Laminate - has become a versatile floor covering, so it is used in absolutely different conditions... It is well suited for both domestic and commercial use. And all due to the fact that, although there are not a great many varieties of it, they have different characteristics. Therefore, this flooring has become universal.
It differs not only in the manufacturer, color and size of the board, but also in the classes in which the abrasion characteristics are enclosed, moisture resistance, impact resistance and others. Now let's find out how to choosethe class of wear resistance of the laminate and which one is better to use in which rooms.
Knowing the main features of these characteristics, you can easily select a floor covering that will meet your requirements and significantly save on unnecessary properties that are not essential for use in this type of premises. If all conditions are selected correctly, the floor covering will delight you with its gorgeous look for many years.
Since then, as the laminate has firmly entered the sex life, the firms producing it and the people buying it began to grow exponentially. Therefore, a controlling organization was created, which prevented the flooding of the market with products of inadequate quality. And with the introduction of certain standards and norms, it became much easier for the consumer to navigate when choosing this product. Far away 1999 western laminate flooring manufacturers have formed an association (EPLF). In turn, this membership in this association is an indicator of the quality of a given firm. In our homeland, of course, quality control is not the same as in the West, and for this, the manufactured products of domestic manufacturers are classified according to abrasion tests.
Very easy to install. Planks are elementary connected to each other using lock joints: Click ( which snap), this type of connection is considered to be more reliable and Lock ( which are driven in).
Doesn't require special attention in cleaning. Basically, it is enough to use a vacuum cleaner once a week.
Very durable (depending on class). Hairpins from ladies 'heels, pets' claws, cigarette burns, furniture wheels - sneeze on all this laminate!
A wide range of styles and colors. You can easily choose exactly the pattern and size that suits your design decision.
Environmentally friendly (quality models only). Will never cause allergies or other skin and asthma diseases.
Not flammable. Easily tolerates high temperatures and does not support combustion.
Starts with a low price. Due to the low pricing policy (again, depending on the class and manufacturer), it is in good demand.
Therefore, after weighing all the advantages of laminate, some people use it not only as a floor covering, but also for walls and sometimes ceilings.
European classification laminate standard EN 13329 includes 18 different tasks. Laminate is marked at the exit, depending on the result of this test.
Research results different types the same class may differ, since each manufacturer tests the products himself.
We list the tests that are carried out:
In fact, there are a lot of tests, this is only a part of the most basic ones.
To test the manufactured products, the following actions are carried out in the laboratory: a special device is attached to the front side(Taber abrasimeter) with a grinding wheel, in the end, how many revolutions the protective coating will wear off will be the determining factorwear resistance class of laminate.
I would like to note that according to the new methodology, the measurement standards have changed. According to the old tradition of measuring, the abrasive paper of a special circle was changed every 500 circles, and new technology it needs to be changed every 200 circles, this leads to more intense abrasion with each new strip of the laminate. And due to these innovations, manufacturers often indicate both parameters at once, both according to the old scheme and according to the new one.
| Designation symbols | Use load level | Application area | Abrasion coefficient | |
| According to EN 438 | According to EN 13329 | |||
| Living spaces | ||||
| 21 | easy | study, bedroom, closet | ≥2000 | ≥900 |
| 22 | average | nursery, living room | ≥2000 | ≥900 |
| 23 | high | kitchen, corridor, hallway | ≥6000 | ≥2500 |
| Public spaces | ||||
| 31 | easy | The meeting room | ≥6000 | ≥2500 |
| 32 | average | Office, boutique, reception | ≥10000 | ≥4000 |
| 33 | high | Gym, bar, cafe, shop | ≥15000 | ≥6500 |
An important criterion when choosing any floor finish is to understand what functions it will perform. After that, it will become clear which laminate is better for a particular room. It would seem yes? - take the most durable and mold it everywhere. But no, prices for different types of laminate differ significantly. And sometimes it makes no sense to overpay for the most wear-resistant laminate, laying it, for example, in the bedroom, where, in fact, there is no particular load.
