How to choose a laminate for an apartment. How to choose the right laminate: the main criteria.

When choosing a floor covering, every owner of a country house or apartment tries to find the best option. But what material should be given preference? One of the best flooring is a laminate, which does not require careful care. At the same time, its appearance fits nicely into the rooms with different decorations.

It should be remembered that the choice of laminate for an apartment should be made with several characteristics taken into account. It depends on them, under what conditions will the material be exploited. As an example, you can bring a laminate for the kitchen.

Parquet board or laminate

The market for building materials presents a large number of floor coverings, before which any buyer may become confused. The most common options are parquet board and laminate, which have proved themselves in various conditions. To make a choice, you need to consider the differences of these materials.

Parquet board is made of natural wood, and the laminate is created by gluing several artificial elements. The basis of lamellas is a fibreous material, which is covered on top with a decorative and protective layer, and a moisture-resistant base is placed below it.

If we compare the laminate and parquet for the price, then it is worth paying attention to the low cost of the first, which is associated with the use of cheaper materials. That is why many of those who are going to transform their apartment choose it. The strength of both floor coverings under consideration is high, so their service life is long enough.

Speaking about the time of operation, it is worth mentioning that the parquet will last longer, but at the same time you need to constantly monitor its condition. Laminate does not require maintenance, but has a limited lifespan. Before buying it is worth considering and maintainability of the material. After the appearance of a serious damage on the surface of the laminate, they can not be removed. In such a case, the parquet board should be polished and varnished.

Another factor that worries buyers is the difficulty of installing floor covering. Before you buy a parquet board, remember that the installation time can take a whole day. The laminate is installed for several hours.

Based on what criteria is selected laminate

To properly choose a floor covering, it is worth considering its main characteristics. These include:

• thickness of the laminate,
• class,
• type of connection of parts of the flooring,
• type of substrate used.

All these parameters are important, since the floor in apartments is 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.

Material class

There are several classes on the basis of which the material is placed in one room or another. For the bedroom, for example, suitable floor covering 21 class, which is designed for small loads and can last about 4 years. But because of its poor quality, it is rarely bought.

All classes, starting at 31, can be used not only in the apartment, but also in places with large cross-country people. If you purchase it for use at home, then the service life increases to 8 years. 32 class is well suited for kitchen or living room, as it withstands high loads and at the same time is resistant to moisture. Material with a higher value can last up to 15 years, which indicates its high quality.

Thickness

When buying a laminate, you can see that its thickness is in the range of 6 to 12 mm. Many prefer a coating of 8 to 12 mm, as it is capable of withstanding heavy loads. This way of laying thick slats is easier than using thin options.

This parameter affects reliability during extended use. If the thickness is less than 8 mm, gaps may form between the parts of the coating, resulting in moisture and contaminants. At the same time thick laminate is equipped with soundproof layer, which allows to create more comfortable conditions in the apartment.

Types of locks

Simplicity of laying the laminate allows you to make the installation yourself, without recruiting specialists. To do this, it is sufficient to know the type of connection of the parts of the floor covering and the methods of their joining. There are 2 main types, called Click and Lock. But which of them should be preferred? Types of laminate locks differ in the manner of docking.

Locke locks are more common and are an economical option. They are a special spike and a similar groove. The parts are joined by plugging one part of the floor covering into the other. This is done until each lamella is tightly connected. The drawback 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 can not be replaced in part.

Important ! To ensure that the joints of the lamellas are more reliable and protected from moisture, they should be covered with a sealant.

Click-lock is more modern and has a special hook, which allows to reliably connect each part to each other. It eliminates the appearance of cracks, even with a long service life. To assemble the panels, each part must first be densely docked from the previous one, and then lift it about 45 degrees, which results in the joining of the hook and the groove intended for it. At the subsequent lowering, the lamellas are tightly connected, producing a characteristic click.

It is possible to disassemble and cover this cover about 4 times. For reliability, the joint is usually treated with a sealant. If necessary, this compound is easily removed from the groove.

Substrate type

From the choice of substrate under the laminate depends on the period of its use, appearance, as well as the microclimate of a certain room. Therefore, during the purchase of this material, it is worth paying attention to the features of each option:

1. Cork substrates. They are the most expensive and are made from crumbs of oak bark. This material can be completely natural or mixed with other compounds that give it strength and elasticity. Advantages of the cork substrate include durability, environmental friendliness and good thermal insulation of the floor. But using this material is not recommended in the kitchen, as it is afraid of moisture.
2. Polyethylene foam. The substrate of this material is the cheapest and suitable for placement in places with high humidity. Her weight advantageously differs from other types of material. But it is worth noting that over time, foam polyethylene loses its former shape, thereby worsening the appearance of the floor.
3. Styrofoam. The material combines some characteristics of the two described species and is therefore considered optimal. Such a substrate has good sound insulation, it is easy to lay down and at the same time it is combined with a warm floor. The disadvantages include the loss of the old form in the process of exploitation.

