This floor covering successfully imitating parquet attracts buyers with an acceptable price and the ability to do all the work on their own. But to focus only on such "pluses" is not entirely correct. It is necessary to take into account the conditions under which the laminate will be used - the mechanical load, the intensity of movement of people( cargo), the degree of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the microclimate in this room, and a number of other factors.
We will not dwell on the question of the interior, so let's skip such criteria for estimating the laminate as a color, the process of choosing which has already been described, the drawing, the geometry of the panels, and so on. This is a personal matter for everyone, since everyone has his own view of such things. Price for 1 pc.(an average of 180 to 610 rubles) also depends on the financial capabilities of a particular family. But there are general questions concerning practicality, expediency, including classes of laminate, so it is worthwhile to dwell on them in detail.
If you believe advertising and Sellers, then the market, as a rule, there are no bad goods. We are out of habit, a priori, consider all this marketing ploys. But few people think that some of the negative feedback from Consumers is due to violations of the technology of installation( installation, installation, etc.) or incorrect selection of the type( type, class) of products in accordance with local conditions.
To make the choice of laminate floor aware, you need, first of all, to know what kind of flooring is this. The boards have a multi-tier structure, so it is worth to list all the layers( depending on the manufacturer and their destination from 3 to 5), starting with the top. It performs a protective function and is a film formed as a result of the hardening of resins( synthetic or melamine).
Under it is "decoration" - a layer of paper that mimics any materials( for example, wood varieties, marble and a number of others).Further - the basis, which, as a rule, is nothing like a particle board. There are many options for constructive panels - layers that protect the plate from moisture, damping.
All products called laminate are classified according to certain characteristics. Therefore, when choosing a variety of material, you need to determine which of them are priority for a particular room. But first of all it is necessary to be guided by the degree of mechanical influence on the material in the period of operation.
Abrasion Resistance
This is the key parameter for dividing the laminate into classes that form 2 product groups - "commercial" and "for household use".They are denoted by two-digit numbers( from 21 to 23 and from 31 to 33).The first figure indicates to which group of laminate the sample belongs: "2" - for household use, "3" - for commercial. The second testifies to the strength of the upper layer of the material - the larger it is, the longer the panel is.
Products marked "22" are considered universal, since they have averaged parameters and can be packed almost without restrictions. But in order to increase the operational life of the panels in areas of intensive movement( hallway, corridors, stairwells and marches), it is recommended to mount a class "23" material. He though and is more expensive, but also the least subject to abrasion.
By the way, exactly the same gradation of strength is also applied to the laminate "commercial"( 31 - 33).
Thickness of panels
For sample samples - from 7 to 12 mm. What it affects:
- coating strength;
- the level of heat loss through the "bottom" of the room;
- degree of noise insulation.
A good clue can serve as a different designation on the package, made in the form of symbolic drawings. And there can be several, because each characterizes this or that property of the product. This greatly facilitates the choice of material in accordance with the specifics of the room. Here are a few examples.
An important question is, is it possible to laminate laminate yourself? After all, when working with many finishes( facing materials), not only general knowledge is required, but also practice. For example, for a quality installation of a parquet piece, you need professionalism. In this regard, the laminate can be safely put a big "plus", regardless of the way the panels are fastened together.
All the connections of the most frequently used samples in the household are lock and are divided into 2 types. The first option - the joint is made on the principle of a "spike-groove", while the workpieces lie in one plane and one "is driven" into the other by a "gentle" tapping along its end part( "Lock").The second type of connection is characterized by the fact that the final stage is the clicking of the board by pressing on its opposite edge( "Click").Such work does not require any skills - just care and accuracy.
There is also a technique for gluing panels together. But it has its own specifics and is "on the shoulder" only to a professional. And in terms of maintainability of such coverage there are many questions. Despite the fact that the "glued" products are cheaper, the benefit from their purchase is rather illusory, since in the total cost of finishing it is necessary to include the costs for the adhesive and the services of the master.
It is necessary to take into account the criteria for preparing the base for paneling. Given their structure, to its evenness high demands are made. The maximum difference by 1 pm- 2 mm. Typically, for additional alignment of the "rough" floor, "substrates" are used. The cheapest option - film p / e( thick).
The quality of products can be determined by some external characteristics.
- The presence of an unpleasant odor is evidence of base material.
- Curved end parts will significantly complicate, and even make it impossible for high-quality docking of panels. Such a defect can be caused not only by a violation of production technology, but also by improper storage of products, by failure to comply with the conditions of its storage. For example, "normal"( not moisture-proof) laminate can absorb moisture, from which the panel and "lead".Even if such products can be combined, then where is the guarantee that after the material dries, a lot of slots will not appear on the floor? Qualitatively to repair them later is unlikely to work.
The practice of using a laminate shows that it is necessary to give preference to products of known brands. At least because this is a guarantee of strict compliance with production technology.
The panels under the brands Kronotex, Terhurne, Aberhof( Germany), Strong Step( USA), Kronoswiss( Switzerland), Class Floor( France), Quick StepBelgium) and a number of others.
Conclusion
- The peculiarity of this product is that it does not "like" liquids, given its structural composition, with the exception of a moisture-resistant laminate. And this must be taken into account first. And it's not just about rooms with excessive humidity. It is also important how( and what) engineering communications are laid in this room. After all, any leakage can irretrievably ruin the panel. And is it convenient to replace it, for example, in a small kitchen, besides "tightly" forced( a set or "piece" heavy furniture)?
- In this regard, it is not necessary to lay the laminate in rooms that require regular washing of the floors. Care of the panels involves only a wet cleaning( well wrung out cloth), but not associated with puddles and water stains. If in this room you still need to make the finishing of the floors with this material, then you need to pay attention to products from the category "moisture-proof".But in this case, the share of caution in operation will not hurt.
- When choosing the material, you need to take into account the size of the room in which the work will be carried out. In order to minimize and trim the panels as little as possible, it is necessary to "harmonize" their linear parameters with the dimensions of the room, taking into account all the projections, niches and so on. This will not only facilitate labor, but will also reduce the amount of waste.
All of the above gives grounds for such a recommendation - do not listen too much to someone's advice. It is necessary to be guided by the expediency of using a certain class of laminate, based on the characteristics of a particular room. And it is in your house, not "in general".