All laminate flooring is divided into 6 wear resistance classes. Half is for residential and half for commercial.
Surely you are not going to live your whole life without repairs. If we take an average estimate, the replacement of the floor covering occurs every five years, for one reason or another. Someone gets bored with the color, someone wears out from not careful use. Yes, a lot of options. If you do not plan to use this coating for a long time, then the models will probably suit you 21, 22 or 23 grades. They endowed with average technical characteristics and are perfect for flooring both in the hallway and in the bedroom. On the other hand, if the design of the project envisages the use of laminate in the kitchen or in the bathroom, then you should pay attention to the laminate of at least class 31. Which will last longer in such conditions.
If you are purchasing a covering for use, for example, in an office or a small store, the laminate should also have increased characteristics. In this case, choosing which laminate is better directly depends on the class of wear resistance. The best solution will become a laminate with the number 33.
Due to the reorientation of potential buyers to high-strength laminated coatings, in the production of laminate, they began to increasingly use the coating of the 31st class or 33rd. Today, in the production of wood-based panels, a protective coating of class 31 or more is increasingly used. Therefore, the 32nd class has become the most common type of laminate wear resistance. With its correct operation, the service life reaches about 20 years.
For both commercial and household laminates, the box should always have a pictogram showing a drawing that defines the class of this laminate. (see picture below). Having memorized these drawings, you will easily understand.
Laminate with wear resistance classes 21, 22, 23 falls into this category. The price category is medium. TOWhich class of laminate is the best in this category is up to you, do not forget just todurability at proper care from two years.
Term wear resistance, subject to the rules of operation, fluctuates around 2 years old. The main reason for this was the lack of quality protective layer. Recommended for use in utility rooms or storage rooms.
Has a slightly more reliable protective layer. Recommended for use in rooms with low traffic (bedroom, toilet). The service life, subject to the rules of operation, does not exceed 2-3 years.
Cunning!
To extend the life of this class of laminate, you can go for a trick! Laying a carpet on top of it or an original carpet in the middle of the room.
It is a modernized version of the previous class. The wear resistance is slightly improved. Focused on average cross-country ability. The service life does not exceed 4 years. So it turns out that there are differentlaminate classes and which one is better to choose is up to you.
The cheapest in this category. Mainly applicable in commercial premises with low traffic. In commercial operation, it will last no more than 3–4 years, and if in domestic use, sometimes the service life reaches 10 years. The starting price per square meter of the 31st class of laminate is 200 rubles.
The most popular class of laminate in Russia. Will go as the best solution in terms of price-quality ratio. In the office, this coating will stand in its original state, subject to the rules of operation, no more than 5 years, and when used in domestic conditions, the service life reaches 12-15 years. For this type of laminate, prices start at 700 rubles per square meter.
Proven for superior durability. Unless, of course, you do not take into account class 34, which is not officially available. This coating is suitable for hotels, dance floors, or restaurants where traffic is very high.
It owes its durability to a thickened lamella (10-12mm), despite the fact that it is designed for commercial use, the service life of this coating will be more than 6 years. And if you decide to lay such a covering at home, then it will serve you for more than 20 years, and some manufacturers generally give a lifetime warranty. Accordingly, if you take care of him properly. The cost per square meter of such a laminate is around 1,500 rubles.
Cunning!
Class 33 laminate with parquet-like texture in appearance is sometimes confused with real parquet.
It is recognized in the world as the most durable and wear-resistant type of laminate. Able to take on the workload of a gym, car dealership or airport lounge. Home rarely gets this type, in view of its high cost, which starts from 1800 rubles. The most wear-resistant class. Withstands the loads typical of gyms, car dealerships, airport halls. Few people decide to buy a 34-class laminate for a home, since its price starts at 1,800 rubles per sq. m. But when used at home, the manufacturers Alloc and Pergo give a lifetime warranty. By the way, they are the manopolists in the market for the production of this class of laminated flooring.