Selecting a laminate for rooms

To use the flooring as long as possible, it is necessary to consider in advance the types of laminate flooring, depending on the room in which it will be installed:

1. Kitchen. The peculiarity of this room is high humidity, which indicates the need to use a certain type of laminate. In order not to slip in the kitchen, you should choose not smooth, and textured cover.
2. Bathroom. For this room you need to choose a specialized waterproof laminate. According to the characteristics of this coating is close to the ceramic tile.
3. Living rooms. When choosing the cover for a bedroom, a nursery and other rooms, you need to take into account such a parameter as noise absorption. This property depends not only on the thickness of each part, but also on the availability of a special substrate provided by the manufacturer.
4. Corridor and hallway. For such rooms, the most durable coating is selected, which is able to withstand the impact of moisture, sand, dirt and heavy load.

Laminate in the interior

When choosing a floor covering it is important to think not only about its strength and durability, but also about the 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 right color and texture from a variety of options, which helps to arrange an apartment in the desired style.

If you create an interior in the country style, then you need to buy a cover that mimics a roughly processed tree. The color is chosen dark, and the texture should coincide with one of the known types of wood.

Provence - a style that emphasizes the simplicity, naturalness of materials, as well as comfort. The color of the floor should be chosen more light. Ideal option is the use of a cover with aged and faded texture.

The Japanese-style room requires the purchase of a cover that mimics bamboo. A variety of color options allows you to choose a laminate for the house in accordance with the overall color balance of the room.

When decorating an apartment in the style of minimalism, the material is purchased in black, white or gray

Laminate floor heating

Before you choose a laminate floor under the warm floor, you should pay attention to its characteristics. If you take any kind of such flooring indiscriminately, then you can damage your own health, because at a temperature above 25 degrees the material begins to produce harmful substances. This is not a problem if the laying is done on a standard base, which can not have this temperature. But in the case of a warm floor, you need to pay special attention to this.

When buying a laminate, it is worth asking the seller if the material is suitable for installation on a heated base. In addition, it is necessary to learn about such a characteristic as thermal conductivity. This indicator should not exceed 0.15 m2 x K / W. The ideal value is all the characteristics ranging from 0.05 m2 x K / W to 10 m2 x K / W.

Important ! Laminate flooring is not intended for installation on a base with electric heating.

When purchasing a material, you should review the information offered by the manufacturer in advance. Among all the data there are conditions for using floor covering, so it will be difficult to make a mistake. After installation, the laminate should not be used for about 48 hours and be at room temperature.

After installing the coating, many are wondering - what kind of mop to choose for a laminate? You can use various devices, but it is better to choose those that are easy to wring out, which eliminates the ingress of a large amount of moisture.

To objectively judge which laminate is best to choose for an apartment, it is important to understand the features of the structure and characteristics of this floor covering, as well as its classification. The reason for criticism regarding the durability and reliability of this material is often the wrong choice, as a result of which the laminate wears out and loses its attractive appearance more quickly. Another important factor affecting the functionality of the laminate coating is the quality of the installation, so it should also be given due attention.

The choice of a laminate for an apartment as a floor covering is often due to the fact that with a visual similarity (for boards of good quality from well-known manufacturers there are practically no external differences) with parquet, this coating costs much less and does not require such complex maintenance as a wooden floor of elite- class.

Advantages of laminate include:

• ease of installation,
• ease of repair of damage from mechanical impact (scratches, dents, etc.)
• duration of operation,
• ecological compatibility (E1 marking must be present),
• hygienic (the material does not allow bacteria to accumulate and actively multiply on the surface),
• hypoallergenic,
• wide scope of application.

Important: Only with the correct choice of coverage, taking into account all the nuances of operation, you can expect from it compliance with the declared kachetvam.

Laminates:

• susceptibility to moisture, the ability to deform when water enters the coating,
• swelling and bubbling of the surface with improper installation,
• the appearance of a squeak when laying boards on an uneven surface.

A significant part of the shortcomings is a consequence of violations of the laying technology. Some disadvantages can be made less tangible by selecting the appropriate type of material and ensuring it is properly maintained. For example, glutinous laminate is more resistant to moisture, and it is possible to reduce the susceptibility to its effect of any kind of floor covering of this type, using special impregnations and mastics.

Structure of the material

Which laminate to choose for an apartment - is determined by many factors. The structure of the material of all classes is almost the same.

