?

Thanks for replying
 
I’d recommend some floor leveller. You may get away with the underlay but personally I wouldn’t chance it
 
For some reason the old laminate was put on top of a carpet underlay.....

The reason being was the person who laid the laminate on carpet underlay either didn’t know any better, was a bodger, or an idiot, or possibly, a combination of all 3 !

As above, bad idea laying laminate over carpet underlay. You may get away with it but you will feel a difference when walking over the floor between the two areas and likely to get board joints opening up

Do the job properly - more time, effort and cash yes, but, is it worth laying new flooring to end up with a poor finish ?

Remove underlay and either make up difference in height with sheet timber or self levelling compound - or a combination of both
 
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Thanks for
The reason being was the person who laid the laminate on carpet underlay either didn’t know any better, was a bodger, or an idiot, or possibly, a combination of all 3 !

As above, bad idea laying laminate over carpet underlay. You may get away with it but you will feel a difference when walking over the floor between the two areas and likely to get board joints opening up

Do the job properly - more time, effort and cash yes, but, is it worth laying new flooring to end up with a poor finish ?

Remove underlay and either make up difference in height with sheet timber or self levelling compound - or a combination of both
Thanks for your reply. Which sheet timber should I be using to make up the difference? Or does it not matter?
How would you recommend securing the sheet timber to the concrete underneath? Or can it just be placed on top?

Thanks again
 
Thanks for

Thanks for your reply. Which sheet timber should I be using to make up the difference? Or does it not matter?
How would you recommend securing the sheet timber to the concrete underneath? Or can it just be placed on top?

Thanks again

Sheet timber will be quicker and cheaper than laying SL compound at that depth (around 1cm ?), just depends on the exact height you need to make up and sheet material thickness availability

Look at chipboard, OSB, shuttering ply as examples, OSB readily available at 9mm, and buying 8x4 sheets will work out best value - look at a local woodyard for prices and delivery if needed

You don’t want any movement between sheet timber and concrete floor as can lead to noise as timber flexes

How flat is the concrete floor ?

If like a snooker table, then lay sheet timber, drill, plug and screw into concrete floor - consider possibility of pipes and electrics being buried in floor before drilling ?

If dips and hollows and not perfect, SBR diluted @ 1-4 with water, brush over concrete and sheet timber, allow to dry

Then a thin screed of tile adhesive over complete floor, using a notched trowel, using a powdered adhesive you mix yourself to take out dips

Lay sheet timber into wet tile adhesive and level, again, drill, plug and screw

Need to check finished level constantly to make sure your on track with existing floor, this can be adjusted with tile adhesive bed thickness or set sheet material couple mm lower and finish with SL Compound (but you won’t need nearly as much this time)

Whatever method, prime top surface of sheet material with SBR prior to pouring SL Compound

Mapei Ultraplan is a good product, fibre reinforced and flexible, needed if going over any timber

If just pouring over concrete, then look at Mapei Ultimate, cheaper and used for slab floors

All probably more work than you was expecting :eek:
 
Lots of self levelling out there can be spread to large thickness, surely not as much work as all that?

Yes indeed, just giving the OP a few different options

The Mapei Ultraplan I mentioned can be poured up to 40mm in one hit, although the OP has mentioned around 10mm difference to be made up
Using 9mm sheet material 'may' work out cheaper than just using SL, even taking tile adhesive and fixings into place when compared to pouring 10mm SL depth
It's materials cost, labour, ease of job and end result to consider

But.......Its up to the OP to decide on best way forward
Just good to have a few options to consider
 
@hollinses
What is the state of the house at the moment, ie building site, or being lived in with kitchen in situ?????????

And how big of an area are we talking about.....
 
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