In laboratory tests, this 34-digit laminate performs better than even the EPLF, which is why it is considered an extra-class laminate.
So the answer to the questionwhich laminate is better to lay in the apartment will be class 33, again depending on how long you plan not to do the next renovation and what is the current budget.
It is not always necessary to purchase l aminate of the highest class. An important criterion for making such a decision will be taking into account the passability of the covered area. In an apartment, it is better to lay laminate flooring at numbers 31 and 32, due to the moderate load and low traffic, this will be enough. In this case, it is worth considering the parameters of moisture resistance (if you plan to cover the bathroom or kitchen). Laminated dies of the 33rd class perfect for both home and commercial use. And if the planned floor loads are very high, they recommend a laminate with the number 34.
Class 33 moisture resistant laminate
Laminated parquet has been known since 1977. Its popularity is due to its ability to withstand significant loads, practicality, an incredible variety of decors, formats and surface designs. A huge number of companies around the world manufacture this product. In this article, you will find complete, reliable information about which laminate is the best and how to check its quality.
It is known that the flooring lamination technology was first introduced by Perstorp AB (in the future Pergo) in 1979. To this day, a product manufactured in the EU is considered the standard of quality.
To ensure full control of production processes, the EPLF Laminate Manufacturers Association was established. Its members can be those companies that offer customers only the best laminate flooring. Such as:
Since 2000, Perstop Floorings has been transformed into the now well-known Pergo concern. Full-cycle factories were opened in Sweden, Belgium (based on UNILIN bvba), USA. Unsurprisingly, almost all laminate manufacturers have until recently relied on this leader in the flooring market. The assortment includes laminated, vinyl and parquet products under the trademark of the same name. The production process includes all stages, starting with the procurement of raw materials and ending with the dispatch of the finished product to the final customer.
Benefits of Pergo Laminate:
In the Beaulieu International Group corporation, the Berry Allock laminate flooring division has a special status. The company was formed as a result of the merger of the Belgian company Berry Floor and the Norwegian plant Alloc. The result of the combination of huge production capacities, research facilities and decades of experience - the release of laminate flooring unique technology HPL (High Pressure laminate) 32-34 wear resistance classes. The coatings produced according to this technique are classified as semi-commercial and commercial, as they are distinguished by the highest quality and surface resistance to all kinds of loads.
Benefits of Berry Alloc laminate:
In 2001, one of the largest concerns Spanolux SA founded the Balterio Laminate Floors laminate flooring division, producing products under the Balterio brand. High quality of goods, own unique developments, a full cycle of production ensured rapid growth and popularity of the company.
Today, Balterio laminate flooring 32-34 is known as one of the most durable, stress-resistant floor coverings. It is worth getting it if you care about:
Designers recommend using large-format slats from 22 cm wide and more than 1.8 m long for large rooms with an area of 80 m 2 (shopping centers, conference rooms, hotel halls). For small rooms, standard or shortened planks are preferred.
Hamberger Flooring GmbH & Co, a manufacturer with more than one and a half centuries of history, offers laminated parquet under the Haro brand of 31-33 grades. The main emphasis is placed on perfect reproduction of natural texture and high quality of the coating.
Laminate Haro should be preferred because it:
The warranty period for Haro flooring is 12-30 years, depending on the area of use.
Since 1990, the UNILIN group of companies has been supplying laminate flooring to the market of finishing materials under the Quick-Step brand. In 2011, the molding production of some of the collections was launched in Dzerzhinsk (Nizhny Novgorod region).
Since the motto of the company is "Attention to detail", the laminated parquet of this series is carefully worked out in all respects and has the following advantages:
Almost 120 years of experience, many in-house developments, interesting know-how, a complete production cycle without the involvement of third-party suppliers - all this about the flooring company Kaindl Flooring GmbH.