• The basis of each board is a wood-fiber board, in the production of which materials of wood origin are mixed with the bonding composite and pressed together with heating. As a result, high density and strength of laminate boards are achieved.
• On top of the base is applied a decorative layer - a film or a special moisture-proof paper with an image simulating the texture of wood, marble, other natural materials, or with a fantasy pattern. Due to this layer laminate (photo in the interior of the apartment is easy to find on specialized sites) can be any, which makes it possible to accurately match the color and pattern of the floor covering in accordance with the overall design.
• The top layer is a protective laminate coating, which increases resistance to wear and other external influences.
• On the other part of the substrate, the lowest stabilizing layer is placed to protect against moisture, which may appear from the slabs. This layer also protects the liminate from deformation, increases its rigidity.

Panel thickness

The thickness of the laminate boards available for sale is 6-12 mm. When deciding how to choose a quality laminate for an apartment, consider that the cost of boards with a higher thickness is higher with all other equal characteristics. At the same time thick laminate boards have more reliable locks, and their installation is more convenient and easier. The insulation properties of the coating also increase in proportion to the increase in panel thickness.

Classification

Each class of laminate meets certain technical characteristics and is assigned after tests consisting of 18 stages. The designation of a class can be either numeric or alphanumeric.

• Until recently, the coverings of classes 21, 22 and 23 were popular. They were the most affordable and were made for premises with low traffic (minimum load on laminate boards). Now such a laminate is not manufactured because of its low strength and durability.
• Today, when discussing which laminate to choose for an apartment, the reviews point out the affordable cost in combination with a fairly good quality for class 31 (or AC3) coatings. It is important only to remember that such boards are not suitable for offices and other premises with high traffic. For boards of this type to serve for a long time (up to 12 years) they need proper care.
• A universal coating can be considered a class 32 (AC4), which can be used in premises for various purposes. The service life under different operating conditions for such a laminate is significantly different: in living rooms - up to 15 years, in offices - up to 5 years.
• For the repair of commercial premises, Class 33 (AC5-AC6), which is recognized as heavy-duty, is often chosen. If you are considering class 33 as an option for deciding which laminate will be better to choose for an apartment, you should know - in residential premises, its service life reaches 20 years.
• Class 34 materials are expensive and designed for intensive use. Such coatings can be mounted in dance and sports halls.

What class of laminate to choose for an apartment - choose individually, given the nuances (the appointment of a particular room, the number of people living, the presence of pets, whose claws can damage low-grade coatings).

Laminate base

For those who do not know how to choose a laminate for an apartment, it will be interesting to find out that the performance characteristics of the coating depend not only on the class of the board chosen, but also on the method of installation, including the availability of the cover and its kind.

The substrate is designed for leveling the floor in the presence of minor surface defects and provides additional noise insulation. When laying a laminate, all kinds of substrates are laid back and forth across the entire floor of the room, with the exception of gaps around the edges (1 cm wide). Fixation of the substrate can be carried out with the help of construction staples, but their application in most cases is not justified, it is enough to use special adhesive tape.

There are substrates from different materials:

• The most expensive option - sheets of natural cork. They are ecological, have the best sound and noise insulation properties.
• The budgetary type of the substrate is polyethylene foam, the advantages of which are biological resistance (mold does not appear, does not promote bacterial growth), and moisture resistance. Insulating qualities of polyethylene foam also meet the requirements. Thanks to this combination of qualities, foam polyethylene substrates are popular, but their disadvantage is creaseability under mechanical influence, and such deformed and compacted polyethylene foam partially loses its advantages.
• Composite substrates are made in combination, in them a natural cork is combined with bitumen or rubber. Such an improvement made it possible to obtain a material of the middle class, which pertains both to its qualities and to the value

Ways of connection

By the method of connection, there are two types of laminate panels.

Adhesive coating

To install such boards use special adhesive compositions with a short drying time. The glue is applied along the perimeter of each panel. Such a laminate is cheaper, which, however, in most cases does not imply a reduction in the overall cost of styling. The installation of adhesive laminate requires skills, so to avoid the risk of reducing the quality of the coating due to installation errors, it is advisable to use the services of professionals. In addition, you will need to purchase glue. All this leads to an increase in costs, which negates the savings when buying the material.

At the same time, glued panels have certain advantages. If you decide how to choose the right laminate for an apartment without gaps - it is such a coating will be the best option. The drawbacks of glued panels are the impossibility of dismantling. If there is such a floor covering, it is difficult to repair the "warm floor" systems, it is practically impossible to replace the damaged laminate site.

Beige gloss laminate

Panels of such a coating are joined together without the aid of glue, due to the special design of the boards, depending on the type of which they are divided into two types:

• Lock type   have locks, the elements of which are hammered into each other during installation. This coating is recommended for installation on perfectly aligned surfaces.
• Click-type panels   allow minor ground irregularities and are connected by means of snap locks. Click-panels are more expensive, but they are easier to install and much more convenient.

