How to choose a laminate, selection criteria - the pros and cons of different types. Interview with the master. How to choose a laminate, selection criteria - the pros and cons of different types. Interview with the master.

Laminate is one of the most popular types of flooring for residential and office space. With its help, designers create unique interiors filled with colors, an atmosphere of comfort and warmth. But if you dig deeper, it becomes clear: there are a great many varieties of such material on the domestic market. Next, we will consider which laminate is better to choose for the home and why different types of material are preferred for a particular room.

Laminated flooring the owners of country cottages and city apartments love it for the optimal price-quality ratio for which it is famous. Indeed, the cost that is currently being asked for laminated panels on the domestic market of finishing materials is quite consistent with the high performance parameters of such a finish.

However, this is far from the only plus of the laminate, which is worth voicing. Good laminate has such advantages as:

  • high environmental friendliness, naturalness. The material is created using modern technologies, therefore, does not contain toxic components that can harm human health;
  • wide variety of design, refinement of external aesthetics, high level of attractiveness. Laminate flooring looks incredibly stylish and expensive. It can have different textures, surface effects, color solutions, therefore it provides residential interior designers with practically unlimited flights of fancy;
  • long service life without loss of original characteristics. If the installation of the material is carried out in accordance with all norms and rules, the coating is resistant to impact and lasts up to 20 years;
  • high rates of antistatic, resistance to moisture, ultraviolet radiation, scratches from the claws of pets;
  • no need for careful care, treatment with protective equipment. The coating can be washed with a damp cloth, which is extremely important for families with children.

In other words, high-quality brands of laminate, skillfully selected for a particular room with its characteristic conditions, are optimal for residential premises. This is a reliable, durable floor covering, which certainly contributes to the fact that the house is filled with comfort and warmth.

But such materials have their drawbacks. Among the disadvantages of the laminate, it is worth voicing the following qualities:

  • has poor thermal conductivity, so its installation must be carried out on a special substrate. And if the owner of the home certainly wants to have warm floors in his house, you will need to organize a floor heating system under the laminate. It can often take quite a decent amount of money to acquire and organize it, which increases the cost of repairs;
  • installation of the laminated floor should be carried out on a flat base without significant deviations from the horizontal. A minimum level difference is allowed, which is smoothed out due to the presence of a special substrate between the base and the coating. Otherwise, the reliability of the panel connections will be broken, the locks will loosen, and the floor itself will inevitably begin to creak over time.

And how to choose a laminate for the house as successfully as possible, we will talk further.


Types of laminate for the home

Before answering the question of which laminate is better to choose for residential buildings, you need to understand the species diversity of such floor finishes. Modern manufacturers provide the market great choice different in quality, design, shape and method of installation of laminated panels.

Regarding the design of modern laminate, its diversity will surprise even sophisticated connoisseurs of beauty. Manufacturers provide customers with a wide selection of original patterns and patterns, color shades and textures of laminated panels. So you can choose a good option for any wall decoration and interior items present in the room.

Based on the material of manufacture, laminated boards are distinguished:

  • classic based on HDF boards - characterized by high performance parameters, very common in the domestic market;
  • cork based on natural cork, cork veneer, fiberboard and MDF board. High strength, natural, flexible;
  • vinyl from polyurethane and polyvinylchloride. Very durable and resistant to moisture, so it is suitable even for the street. But it is extremely rare in our country.


Vinyl

Based on HDF boards

Suberic

Laminated panels differ in the specifics of the surface, so they can imitate:

  • a wooden surface of a smooth type with barely noticeable dashes and pits on the top layer, a natural type with pores and patterns of a specific breed, a waxed type with a refined sheen;
  • aged wooden surface with noticeable smoothed irregularities;
  • glossy finish;
  • matte surfaces.


Glossy

Matte

Under the tree

aged tree

The shape of the laminate panels are:

  • rectangular;
  • square.
Square

Rectangular

By the type of interlock, laminated finish can be:

  • with a Lock type lock - the panel is inserted into the groove of the previous panel and hammered for a secure connection;
  • with a Click lock - a more modern option, when the panels are simply inserted one into the other and snapped into place.


