Each of us as soon as the repair in your home, dreams of doing everything quickly and efficiently. Choose flooring sometimes so difficult. In stores, such a huge selection of laminate is presented, which is very difficult to understand the stamps and properties of the popular flooring. Which company choose a laminate for an apartment? We will talk about this today.
Content
What is laminate?
This is a popular floor covering, with which you can easily and quickly cover the floors and give the room complete view. The combination of quality and the cost of the laminate allow you to choose a coating to your taste, this is the answer to the question why the laminate is so popular.
Laminate was specially designed as an artificial substitute for parquet board. To fully say that the laminate consists only of synthetic materials, it is impossible in any way, since it consists of 4-layers, and the lowest - can be made of wood or plastic impregnated with special materials that are resistant to temperature and moisture drops. The lower layer still performs the role of the shock absorber and provides rigidity. The middle in the laminate is a layer of wood fiber, which determines the degree of durability and strength of the coating as a whole.
The top layer is decorative, can be a different shade, with or without patterns. There is another layer - the fourth, it is designed to protect the coating, consists of polymeric materials.
Advantages of the laminate for the apartment
The benefits of this material are very much, first of all is an affordable price. And this is not all - the material is considered environmentally friendly, serves a long period, easily fit and does not require increased attention.
The optimal solution for residential premises is the acquisition of laminate. Select a suitable floor covering simply, you just need to spit a little and explore all the properties of this coating. If we consider high-quality laminate, the cost of which is slightly higher than the average, then it can be noted that it does not differ from the ordinary tree. Even if you spend your palm on a laminate board, it is unlikely that the first time can be understood from which laminate is made from what material: it can be a cloth under a tree with a smooth or rough surface, you can also find a laminate that simulates a natural stone and with different patterns.
If we consider the laminate of the average price category, then it can be noted that the material is environmentally friendly, so such a floor will be safe not only for people, but also for young children, as well as animals. It does not have a specific odor, and there is no need to wait when he will destroy in a new place.
Caring for the coating is very simple, the floors from the laminate to wash the solid pleasure, which is very important for families with children and homemade pets. If we compare laminate with carpeted floors or parquet board, then in care This material is easy and does not require the purchase of additional funds.
If we pay attention to marking the laminate, it becomes clear that the product is divided into classes, which indicate the degree of wear resistance. For example, in the sale of the construction market can be met laminate labeled W-1, W-2, W-3, W-4 th grade. The first two options are suitable for stacking in an apartment or in a house (more for children's rooms and bedrooms), a laminate having marked W-3 \u200b\u200band W-4 is best to buy for laying in rooms with high permeability - it hallways, lounge, kitchen, living room. This flooring can even be used in small cafes and bars in the area, as well as hotels and hospitals.
Which company to choose laminate - you better start with a study of the reviews that you can read on the forum on the Internet, you must enter in the search bar "which company to choose laminate." If you want to get an answer to the question of which class is better durability, the answer can be ambiguous. The fact is that everything will depend on the purpose for which room needed laminate. If this is the bedroom or children's room, the load is supposed to cover the minimum, so just buy laminate Class Z-1. By the way, the floor throughout the apartment can be covered in this class flooring and laminate will last a very long time, of course, provided proper care.
There is not only marking the class wear resistance, but also durability. Thus, for a laminate with labeled Z-1 devoted 12 years of exploitation, the brand laminate W-2 will serve up to 15 years, and with the brand W-3 \u200b\u200b- to 20 years. Most durable laminate - a W-4, the floor covering can not be changed for 25 years!
What are the cover flaws:
- Very low resistance to moisture. Literally an hour later, when you shed half a cup of coffee or water on the floor, the laminate can absorb liquid and swell in this place. Most high quality and expensive laminate can withstand contact with water during 6 hours.
- A low degree of noise absorption. Laminate flooring is very "noisy", especially if you are used as the substrate particleboard. Then every step will be heard around the home.
How to choose laminate
When choosing an outdoor coating, it is necessary to take into account not only the class of wear resistance, but also the thickness of the board. The laminate is presented with a thickness of 5 to 12 mm thick. Of course, the thicker coating, the stronger the floor will be. But it does not always justify expectations. For example, thick laminate (thickness from 10 to 12 mm) is more suitable for laying in those rooms where the floor is uneven and was not prepared in advance (when laying on the old linoleum, a bad screed, there are drops). Yes, you can buy thick laminate. But then you have to pay 2 times more for covering only one room, because the cost of the laminate will be higher than the price of a thin board. It turns out that it is advantageous to pay attention to the preparation of the floor, and then put the perfectly smooth surface of a more subtle laminate (thickness 5 or 8 cm) on an ideally smooth surface.
By the way, if you want to set at home the "Warm floor" system, then consider that the thin floor covering will warm up, and therefore you do not have to include a toggle switch for all power. Accordingly, thick laminate to warm up will be slower, which is not very profitable.
