Nowadays, there is a huge variety of floor coverings. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, but it is the laminated board that rightfully takes its place in this niche. Laminate is chosen by those who appreciate the quality and durability of wooden coatings at an affordable cost. Moreover, the types of laminate and prices will satisfy even the most demanding customer.
What is laminate flooring
It is a multi-layered product, mainly consisting of sawdust and shavings (90% on average). And no matter what types of laminate there are, basically, manufacturers use a four-layer production:
- The first layer (the lowest) is impregnated paper or cardboard. Moreover, the impregnation can be made of resin or paraffin. This protects the board from moisture, mold or mildew, and warping.
- The second or main layer is made from sawdust or shavings by pressing under high pressure. During the pressing process, a special High Density Flag (HDF) adhesive is used. ATthe result is a plate with increased density, elasticity and strength. The quality of the laminate lock directly depends on the quality of this layer, since it is cut out in it.
- Next comes the decorative layer. It is made from paper or various polymers. Only the appearance of the board depends on this layer: drawing and color.
- The final layer is a laminated film of acrylate or melamine resin. The main function of this layer is protection from external influences. Also, the manufacturer can give relief to this layer.
Types of laminate flooring
There are two main types of this product: residential and commercial laminate. But in a broader view, this flooring is divided into:
- Thickness, shape and size.
- Lock type.
- Abrasion class.
- Eco-grade.
- Product density.
- Laminate surface design.
Important: regardless of the type of laminate, remain unchanged:
- Preparation of the floor surface.
- Basic rules for laying and caring for laminate flooring.
The service life of the product after installation directly depends on these factors.
Shape and size
Many manufacturers, in order to attract as many buyers as possible, produce entire collections of this laminated flooring, which vary:
The shape. There are two main forms of laminate: classic plank and tile laminate. Moreover, the first is characterized by a simplerstyling, and the square shape allows you to create various compositions
- There are simply no standard sizes for a laminate in terms of the length and width of the board. Each manufacturer sets its own values, which may vary depending on the product collection.
- The thickness of the boards can vary from 6 to 12 mm. This indicator directly affects the wear resistance, sound and heat insulation properties. And the more the better.
Types of locks
The founders of the whole variety of laminate interlocks that exist today are only two systems:
- Lock type lock systems (they are also called tongue-and-groove locks). The first locking system that was invented specifically for parquet and laminate flooring in 1994. It is a thorn-groove connection, that is, each board has a recess on one side, and a protrusion on the other, completely repeating the shape of the recess. Installation is carried out by driving one board into another. The main disadvantages include: the requirements for the quality of the floor are increased, the assembly is more complicated, during dismantling there is a high probability of damage to the interlock, the durability is less.
- The Click system is a more modern type of key connection. The same principle, but the "thorn" is made in the form of a hook and snaps into place at an angle of 40-45 degrees. Significantly outperforms the previous type of connections in popularity due to improved assembly / disassembly of the laminate and the strength of the locks.
T-Lock, MegaLock, Click2Click and UniClic locks can also be distinguished, which, in fact, are combined or improved versions of both systems.
When choosing a lock, it is important to pay attention to the length of the lock: the longer, the more reliable the clutch will be, and hence the service life.
Wear class
Types of laminate and characteristics are also determined by the class, which takes into account the resistance of the product to external influences in different operating conditions. Laminate is divided into classes according to the European standard, so manufacturers from other countries may have their own classes that differ from European standards. There are currently four wear classes:
- 31st grade. It replaced the categories from 21st to 23rd, which are no longer produced at the moment. It is used in places with low traffic, mainly in everyday life or in small offices. The price starts from 400 rubles. for m2.
- 32nd grade. Commercial option for places with medium traffic. The service life in domestic conditions is 10-15 years (depending on the manufacturer), in the office - no more than five years. It is in great demand due to the price-quality ratio (average price tag: 700 - 1400 rubles per sq. m).
- 33rd grade. Until recently, this category was the most abrasion-resistant of all types of laminate flooring. Suitable for indoor and high traffic areas such as hotels,restaurants, shops and the like. The service life in domestic conditions is more than twenty years, in commercial conditions - more than six years. A square meter of such coverage will cost at least a thousand rubles.
- 34th grade. At the moment, the most wear-resistant type of laminate for rooms with ultra-high traffic and loads. For example, in gyms, car dealerships or airports. It is rarely used in everyday life, mainly due to the high cost (from 1,400 rubles), but manufacturers give a lifetime warranty for such premises.