Interlock types

According to the degree of resistance to moisture, the following types of laminate are distinguished:

  • non-moisture resistant - intended for living rooms, bedrooms, children's rooms;
  • moisture resistant - additionally treated with protective compounds that prevent the destructive effects of moisture, suitable for the kitchen;
  • waterproof - intended for the bathroom, as it is not at all afraid of water.
Moisture resistance characteristics

The most requested options are:

  • classic under the tree - the panels are completely copied appearance natural wood with a characteristic pattern of a particular breed;
  • leather avant-garde - many lovers of sophistication and non-standard interiors will be interested in flooring with a crocodile skin design. it interesting option for office or spacious living room;
  • metal shine - such panels are actively used to create high-tech interiors. This style implies the predominance of glass and metal parts in the room, so in this case it is very appropriate to use laminated metal-like panels;
  • conciseness of the stone - a stone-like laminate coating provides a feeling of reliability, eternity. It looks very unusual and original, but in comparison with natural material, a laminate floor with a similar design is very comfortable even for bare feet according to the level of its warmth;
  • panels with children's designs are also very popular today and are used to decorate kids' rooms. They can have different patterns, be decorated with non-standard skirting boards, so they look very funny and interesting.


Children's Under the tree

Under the stone

under the skin

Under the metal

Division into classes

Based on the quality of the outer coating, laminated boards are divided into several classes, which indicate the level of their resistance to wear.

On the domestic market today, laminate panels of the following classes are presented in a wide variation:

  • 21, 22, 23 - were originally created exclusively for residential areas where there is no high traffic: 21 and 22 for bedrooms and living rooms, 23 for kitchens. But practice has shown that they have too little margin of safety if they are made from cheap low-grade materials. And if they are of high quality, then they turn out to be too high in cost, therefore, over time, the use of such classes of material in residential buildings was abandoned;
  • 31 and 32 are optimal for almost every living space: bedroom, living room, corridor, nursery, kitchen. So for the first three options, class 31 will do, and for the second and third it is better to choose class 32;
  • Classes 33 and 34 are relevant for use in rooms with a high level of traffic. That is, it is a more durable and wear-resistant option. It costs more, but lasts longer;
  • 41, 42, 43 class - is not part of the official laminate classification, as it is not endowed with an international standard. It is often produced in small batches to order, as it is suitable only for industrial use, it is able to withstand high loads.


Which is better to choose depending on the room

Which laminate to choose and what to pay attention to the buyer? The main factor determining the choice is the purpose of the room in which it is planned to carry out repairs. It is necessary to analyze the conditions that are characteristic of it in order to understand what kind of operational parameters the laminate is needed here for finishing the floor.

Kitchen

The kitchen room is difficult in terms of the specifics of the selection of laminated boards for the floor. And if everything is simple with the design of the coating (be guided by your own taste and fashion trends recent years), then you will have to think about the wear resistance class.

The kitchen is characterized by high humidity, food smells, splashes of fat and boiling oil from the stove. Therefore, for finishing floors, it is better to choose a laminate with a high degree of resistance to these aggressive factors (class 33 or 34).

Experts also recommend preferring plates with a chamfer, which will act as an additional protective mechanism to protect the panel joints from moisture. Moisture can completely spoil the finish of a strictly rectangular shape without recesses on the sides, leading to deformation of the plates. And due to the chamfer, the floor will retain its beauty and tightness of the joints. But to be sure, it is better to impregnate the joints of the plates after installation with a special mastic. Then neither water nor steam will spoil the beauty of the repair.




Bathroom

And if there is still a desire to use laminate in the bathroom, you will have to choose a waterproof laminate, moisture, condensate, and steam are not afraid of it. It is similar in performance to conventional tiles, but much warmer. Although we will not hide that this type of laminate is quite expensive. Experienced designers are advised to opt for a material with a textured surface that will not be slippery. This will increase the level of safety in the bathroom.




