Laminate as a floor covering has gained colossal prevalence all over the world. Of course, all this is due to the low cost of the material, as well as excellent quality. Externally, laminate is not much different from expensive and elite parquet, but it has a number of internal differences. First of all, this is the structure. The parquet consists of solid wood, while the laminate is a fibreboard. The density of this product allows you to completely forget about all the problems that had to occur with floor products based on fibrous material.
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laminate types Also the laminate has a protective top layer that does not allow the material to wear out over time. No, of course, there is some wear and tear, it is incredibly slow.
It's worth mentioning that it's easy to look after a laminate. To do this, it is sufficient to ensure that the surface of the coating is not exposed to moisture. In the rest, there are no specific features in terms of care material does not have. This is much more practical in this aspect of the material than the same wood parquet.
Many believe that it is because of its fibrous structure that the laminate can not last for more than a few years. However, practice shows that this product remains in perfect condition even after 15 years of use, so we have every reason to say that the laminate is better than parquet.
The main features of laminate
It is worth mentioning that the fibrous component of the laminate is far from a disadvantage. Interestingly, wood fiber provides a high level of flexibility of the floor product. Accordingly, this increase in the reliability of the coating, as well as a certain level of density. Bends of the material will not lead to the fact that the laminate will be damaged or at least slightly deformed.
To date, hundreds of Russian companies are engaged in laminate production. Accordingly, the competition in this market is simply colossal. For the average consumer, this is clearly good, as the prices for this product are falling all the time, although not as fast as we would like. In the market you can find different types of laminate, which, accordingly, are located in different price niches.
It should be noted that it is advisable to use laminate exclusively at home. These are the places where the floor coverings wear out very slowly. At the same time in the market you can find a laminate, which is designed for industrial premises, as well as offices. In such cases, the service life of the coating rarely reaches 5-6 years. However, many manufacturers boldly say that their material will last at least 10 years. In such cases, we are talking about the use of laminate only in private homes or small warehouses, where the foot of a person steps rarely.
More recently, it was possible to find a variety of color options for laminate. Of course, if you try, now you can find many different variations on this topic, but in recent years the amount of laminate with the original color design has dramatically decreased. Consumers began to make a choice in favor of natural color variations. Of course, many people want a laminate, reminiscent of expensive parquet. It is incredibly difficult to distinguish between these two types of coatings with the naked eye.
Types of laminate surfaces
Again, on sale you can find a huge range of coatings, called laminate. However, in this case we are not talking about the color of the material, but about the types of surfaces.
Glossy laminate has become very popular. It looks bright and attractive. This solution is perfect for the kitchen, as well as storage rooms. Also, a solid shine is perfectly combined with extravagant and classical interiors. Practically the mirror surface of such a laminate is incredibly easy to clean and wash.
In the building stores you can find a matt laminate. It has no less attractive appearance than a glossy version. At the same time, the matte surface looks neutral, so this type of material can be used in the kitchen, and in the main room of the dwelling, and in the bedroom.
The classic type of surface is a laminate called "natural wood".Such material is almost the same as the classical parquet, but we can find surfaces that will correspond to different types of trees. In this regard, there is a huge choice.
In addition, you can find laminate in the form of tiles. This product can also have a glossy or matte surface. Perhaps, in certain cases, the shape and dimensions of the tile are more practical solutions.
Classification of laminate
As already mentioned, a laminate can be found on the market, which can wear out both quickly and very slowly. Accordingly, a classification has been created that makes it possible to determine how durable and wear-resistant the material is. Next, consider the classification itself.
- 33rd grade. This is, without exaggeration, the most durable option, which can be used not only in homes, but also in industrial buildings, shops and municipal institutions. Despite this, such coverage( when used in places where there are many people) can serve no more than 5-6 years. If the laminate of the 33rd class is used in an ordinary apartment, then it will perfectly serve 10, 15 or even 20 years. In addition, this coating is in direct contact with water and does not lose its initial properties.
- 32nd and 31st grades. Again, and these classes of laminate surfaces are actively used in commercial premises. It's again about shops and other establishments where there is a lot of people walking around, and they are constantly working on the floor surface. Unlike the previous class, the data coverage will be slightly less. Therefore, it is desirable to choose 32 and 31 classes of laminate for office space, as well as shops, where people do not attend very much.