All globular laminate coatings can be dismantled if you need to transfer the coating to another room, repair the "warm floor" systems or replace damaged boards. A disadvantage of laminates with locking joints is a higher sensitivity to humidity due to the permeability of joints. When wetted and then dried, the boards change in size, which causes the size of the crevices to increase. As a result, the performance of the coating decreases, its appearance deteriorates.

Thus, the best laminate for an apartment can be either glue or glueless - each of the types has its own advantages. It is important that the materials are as high as possible in the specific case.

Manufacturers and brands

Among the reliable, but affordable laminate coatings, mark panels brands:

• Kronostar,
• Classen,
• Kronospan,
• Kronotex.

Determining which laminate company is best to choose for an apartment, you should know that the products of many famous manufacturers have their own characteristics:

• The Egger brand (Germany) uses an improved system of click locks, ensuring maximum ease of installation. The plates of this manufacturer are highly durable.
• Thanks to improved production technology, the manufacturer Tarkett has achieved the life of the laminate for 15 years or more.
• The maximum longevity in conditions of moderate exploitation is the laminate Quick Step (Belgium).
    Pergo Company (Sweden) has developed and implemented in the manufacture of special convenient locks such as smart lok for connecting laminate panels.
• Experts recommend that when choosing to pay attention to the products of the brand Balterio from the manufacturer from Belgium. The brand is not very well-known, therefore the materials are available at a price (no "wrapping" for the brand), but they are of high quality and reliability.

Taking into account all the above information, information on the structure, classification, pluses and minuses of floor coverings, one can understand how to choose the right laminate floor for an apartment, which factors are considered determinative, and which ones are secondary.

A photo

Here we have selected several photo laminate in the interiors of apartments and private houses.

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Laminate, or laminated board, today is becoming an increasingly popular flooring material due to its clear advantages: a large number of colors and textures that allow the laminate to fit into any interior, simplicity in installation and maintenance, much more pronounced than linoleum or carpet, and , which is important, relatively low cost.

  This type of flooring has become widespread when laying not only in apartments and houses, but also in hotels and some offices.

How and what to choose a laminate? Purpose of coverage, classes and characteristics

How to choose the right laminate - this question sets itself a lot of people who either just plan repairs in the apartment, or have already come close to the stage of finishing works. In order to choose the right laminate for an apartment, let's consider its main characteristics - purpose, class and scale of sizes.

Laminate   - a wood-fiber board, which is manufactured by pressing with a certain temperature and high pressure, covered with a decorative top layer, which, as a rule, imitates natural wood.

Laminated board usually consists of 4 layers, each of which performs a certain function:

• upper   - laminated cover plate, which provides its resistance to wear and protects the lower layers of the board;
• decorative, or imitation, a layer is a "plot" of a laminate that mimics a parquet or a natural tree, as well as ornaments or plots that have nothing to do with wood motifs - it can be a single-colored colored laminate, an imitation of floor tiles, plots with flowers, etc .;
• the basis   - wood fiber board with very high density;
• lower, or stabilizing   The layer, whose purpose is to protect the laminated board from excessive moisture, which can penetrate through the slabs, and also prevents the laminate plates from swelling during wet cleaning.

Advantages of laminate:

• simplicity in laying and further care;
• the absence of cycles, polishing and periodic lacquering;
• excellent performance characteristics - depending on the class, which we will consider below, in a residential building, the finish with laminate can last up to 12-15 years;
• practically limitless possibilities of the embodiment of any interior design;
• relatively low cost.

However, the laminate also has limitations, the main of which is his low water resistance   (not to be confused with moisture resistance) - the laminate can be washed, but with a slightly damp cloth, which should be carefully squeezed before washing the cover. The second disadvantage of the laminate is its unnaturalness, however, it is an environmentally friendly material. The third minus, which is especially palpable, if there are animals or small children in the house, is ability to resonate sounds   - in order to avoid an increased noise level, it is possible to use insulating substrates for laminated boards or decorative rugs and carpets.

How important and which best to use? Details about the types and properties of insulation for the floor, the features of their safe use.

The choice of laminate is certainly important, but do you know which substrate to put under the laminate? Find answers to questions about laying the cover and using a substrate for it.

Class, or performance characteristics, are assigned to the laminate after testing, which consists of 18 stages of testing:

• class 31   (AC3) - this kind of laminate is the most common for use in living quarters and with proper care will retain its visual and technical characteristics for about 12 years, but it is not intended for installation in commercial premises;
• class 32   (AC4) - the most optimal for installation in residential and office buildings, where the board can serve up to 15 and 5 years respectively;
• class 33   (AC5-AC6) is an ultra-strong laminate that is optimally chosen for installation in commercial premises, and the life of such laminate in the home is about 20 years;
• class 34   - Sports coverage, used in modern gyms, dance studios.