In the EU, the Kindl brand is associated exclusively with the term “quality”. Judge for yourself:
At the end of the review of foreign brands, I would like to note that this selection does not answer the question "which manufacturer of laminate flooring is better." Each offers quality and durable products. The purpose of our research was the intention to present you finishing materials with the most interesting and useful consumer characteristics. Undoubtedly, there are many other worthy manufacturers, but it is simply impossible to describe them all within the framework of one article.
Domestic factories are trying to keep up with European competitors and offer customers products of acceptable quality and interesting designs.
In 2010, the German concern Tarkett Sommer AG launched a plant for the production of laminated flooring under the Tarket and Sinteros brand in Mytishchi (Moscow Region). The Russian line produces laminate flooring in 8 collections (over 100 designs) of 32 and 33 classes of wear resistance.
Advantages of Tarkett laminate flooring:
The disadvantage of the plant's products is the overpriced several times over. Despite the fact that the production is actually located in Russia, the cost of the collections imported from Germany and those made here are the same. There are no complaints about the quality of the products, but the company's pricing policy, to put it mildly, is surprising.
In 2002, the Swiss Krono Group launched a plant for the production of laminated products (floor, ceiling and wall coverings) under the Kronostar trademark in the Kostroma region.
Today, a competitive laminate of 31-33 wear resistance classes with 4 types of textures is produced:
In the pluses, we also note:
The disadvantages include:
Kronostar can be safely attributed to the "average". This is a budget product for private, less often commercial use.
The Turkish holding company HAYAT launched a project for the construction of a new plant for the production of laminated coatings in Elabuga (Tatarstan) in 2012. Since 2014, laminate under the Kastamonu brand has begun to actively conquer the market of finishing materials in Russia.
The factory produces a whole series of Floorpan collections with a wood structure.
| Ruler | Dimensions, mm | Class |
| Purple | 1380x193x6 | 31 |
| Green | 1380х193х7 | 31 |
| Yellow | 1380x193x8 | 32 |
| Orange | 32 | |
| Red | 32 | |
| Blue | 33 | |
| Black | 33 |
The pluses of coverage:
Let's talk about the cons. The first thing that catches your eye is the modest selection of pastel decors and types of structures. A matte, lightly textured surface without a hint of bevel is suitable for simple, budget interiors.
The second point is that the durability of the coating raises doubts among specialists. There are no publicly available test reports, and the product itself has been on the market for only two years.
The third fact: the plant's declaration of complete safety and compliance with environmental standards of Florpan laminate. However, any highly specialized certificates, with the exception of standard ones (sanitary and hygienic conclusion, Fire safety) are not available.
For almost 7 years now, one of the factories of the Russian concern RBK has been producing a unique series of laminated floors with exotic surfaces. The main feature of Ritter parquet is structural embossing for non-standard reptile skin, craquelure imitation and much more.
There are 9 extravagant collections in the assortment:
| Series | Embossing type | Dimensions, mm | Class |
| George the Victorious | Snake skin | 1295x192x8.4 | 33 |
| Nefertiti / Hannibal | Snake skin | 1295x192x8.4 | 33 |
| Peter 1 | Rustic, deep embossing | 1295x192x12.1 | 33 |
| Harald the Severe / Elizabeth | Deep aging | 1295x192x12.1 | 34 |
| Justinian the Great | Silkscreen | 1295x192x8.4 | 33 |
| Mayan | Craquelure | 1295x192x8.4 | 33 |
| Charlemagne | Plane | 1295x192x12.1 | 33 |
Let's note the undoubted advantages of Ritter laminate:
When buying, take into account the fact that a textured floor is very picky about the interior, as bad decisions will “kill” the effect of the coating. For accurate selection, use online 3D visualization software.
Although Russian laminate flooring does not shine with a variety of designs, according to some quality characteristics is not inferior to European products. Its main advantage is its affordable cost for many buyers.
No Chinese factory is part of the EPLF Laminate Manufacturers Association. That is, it does not produce high-quality and durable products that meet European standards or Russian regulations.
