Today, one of the most popular flooring materials is laminate. Its installation is quite simple, the coating itself is versatile, aesthetic, characterized by an extensive range of colors, a variety of textures and, of course, availability. That is why in our article we will pay special attention to laminated panels, consider their features, subtleties of choice, scope and laying technology.
Structure and scope
Laminated panels are a modern, decorative four-layer coating that uses chipboard or MDF boards as a base.
The bottom layer of the material is treated with water-repellent compounds, so that the product does not absorb condensation accumulated at the base. The third layer is a durable MDF board, which performs a load-bearing function and gives the material strength.
Above the plate there is a decorative paper coating, which gives the product the desired color and embossed pattern. It is coated with a heavy-duty polymer film that prevents damage to the material and acts as a front layer.
Based on the composition of the panels, you can understand what materials they are best combined with and where else you can use the laminate. Installation of laminated products today is carried out on almost all surfaces in the interior. In modern design projects, you can see laminate not only on the floor, but also on the walls, and even on the ceilings.
But can all rooms be laminated? Let's look at this issue in more detail.
Requirements for the premises
Before choosing this material as the main floor covering, you should make sure that the microclimate inside the renovated room is suitable for this type of finish. After all, it depends on the operating conditions how long the laminate will last. The panels are installed in heated rooms, where there are no sudden changes in temperature and humidity levels.
The optimal temperature for the operation of laminated floors is considered to be between 15-30 degrees, while the humidity level in the room should not exceed 70%.
As a base for laying panels, a flat concrete floor or wooden flooring (with height differences of no more than 2 mm per 1 m²) can act. If there are large drops and irregularities on the surface, it must belevel with special leveling compounds or by pouring a new concrete screed. Installation on an uneven base will certainly lead to a quick failure of the coating.
Laying laminate over underfloor heating: for or against?
Today, many are interested in the question "Is it possible to install a warm floor under a laminate?". Indeed, some experts say that this coating is completely unsuitable for use when heated, others argue that laminated panels are the most successful option for arranging underfloor heating. So who do you trust?
The thing is that even 10 years ago this coating really could not be exploited in this way. The panels dried out, deformed, covered with a huge number of cracks and completely failed.
Modern laminate flooring is heat-resistant, making it easy to install over heating systems. But there is one caveat: not every type of laminate is compatible with similar heating systems.
Manufacturers produce products specially designed for these purposes and mark them in a special way. In order to avoid unpleasant situations, before buying a laminate, pay attention to its packaging. It should be marked "Allows the use of underfloor heating" or "Possible to use underfloor heating". Next to these marks, the maximum allowable heating temperature of the coating and the type of heating system for whichit is designed (water or electric).
Laminate as a decorative interior element: which one to choose
Recently, the installation of laminate on the wall has become increasingly practiced. In living rooms, it is used to equip TV panels, in bedrooms they decorate the walls at the head of the bed, and in the corridors they install it as high skirting boards and ceiling decor.
When choosing a laminate for walls, you should not buy expensive options, as usually the price is too high for the resistance of the coating to abrasion, which is more necessary for the floor. Since the walls are not subjected to any load, you can buy samples of the lowest class for decorating them.
Laminate installation cost
When starting a renovation, each owner of the premises wants to know the approximate amount that he will have to spend in the process of performing the work. Therefore, we will touch on the issue of the cost of the laminate and the work of laying it.
The price tag of lower class products starts from 300 rubles per m². More wear-resistant options cost from 400 to 700 rubles for the same volume. Don't forget that there are premium laminated panels with unlimited price tags.
Laminate installation will be charged separately. The price of the services of specialized teams also depends on the class of material and the complexity of the work. The minimum payment for laying laminate flooring is 250 rubles per m². Installation of elite products is carried out at 400-700 rubles per m². Additional charges apply for cladding surfaces of complex geometry.
If your budget is very limited, you can lay the laminate with your own hands. Let's see what the technology of its installation is.