Previously, 21, 22 and 23 classes, already withdrawn from production, were popular: laminate for installation in residential areas with low traffic, for example, in bedrooms.

Thus we can say that the answer to the question "what class of laminate to choose" sounds like "based on the purpose of the coating."

The technology of laying the laminate is quite simple and does not require special skills and allows you to mount this kind of floor covering on any hard surface (of course, the old finishing material must be dismantled before the laminate is laid). Between the main overlap and laminate it is recommended to lay also special insulating material - substrate for laminate, by means of which it is possible not only to increase the noise insulation characteristics of the coating, but also to evenify the surface of the base floor if necessary, if it is not ideal.

The substrate is laid flattened throughout the room and fixed at the joints with mounting tape, in some cases it is also possible to use construction braces to fix it, but in overwhelming majority it is not necessary. It is recommended not to cover the edges along the perimeter of the room with a substrate, leaving a gap of 1 cm.

Materials and tools require: a laminate substrate, mounting / painting tape, laminate itself, ruler or tape measure, jig saw or miter saw, light hammer.

So, laying the laminate step by step:

1. Placing the substrate under the laminate. Today, the most practical substrate is considered to be a technical plug - it has excellent insulation characteristics and retains its shape regardless of the intensity of the mechanical effect on the base coating. The sheets are laid back and fixed with a paint tape, if necessary cut into the shape of the room.
2. The first row of the laminate is laid horizontally, the boards are joined by the ends - it is important to mount this row as carefully as possible, since the alignment of the remaining rows will be made exactly on it.
3. Laminate rows are stacked in a descent - similar to brickwork. This will make the seams less noticeable and allows you to use the remains of the laminate after cutting the boards.
4. The second row is completely assembled, which must then be gently combined with the first by gently tapping. The process is repeated until the entire floor in the room is covered.

Important: since laminated boards may slightly shrink or expand, depending on the moisture level, a gap of 1 cm should be left around the perimeter of the room. At this stage, the so-called spacer wedges can be of great help. Their role can be performed by trimming the laminate, since in this case the wedges will have the same thickness.

What is the substrate for the laminate?   - no less important issue than choosing the most laminated board. Today the most popular kinds of a substrate for a laminate are:

• polyethylene foam   - one of the most popular, has good moisture resistance, resistance to mold and bacteria, good insulating properties and accessibility, but quickly crumples under mechanical action;
• cork, which we mentioned above, is an environmentally friendly material and has good insulation properties, is resistant to mold, is resistant to loads, but is the most expensive of those presented in the modern construction market;
• composite   (rubber-cork or bitumen-cork) - something in between polyethylene foam and cork, both in terms of characteristics and price.

Does the color of the laminate matter?

The laminated board is presented in a huge variety of shades and patterns, with its help you can create an imitation of natural wood, tiles and even stone, which are presented in any shades - from saturated dark to almost white. In addition, the surface can be matte or glossy, smooth or textured, and the choice of surface should depend on the pre-selected design and stylistics of the room.

Classification of laminate by drawing:

• single-band   - is used mainly for premises with a large area;
• two-way   - Reminiscent of floorboards, imitates board floor;
• three-band   - imitates piece parquet, ideal for rooms with a small area.

When choosing the color of the laminate, you need to focus on the overall color scheme of the room - it should be in harmony with the color of the interior doors and furniture, and with the color of the walls and textiles.

Mainly distinguish several color scales:

• neutral, combining light beige shades. The most advantageous looks in the interiors, made in pastel colors, visually increases the space, but it also harmonizes with dark furniture or bright textile elements of the interior. The colors of the neutral range include light, oak, light alder, honey birch, ash, acacia - they are combined with almost any other color solution for walls and ceilings;
• cold   gamma, which combines all the shades of gray. Ideal for hi-tech style, vintage or minimalism, it is used in interiors, the design of which implies the use of white or gray furniture, as well as dark, deep tones in the furnishing of upholstered furniture and textiles. The cold range is represented by a variety of colors of bleached oak, all shades of gray, light cream tones;
• warm   gamma, combining solar, yellow and red colors. More acceptable for use in classical interiors or Baroque, Rococo styles. Perfectly harmonizes with bright, warm shades of textiles. This range includes saturated golden and terracotta hues, as well as brown and greenish;
• white   laminate flooring will be most advantageous with interior doors of the same color. Furniture and textiles in this case need to choose the most saturated contrast color - the brighter, the better;
• the black   or saturated dark laminate also looks best with interior doors in its tone. Furniture and textiles should be dark or bright, contrasting, but not in pastel colors. This range includes dark stained oak, dark chestnut, wenge.