- 23rd and 22nd grades. Such coatings are the most common in modern conditions. The thing is that these are the best options for living quarters, in which several people live. Do not think that such a laminate will serve a very short time, since within a small apartment, it will definitely lose its initial properties within 10 years. Laminate of the 22nd class is often used in the living rooms, and the 23rd - in the hallways.
- The 21st grade of laminate in modern conditions is used extremely rarely. Of course, such coatings look just gorgeous, but they wear out too quickly. Thus, laminate of this class is advisable to use in the bedrooms, as well as small storerooms. These are the places where the inhabitants of the house spend too little time. Accordingly, the laminate should last a long time.
It should be noted that there are lower grades of laminate, but recently they are almost impossible to find in the market. Due to their low lifespan, consumers have ceased to give preference to them. But still under the order such laminate is made, and it is cheaper than other variations, but it looks all the same solid.
Analysis of the
laminate characteristics If there is a need to purchase a laminate, first of all you should pay attention to the material characteristics. The thing is that each manufacturer points out special marks on its products, which correspond to one or another positive characteristic of the product. Next, we will take a closer look at the most common laminate parameters:
- Resistance to ultraviolet. In this case, we are talking about the fact that under the influence of sunlight the laminate will not fade. Accordingly, for many years the material will have a bright and juicy texture. Unfortunately, this characteristic can not boast of all the materials, but gradually the resistance to ultraviolet radiation becomes one of the basic requirements of the consumer.
- Stability to deformations. If the laminate is used in industrial buildings or in retail outlets, attention should be paid to the tendency to deformation of the material. Of course, any object that fell on the laminate can damage it. To avoid such trouble, you should purchase products with the above characteristics. Obviously, the material will still deform under certain conditions, but this will not be very noticeable. This step allows you to save money, which is usually put off for all the same repair work.
- Highly flammable. In certain areas, the issue of fire safety is in the first place. This can be, for example, industrial buildings, hospitals, as well as other places where fire means a huge danger to others. Hardly inflammable laminate - an excellent solution, which certainly looks more attractive than a classic laminate. Also from the name of this characteristic it is clear that the laminate can still ignite, but the probability of such an occurrence is extremely small. Moreover, it is possible to extinguish the ignition that has occurred in a matter of seconds.
- Low wear resistance. Many believe that this characteristic means that for many years the laminate will be in the initial state. However, this is not quite true. For the most part, this factor depends on the class of products, of which we spoke earlier. A low wear resistance often means that such a laminate is best used in office premises, where there are many chairs with soft rollers. Accordingly, such products have been developed with the expectation of movements of chairs, which often wear out surfaces.
- Use with "warm floor".Recently heated floor has become almost an integral part of most private houses and offices. This is a great thing, which is so relevant in the winter. Accordingly, this characteristic, if it is indicated on the products, allows the use of laminate as the main coating. If such a characteristic is not provided, you can face certain problems. For example, laminate will not be the best way to conduct heat.
- Hygienic and easy to clean. Surely many have heard that laminate flooring is very easy to clean and clean. This is often true, given the smoothness of the surface. However, there are exceptions, so pay attention to the information provided on the product itself. As for hygiene, this is clearly an important aspect, which implies the use of laminate in medical institutions.
Types of laminate joints
Of course, when choosing a laminate, it is worth taking a closer look at the types of joining strips. Obviously, in certain cases this issue can be very important. Also, you should know that in some situations, this or that type of connection may not be applicable.
- This is most likely the most common mix of laminate strips, which has been used successfully for many years. Experts themselves in the repair business note that it is "Click" is the most practical and safe way to connect. In this case, for qualitative fastening, it is necessary to bring another unit of material to a fixed laminar strip at a certain angle( most often - 45 °).Further, the installed strip is advanced to the groove, gradually making a smaller angle of inclination. After that, you can hear a characteristic click, which means a successful connection.
- This connection is more like a conventional lock, which has a fairly simple mechanism. For installation, it is necessary to place the laminate stripes exclusively horizontally. In this case, the panels are simply hammered into each other. In this case, the already installed panel expands when a new strip is installed. In this process, there is nothing complicated, but it is worth paying attention to the fact that carelessness can lead to significant deformations of the laminate.