Do-it-yourself laminate installation: necessary materials and tools
Before you start doing the work yourself, read the basic rules and nuances of this kind of activity. Prepare in advance all the necessary tools and materials that will be required during the finishing of the floor.
So, for laying laminate you will need:
• laminate;
• primer;
• waterproofing material;
• wedges (for arranging gaps);
• skirting board fasteners;
• plinth;
• laminate underlay;
• screwdriver;
• measuring tool;
• knife;
• jigsaw;
• rubber mallet;
• pencil.
Laminate should be taken with a margin, as even experienced craftsmen are not immune from mistakes. Please note that products from different batches may differ in shade and even size.
Preparing for styling
After purchase, the panels should be freed from packaging and left for two days in the room in which they will spread. This is necessary so that the material "adapts" to the microclimate of the room and does not deform after installation.
The most important step in the process of laying laminate flooring is the preparation of the base. Quite high requirements are imposed on it, so the floor must be prepared in advance:
1. The base is carefully examined, revealedall irregularities and other defects.
2. If a large number of significant height differences, chips and delaminations are found, the old coating is removed.
3. Using the building level, the evenness of the surface is checked. All found pits are sealed with cement mortar or filled with self-filling compounds. If irregularities of more than 5 mm are detected on the surface, it is poured with a layer of concrete screed.
The smooth base is cleaned of debris, dust and various contaminants, after which it is treated with a primer. If the laminate will be mounted on top of a wooden flooring, the surface is pre-treated with an antiseptic.
Laying related materials
Waterproofing material is laid on the cleaned and dry floor. The film is positioned in such a way that adjacent strips overlap each other by 20 cm. The joints are glued with adhesive tape.
The next step is laying the substrate under the laminate. Laying panels usually starts from the window, so the substrate is laid from the same angle. It is absolutely not necessary to immediately cover the entire base, because in the process of work you will have to walk on it, it will become uneven and dirty. You can lay out the material as the floor cladding is laid. To form a cushioning strip, the substrate should go 2-3 cm onto the walls of the room. The joints are fixed with adhesive tape.
Laminate installation technology
Now you can lay the laminate. Installation of laminate flooring is carried out in the following order:
1. Firstthe panel is laid in the far corner of the room from the side of the source of natural light (windows). At the first board, you should carefully cut down the lock located on the side of the wall.
Pegs are inserted between the product and the wall. So lay out a whole row until it stops against the wall. The panels are fastened using special grooves located at the end of each element.
If you need to cut a small piece of laminate, turn the panel over to the other side, mark the desired length and carefully cut it with a jigsaw.
2. The second row should start with a piece of laminate that remains from cutting the last element in the first row (it should be no shorter than 30 cm). All panels of the second row are joined only by end grooves (until the entire row is laid). Then all products of the second row are slightly raised, inserted into the grooves of the first and snapped into place.
To make sure that all the locks have worked, a wooden block is applied to the ends of the second row and lightly tapped the laminate with a hammer.
3. So the flooring of the entire floor is mounted. At the junction of the floor and wall, gaps of at least 1 cm wide are left.
4. A day after laying the laminated flooring, skirting boards are installed on the laminate. First of all, skirting boards are mounted along those walls to which the end sides of the coating elements adjoin. Immediately before installing the thresholds and skirting boards, the pegs installed for the gap are removed.
Installation of doors onlaminate
Usually, after laying the decorative coating, interior doors are installed. Laminate is very easy to scratch during these works, so it is recommended to cover it with thick cardboard.
Many will decide that it is better to put the door first, and only then lay the floor, but this can cause certain difficulties, because it is impossible to guess how high the floor level will rise after laying the substrate and decorative material. There may be problems with opening the door. In addition, the box and architraves are also adjusted to the level of the floors, and it will be very difficult to cut them after installation. That is why experts recommend laying the laminate first, and only then deal with the doors.