Living room, bedroom, children's

For rooms such as a spacious living room, a cozy bedroom or a colorful children's room, it's not just the good flooring design or the current level of impact resistance that matters. But a number of other characteristics of the laminate must be considered for such a space. For example, the level of sound absorption for a bedroom is one of the most important parameters in matters of comfort and coziness of this room. Therefore, the laminate, as well as the substrate for it, must be of high quality, which will reduce the likelihood of echo during walking. It will also save households from the risk of annoying panel creaking, which over time can occur with poor-quality flooring. You can pick up brands of laminate with a special soundproofing layer, but this is an additional expense.

Regarding the class of coverage in living rooms of this type, 31 or 32 classes are quite enough.

If we are talking about a color scheme, then it is worth choosing it taking into account the size of the room. In bright and spacious living rooms, a laminate of all colors and shades is suitable. But for narrow bedrooms with unimportant natural lighting, it is better not to acquire dark colors. Here it is important to lay light colors and place the panels across the room, which will visually expand it.

If we talk about the children's room, then such properties of the laminate as hypoallergenicity, safety, warmth are important here. It is good to organize a system of warm floors in combination with a laminated floor in such a room. Discard smooth panels, giving preference to roughness. This is a safer option for children's games.




Hallway

A hallway or corridor is characterized by a high level of traffic, contact with dirty shoes at the entrance to a house or apartment, and frequent washing of the floor in connection with this. For these reasons, a moisture-resistant laminate with a high wear resistance class is needed here. If the budget for repairs is limited, then take class 33. And if the funds are in abundance, it is better to prefer the 34th class of resistance.



Types of substrates

The selection of the substrate for the laminate is also important, but it can be different:

  • cork is a natural material with high environmental friendliness, pleasant to the touch, does not rot, provides the floor with high shock absorption, correctly redistributes the load on the floor when walking. This option is optimal for the bedroom and nursery. But the main rule in this type of substrate is high quality, since low-quality cork will crumble;
  • foamed polypropylene - it is not afraid of moisture, as it passes air through itself, providing excellent ventilation to the finish. It is able to successfully hide any unevenness of the floors, but it cannot be used with a high static load;
  • polystyrene foam - used in case of serious loads on the floor covering. It has a long service life, provides excellent thermal insulation. But expanded polystyrene is combustible and is capable of releasing toxins when burned, so it is better to refuse it in a nursery or bedroom;
  • coniferous substrate - provides sufficient ventilation to the floors, but is not very flexible;
  • foil substrate - capable of creating the effect of a thermos, but quite expensive to sell.


Polypropylene

foil

Polystyrene

Cork

Coniferous

Manufacturers

As practice shows, products from more well-known manufacturers differ more high quality, original design. This rule also applies to laminate, many try to choose it according to this principle. The following describes the most popular brands whose laminated panels are worth the attention of buyers in the domestic market.

Manufacturer's name Production localization Product Advantages Product Disadvantages
Quick step Production is established in the Russian Federation and Belgium Skillfully imitates the aesthetics of natural wood, an extremely durable and wear-resistant option (32 class is even more durable than 33 from other manufacturers), has a wide variety of textures, and a long service life. High cost, limited colors in the 33rd class of durability.
Kindl Austria High environmental friendliness, high similarity with wooden parquet in terms of external aesthetics, a thirty-year quality guarantee from the manufacturer. The FloorUp wall-mounted system is available, designed for wall mounting. The higher the load level, the less the laminate lasts: from 30 to 5 years.
Berry Alloc Belgium and Norway It is a leader in world quality: it is most resistant to moisture, highly durable, and has been serving for more than 30 years. Very expensive for its value.
Parador Germany Very original in design: a wide range of colors, a variety of textures, original effects. Average in quality and service life, expensive in cost.
Balterio Belgium Possesses high technical parameters, various design.

High cost, low scratch resistance.

Video

The video shows step-by-step instruction choice of laminate.

Photo of laminate in the house

In the photo you can see the design options for floor surfaces using laminate.














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