How to choose a laminate flooring? Tips and quality criteria

Laminate quality criteria

This flooring is a multi-layer material with a chipboard or fiberboard backing. The layers are impregnated with synthetic resins, and the top layer consists of paper on which you can print any image. Most often, the laminate imitates natural wood.

In production, the layers are pressed at high temperatures, resulting in a durable, easy-care floor covering for the home. Its characteristics differ in several indicators that must be taken into account in order to accurately choose a laminate:

• Thickness.
• Wear resistance class.
• Impact resistance.
• Moisture resistance.
• With or without chamfer.
• Connection type.
• Environmental friendliness.
• Color spectrum.
• Cost.

In the photo there is a bedroom in a modern style. One of the advantages of laminate is the ability to revet not only the floor with it, but also the walls.

What thickness should you choose?

For the floor in the apartment, it is best to choose a laminate with a thickness of 8 mm. In rooms where the load is higher, the thickness of 9-10 mm will be more practical, this option is more resistant to prolonged loads (meaning heavy furniture that constantly affects the laminate). The level of sound insulation and the floor temperature depends on the thickness of the base layer: the thinner the coating, the better the neighbors hear footsteps and the colder the floor.

The most budgetary option is a material with a thickness of 6 mm, but if there will be heavy furniture or equipment in the kitchen or room, then it is better to give preference to the more expensive laminate with a thick base layer.

Endurance class

The higher the class, the longer the service life of the laminated coating. This criterion significantly affects the price of the product, therefore, it is better to choose your own material for each room. A cheap product is not suitable for a hallway or kitchen, since in these areas of the apartment the floor is exposed to the highest loads.

The table below clearly shows which laminate to choose for a particular room:

Russian buyers are accustomed to choosing durable laminate, so products of the 23rd to 32nd class are especially popular. In the price-quality ratio, the 31st class wins, but the 32nd class is more suitable for the kitchen and hallway with high traffic. Class 33 flooring is suitable for a bathroom, as well as for an apartment with pets.

Impact resistance

This parameter shows how well the coating resists impact. It is determined by the results of a test in which a ball of metal is thrown onto the surface of a laminated panel to simulate the fall of heavy objects or the pressure of heels.The criterion of strength is the integrity of the surface.

Responsible for resistance to impacts is the intermediate layer - impregnated kraft cardboard (damper). Impact resistance is indicated by the IC index. Laminate class 31 withstands impact force 10N / 800 mm, which corresponds to the coefficient IC1, 32 class withstands 15N / 1000 mm (IC2), and 33 class - 20N / 1200 mm (IC3). The last two coatings are resistant to scratches and abrasion from office chair wheels.

In the photo there is a corridor with high-quality, impact-resistant class 32 laminate, which is the optimal covering for a room with high traffic.

Moisture resistance

Exposure to water is one of the weakest points of laminate flooring. If it gets between the boards, the material swells and the decorative surface flakes off. The service life of such a floor is significantly reduced. Taking into account these shortcomings, manufacturers produce special types of moisture-resistant laminate.

The photo shows an example of a moisture-resistant coating, which is protected by a top laminated layer. Despite its resistance to water, the floor must not be kept wet for long periods of time.

Moisture resistant the laminate withstands moisture only for a certain period of time. The material is based on a durable wood fiber board, treated with special compounds. He is not afraid of wet cleaning, dirt and mold, but if a large amount of water penetrates the joint, then the floor will swell and unevenness will appear. Such a coating is appropriate in the kitchen and in the corridor, but for the loggia and bathroom you will have to choose a different material.

Water resistant the laminate is resistant to prolonged exposure to moisture, since the treatment of joints with warm paraffin reliably protects the floor covering from deformation. Temperature drops are not terrible for him either. This is a great option for balconies and bathrooms, which are characterized by high humidity.

Chamfered or not

Chamfers are beveled edges that make laminated panels visually similar to parquet boards. With it, the coating looks more natural and more expensive. Using a press, the chamfer is applied on two or four sides, while maintaining the protective layer. After installation, the joints are covered with wax.

A beveled laminate has several significant advantages: it is more resistant to mechanical damage, and if, after exposure to high temperatures, gaps have formed between the panels, they will not be so noticeable.

Compared to conventional laminate, beveled products last 5–6 years longer, even if they were slightly damaged during installation.

In the photo there is a laminate, which is similar in length and texture to wooden boards, but it is the chamfers that give it a special resemblance to natural material.

This flooring has its drawback: it requires special care. To get rid of dust, it is recommended to use a vacuum cleaner, and the dirt is removed with a soft mop or fiber cloth.