Fundamental rules   Laminate color choice:

• choosing the color of the laminate, it should be remembered that in one range the floor, doors and furniture in the room must be made;
• for smaller rooms it is better to choose doors and laminate with the same color and texture;
• the glossy surface suggests some solemnity, because the glossy laminate is inappropriate in the bedroom, the children's room or in the office;
• laminate and doors should be either in warm or cold colors, the combination of warm and cold is unacceptable.

The main companies producing laminate

Guaranteed service life is still far from a decisive argument in the choice of a laminate, as first of all it is necessary to decide on two main tasks:

• what laminate should I choose?

Among key laminate manufacturers on the modern construction market, key players according to the agency Abaus Market Research are:

• Quick Step, offering a laminate of Belgian production with a guarantee of up to 25 years in conditions of moderate exploitation;
• Tarkett, known for the application of the newest technologies for processing high-quality laminate boards, which guarantees their operation for 15 years;
• Pergo   - a Swedish company that, in addition to producing high-quality laminate, is also its parent; Pergo was the first to use the technology of smart lok (convenient locks for connecting plates between themselves);
• Egger   high-quality laminate with true German pedantry, using high-strength slabs and improved click-through technology;
• Balterio   - also Belgian, but less popular for today brand, offering a product of excellent quality.

Following the top five laminate manufacturers, we should also mention some not so high-ranking ones, but also offering a consistently high-quality product - Kronostar, Kronotex, Kronospan, Classen   and Kronolurin.

When deciding which laminate manufacturer is best to choose, one should not focus only on the list of production leaders or price - first of all, attention should be paid to the laminate class and its thickness, which can be from 6 to 12 mm. When choosing the thickness, it is important to remember that the thicker the slab, the stronger the locks, the easier it will be in laying and the better its insulation properties.

Which laminate is better to choose: consumer reviews

Laminate is presented in a variety of models and modifications to any purse, and since the period of its operation should be solid (no less than 10 years), then public opinion may affect the choice of laminate brand.

From the main reviews, which laminate is best to choose:

• class 31 (AC3) is preferable to choose for living room, hall, bedroom;
• class 32 (AC4) is better to choose for a children's room;
• class 33 (AC5-AC6)) is better to choose for the hallway, corridor and kitchen (that is, rooms in which there is a high risk of contact with water).

In general, when choosing a laminate for a house, the best is 31 and 32 class, because, despite the good characteristics of the laminate, the floor in the kitchen and hallway is better covered with tiles or a more durable wooden covering - parquet, parquet or floorboard.

Laminate is the optimal solution for finishing the floor in almost all rooms of the house or apartment. Of course, its cost varies depending on the class or manufacturer, but among the materials of the average price category, it has virtually no analogues.

The laminated board will last much longer if the sliding or movable furniture has rubber wheels, although the scratches on the laminate can be masked using a repair pencil. Spots that are difficult to remove from the surface of the laminate can be carefully treated with acetone or alcohol, and you can extend the life of it by using absorbent mats at the entrance and special detergent compositions.

You make repairs in the apartment or at the dacha and have already decided that the floor covering will be laminate. Then, not to be disappointed in the choice made, you need to know how to choose the right laminate.

Laminate is a modern and high quality floor covering that can imitate both parquet and other types of natural finishing materials.

After reading the article, you will learn the basic parameters of it, focusing on which you will be able to choose the laminate that is right for you and do not overpay.

  What class of laminate to choose for an apartment

The laminate floor is one of the main parameters, with which it is necessary to decide first. It depends on the service life of the floor covering and its price.

The class is chosen depending on the room in which the laminate will be laid. The greater the load on the floor, the higher the laminate grade.

The class of the laminate is indicated by a two-digit number. The first figure initially showed for what room it is intended: residential or commercial.

The figure 2 corresponded to the living room. But due to low demand due to a very short service life (up to 4 years), classes 21, 22 and 23 ceased to be produced in the Russian market.

Now the apartments use laminate class 31, 32 and 33, which was originally intended for commercial premises.

31 class is suitable for a room with a small load is a bedroom, a closet or an office. Will serve such a laminate 10-12 years. In commercial premises (office, conference hall) about 3 years.

32 class is suitable for almost any dwelling, where there is no increased humidity. The service life in a residential building is 12-15 years. In a public place with average traffic (office, classroom, reception, etc.) for about 5 years.

33 class laminate is usually supplied with reinforced locks for assembly and has a water-repellent impregnation. Due to this, it is more water resistant and can be used in rooms with high load and high humidity (rest room in the bath, bathroom, etc.). Will serve such a laminate in an apartment 15-20 years. In a public room (shop, cafe, gym, etc.) for about 12 years.

