How to choose what to lay on the floor - laminate or linoleum? Comparison of materials for all parameters

In any structure, regardless of how it is used, the flooring is made much less often than other surfaces( ceiling, walls).Therefore, the owners, who for the most part have extensive experience working with wallpaper, plasters, cladding panels and so on, the choice of materials for the arrangement of "finish" flooring causes certain difficulties. Moreover, everyone wants( and this is natural), so that it lasts longer, and is inexpensive.

Note immediately that the price of linoleum and laminate are roughly equivalent. Deviations from the average indicator depend on the type of product. The fact is that both materials are produced in various "modifications".In order to understand all the features of the products, it is worth considering what they are, especially linoleum. Although in everyday life it has been used for a long time and is well known to us, in fact, the concept of many of this kind of flooring is only superficial.

Linoleum

The products sold under this name are, in fact, nothing more than a "vinyl", synthetic imitation. This product is made from natural ingredients with linseed oil as a binder. Such products are expensive, so they are not widely used in everyday life.

But the traditional material, which in everyday life we ​​call "linoleum", is made on the basis of PVC and various additives that impart certain properties to the product. It is divided into 4 types, the most common of which is "household".It is most often used in residential buildings for finishing floors, because it is considered more "comfortable" and economical.

Pros

1. Good heat and sound insulator. The thicker the material, the higher these figures.
2. Hygiene, elasticity, elasticity.
3. Ease of installation. For laying and binding of paintings special skills are not required - read more.
4. Ease of cleaning the room. With a smooth coating, it's easy to clean dirt and dust.
5. Not "afraid" of liquids( except aggressive ones).When they hit the coating, it does not deteriorate.
6. A variety of color tones and patterns.
7. Low cost.

Cons

1. At low temperatures, linoleum becomes brittle, at high temperatures it becomes deformed( this does not apply to natural products).
2. With prolonged mechanical action on the canvas, dents( for example, from the legs of furniture) remain.
3. In violation of the rules of laying under the linoleum there are swellings( air bubbles).

Conclusion

• Suitable for use in utility rooms, especially with excessive humidity( kitchen, bathroom, laundry).The floors of the bedroom, the children's room, the living room are not made from aesthetic considerations. But if there is a desire to lay this coating in these rooms, then you should choose a material with a substrate - it is more "warm".
• For the hallway, the kitchen is worth purchasing "semi-commercial" type products, since it is less prone to abrasion.

Laminate

Available in 2 versions - parquet board or wood panel. Products have a multi-layer structure, which includes paper( textured), chipboard or MDF.

Pros

1. Great imitation of natural wood.
2. Sufficient strength, hardness, resistance to abrasion.
3. Good maintainability. If any part of the floor is damaged, then one or two boards will not replace labor.

Cons

1. Installation in rooms with high humidity is not recommended - the material is "afraid" of liquids( although there is a moisture-resistant laminate).
2. For qualitative laying, it is necessary to align the base, carry out additional measures( arrangement of the substrate, sealing of joints and a number of others).
3. In the process of exploitation, the appearance of creaking, slots.
4. Sounds bad.
5. Care is more difficult than for linoleum.

Pin

• Laminate is not suitable for every room. Its use is a more complex and expensive way of finishing the floors. Not every owner will be able to perform the whole complex of works independently.
• When choosing the type of products you need to focus on the following recommendations: for the hallway, kitchen - 23 class;for a children's room, a bedroom - the 22nd;for utility rooms is quite cheaper, on the 21st. There are more new variants - 31 and 32 classes, which are to some extent universal.
• In some cases in the kitchen you can lay a moisture-resistant laminate, but only specially treated( with impregnated edges).

Practical recommendations

• The feasibility of using both a laminate and linoleum is determined by the purpose of a particular room, as well as by a number of other factors - the number of people living in the apartment, the availability of children, pets and the like. It is not possible to state which material is better.
• When choosing a material, it is necessary to take into account the volume, complexity of the "accompanying" measures. As already mentioned, the laminate is laid only on a flat surface, and linoleum in this regard is more convenient - for its installation, thorough preparation of the substrate is not required.