Plinth for laminate - functionality and decorativeness
If a laminate is used as a floor covering for the design of the room, then you can face the problem of choosing a skirting board. It is caused by the fact that the laminate has a distinctive feature - a "floating" coating, which can narrow and expand when the air temperature and its moisture index change. In this case, fixing the skirting directly to the floor is impossible, it should be mounted only on the wall.
If you ignore this nuance, soon after facing the floor you can observe its deformation.
It should be noted that the plinth is a kind of multi-functional element of the finish. It performs its immediate function - it hides the gap that forms between the wall and the floor. With a cable channel, it allows you to seamlessly stretch the wires along the wall. And that is not all. The modern plinth for laminate is successfully coping with the role of a decorative element of interior decoration. Competently selected, it is the final detail of the interior.
Plinth for laminate - we make a choice!
The modern market of building materials offers a choice of three types of skirting that are suitable for laminate. These are:
- Wooden products. Such a plinth for a laminate is most often made of pine, alder or oak wood.
It can be made from a single solid wood or veneer. Stopping the choice on this finishing element, it should be noted, it does not bend at small radii. Thus, if in the room where the laminate is laid, there are round bends of the wall of a small radius, a wooden plinth will create a lot of inconvenience. Moreover, between it and the wall are formed ugly cracks.
However, this element of the interior is characterized by good strength characteristics, environmental friendliness, aesthetic appearance. There were some shortcomings. So, the product made of wood is not too resistant to moisture and has a high cost. It is not possible to remove the second drawback, however, it is possible to make this element more moisture-resistant by using varnish and other protective coatings.
When choosing a skirting board from this or that kind of wood, veneer, you should carefully inspect it. It should not have sticking fibers, and the surface should be as flat as possible. A poorly polished product indicates that insufficiently dried wood was used for its production.
- Plastic products. If you are wondering how to choose a plinth to the laminate, pay attention to the options from the widespread plastic today.
Used for their manufacture PVC( PVC) is characterized by low cost and excellent performance. The finished interior does not need additional measures for surface treatment, in intensive care. It has an attractive appearance, can simulate various surfaces, for example, a tree. The stability of this element to moisture and temperature changes allows it to be installed in any rooms.
It is worth remembering that the plastic skirting board is quite fragile and will not suffer heavy mechanical loads.
- Laminated skirting board. Judging by the name, it is ideal for a floor of similar material.
It is based on ordinary MDF, covered with a special film. Such a product will serve you less than a plastic analog, however it is characterized by water resistance, hygiene and a democratic price.
When choosing a flooring for laminate flooring, it is necessary to take into account not only the material of manufacture, but also its color. Most often they are looking for a product of the same color as the floor or the tone is darker. Widely spread the idea of selecting this finishing element in the tone of door trims. However, if you need to make the room visually more, then the tone of the floor and the skirting must match.
Install skirting board on laminate - installation rules
Undoubted advantage of this product is its simplicity of installation. Even the lack of special skills and professional knowledge is not a hindrance. Today, installing skirting on a laminate requires only a knowledge of the sequence of work, the availability of the necessary tools and accuracy.
First, the surface of the wall on which the plinth is fixed should be flat and clean. In case of uncontrollable unevenness, it is recommended to use screws. Secondly, the small thickness of the products allows for their installation to use liquid nails, nails without hats.
Installation is usually done from the corner. To do this, the skirting board leans against the wall, on which its height and fixing points are marked. The distance between them should be 50-65 cm. After marking, you can proceed directly to the installation of the product. If the fastening elements that make the plinth less attractive are visible on its surface, you can use special decorative plugs.
However, there is no need for them if the product has a cable channel. When installing the skirting to the wall, its core is removed, and after installation is inserted into place, hiding not very aesthetic attachment points. Thus, a properly selected plinth for a floor covering made of laminate, will make the interior more attractive and practical.