34 class is the most high-quality laminate. It has the largest number of layers, a special moisture-resistant layer on top, the plate has increased strength and special impregnation, from below there is usually a sound-absorbing substrate. Thanks to this, it will serve not only you, but also your children. He will soon get tired of it, what will become unfit for use.

The only disadvantage of laminate class 34 is its price. In the apartment, he will serve for at least 30 years. In public places (restaurant, station, airport, etc.) about 15 years.

So, let's summarize. The optimal option for the apartment will be laminate class 32. It is sufficiently durable and affordable. In low-traffic areas (storeroom, guest room) requirements can be reduced to 31 classes. In rooms with high humidity (vestibule and kitchen) it is possible to lay a laminate of class 33.

  How to choose a laminate video:

  Laminate Thickness

The thickness of the laminate can be from 6 to 12 mm. The thicker the laminate, the stronger it is, has greater sound attenuation and thermal insulation.

The best thickness of the laminate for the apartment is 8-12 mm.

If you use a warm floor, then the thicker the laminate, the more difficult it is to transfer heat to the room from the heating elements, increasing the power consumption. You will have to choose what is more important for you: the strength of the floor covering or the finances spent for additional electricity.

Another of the characteristics that affect the strength of the laminate is the density of the MDF plate, which is its basis. The density should be at least 850 kg / m 3, otherwise the laminate will be brittle regardless of its thickness.

  Connection type

Laminate is different in type of assembly:

• glued assembly;
• lock assembly.

Glutinous assembly is used less and less, although it has its advantages. Glue laminate is cheaper, glue in joints prevents the penetration of liquid, so it is more moisture resistant.

Cons of glue laminate:

1. for laying it is necessary to attract professionals;
2. the panels are glued together, therefore their repair alone is practically impossible without damage to adjacent boards;
3. due to low demand, the choice of glue laminate in construction stores is limited.

Lock joint is a simpler and more convenient way of laying a laminate, which even an amateur can handle. The principle of joining the laminate is based on the fact that there are special locks at the end of the boards, with which the floor covering is installed.

There are two types of locking connections:

1. Lock locks;
2. Click the locks.

Lockit's locks. When installing a laminate with Lock locks, you need to be very careful, since to fix the lock of the panel it is necessary to hammer with a hammer.

Another minus the laminate with lock-locks is the need for thorough preparation of the base, since at the slightest irregularity locks may not snap or there will be cracks between the boards.

Locking parts of the lock-lock can eventually wear out, which will lead to the appearance of slots. Laminate with lock-locks is more suitable for rooms with low traffic.

Clickit is collapsible locks they are located at an angle of 45 ° and are the most reliable and durable.

For the layman this is the best option, since the laminate with click-locks is easy to assemble and does not require a perfectly flat base (a 3 mm difference is possible per linear meter).

Later on, when laminate flooring is used with click-locks, it is possible to repair and replace individual damaged boards, since it is easily dismantled.

The cost of a laminate with click-locks is higher than with lock-locks, but the benefits that it has are worth it.

Chamfer is a chamfered edge of the lamellas. It can only pass along the long side of the boards or along the entire perimeter.

Immediately say that in most cases it is worth giving preference to the laminate with a facet, and not without it.

Advantages of a floor from a laminate with a facet:

• more durable;
• the gaps between the boards are less noticeable;
• does not interfere with wet cleaning;
• almost indistinguishable from the present, wooden floor;
• reduces deformation;
• hides small unevenness of the floor;
• visually widens the room if it is laid across or extends when laying along the premises.

So, let's summarize. If you want to extend the service life, simplify installation, give the floor covering a more expensive and refined look, then your choice is a laminate with bevel.

  Manufacturers

Laminate is a building material that is worth buying only from proven, well-known manufacturers.

The cheap laminate of an unknown producer can look quite respectable when viewed visually. But in the process of exploitation, hidden defects or simply poor-quality manufacturing can be revealed, since they saved some processing or impregnation processes.

All this will lead to a reduction in the lifetime of the laminate and, accordingly, to premature repair and an additional expenditure of material.

• Quick Step;
• Alloc;
• Tarkett;
• Pergo;
• Balterio;
• Classen;
• Kronotec;
• Egger;

These manufacturers are quite enough to choose the right laminate with the appropriate characteristics and price.

  What is the difference between cheap laminate and expensive

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Buying a laminate, you need to remember that this is not a full-fledged replacement for a good parquet floor. This coating does look very much like parquet, but has a much less survivability compared to it. The cheapest laminate will last 2 - 3 years in an ordinary apartment, and the best one will last up to 10-15 years (depending on the load). For comparison: parquet in old houses continues to serve and after 100, 200 years. Therefore, when choosing a laminate for your apartment, do not try to save on its quality. The cheapest coverage makes sense to buy only in housing, which is expected to rent: still in 2-3 years in the apartment will have to do a new repair.