This fact does not prevent many large enterprises from importing large quantities of products to Russia under various brands. Note that among this variety there are real “pearls” such as Floorwood, Goodway, Brilliant and others. These coatings can be called acceptable in terms of consumer characteristics: dense slab, reliable locks, durable overlay. Technical specifications also within acceptable limits.
The brands listed above can be called an exception to the rule. Most often, there is a laminate, about which there is no information, not to mention certificates and test reports. In addition, as practice shows, Chinese laminated parquet does not correspond to the declared class. Most often, the operational durability of the slab is checked. The durability of the overlay is not tested at all.
How to tell Chinese not quality laminate? Let's reveal some secrets:
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The choice of flooring is an important part of any major renovation, but making a decision on the purchase is often more difficult than it seems at first glance. More and more people are abandoning linoleum, which was boring in the Soviet era, you cannot cover all the floors with carpeting, and noble parquet is too expensive.
And here a fashionable and democratic laminate comes to the rescue - comfortable, effective and quite durable. To understand all the intricacies of choosing the best laminate flooring, we invited an expert to answer our questions - a master with 12 years of experience, Alexander Eremeev.
This comfortable, beautiful and durable material now presented in a wide range
Buying a laminate is a responsible business, because floorboards are bought for more than one year or even five. To choose best coverage, be sure to consider several factors: brand and country of origin, price, wear resistance, moisture resistance and shock resistance, scratch resistance. And, of course, the design.
Today, laminate flooring is usually divided into 7 main classes: 21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 33 and 34. The first number 2 in the marking indicates use in residential premises, number 3 - in public, commercial.
However, these types of coatings are already unpopular, and the manufacturer gives them a minimum warranty of 6 years. Today the most popular types on the market are “30s”. They are used for both residential and non-residential premises:
The guarantee for high-grade laminate boards is from 10 to 20 years, and it can last much longer.
From my professional experience, I can say: the best choice in terms of price-quality ratio for apartments is 32nd class laminate, for the noisiest and most active families - 33rd. But here you need to take into account some subtleties.
Wear resistance is determined both by the rate at which the top layer of the board breaks down and by how easily the surface is scratched. To determine the class of the laminate, the following test is carried out in production: the board is fixed in a special device under an abrasive disc and it is considered how many revolutions it takes to destroy the top layer and leave noticeable scratches. Often, these figures differ significantly for different brands, but add up to the same indicator. For example, some boards may have scratches already at the 300th revolution, and the destruction of the protective layer - at 5000th, the average number is 2650 revolutions. In another laminate class, scratches are visible after the 1500th revolution, and the protection is damaged at the 3800th. The average indicator is the same as in the previous sample, but the scratch resistance is 5 times higher.
Therefore, it happens that a person buys an expensive class 33 product, but the coating quickly scratches and loses its shine, although the top layer is still intact. The same is with a good laminate of a lower class: it happens that the 32nd has practically no scratches, but the boards are noticeably worn out.
First of all, you need to have a good idea of what the laminate board consists of. This is a stabilizing layer, then an HDF board, then a decorative layer (photograph) and a transparent protection. The most important part is the HDF board, the higher its density, the less the laminate is afraid of water and the stronger its locks.
The board of this modern flooring consists of several layers.
Moisture resistance also depends on the type of laminate - adhesive or lock. If the slabs are laid on glue, then there are no gaps between them, which means that moisture will not penetrate inside. But such a coating has a significant disadvantage - it will be impossible to replace 1-2 damaged tiles, unlike those boards on which the side locks simply snap into place when laying. There is a worthy alternative - water-resistant lock laminate on a standard basis.
For a good laminate, the moisture resistance indicator should be no more than 18%. To check this, you need to saw off a small piece of the slab and lower it into the water for 8 hours at home. The branded board will swell by 15-18%, while for a low-quality one this percentage can reach 40.
The thickness of the laminate board is also important - the more millimeters it contains, the stronger it is, and it is easier to lay. In addition, such a coating perfectly absorbs sounds, so in apartments where there are kids, I always recommend buying a laminate no thinner than 8-12 millimeters.
