How to choose a laminate so you don’t regret it later

Laminate quality criteria

This flooring is a multilayer material with a base of particleboard or fiberboard. The layers are impregnated with synthetic resins, and the top layer consists of paper on which you can print any image. Most often, a laminate imitates a natural tree.

In production, the layers are pressed at high temperature, resulting in a durable, easy-to-care floor covering for the home. Its characteristics differ in several indicators that need to be considered in order to accurately select a laminate:

• Thickness.
• Wear resistance class.
• Impact resistance.
• Moisture resistance.
• With or without chamfer.
• Connection type.
• Environmental friendliness.
• Color spectrum.
• Cost.

The photo shows a bedroom in a modern style. One of the advantages of a laminate is the ability to veneer it not only on the floor, but also on the walls.

Thickness

Panels with a thickness of 9-10 mm are more resistant to long-term loads (referring to heavy furniture, which affects the laminate flooring constantly). The sound insulation level and floor temperature depend on the thickness of the base layer: the thinner the coating, the better the neighbors hear footsteps, and the colder the floor.

The most budgetary option is 6 mm thick material, but if heavy furniture or equipment is installed in the kitchen or in the room, it is better to give preference to a more expensive laminate with a thick base layer.

Wear resistance class

The higher the class, the greater the operational life of the laminated coating. This criterion significantly affects the price of the product, so for each room it is better to choose your own material. Cheap goods are not suitable for the hallway or kitchen, since the floor is experiencing the highest loads on these sections of the apartment.

In the table below, it is clearly shown which laminate to choose for a particular room:

Russian buyers are accustomed to choosing a durable laminate, so products of the 23–32 class are especially popular. In terms of price and quality, 31 class wins, but 32 class is more suitable for a kitchen and hallway with high traffic. Class 33 flooring is suitable for a bathroom, as well as for an apartment with pets.

Impact resistance

This parameter shows how well the coating resists impact. It is determined by the test results, during which a metal ball is thrown onto the surface of the laminated panel, simulating the falling of heavy objects or the pressure of heels. The strength criterion is surface integrity.

An intermediate layer - kraft cardboard with impregnations (damper) - is responsible for resistance to shocks. Impact resistance is indicated by the IC index. Class 31 laminate withstands impact force of 10N / 800 mm, which corresponds to the coefficient IC1, class 32 withstands 15N / 1000 mm (IC2), and class 33 - 20N / 1200 mm (IC3).The last two coatings are scratch and abrasion resistant from the wheels of the office chair.

In the photo there is a corridor with a high-quality, impact-resistant laminate of class 32, which is the optimal coating for a room with high traffic.

Moisture resistance

Exposure to water is one of the weakest areas of the laminate. If it falls between the boards, the material swells, and the decorative surface exfoliates. The life of this floor is significantly reduced. Given these shortcomings, manufacturers produce special types of laminate with resistance to moisture.

The photo shows an example of a moisture-resistant coating, which is protected by the upper laminated layer. Despite its resistance to water, the floor must not be kept wet for a long time.

Moisture resistant the laminate withstands moisture only for some time. The material is based on a durable board made of wood fibers, treated with special compounds. He is not afraid of wet cleaning, dirt and mold, but if a large amount of water penetrates the joint, the floor will swell and bumps will appear. Such a coating is appropriate in the kitchen and in the corridor, but for the loggia and the bathroom you will have to choose other material.

Water resistant the laminate is resistant to prolonged exposure to moisture, since the processing of joints with warm paraffin reliably protects the floor covering from deformation. Temperature differences are not afraid of him either. This is a great option for a balcony and bathroom, which are characterized by high humidity.

With or without chamfer

A chamfer is beveled edges that make laminated panels visually similar to parquet boards. With it, the coating looks more natural and more expensive. Using a press, a chamfer is applied from two or four sides, while maintaining a protective layer. After laying, the joints are covered with wax.

A chamfered laminate has several significant advantages: it is more resistant to mechanical damage, and if cracks form between the panels after exposure to high temperatures, they will not be so noticeable.

Compared with a conventional laminate, chamfered products last 5–6 years longer, even if they were slightly damaged during installation.

In the photo there is a laminate with a length and texture similar to wooden boards, but it is the chamfers that give it a special resemblance to natural material.

This flooring has its drawback: it requires special care. To get rid of dust, it is recommended to use a vacuum cleaner, and the dirt is removed with a mop with a soft nozzle or a fiber cloth.