Lock for connection

Laminate is installed by joining profiled edges, but there are two main installation methods:

Environmental friendliness

Laminate is only 80-90% wood. The rest is binders: varnishes and resins. The greatest danger is precisely the varnish.that secretes substances that can cause allergies and disorders in the nervous system. Also, the flooring contains melamine, which is used to increase the wear resistance and density of the material. The more of it, the worse it is for human health, because when heated, melamine releases harmful formaldehyde.

But how to protect yourself and your loved ones? Experts advise do not buy cheap low-quality products - unscrupulous firms add an excessive amount of toxic substances to them.

A safe coating is products with the E1 marking, which indicates the minimum level of formaldehyde concentration. There is no negative effect on the body. It is forbidden to produce and sell laminate of class E2 and E3 on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The most environmentally safe material is formaldehyde-free laminate. It is marked E0 and is much more expensive. Laminate E1 and E0 can be installed in the children's room.

In the photo there is a children's room, the flooring of which is safe and environmentally friendly, and also provides the child with protection from the cold.

Laminate color

When choosing a laminate for an apartment, most people first of all pay attention to its design. This is one of the important criteria for creating an aesthetically pleasing interior. In order for the rooms to look harmonious, all furniture and decoration must be combined with each other.

Before buying a floor covering, you should choose and install the entrance and interior doors, since the range of doors is much smaller than the types of laminate. Skirting boards are increasingly chosen not in the color of the floor, but in contrast - this is how the interior looks at times more spectacular. If the floor is light, then the plinth should match the door and its trims.

In the photo there is a living room in warm colors, where the color of the floor echoes the color of the walls and is in harmony with white baseboards and platbands.

The main task of the laminate is a high-quality imitation of a parquet board, solid wood or parquet board. The noblest and most expensive "array" looks.

If the walls are decorated in neutral colors, then the floor can be saturated, and vice versa: with a bright finish, it is better to choose a muted laminate color. Covers imitating pine, oak and birch are universal options, but this approach requires additional bright accents in the form of furniture or decor.

The photo shows a discreet living room interior in black and gray tones. The flooring is a laminate with an unobtrusive pattern.

Light woods fit perfectly into the laconic interior, giving it lightness and air. This is especially true in a small area. But the dark laminate in wenge color makes the situation heavier, therefore it is suitable only for spacious rooms.

The most practical solution is gray flooring: dust is practically invisible on it.

Modern technologies make it possible to imitate not only a wooden surface, but also ceramic tiles and stone. The appearance of such products is not much different from the original. The dimensions and shape of the dies are kept in accordance with the natural material: the panels are square or have an aspect ratio of 1: 3 or 1: 4.

There are also collections with drawings, patterns and inscriptions on the surface, but such eccentric solutions require a thoughtful design project so that the furnishings do not look gaudy.

Shown here is a bright dining room with multi-colored laminate to add a playful mood to the setting.

The cost

Several factors affect the price of laminated flooring, and these are not only the above characteristics, but also the reputation of the manufacturer. Naturally, the higher the class of the laminate, the higher its cost. The average price for 1 square meter of high-quality coating is about 1000 rubles.

In the photo there is a room with expensive flooring imitating parquet.

A good laminate flooring for an apartment cannot be too cheap, but some manufacturers attract buyers with a low price. When manufacturing, they save on the quality of the base or protective layer, which negatively affects the service life of the floor.

How to choose a quality laminate: expert advice

To give a general idea of ​​the intricacies of choosing a floor covering, we have collected several important and useful recommendations.

• If you plan to install a warm floor under the laminate, you need to buy only those products that are suitable for an electric or water floor according to the recommendations of the manufacturer itself.
• It is best to choose a high quality coating of well-known brands, since trusted manufacturers give a guarantee for their products.
• The surface of the panels can be matte, glossy or brushed, that is, with an artificial aging effect. The choice of texture depends on design ideas, but a smooth floor is less practical.
• A good laminate flooring for an apartment should not have a pronounced chemical smell.
• An important step in laying the floor covering is the preparation of the base. If the floor surface is uneven, then the slabs will begin to move away from each other and creak.
• If water gets on the floor, you should wipe it off immediately, regardless of the type of laminate: this way it will last much longer.

The photo shows an electric heat-insulated floor, which is placed under a special laminate.

How to choose a laminate on your own and determine the best option for yourself is described in detail in this video:

We hope this article turned out to be informative and helped to determine the choice of laminate for the apartment.