The underlay is a very important material for floor repair, the material insulates laminate boards from the floor and provides heat and sound insulation. In a high-quality laminate of the 32nd grade and higher, the substrate usually already exists; when buying cheaper grades, you need to purchase it separately.
There are three types of substrate, the most affordable and popular is polyethylene foam. It is resistant to moisture, it is as easy as shelling pears to lay it, but over time, such a layer sags. Cork is a little more expensive - it keeps heat well, but it can release condensation. The solution is very simple - to buy a cork substrate with the addition of bitumen or rubber. There is also a so-called special substrate, it is the most expensive, but it perfectly absorbs sound, retains heat, and condensation never appears on it.
The substrate can be made on the basis of cork material
The environmental friendliness of building materials has long been at the forefront, and in my work I definitely take this factor into account. Phenol-formaldehyde resin is used in the production of flooring boards, which reduces production costs and the price of the final product, but releases formaldehyde, which is hazardous to health. Therefore, when buying a laminate, you need to look at the degree of content of hazardous resins in the tiles.
So, in Europe, the formaldehyde content in laminate flooring is strictly regulated, and expensive parquet and standard laminate are equally harmless to health. Another thing is China, according to the laws of this country, the requirements for the content of phenol-formaldehyde resin in wood-like boards are much lower!
When choosing a laminate in a store, trust only yourself and your observation - an opened package should emit only a faint aroma of sawdust. Any foreign smell - glue, paint, etc. - should alert you. See also the price tag: too cheap laminate in almost 100% of cases is dangerous to health. And here it makes no difference where you buy building materials - even in a large hypermarket there may be a dangerous product. I know that large stores often write in contracts that the supplier bears full responsibility for the quality of the laminate, in addition, hypermarkets are not even legally obliged to check certificates for goods - this is the concern of special organizations.
The situation with the design of laminate tiles is quite interesting. Classic laminate is an imitation for parquet, and real wooden planks are unique for the floor - you will not find two identical ones. Therefore, the best laminate flooring boasts minimal pattern repeatability, knots and natural variegation of wood. The repetition of the image 1: 6 will tell about the European production - this means that 4 packs should have at least 6 variants of the color "under the tree". By the way, in the most expensive collections of premium manufacturers, for example, Quick Step, this ratio reaches 1:60.
The Quick Step material has beautiful and virtually non-repeating patterns
But the Russian consumer has his own quirks - we are accustomed to a solid color of floors, so we believe that the correct laminate should be either a solid color, reminiscent of floor paint, or an even shade "like a tree", the same, symmetrical and without any knots. Usually such coloring is found in inexpensive Chinese laminate - they use the simplest imitation pattern, and the repeatability is 1: 3.
And so it turns out that the whole world is chasing an exclusive parquet laminate, but give us what is simpler.
A chamfer is a V-shaped bevel of the end edge of a laminate board (1-2 mm deep), due to which small grooves appear at the joints of the boards when laid. Chamfers are found both along the entire perimeter of the board, and along 2 long sides, double-sided.
As we have already said, a sign of an expensive laminate is a complete resemblance to parquet, and the bevel only enhances this similarity, because on a natural tree there are almost always such grooves. In addition to aesthetics, the chamfer allows you to increase the life of the laminate by 2-3 times, and when exposed to moisture, it helps the coating not to lose its original shape.
Another plus - if you buy a beveled laminate flooring, you do not need to spend a lot of money and effort on the perfect leveling of the floor. Usually, a perfectly flat surface is needed so that cracks do not appear on the planks, which over time take the shape of the floor. The chamfer hides these cracks - provided that the difference on the floor is not more than 4 mm per 1 meter.
I have been dealing with laminate flooring for many years and I can say with confidence: the best and most responsible manufacturers are Europeans. Manufacturing a laminate board is a high-tech process, it does not require cheap labor, as in China, but the most modern equipment and high responsibility of companies. Not a single European manufacturer with a worldwide reputation will place the production of laminate flooring in the Middle Kingdom - it will simply be a blow to the image.
