Tips on choosing the right laminate for an apartment

Laminate is one of the sought after materials. It creates a cozy atmosphere and a presentable look. Value for money has made it very popular.

Content

1 Distinctive features
2 Advantages and disadvantages of laminate flooring
3 How to choose a laminate

Distinctive features

Laminated board looks good in apartments. It’s not hard to pick it up, because sold in various colors. It has almost no differences from a real tree. This coating is harmless and environmentally friendly.

By wear resistance, the laminate is divided into classes: 31, 32, 33, 34. There are still 21-23, but they should not be used. Their service life is very small, only 1-5 years. In apartment premises, 31/32 classes are usually used. In places with intense loads it is better to apply 33/34.

Read more: How to design a home office

Resource of the laminated floor when caring for it:

1.31 grade - 12 years
2.32 grade - 15 years
3.33 grade - 20 years
4.34 grade - 25 years.

Another laminate is of different thicknesses. Thin 5mm and 8mm, as well as thick 10mm and 12mm. In areas with initially poor coverage, it is advisable to lay the laminate thicker. In rooms with good coverage, thin is suitable, and if you use the heating function, such material will heat up much faster.

On a note!

The connection at the laminate is of two types: castle and adhesive. More often use the first kind. Locks are of two types: Lock (latches) and Click (collapsible).

Click locks are easy to install. When installing such boards, a roughness of the floor of 3 mm per 1 linear meter is allowed. To build does not require professional skills, you can do everything yourself. This is a very big plus. When mounting the boards are latched at an angle of 45. During assembly, the safety of the locks is ensured.

They are securely fastened together, which gives a guarantee for long-term use. Good panels have almost no visible joints.

Even with a high load, the laminated boards will not disperse for a very long time. A huge advantage of this castle connection is that it is possible to carry out installation / disassembly several times.

On a note!

Locks Lock is cheaper. He has a spike groove system. This connection is less reliable. After some time, cracks are formed in the places where the panels are fixed, which can no longer be removed. A laminate with such a joint cannot be laid on an uneven base. First you need to level the floor. Again, during installation, you can damage the locks or they will fail very quickly if improperly installed.

Adhesive bonding is not in demand. In addition, you cannot lay it yourself. Here you will need to turn to specialists.

Advantages and disadvantages of laminate flooring

Laminate flooring is like parquet. He has a number of positive and negative sides. It is made of extruded HDF boards, not natural wood.

But outwardly distinguishing it from a real tree is almost impossible. The production of laminated panels is so developed that it has imitations of all tree species.

Benefits:

Strength. It copes well with loads. Furniture leaves no scratches.
Endurance. It tolerates temperature changes. No polishing required.
Environmental friendliness. Does not contain chemicals.
Easy installation. Installation work can be done directly on linoleum, wooden floors, etc.
Durability. With proper care, laminated panels have a long service life.
Price. The cost of a laminate board is lower than on a parquet.

Disadvantages:

Load. This material is divided into wear resistance classes.In each separate room, it is required to put a coating of a certain class. To increase the service life, materials of a higher class should be used for safety margin.
Humidity. Frequent contact with water can damage the material.
Deformation. Occurs due to improper, careless installation.
Creak. Appears due to uneven base coat or old wooden floors.

How to choose a laminate

Laminate has various options. In some places you need to put moisture resistant, in others more durable. You can combine materials of different types, but you need to do this only with a laminate of the same manufacturer.

This is because different firms may have slight variations in size. A small margin of error will cause complexity during the installation of the laminate.

On a note!

In living rooms, in addition to design and class, one should take into account such a characteristic as absorption absorption. The quality of the substrate and the board itself will reduce the sound when walking, relieve squeaking. In such places with a small load, 31, 32 class of laminate is suitable.

In the kitchen, it is recommended to use a moisture-resistant material with a texture. It will add convenience in cleaning, there are no spots on it and it is less slippery. The laminate class here is suitable 33. In comparison with the bedroom, the floor in the kitchen is under heavy load.

In the corridor, preference should also be given to moisture-resistant material. Hallway - dirt, dust, frequent floor cleaning. The best option is 33/34.

On a note!

In the bathroom, only a waterproof laminate is suitable. PVC boards that do not absorb water are the foundation of a waterproof laminate. This is the difference from a moisture resistant material. He almost does not lose the tile.

One final tip: give up saving on material. The quality of the flooring plays an important role in the interior of the premises.