Laminate or parquet board, which is better: expert opinion

The arrangement of the floor in the apartment is a responsible and costly task, therefore, the choice of flooring should be treated with special attention. What should be a good gender? Beautiful, strong and durable. At construction forums, to this day, there is heated debate about which floor covering is better: parquet or laminate. The first attracts with its naturalness, the second - with practicality and price. Conquering its supporters new material in the construction market - cork laminate. We will find out the truth about these materials, find out how they differ and help those who doubt it to make the right choice.

If you ask a question about which is better, a laminate or a parquet board, to an experienced specialist, then the answer get one-to-one: what’s best is better, and the rest is personal preferences. Both materials have their pros and cons, but for some, the disadvantages of a laminate or parquet will be significant, and for someone - easily removable. Consider the features of each material and conduct a comparative analysis of their characteristics.

Parquet board: natural wood heat

Parquet board replaced the classic piece parquet from solid wood. It is a structure that successfully combines hard and softer wood species, giving it flexibility and strength. Better than others, a three-layer parquet board has proved itself, having the following form:

• bottom layer - stabilizing plywood layer, thickness from 1.5 to 2 mm;
• middle layer - narrow planks of softwood softwood or rubber wood 8–9 mm thick, located perpendicular to the upper layer;
• the top is a durable wear-resistant layer of hard wood, the thickness varies from 0.5 to 6 mm.

The total thickness of the board can reach 25 mm. On top of the parquet board is covered with several layers of protective varnish.

Deserves special attention parquet board Barlinek. The manufacturer uses only natural wood, groomed in three layers, no plywood or MDF. BARCLICK locks are used along the long edge and at the end of the lock Barlock 5Gc, which allow styling without glue and special tools. Can be laid on a warm floor!

Advantages and disadvantages of parquet

Like any material, parquet flooring has its pros and cons, which must be taken into account when choosing.

Pluses of a parquet board:

1. The naturalness of the material. The wooden floor makes the room warm, cozy and lively, the natural, non-repeating wood pattern is mesmerizing.
2. The possibility of restoration work. The front layer of the board, depending on the thickness, can withstand from 1 to 3 grinding cycles and, if necessary, is covered with a new layer of varnish.
3. Long service life - at least 15 years with proper care.
4. Relative simplicity of leaving - rather standard wet cleaning and regular use of special polishes is enough.
5. Easy styling. The lock connection makes it easy to lay and dismantle individual elements.
6. Antistatic. Varnish does not attract dust, hair and animal hair.
7. Unlike piece parquet, the parquet board does not need to be looped and sanded after laying, they have a factory coating or impregnation.

Minuses:

1. Wood is subject to mechanical damage: deformation, dents, scratches. Strength differs depending on the type of wood used in the top layer.
2. There is a chance of delamination.
3. Increased demands on the surface of the base - it must be clean and perfectly aligned.
4. Afraid of temperature and humidity changes.
5. Do not use chemical cleaners.
6. When laying without gluing, gaps may form between the boards over time.

Laminate: versatility and practicality

Laminate is a modern industrial product consisting of different materials arranged in layers.

• The bottom layer is protective, made of impregnated paper or thin plastic.
• The middle layer - the carrier, is a fiberboard or chipboard plate, characterized by increased strength.
• The front layer is the foil or film on which the image is applied. It can be an imitation of wood, granite, tile, carpet and other materials. The most popular textures that imitate the laminate: oak, maple, walnut cherry and other valuable wood species.
• Top layer - protective - melamine resin.

The edges of the laminate are usually treated with a wax repellent.

Laminate is divided into classes according to the wear resistance parameter from 21 to 34. The higher the class, the greater the allowable load on the coating and its service life, which can reach 15 and even 20 years.

Tip: for an apartment, a class 32 product with corundum in the upper protective layer (a substance that provides high scratch resistance) is best suited. The lower class is not durable, material 33 and 34 class is unreasonably expensive.

Pros and cons of laminate flooring

It is important to keep in mind that all the advantages that this coating can have are only for a high-quality product, the manufacturer of which is part of the EPLF association. Low-quality products that can be sold both at a low price and under the guise of material high class, they have one solid minuses and form a negative public opinion about this type coverings.

Benefits:

• high strength and resistance to damage (chips, scratches, dents) and abrasion;
• good moisture resistance with high-quality installation, which eliminates the presence of gaps between the elements;
• safety - despite all its artificiality, a certified laminate does not emit harmful substances;
• resistance to high temperatures and ultraviolet;
• simplicity of laying due to special technology of fasteners - “click-system”.

Laminate disadvantages:

• the main difference between a laminate and a parquet board, which can be attributed to its disadvantages, is its naturalness;
• the edges of the plates are the weak point of the product and may delaminate over time;
• not subject to restoration and repair;
• the material is characterized by high noise and echo;
• static, attracts dust, cold to the touch.

Tip: the softness and noise of the coating can be significantly reduced if you put it on a high-quality floor and cork substrate.

Cork laminate

A novelty in the world of decoration - cork laminate, combines the qualities of parquet and laminated flooring and even surpasses them in some respects.

Cork, like a laminate or parquet board, consists of several layers:

• pressed cork chips substrates;
• bases from a moisture-resistant HDF plate with grooves and spikes for laying;
• sound and heat insulating layer of pressed cork;
• veneer cork or other types of wood;
• a layer of high-strength varnish or vinyl film.

Pros of cork laminate:

• excellent heat and noise insulation;
• hypoallergenicity and environmental friendliness;
• the elasticity of the material;
• simple installation;
• can be dismantled and laid several times;
• the cork is springy and feels warm to the touch, gives a pleasant feeling when walking barefoot;
• service life not less than 10 years.

Minuses:

• high price;
• low strength with point exposure;
• cork coating is poorly compatible with the system of underfloor heating, heat transfer will be very low - at the level of 20%;
• rough surface makes maintenance difficult.

Some cork owners complain of socks and slippers that wear out quickly due to roughness. To eliminate this drawback, it is necessary to cover the floor with an additional layer of varnish.

Comparison of flooring

Let's try to compare three types of floor coverings from the position of the main selection criteria.

Appearance

Only the shape of the individual elements can be common in the appearance of these floor coverings. The most common option is an elongated board, “deck”.

1. Parquet and parquet board are the nobility of natural wood. The atmosphere that it creates cannot be replaced by the most elaborate imitation. All boards differ from each other, creating a unique floor pattern.
2. Laminate is a variety of decor options, an imitation of various materials, from wood to marble.
3. Cork laminate looks impressive and natural. If other types of wood were used to create the top layer, then the coating cannot be distinguished from a parquet board.

Performance

1. Parquet requires careful handling, does not tolerate sharp heels, furniture movements, falling heavy objects, but it is warm and unstable.
2. The laminate is practical and durable, but at the same time cold, hard and static.
3. The cork is elastic and the dents from the furniture disappear after some time, but when it is hit, chips will form on it. In terms of tactile sensations, this is the most pleasant and warm material.

Installation

All of the above materials can be laid floating method using a system of locks. This way of laying is simple and quick, available for hand-made execution. A parquet board is sometimes glued to the base to obtain a durable coating without gaps.

Price

If you decide which is better to choose - parquet or laminate - from a financial point of view, then the most economical laminate will be an option, in approximately the same price category there are parquet and cork laminate.

comparison table

You can compare the characteristics of different flooring with a detailed table.