In addition, there is another indicator of quality - a construction company must necessarily be a member of the Association of European Manufacturers of Laminate Flooring (EPFL), in this case it bears full responsibility for its product and for what is written on the label. Therefore, I always advise my clients - if you need a high-quality laminate, be sure to check if the manufacturer is a member of the Association - on the company's website on the Internet.
Russian and Chinese manufacturers, which are not part of the trade union, have every right to write anything on the label, therefore, a 32nd class badge can flaunt on a low-grade laminate. In fact, the quality can correspond to class 21.
In terms of price-quality ratio, laminate has three classes: premium, comfort and economy.
In the premium segment, the most famous firms are Austrian Kaindl, Belgian Quick-Step and Pergo. These companies have excellent quality, interesting collections, but an expected high price. Interesting lines of glossy coatings from the German HDM, the Belgian company Balterio is famous for its unique black laminate.
Austrian brand Kaindl is a premium flooring material
From the comfort class I can definitely recommend the French Alsafloor - it is excellent quality, many different design lines, there are boards of the 33rd class with a thickness of 12 mm and high strength. The German manufacturer Kronotex operates in comfort and economy class, but it does not have the widest color palette, minimum specifications. Another well-known representative of the economical laminate option is the German Egger. The price of such a coating is quite affordable, but the design also suffers - the minimum number of colors, imitation wood, mainly from photographs.
I have already mentioned a few rules - this is a pleasant woody smell of a laminate board, a moisture resistance index of no more than 18%, a pattern repeatability of at least 1: 6.
Another indicator of a good floor covering is its high price: a real laminate cannot be cheaper than 400-500 rubles per square meter. Also, always look at the markings: Chinese laminate flooring often does not have identification marks or has, but with errors. In European, the information is always indicated in full, and the name of the country - without abbreviations. Another identifying feature is the color of the back of the laminate tiles - a pleasant beige color, while for Asian products it is brown. Recently, however, oriental manufacturers have also begun to supply laminate flooring with a beige backing.
A special size will tell about Chinese production with almost 100% probability - the length of the laminate board is 1215 mm, the thickness is 12.3 mm. For Asian manufacturers, these dimensions are very convenient, the manufacture of such plates is the least expensive, so such parameters should also alert.
High-quality material will serve you for a long time and will delight you with its appearance
There are a lot of rules, but remembering them is quite real. Take your time with the choice of flooring: go to several stores, look through the prices, check the manufacturers you like for the "quality mark" - and you can easily buy the best laminate for your apartment.
Today the construction market provides a wide selection of laminate flooring, it is very difficult to make the right choice. Be sure to consider the quality rating of the laminate in your choice. It is important to know that modern and high-quality material will not be cheap.
The quality of the flooring does not only lie in the flexural test and assurance of durability. Good appearance no less important, since the laminate must fit the overall interior of the entire room.
A high-quality laminate flooring in an apartment serves not only as a decoration, but also as a good floor covering.
If you do not adhere to the installation technology, even the highest quality laminate can be easily damaged.
This floor covering is popular due to its name, from Latin "laminated", which means "layered".
Worth mentioning, which has long been in construction, in order to achieve a high quality of any coating, they used multilayer structures. This is not without reason, since it is they who give high quality to the material.
The quality of the laminate is hidden in its four layers
This is not typical for plywood, but high quality laminate with imitation of plywood incidents only adds charm to the appearance of the coating.
In the late 70s, the Swedish company Pergo provided the world with this material, most likely, the representatives did not even suspect what a breakthrough they made in the construction industry. Laminate quickly fell in love with everyone.
After certain improvements in manufacturing technologies and the composition of the layers, this floor covering captured the whole of Europe, then the East. The rapid introduction of laminate has its drawback - there is no strict classification of the quality of the material, generally recognized by all.
All manufacturers agreed on only one uniformity of classification at the highest level.