A photo: Shutterstock.com

The class matters

Laminate can be 6 classes, the first three are for residential premises, and the second - for commercial (shops, offices, hotels and so on). But in fact, this division is conditional, and coverage for hotels and offices is perfect for a home. Choose a coverage based on how many people live in an apartment and what size it is: the more cross-country, the higher the class should be.

  The 21st class is the cheapest laminate of all existing ones, and it is better not to use it in living rooms at all: it is intended for pantries and other premises, which are visited very rarely. The 22nd grade is little better, it is used in the living rooms and children's rooms. The 23rd class is intended for premises with heavy furniture. The 31st grade of laminate is designed for small offices, 32nd class for hotels, 33rd for restaurants with dance floors.

Thickness is not the main thing

The thickness of the laminate is often represented by manufacturers and sellers as an advantage, but in fact it is not so: the thickness of 8 mm is enough to ensure that the slab has the necessary strength characteristics. It should be understood that the quality of the laminate depends more on the manufacturer and class, and often panels with a thickness of 7 mm can be more quality than panels with a thickness of a centimeter or more. Talk about the fact that the thickness of the coating affects its soundproofing properties does not have any grounds at all: how the vibration will be transferred from the dense board to the concrete screed, the extra 5 mm will not affect in any way.

Friendship with neighbors

But on the thickness of the substrate under the laminate can not be saved, and it's not just good relations with neighbors from the bottom (the substrate performs primarily soundproofing function), but also that it is an additional heat insulator, reduces the impact on the coating moisture, and also protects its inner side from abrasion. In addition, a thick substrate can smooth out small unevenness of the concrete screed, which simplifies the laying of the laminate and saves time and money.

  The cheapest substrate is made of foamed polyethylene. This material has a high moisture resistance, does not get infected with various fungi, it is not at all interested in insects and rodents. On the other hand, it easily tears and quickly crumples.

More expensive, but also the best lining under the laminate is made of cork wood (pressed chips) and is available in sheet form. This material is better heat and soundproof, has a greater thickness and service life. In addition, it consists entirely of natural ingredients, which means that it is environmentally friendly. However, its high cost makes it inappropriate to use such a substrate for a cheap laminate. The disadvantages of cork substrates can also include the need for waterproofing when laying on a concrete screed.

Bitumen-cork substrates are made of kraft paper with the addition of bitumen, after which the top is applied to the material from pieces of cork wood with a size of 2 to 3 mm. This material has good characteristics, comparable to cork substrates, but it is still quite expensive, which means it is suitable only for expensive laminate.

There are also substrates made of extruded polystyrene foam. This material is quite popular, because it is cheap, and its characteristics are not much inferior to the cork or bitumen-cork substrates. He has three drawbacks: low leveling ability, and also that a large amount of remainder can remain at work. In addition, unlike the cork, it still consists of synthetic components.

Harm to health?

Plates of laminate usually consist of 4 main layers. The middle layer is made of wood-fiber board. From above it is covered with paper, on which is printed a picture imitating valuable wood species. The paper is coated with melamine or acrylic resin to ensure that the board is wear-resistant and resistant to temperature changes, exposed to sunlight. The fourth layer is stabilizing, located at the bottom of the plate and is made of kraft paper, which is also impregnated with resins.

Thus, of all materials that are used in the laminate, it is impregnation that can inflict health damage: this resin is obtained by mixing melamine and formaldehyde, which is harmful to the body. However, there are European standards that regulate the content of formaldehyde in the laminate. The conformity of the material is indicated by the marks E1, E2 and E3 on the packages. It is believed that the content of formaldehyde in a laminate of class E1 is not higher than in a natural tree, and in E2 and E3 - a little more, but still within the limits of the permissible.

  However, it should be noted that at the moment the development of a laminate of class E0, in which the content of formaldehyde will be minimal. Why do we need to come up with a new class, if the coverage is so safe? The fact is that this component is contained not only in the laminate, but also in furniture, paints, wallpaper, linoleum, and if only the laminate and corresponds to the norm, then all these materials together exceed it.

Hence we can conclude: the environmental friendliness of the premises should be considered in a complex, and not based on flooring alone, and when buying a laminate in a residential building, it is necessary to ensure that the content of harmful components in it is minimal. And most importantly, you only need to purchase a coating from manufacturers who can provide all the necessary certificates both for the quality of the laminate and for its ecological compatibility.

Marriage of the master is afraid

If the laying of parquet is a whole art, then you can put the laminate floor on a concrete screed any. However, when buying materials, one thing should be considered. Sellers often give a guarantee on their products, but it only applies to the laminate that the master laid, which means if you do it yourself, and in a year or two the coating will begin to crumble, there will be no one to make a complaint.