Can Granite Be Installed Over Laminate?
- Every house starts with a foundation. It is the most important aspect of any building project. Without a solid foundation, the rest of the project is doomed to failure at some point down the road, but a good foundation can lead to a project that lasts lifetimes, allowing enjoyment not only for you, but for your children or any future residents of the home.
Substrates are foundations. They are the very first element to look at when discussing any sort of ceramic tile or natural stone installation. A substrate must adhere to industry guidelines for stability in order to provide an adequate and structurally,sound foundation for the tile installation. If you install on top of an improper substrate, the entire installation is doomed to failure, anywhere from weeks to months out. - A granite installation needs a structurally sound substrate. The preferred foundation is concrete, but lacking that it must be some form of concrete-based material, usually a fiber-board or concrete-board installed over the other substrate to provide the strength needed for a lifelong installation.
Installing over laminate is not an acceptable method according to industry standards. Every time you prepare for an installation of tile or natural stone, you have to take the surface back down to the original foundation, or substrate. Only then can you know if the substrate beneath is structurally sound enough for the granite installation, or if any changes need to be made.
Imagine a tiny grain of sand between the sole of your foot and your sandal. Over time, that grain of sand will wear a hole either in your foot or the sandal itself, causing damage to the surfaces above and below. In much the same way a laminate can damage the structural integrity between the substrate and the granite because it is not a substrate itself, but another type of flooring material. - When you are spending thousands of dollars on any project you need to know that it is going to last. Granite installations are never cheap, and rightfully so; granite is one of the most durable and beautiful natural stones available on the market. A proper installation is an insurance policy that sets in place a guarantee that the installation is going to be worth the money invested.
Discussing the options with a qualified professional is always the best route when it comes to figuring out the exact details of your particular project, but regardless of the type of flooring material used--whether it be laminate, VCT, other tile, wood or any other surfacing material--a granite installation must always be installed directly onto the substrate itself, not on top of another layer of material. This is the only way to be assured that your granite installation will last for a lifetime and guarantee your investment.