Then, in Europe, they developed a whole system of 18 tests, which in turn determine the quality of the laminate, this is very important, since it depends on how long the material will retain its appearance when exposed to various loads.
Thanks to testing, the following European quality classes are known:
The construction market produces a wide variety of possible colors, even inexpensive and high-quality laminate flooring.
It is worth clarifying that grades 21, 22, and 23 are not being produced throughout the world. In addition, the United States uses its own system for assessing the quality of laminate, it was developed by the North American Association of Laminate Flooring Manufacturers.
The rules for laying are as follows: you cannot place the seams in one line, always try to arrange them in a checkerboard pattern, you can even make a pattern from the seams.
The classes listed above are largely conditional, which often leads to confusion. Thus, in Europe, they often use parallel to the quality of the AU, as the wear resistance of the finish layer.
The approximate ratio of the AC system and the listed classes is often used as follows:
Helpful hints:
Based on one of the studies, we compiled a rating of the laminate, which is considered the most demanded in terms of its cost.
Price is another indicator of quality:
Assembling and laying laminate flooring can be done on your own. The photo shows one of two ways, laying using constructive grooves.
Before purchasing laminate panels, carefully consider all kinds of offers from the construction market, because prices are very high, so make the right choice.
Make up your own price list, review the ratings of all companies and choose the right option.
Correct installation of laminate flooring involves the use of special devices that provide a better joining of the flooring strips.
Whatever one may say, but advertising does its job, it often happens that the consumer buys not very high-quality material, but simply advertised. Seen from the other side, the law of large numbers works well in this case, especially with massive demand and good quality.
This article provides an opportunity to consider the rating of laminate manufacturing firms that are considered the most popular on Russian market:
Before giving preference to one or another choice, be sure to consult with friends and acquaintances. If possible, seek advice from experienced craftsmen... You can also ask questions to sellers in hardware stores. A little research is needed here.
Make a small plan for yourself, it is important to know the exact area of the room in order to determine the right amount of flooring. Decide on the amount you are willing to spend on purchasing laminate flooring.
In Odessa, when they want to wish something bad, they can say: “What would you have been building all your life,” and indeed, building and repairing in your own home gives little pleasure. Therefore, the strength of the laminate for an apartment is far from the last value, because the better it is, the less often you will have to start another repair.
Laminated panels are packaged in packs, each of which has an installation manual, which indicates the strength class and service life of the product. The upper, transparent layer is responsible for the abrasion of the material, but the HDF layer is responsible for the overall strength.
The laminated panel consists of four main layers, each of which has its own purpose and the classification depends on the combination of their qualities. It is because of this that you can determine which laminate is the most durable.
In addition, classiness indicates that the product belongs to the household or commercial group.
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Classification |
Load degree |
Application room |
Shelf life |
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Bedroom, study |
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Study, hall, living room |
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Intensive |
Children's room, hallway |
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Office, study |
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Shop, office |
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Intensive |
Cafe, bar |
Recommendation.
The service life of the laminate in the table is determined by the degree of wear of the top layer, although after that it can last for more than one year.
As for the commercial group (classes: 32, 32, 33), for domestic use, laminated panels can last 20-25 years, but the price of a commercial laminate, of course, differs significantly from that of a household one.
Advice. If the laminate does not fit well into the lock (the lock is clean at the same time), then it must be hammered, but in no case hit the lock with any objects - you will break it.
To do this, you can use unnecessary pieces of panels by inserting them into the lock or attach a rail to the lock, but to its shorter part and hit them.
If the laminate is of good quality (thicker) and dry, you can avoid blocking the panels.
Remember that hammering the panels is not a method of installation, but a last resort - when correct assembly of good laminate, it is enough to tap the gap with a rubber hammer, and even then not at every connection.
Now we can summarize and say that the most durable laminate is a commercial grade laminate (31, 32, 33), but at the same time laid on a flat surface. If the subfloor is uneven, then even the best and most expensive panels will disperse in the locks, and in some cases may even crack.