Lock for connection

Laminate is laid by connecting profiled edges, but there are two main ways of installation:

Environmental friendliness

Laminate consists of wood only 80-90%. The rest are binding components: varnishes and resins. The greatest danger is precisely the varnishemitting substances that can cause allergies and disorders in the nervous system. Also, the flooring contains melamine, which is used to increase the wear resistance and density of the material. The larger it is, the worse for human health, since when heated, melamine releases harmful formaldehyde.

But how to protect yourself and your loved ones? Experts advise do not buy cheap low-quality products - unscrupulous firms add an excessive amount of toxic substances to them.

A safe coating is products labeled E1, which indicate a minimum level of formaldehyde concentration. Negative effects on the body do not occur.Laminate class E2 and E3 is prohibited to produce and sell in the territory of the Russian Federation.

The most environmentally friendly material is a formaldehyde-free laminate. It is marked E0 and costs much more. Laminate E1 and E0 can be laid in the children's room.

In the photo there is a children's room, the floor covering of which is safe and environmentally friendly, and also provides the child with protection from the cold.

Laminate color

When choosing a laminate for an apartment, most people first of all pay attention to its design. This is one of the important criteria for creating an aesthetically attractive interior. To make the rooms look harmonious, all furniture and decoration should be combined.

Before buying a floor covering, it is necessary to select and install the entrance and interior doors, as the range of doors is much smaller than the types of laminate. Skirting is increasingly chosen not in the color of the floor, but in contrast - this is how the interior looks many times spectacular. If the floor is light, then the baseboard should fit the door and its platbands.

The photo shows a living room in warm colors, where the color of the floor echoes the color of the walls and harmonizes with white skirting boards and platbands.

The main task of the laminate is a high-quality imitation of a parquet board, solid wood or parquet board. Noble and most expensive is the "array".

If the walls are decorated in neutral colors, then the floor can be saturated, and vice versa: for bright finish it is better to choose a muted color of the laminate. Universal options are coatings with imitation of pine, oak and birch, but this approach requires additional bright accents in the form of furniture or decor.

The photo shows the restrained interior of the living room in black and gray tones. As a floor covering, a laminate with an unobtrusive pattern was used.

Light woods fit perfectly into the laconic interior, giving it lightness and air. This is especially true in a small area. But the dark laminate of wenge color makes the situation worse, therefore it is suitable only for spacious rooms.

The most practical solution is the flooring in gray shades: the dust on it is practically invisible.

Modern technology allows you to simulate not only a wooden surface, but also ceramic tiles and stone. The appearance of such products is not much different from the original. The dimensions and shape of the dies are maintained in accordance with the natural material: the panels are square or have an aspect ratio of 1: 3 or 1: 4.

There are also collections with drawings, patterns and inscriptions on the surface, but such eccentric solutions require a thoughtful design project, so that the atmosphere does not look tasteless.

In the photo there is a bright dining room with a multi-colored laminate, giving the atmosphere a playful mood.

Cost

Several factors influence the price of a laminated coating, and this is not only the above characteristics, but also the reputation of the manufacturer. Naturally, the higher the class of the laminate, the higher its cost. The average price for 1 square meter of high-quality coating is about 1000 r.

In the photo there is a room with an expensive flooring imitating parquet.

A good laminate for an apartment may not be too cheap, but some manufacturers attract buyers with a low price. When manufacturing, they save on the quality of the base or protective layer, which negatively affects the service life of the floor.

How to choose a quality laminate: expert advice

To give a general idea of ​​the intricacies of choosing a flooring, we have put together several important and useful recommendations.

• If it is planned to lay a warm floor under the laminate, you need to buy only those products that are suitable for an electric or water floor according to the recommendations of the manufacturer.
• It is best to choose a high-quality coating of well-known brands, as trusted manufacturers give a guarantee on their products.
• The surface of the panels can be matte, glossy or brushed, that is, with the effect of artificial aging.The choice of texture depends on the design ideas, but a smooth floor is less practical.
• A good laminate for an apartment should not have a pronounced chemical smell.
• An important step in laying flooring is the preparation of the base. If the floor surface is uneven, then the plates will begin to move away from each other and creak.
• If water gets on the floor, you should wipe it immediately, regardless of the type of laminate: this way it will last much longer.

The photo shows an electric heated floor, which is laid under a special laminate.

How to choose a laminate on your own and determine the best option for yourself is described in detail in this video:

We hope that this article was informative and helped to determine the choice of laminate flooring for an apartment.