Laminate is a popular finish flooring.Laminate looks very stylish, it is environmentally friendly and relatively inexpensive. It is these criteria that determine the incredible consumer demand for this material. Today, many manufacturers offer a lot of varieties of laminate. How to choose it and not make a mistake? Let's understand together.
Laminate is externally a kind of imitationparquet board. This is a multi-layer material. One of its layers is a plate of fiberboard or chipboard, another layer is the paper on which the pattern is applied and the last layer is a laminated film that protects the other layers of the material from dirt, water and mechanical influences. The laminated layer is made of acrylic or melamine resin.
Laminate for a long time "came" to Russia.For some reason, it was in our country that this flooring did not cause a long time of trust on the part of the buyer. One of the possible reasons is the low quality of the material from domestic producers. Now we know what kind of flooring it is and it's time to start studying the question of how to choose a laminate.
This indicator indicates durabilitymaterial. The higher the class of laminate, the more it is wear-resistant and, therefore, durable. To assign and verify the class of laminate, there is a special test, during this research the material is ground until its integrity is broken.
Further, data are taken on the number of impacts onmaterial. If this number is less than 11 000, then the laminate class corresponds to 21-22. If the material has withstood up to 15,000 exposures, then its class corresponds to 23-31 classes, if more than 15,000 exposures were required for damage, this material is class 32-33. What is the best laminate for an apartment? Specialists recommend taking only material of class 32 or 33, but not inferior. If finance allows, then take 33 class, if you are trying to optimize your expenses for decoration materials, then take a look at the options for class 32. There is an opinion that 23 classes are already suitable for the house, but we will repeat that we need to consider options from class 32. Do not take risks and take with a margin of wear, the more manufacturer producer discord.
According to the current regulations, the thickness of the laminate should bebe at least 6 mm, the upper mark, which is limited to the manufacturers - is 12 mm. Here everything is extremely simple. The thickest material is the most qualitative, but also the most expensive. Also experts say that thick laminate floor is easier to stack. Which laminate to choose for an apartment? When buying, pay attention to materials with a thickness of 8-12 mm. Also it is necessary to note soundproofing properties. A large thickness is an additional sound absorber, it can be actual for choosing a floor covering in your private house not to the first floor. But the difference in terms of sound absorption is not pronounced, we must also take this into account.
Most existing manufacturers giveguarantee for its products, it is from 5 to 15 years (sometimes more). Which company to choose a laminate? Take the laminate only from famous manufacturers. Unfortunately, in our country there is no GOST for this material. It is for this reason that domestic producers produce laminate according to the specifications.
All imported laminate is certified strictly forGOST. Therefore, the quality of imported products is guaranteed, but our domestic is not. What is the best laminate for an apartment? Reviews praise manufacturers such as Alloc, Tarkett and Pergo. Serious manufacturing companies give a guarantee for their products for at least 20 years. Only cheap and substandard coatings can quickly wear out. When you produce high-quality goods, then you have nothing to fear. A simple truth, which is appropriate here. By the way, Alloc's laminate is given a lifetime warranty of the manufacturer.
Today there are two main types forconnections of panels. The first option is an adhesive joint. Such a laminate is cheaper. But to install it you will need the help of specialists, you can not cope with such a task yourself. Panels of laminate are joined by their ends with each other using professional quick-drying glue. The glue eliminates the gaps between the panels. The disadvantage is the impossibility of repairing individual panels if necessary. Plus this option laminate - it is considered more moisture resistant.
Laminate with a locking type of fastening is laidon the floor without using glue, with the help of a special panel design. Such a coating is amenable to repair, in case of necessity. Disadvantages and advantages of this type - this is a mirror image of the recently examined laminate with an adhesive type of fastening.
There are two types of fastening:it is collapsible locks, which are commonly called click and locks, latches, which call lock. Click-locks are very simple in laying, their design is double and they are located at a 45-degree angle. For them, the curvature of the floor is not more than 3 millimeters per running meter.
Panels with locks lock even easier to lay.But for such laminate panels requires a perfectly flat floor covering without any unevenness. Which laminate to choose? Feedback from buyers and professionals on the laminate side with a click-type locking type.
When laying laminate is necessaryuse a substrate. This is a special material that isolates your laminate from the coating under it. Before laying the substrate, the coating is carefully cleaned, then the panels are laid. This is done with a vacuum cleaner (professional or household).
The substrate is also an additional soundproofingsex. It is worth noting that there is a laminate, which already on its base has a substrate. It is an expensive material of high class from the world leaders of production.
Some people do not use a substrate at alllaying of laminate. In fact, this is a violation of technology. It can not be said for sure that everything will be in perfect order, for example, 5-8 years after laying the coating not according to technology. If the manufacturers state that the substrate is necessary, then why not make this simple recommendation? The substrate does not play a role in the overall pricing of the laying of your flooring.
Polyethylene foam is the most commonused. Advantages of such a substrate are moisture resistance, low market price and ease of use. The disadvantage is that she does not keep her form and sags with time. This substrate is afraid of direct sunlight, it should be stored in dark rooms, without direct exposure to sunlight.
The cork substrate is the best in terms ofthermal insulation. It keeps shape and is durable. But it is worth remembering that condensate can form and accumulate on the cork material. This deficiency is devoid of cork substrates with the addition of bitumen or rubber. Substrates of such materials, except for protection from condensation, do not get stuck with time and are well amortized. Which laminate is better to choose, or rather what substrate for it? It is cheaper to take foam polyethylene, the minuses are not too critical.
Most often the pattern on the laminate panels imitatespatterns on the wood. There are many different shades of patterns on the laminate, ranging from the lightest tones to the darkest ones, including classic woody tones and stylish gray solutions.
It is generally accepted that warmcolor, closer to natural wood. But this is a common opinion for ordinary design. An experienced professional designer can beat your home with a variety of colors and enter a new interior with a winning laminate of the same color that you did not even pay attention to before in the store. Which laminate to choose for an apartment? Reviews do not tell you the version of the picture on the panel of the material or its hue. Here the decision is yours.
Sometimes this is the question.What is the best laminate to choose? Reviews on some site, for example, praise linoleum and belittle laminate. This situation can cause some confusion in your head. But it is worth understanding that such reviews leave people who have greatly saved, bought the cheapest laminate and paid for their stinginess. Poor quality coating quickly fell into disrepair, and now they abuse absolutely all manufacturers and are in favor of linoleum, because their old linoleum lasted twice as long as that cheap laminate from a dubious manufacturer.
From the above, it can be concluded that suchresonance reviews are very subjective. Should I pay attention to them? It is not worth it, although this is your business. But it only needs to be said that linoleum, for all its practicality, is a relic of the past. Also we will add, that linoleum is made of chemical components. Do you need such a house at home, or is it better to figure out how to choose a laminate and buy it exactly?
We completely disassembled the question of how to chooselaminate flooring and what is worth focusing on in this matter. Will this material become your floor covering? It's up to you. If we talk about flooring from environmentally friendly materials, then there is simply no competition for laminate flooring. Parquet board and an array are materials from absolutely other price category. And linoleum is made of chemical components that do not have any negative impact on the environment. It is completely environmentally friendly material.
It is for you and your family to live for many years in yourapartment or house. It would be nice if your dwelling would be filled with clean air and materials, which gives us the very nature. Laminate is just such material.
