Which laminate is better to choose for an apartment: tips and tricks
FROMThe modern choice of flooring is amazing. You can choose any texture, material, color and cost of your floor. Increasingly, laminate is used for flooring, and therefore it will be interesting for buyers to know which laminate is better to choose for an apartment.
Laminate in the apartment
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Coating characteristics and composition
Laminate is so tightly entered into the terminology of builders that many people think that this is the name of the coating. In fact, it is an abbreviation for laminate flooring.
As the name suggests, the basis of the laminate is a unique wood fiber board, which is water resistant and glued with resin-impregnated paper. Any drawing can be depicted on paper, therefore varieties of laminate especially a lot. But often used is still the cut of the tree as the most natural. Fiberboard with two layers of paper laminated with synthetic resins and get the well-known coating.
Laminate layers
Since there are as many as 5 layers in the resulting slab, the following properties are inherent in the coating:
- Protection against moisture and mechanical damage - this is facilitated by the top layer of acrylate resin;
- Aesthetics is given with a second layer - paper with a pattern;
- Weight protection - provided with a layer of kraft cardboard;
- Hardness and absence of sagging is given to fiberboard;
- Moisture resistance and sound insulation are inherent in the 5th layer - polymer or paper.
Laminate properties
The brands Balterio, Parkelam, Faus, Kronotex, BerryAlloc, LaminatPark, Haro, VarioClic, and many others are popular brands when deciding which laminate flooring company is better to choose for an apartment.
Video: how to choose a laminate and combine colors in the interior
Classification and types of laminate joints
First of all, the laminate is classified according to its wear resistance. Since office workers can walk on it all day, the requirements for this type will be increased. But at home, there are also factors for laminate flooring that affect its increased stability. Pets can run on it, liquids can be spilled and heavy objects can fall on it.Therefore, according to the type of use, several classes of this coating can be distinguished, which differ in wear resistance:
- Class 31 - needed for those premises where the load on it will be minimal. This can be office space, where almost no one walks, as well as bedroom in a residential building.
- Class 32 - is popular for office and home use, where it will last up to several years.
- Class 33 - even more wear-resistant, designed for ten years of use.
- Class 34 - the most resistant class, its service life is designed for several decades.
- 23rd grade - considered a cheap version, but is often used just for coverage in apartments;
- Grades 21 and 22 are considered to be the least resistant to abrasion. They can be used only if people and animals will walk on them for a minimum time, and it is best to use them in unpopular rooms and cover them with carpets.
Existing laminate classes
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It is up to you to decide what thickness the laminate is better to choose for an apartment, but remember that the thicker it is, the faster and easier it is to fit, and is also famous for its increased sound and thermal insulation properties.
The laminate is connected to each other using a lock method, which in turn is divided into Click and Lock types.
Connection types
Lock-lock connection
The very first known coating compound and also the most economical. The lock for the laminate is obtained by milling. It looks like a thorn, on one side of which there is a special thorn and a fixing comb, and on the other side there is a milled groove.
A kind of Lock-lock connection
To mount the panels in this way, the spike is hammered into the groove until the fit is as complete as possible, while there should be no gap between the panels. To mount such a laminate, you will need a wooden or metal hammer. Under the panels, you need to spread the base, taking for it, for example, a block of wood.
The complexities of the method include control of the joints and careful attention to ensure that no gaps are formed. The disadvantages of this method include the appearance of cracks with age and the impossibility of parsing in order to reassemble the coating again. To increase the durability of the joints, you can cover them with a sealant.
Click-lock connection
This is already a modern technique that completely eliminates the disadvantages of a lock-lock connection. The lock is also obtained by milling, but the panel looks different due to the presence of a spike in the form of a flat hook and a groove with a platform for securing this hook.
Click-lock connection
Such panels are easy and quick to assemble, no special efforts should be made. For correct technique, you need to keep the joints at an angle of 45 degrees. When the panels are interlocked, you can hear a specific sound - a click, from which the name originated.
The advantages of the connection include reliable fixation, the absence of gaps and the possibility of parsing up to several times. Panel joints can also be treated with a sealant for reliability.
Laying laminate with Click
Existing rules for choosing a laminate
When posing the question of which laminate is better to choose for an apartment, customer reviews will be the most revealing. Fans of this coverage believe that, depending on the room or the room chosen, different types should be chosen:
- For installation in a bathroom or kitchen, you should choose a laminate with increased moisture and water resistance. It is better to choose panels with a wax treatment that can withstand up to 3 hours underwater.
Laminate in the bathroom
- For hallway the highest class laminate is suitable, which will withstand contact with dirt, sand, pebbles and constant walking on it.
Laminate in the hallway
- For children's room choose the safest coating without formaldehyde in the composition. The E1 badge flaunts on the packaging of such a harmless laminate.
Laminate in the nursery
- Choose the shade and color based on your preferences or the general design of the room. Light shades of laminates with unusual patterns are in fashion. But the classics are always popular.
Popular shades of laminate
What kind of laminate is better to choose for your apartment? Consider the following helpful tips:
- If possible, choose a high grade coating, so it will last longer. The optimal are 32 and 33 classes - choose them if you want the laminate to please you for a long time.
- Click-lock connection is easier and faster to assemble than Lock-lock, therefore it is better to choose it with the possibility of re-laying;
- The thicker the laminate, the faster it is laid, the stronger and more successful it is in terms of noise and thermal insulation.
- Choose a trusted manufacturer and do not hesitate to ask the seller about the properties of the selected material.
Video: DIY laminate flooring
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