Sustainable
There is an opinion that the laminate is a non-environmentally friendly product, since its composition (or rather, the composition of the upper and main layers) contains substances that are unsafe for humans: formaldehyde and phthalate. Indeed, this is true, and the content of these substances calls into question the use of laminate, especially in everyday life. However, substances harmful to humans are used in the production of almost all modern building materials: dry mixes, furniture, doors and even wallpaper. But with proper use and operation, these substances do not harm: for example, the formaldehyde contained in the laminate begins to be released only when heated above 30 degrees Celsius (applies only to certified products).
Depending on the concentration of toxins, all types of laminate are assigned environmental classes (emissions), according to European standards:
- E0 is the most environmentally friendly class containing the minimum (almost zero) amount of toxins. But thanks to this, it has a highvalue.
- E1 is also a practically safe laminate category. The formaldehyde content does not exceed the concentration of this substance in natural wood (which is why wood has its own unique smell).
- E2, E3 - the content of harmful substances is 3-6 times higher than that of the previous class. Laminate with this emission is not recommended for residential use.
Product density
A very important criterion when choosing a laminate, which characterizes not only the strength of the product to the load, but also its moisture resistance and the strength of the locks. And in some cases, the types of laminate surfaces depend on the gluing method. The density of the product is achieved by gluing all layers of the laminate in various ways. There are several types of them, some are similar to each other, but let's focus on two of them, more often than others used by manufacturers:
- DPL direct pressure technology. It is used in the production of the main amount of laminated coatings. The essence of this method lies in the fact that all layers of the laminate are pressed in one technological process, resulting in a low-density board. Such a laminate is not recommended to be subjected to high loads, as the upper and lower layers, unable to withstand this, will tear.
- HPL high pressure technology. Pressing is carried out in several stages: first, the top layer is pressed (decorative paper, several layers of kraft paper and a protective layer), then the resulting top coating, base and lower compensating layer are glued together. The product is of high strength and is able to withstand largeload.
Design
The types of laminate flooring are as diverse as the imagination of the designers and artists who come up with them. The surface of laminated products differs not only in color and various imitations, but can also be completely unusual: for example, a designer laminate with a 3D effect or a product with abstract patterns.
Mostly imitate:
- Wood coverings.
- Ceramic tiles.
- Leather and metal.
In addition, the surface of the laminate can be:
- Artificially aged.
- With a certain relief and structure.
- Glossy or waxed.
- Matte or oil.
Laminate on the wall
For a long time, laminate flooring was exclusively for flooring. But the course of design thought does not stand still, and now this product can be found not only on the wall, but also on the ceiling. This has become widespread due to the emergence of a huge variety of types of laminate design. By placing laminated boards on a wall or ceiling, you can emphasize or hide certain details, bring coziness and warmth to the room. The floor that blends into the wall is just gorgeous.
But do not look for special panels in stores, because there is no such thing as types of laminate for walls. Any product will do. Moreover, the selection criteria can be reduced, since the laminate in this case will not be subjected tomechanical stress.
There are two reliable ways to mount panels on the wall and ceiling:
- The first option is mounting to the wall with glue. This method is very simple to install, but careful preparation of the surface of the wall or ceiling is required. A flat plane plays a decisive role for this solution.
- Wireframe method. For such mounting systems, surface leveling is not required; it is enough to set the frame itself in level. Sheathing with laminate occurs in the same way as sheathing, with any similar materials: clapboard or MDF panels.
Substrate
It is an indispensable material when laying any material in a floating way, including for laminate. The following factors depend on the type of substrate:
- Heat and sound insulation (depending on the substrate material).
- Waterproofing.
- With the help of the underlay, minor unevenness of the floor surface can be smoothed out.
Whatever the shape of the substrate, roll, sheet or in the form of an accordion, the main thing in it is the material of execution:
- Foamed polyethylene is the cheapest version of the substrate, and it is also extremely short-lived. After a couple of years of operation, the material will sag, and with it all the useful qualities of the substrate will disappear.
- Cork. It is available in rolls and sheets. It has a number of positive qualities: resistance to decay, long service life, good performance in sound and heat insulation.
- Extruded polystyrene foam backing,has the best performance in load resistance. The material is not subject to condensation and does not lose its elasticity for a long time. Excellent value for money.
- Coniferous substrate has a high level of environmental friendliness, and also provides semi-natural air exchange. The conditional disadvantage of this product is the high cost and low elasticity.
- There are also combined types of substrates. They are two layers of polyethylene, between which there are polystyrene balls.
Whatever your choice, remember - the service life of the laid laminate, in addition to the quality of the board itself, also directly depends on the condition of the surface, proper installation and the type of accompanying material (substrate). It is these three components that determine how long the laminated surface will retain its appearance and properties.