Which laminate company is better to choose for an apartment? The most qualitative and best laminate is produced in Norway, Germany and Sweden. For example, an artificial parquet of the Norwegian company "Alloc" is considered the most enduring and high-quality. Naturally, the cost of such a laminated parquet is too high for the average buyer. Guarantee on their product Norwegians give an indefinite. This means that even after 100 years of operation, the flooring will not deteriorate.
The second place is parquet made in Sweden. Its cost is as high as the parquet made in Norway, but the quality is somewhat lame. Parquet "Pergo", though it is considered very strong, but the seams will be noticeable when laying. If it doesn't bother you at all, you can safely buy the outdoor coverage of this company.
In third place, the popular laminate of the company "TARKETT", the production of Germany. A variety of colors and species, plus good quality and acceptable price - these are the main advantages of this laminate. The construction market offers consumers a wide selection of laminate of this company.
As practice has shown, to answer the most popular issue of buyers "What a firm laminate to choose" consultants in the construction stores of the floor covering can so - only the company "TARKETT". This is the most affordable laminate for the price and quality.
By the way, studying customer reviews, what company to choose a laminate for an apartment, it is worth mentioning the budget line of the laminate - this is the manufacturer of Kronospane produced by Belarus. The cost of the laminate of this company is slightly lower than "Tarkett", and the quality remains as high. So it is worth paying attention to the laminate of this company.
And one more firm may claim positive customer feedback - this is the floor covering the company "CLASSEN". What is the feature of this coverage? The manufacturer (Germany) tried to laminate to all demands. The most important thing is the imitation of the natural wood texture, as well as the high degree of protection of the seams and as a whole canvas from the penetration of moisture and chemicals. And all this is quite an affordable price.
If you delve into the study of reviews on request: "What a firm laminate to choose", then you can meet such an opinion of people that it is better to stop your choice on a Chinese production product - it is inexpensive, externally, the board is no different from the brand models. It is clear that you can choose a floor covering not only to your taste, but also a wallet.
One understanding of the outdoor coating brand is sometimes not enough, it is necessary to know for which room it will be covered. For example, for one room you need to buy a laminate of light shades, and for the other - dark, somewhere to put more durable and thick, and somewhere - moisture-resistant. In order for no discrepancies, it is necessary to buy a laminate of one manufacturer on the apartment, since the laminate of different firms may differ in thickness.
What is the coating for the kitchen?
Laminate can also be kept in the kitchen - it is practical and inexpensive, care for laminate in the kitchen is very simple. Since the kitchen is the place where the floors have often, it is best to get a laminate with increased moisture resistance. To be confident in this property, the joints need to additionally handle the grout.
Tip: In order for the floor to be seen spots and prints, and it was not slippery, it is best to buy a laminate with a ribbed surface. The optimal class is z-3, since the load on this room is high.
What laminate is suitable for the bathroom?
Water-resistant flooring choice for a bathroom, a laminate is not afraid of moisture and does not lose its original appearance even after several years of operation. Covering plates made of PVC, which does not absorb water - this is the main advantage of the laminated board. If we compare the characteristics of the coating, the laminate is on a par with ceramic tiles. To achieve full protection from moisture, pay attention to the laminate board with an extra rubber band.
Laminate flooring for living rooms
Children's room, bedroom and living room - it is important not only to choose a laminate according to your taste, but also pay attention to the sound-absorbing characteristics. By the way, to reduce the noise of walking will help further support stacking. Pay attention to the laminate with an additional layer - protection against noise.
Laminate flooring in the hallway and corridors
These spaces are considered high permeability zones, on the floor is collected dirt and dust which entered from the street into the house. Paul have to wash every day. For these premises better fly laminate with a high wear resistance (Z-3 or Z-4) and preferably moisture-proof.
Overview laminate premium:
- Laminate «Kaindl» Austrian company - quality, time-tested. Laminate meets safety standards, there is no formaldehyde resins and (they floorboard present). Artificial board is difficult to distinguish from the real parquet, not only externally but also tactile. Laid such coverage - a real pleasure. By the way, the board can be placed both on the floor and on the wall. Among the shortcomings is to provide only the highest bidder.
- Floorings «Quick-Step» joint Russian and Belgian production. Characterized in that the laminate is the first to be produced with a locking system. Wear-resistant, not scratch or rub even after several years of operation. Many color variations of surfaces under simulated stone, wood and even the skin. Among the shortcomings can be noted the high cost. If the laminate is to lay a large area, the coating is sensitive to humidity and temperature changes, which means that the edge will eventually be turned out.
- «HDM» floor covering made in Germany is characterized by high performance - is absolutely smooth glossy surface is not afraid of scratches, and moisture. What are the disadvantages: on the glossy surface of the floor is impossible to hide anything: even the prints of bare feet and the dust particles are clearly visible on the floor. Need increased care, the price remains high.
Laying parquet:
