Laminate laying technology advantages and disadvantages. Features of choosing a laminate that everyone should know. Conventional linoleums and their advantages

An apartment is a place where people come after a hard day, gather with friends, raise children, where most of their lives are spent. Therefore, it is very important that the repairs carried out are enjoyable. In order to decide what the space should look like after the repair work, you need to see what kind of apartment decoration there is, photo design ready-made options and redevelopment. Modern finishing materials, when used correctly, can turn a room into a masterpiece, and an apartment design project, consistent in the same style, will help create an original interior.

In the pursuit of convenience and coziness, it is often forgotten that incorrectly selected materials for small m2 are not only wasted time and money, but also the effect of repairs is the opposite of the expected result. Before deciding what color the walls, ceiling and floor will be, you need to make a project and choose furniture color options. If the furniture is in calm tones, then when decorating the walls, bright accents are needed. You can see how it looks in the photo. With bright furniture, on the contrary, you need finishing in soft, soothing colors. The interior should not contain more than four colors. It is desirable that these colors be of the same spectrum.

Already undergoing construction, each room in the house carries its own load, so each room is characterized by certain color schemes.

Living room	They will look interesting color options built on contrast, as well as monotonous decoration using accents.
Kitchen	This is the place in the apartment whose interior can be safely made bright, juicy, and stimulating the appetite. All light colors, any shades of red will do. The contrast of colors, as in the photo, will look great.
Bedroom	Pale tones of pink, coffee, sand. If you like a design project in bright colors, then they should be used as an accent against a pale background, since the main background of the room should be calm.
Children's room	Delicate, not too bright colors in the decoration. Traditional blue and pink design can be replaced with green, orange. The interior of a student’s room should be in a working mood.
Corridor or hallway	Light finishing materials, preferably the use of mirror surfaces. Anything that will visually increase m2 of a small space.

It is necessary to pay attention that if the design of the room is in light colors, then the floor must be made dark. When using bright colors in wall decoration, the floor is made lighter.

Living room
Children's room
Kitchen
Hallway
Bedroom

Wallpaper

Just a few years ago, choosing wallpaper for decorating apartments and studios and gluing it with your own hands was problematic, because there was almost no choice and construction was carried out in the same way. Now the situation has changed in better side, therefore, before giving preference to any group of material, you need to know its features:

paper wallpapers are natural. They are divided into simplex and duplex (single-layer and two-layer);
non-woven, consist of cellulose and synthetic fiber. A layer of foamed vinyl adds volume to the design;
vinyl is a synthetic, durable wallpaper that can be painted;
metallized wallpaper has a two-layer structure. A layer of aluminum foil does not transmit radiation from household electrical appliances and can protect the room from exposure to radiation from power lines. The use of this wallpaper visually increases the m2 of the room. What the interiors of rooms and studios look like after decoration can be seen in the photo;
fiberglass materials are different great strength, glued with special glue. You can repaint it several times with your own hands without fear of damaging the texture;
textile types of wallpaper are made from natural raw materials. The composition includes applied to paper base linen and cotton.

Paper

Vinyl

Metallized

Fiberglass

Textile

Non-woven

Decorative plaster

When a one-room apartment is decorated using decorative plaster, it has a presentable appearance, looks attractive and modern. The design depends only on the desires of the owners and the interior. The photo shows only some of the work options, with decorative plaster made by hand. This method finishing coating has a number of positive aspects:

you can make adjustments to the wall after the rough finishing of the apartment has been completed;
insulated outer wall, sound insulation is enhanced. No need to produce additional insulation walls losing m2 of room area;
treatment against mold and high humidity;
The coating can be adjusted independently at any time.

Decorative plaster is used only when finishing walls in the apartment. There are several types of finishes:

textured plaster gives the walls volume. Has high plasticity. Can be imitated natural materials;
structural plaster, due to the mineral inclusions included in the composition, forms pores with unevenness when applied, creating the appearance of an old surface;
Bayramiks - high quality plaster with a base of marble chips;
decorative Venetian plaster decorate the interior and make it unique;
liquid wallpaper - the easiest way to make it yourself redecorating, refresh the interior.

Venetian

Structural

Textured

Liquid wallpaper

Bayramix

Tile

Tiles are traditionally used to decorate bathrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. All those places where the moisture content is high. Despite the variety in the choice of tiles, all of their types differ only in the quality of workmanship and size, on which the number of pieces per m2 depends. Otherwise, this building material for work is selected according to three rules that you need to pay attention to:

When renovating rooms smaller than 4 m2, choose light colors that will visually expand the space;
high-quality tiles should have clear proportions with strict geometric shapes;
required for different types of tiles various brands glue.

Drywall

Almost all interior design of the room begins after the apartment has been rough finished with plasterboard. Renovating apartments and studios using this material has a number of advantages:

perfect alignment of walls minimum cost funds and time for building the frame;
simple, quick installation sheets on wood or metal carcass with your own hands;
the ability to independently hide communications in the wall when carrying out work;
you can carry out repairs yourself without overpaying the construction team for each m2 of work;
You can make decorative elements on the walls or ceiling with your own hands. The photo shows the design different rooms with such elements.

It should be noted that depending on the premises in which the work plan is planned, different types of this material:

conventional is used in heated dry rooms;
moisture-resistant plasterboard is used for decorating a kitchen or bathroom;
fire-resistant is used where high requirements for fire safety are put forward.

Wall panels

Wall panels are modern materials, used for finishing apartments and studios. They have a huge selection of colors and textures. They are made in several versions from artificial and natural raw materials.

Wall panels have different types. They differ in the number of parts per m2 and in the raw materials from which they are made:

natural wood will give a respectable look, interior decoration the apartment will look elegant and sophisticated;
particle boards are well suited for DIY decoration of hallways and corridors. They have low cost. Fits well into the design of rooms with small m2;
Fiberboard will decorate the interior of any room where there is no moisture. They have a wide color range;
MDF panels are universal, have high sound and heat insulation qualities;
The disadvantage of PVC panels is that they are artificial materials. Moisture-resistant and durable, they are used in finishing rooms with high humidity;
glass Wall panels mainly used in the design of partitions;
gypsum vinyl panels are the same plasterboard in which the cardboard is replaced with vinyl. Their outer surface with a pattern or a certain color is ideal for decorating studios.

Wooden

Gypsum vinyl

Fiberboard

Glass

MDF

PVC

Chipboard

Decorative rock

Created for outdoor use and considered cold, decorative stone has increasingly begun to be used in the decoration of apartments and studios. When used wisely, it makes the interior of the room warm and cozy. This universal material, which is not afraid of changes in temperature, moisture and at the same time is easy to care for. It will not be difficult for anyone to decorate a piece of wall or window opening with this material with their own hands. Options for using it with decorative plaster and wallpaper look very good; the photo shows such a finish. It fits organically into the design project of any room. If damaged, it is easy to remove the damaged part and replace it old part insert new one.

Painting

Making repairs using paints and varnishes is the most economical way to change the interior. Before starting work, please note that paints are divided into several groups:

based on drying oils (oil) - they take a long time to dry, when painting you need to use products personal protection, diluted with drying oil;
based on varnishes (enamel) - immediately ready for use, dry within 24 hours, special solutions are required for dilution;
based on aqueous solutions of polymers (adhesive);
based on aqueous polymer dispersions (water-based). They dry quickly, are not allergenic, and thanks to the coloring pigments, you can achieve any color shades.

Before painting, the room must be vacated. The furniture is taken out or covered with film, all objects are removed from the walls, and the floor is also covered. Preparation is a must. Walls are divided into two types:

in a newly built house. Before work, it is enough to putty them, clean them with sandpaper and then prime them;
in an old apartment, the walls must be cleaned, washed and only then puttied.

Painting is a way to short term completely change the design of the room only by making minor repairs.

Floor

When creating a design project for a room, the floor plays an important role in it. All floor coverings are divided into piece, sheet and monolithic seamless. The peculiarities of the floor are that, in addition to being attractive, it must be warm, wear-resistant, and, after repairs, fit perfectly into the interior. All floor coverings have their advantages:

parquet is an environmentally friendly, durable coating. Its surface can be renewed many times by cycling. Matches any style of room;
Ceramic tiles are used mainly in the bathroom, kitchen, corridor, and when decorating loggias. It is not afraid of temperature fluctuations and is often installed as a finish in a heated floor system;
laminate is artificial flooring, reminiscent of parquet, but the cost per m2 is much less. When making repairs, it is necessary to take into account its features; it can quickly deteriorate when incorrect selection class and incorrect installation;
tongue and groove board is used to create classic interiors apartments and studios to highlight the finish;
linoleum is the most versatile and inexpensive type of flooring. It comes in a variety of colors and patterns, making it suitable for any room;
The carpet has a variety of colors, is comfortable when walking, and creates coziness in the room. Very fussy to care for.

Linoleum

Ceramic tile

Carpet

Laminate

tongue and groove board

Parquet

Ceiling

The basic principle in finishing the ceiling is that it should be lighter than the walls with the floor, should not be dissonant against their background, should be in the same stylistic integrity.

View finishing works depends on the height of the ceiling and is produced in several ways:

by whitewashing is not only the cheapest renovation of apartments and studios, but also the most impractical. The whitewash easily peels off at the slightest disruption of the technological process;
painting is more reliable than whitewashing, but requires preparatory work;
stucco decoration looks good on high studio ceilings;
a suspended ceiling is convenient for hiding defects in ceilings;
tension, or French, reduces the height of the room, but at the same time hides the imperfections of the ceilings, is not afraid of water, and has a variety of colors. The variety of its species is shown in the photo;
multi-level ceiling is made using plasterboard. Allows you to model various projections on the ceiling and install lighting lamps according to any pattern. The photo shows several ways to design such ceilings.

Suspension

Stucco molding

Multi-level

Tensioners

Painted

Stages of finishing work

After the construction of the house is completed, residents, in most cases, are offered bare walls that must be finished themselves. The finishing of a living space is divided into rough and finishing.

Having completed construction, before you redesign the apartment space or carry out regular repairs in it, you need to decide what you want to get in the end. This is especially necessary when planning studios.

Incorrectly made calculations and inaccurately placed accents may not only fail to increase the m2 of the apartment, but also turn it into an uncomfortable concrete box that delivers only negative emotions. Almost all design studios carry out repairs and remodeling. In addition, you can view user photos on the Internet. By looking through several photos and choosing the most interesting from them, you can end up finding an idea for a unique, original design that will not be found anywhere else and which you can be proud of.

Video

Apartment design options, interior design.

Photos with apartment finishing options

Examples of surface finishing in various rooms of the apartment.

We installed laminate flooring in the apartment about three years ago during a grand event, and now we, as practicing users, can write about all disadvantages of laminate, which we personally encountered and whose existence we had not previously suspected. The area of our apartment is quite large, about 100 square meters, and there is laminate flooring almost everywhere except the toilet, bathroom and dressing room. We took a risk and even... Surprisingly, those shortcomings of laminate that we were most afraid of are less common in practice, unlike other surprises.

What disadvantages of laminate can be encountered in practice?

In our opinion, the most significant disadvantage of laminate is the requirements for the surface of the subfloor. Laminate flooring can only be laid correctly and without consequences on a well, almost perfectly leveled subfloor surface. The requirements for surface smoothness are very high - a difference of no more than 3 mm is allowed. This is not surprising; with an average laminate thickness of 8 mm, a difference of 3 mm occupies more than a third of its thickness. The locks will simply break apart within the first month of operation, if not earlier. Hence, additional forces and the cost of leveling the subfloor does not reduce the cost of the project, and sometimes completely eliminates the use of laminate as decorative covering floor. On the other hand, when the floor is perfectly leveled, is laminate necessary? Regular linoleum will also look good./p>

The second drawback, which all laminate users unanimously repeat, is that it is very noisy. The movement of a chair on wheels, the clatter of heels, a falling charging cord, the grinding of pets' claws, a falling fork or spoon and other minor troubles cause strong sound effects. Not only all the inhabitants of the apartment, but also the “happy” neighbors know where it fell. Nothing helps: neither a special underlay, nor slippers, nor carpets, except that it slightly reduces the transmission of sound vibrations to the supporting structure.

However, a hard and durable laminate when a large and heavy object falls on it, in addition to noise, presents two other troubles: either the falling object, or the laminate itself, or both at once can break. Among other things, laminate flooring is simply painful to fall on. This may, of course, be capricious nitpicking, but this detail is worth remembering.

A few more disadvantages of laminate from operational practice

The next pitfall that is not in favor of laminate is its assembly and disassembly. The possibility of repairing a damaged area of the floor is theoretically a very attractive factor in favor of laminate, but what do you encounter in practice? In theory, laminate flooring can be easily disassembled and assembled. Not a problem if even the owners did not, as they were warned, leave a pack of laminate flooring in reserve for such unexpected things, or recently threw it away after the annual shifting back and forth. You can simply replace the damaged board with the one that is currently under the sofa or wardrobe.

In fact, it happens something like this. For example, after the iron fell, a decent pothole formed right in the passage, in the most visible place. It’s also a pity for the “dead” iron, but the laminate can be saved. True, you will have to disassemble almost the entire room to get to the treasured plaque. Don’t forget to take out the furniture and unscrew the baseboards before doing this - that is, micro repairs are guaranteed to you. As a rule, this entire operation is endlessly postponed until “later.” And then potholes appear here and there. As a result, the furniture is completely taken out and microrepairs turn into just repairs, and at the same time the wallpaper could be replaced, etc. Therefore, we question the flexibility of the laminate, as finishing material, which allows you to use it for years without being afraid to experiment.

But that's not all! During disassembly, visible damage to the locks is inevitably revealed, especially if the laminate has been in storage for longer. three years. It may no longer be possible to simply swap laminate planks around, and you will have to put up with what you have. After assembly, some damaged edges of the locks become noticeable, which, by the way, are damaged not only mechanically, but also from exposure to moisture.

We are gradually approaching another disadvantage of laminate - it is afraid of water. As a result, there is an urgent need to limit wet cleaning. Anyway, side surfaces Castles are a wood-fiber structure that is susceptible to swelling from water. There are, of course, special, expensive cleaning vacuum cleaners, but this is not convenient for everyone. Over time, no matter how careful you are, the edges inevitably swell a little and the locks weaken. However, this is not always noticeable unless you look closely. Therefore, if you do not constantly create puddles on the laminate, then there will not be any special problems with swelling.

We believe that the most important thing to remember is that laminate changes in size depending on temperature and humidity - it either dries out or stretches. To do this, during installation it is necessary to provide a gap between the wall and the edge of the laminate of about 1.5 cm. Increased requirements arise for the installation procedure, since the gap must be provided everywhere, and in some places, due to curved walls, the baseboard may not close technological gap. If the gap is not maintained, then when temperature and humidity change, the laminate, resting against the walls, rises like a “rocker” in the middle of the room and begins to clap on the floor when walking, which results in additional noise, or gaps appear between the laminates, which you simply cannot get rid of .

Finally, we note one of the shortcomings that not everyone attaches importance to. Laminate flooring can accumulate static electricity. This is especially noticeable in dry winter period when everyone wears wool or synthetic clothes. This also occurs when vacuuming. You can’t touch the vacuum cleaner, and you can’t remove the discharge painlessly either. To protect against static, you need to humidify the air in the room, and laminate does not really like high humidity - it, again, changes in size or “deteriorates.”

Don’t forget that laminate has a lot of advantages that can cover all the discovered shortcomings. A laminate floor continues to look beautiful. appearance, unlike linoleum, and cleaning is much easier - if you do it regularly, you just need to vacuum it and wipe it with a damp cloth. In a multi-room apartment with many turns, nooks and other wonders of architectural thought, only laminate or parquet can be laid over the entire area in one direction and with virtually no thresholds. In an apartment with an area of 100 sq.m., only one threshold was needed at the door to the bedroom, since threshold-free installation of laminate at a distance of more than 10-12 meters is not recommended. Linoleum, no matter how hard you try, cannot be placed in one piece in a T-shaped, L-shaped or E-shaped room, only with the use of thresholds. In terms of wear resistance, laminate also exceeds other floor coverings. And in terms of environmental friendliness, whatever one may say, laminate is still higher than linoleum, although in price they are now almost equal.

We wish you the right decisions and pleasant shopping.

Replacing flooring is a serious and responsible issue. One of the most popular and relatively inexpensive materials is . It is much cheaper than parquet, although it replaces it quite adequately. Imitating texture various breeds wood, it looks no worse, it is strong and durable. Laminate- This is a panel consisting of four layers. It is based on high-density fiberboard. The laminate has the following structure:

The top layer is protective and is a high-strength film of acrylic resin;
Decorative layer - paper, imitates the structure of wood and other materials;
The main layer is load-bearing, fiberboard made of wood coniferous species, pressed under pressure;
The bottom layer is stabilizing, made of melamine, serves to increase rigidity and protects against deformation.

This coating not only has excellent strength characteristics, but also has a long service life.

Technical characteristics of the laminate

One of the main characteristics of laminate is its wear resistance. It is determined according to the class assigned to each type of laminate. There are four main classes, each of them is suitable for installation in rooms with varying degrees of load.

It is almost always laid on a substrate, this eliminates squeaking and booming. The board is produced in a thickness of 8 mm, has a locking connection, and does not require gluing. The manufacturer provides a guarantee for such material from 10 to 12 years. The material is environmentally friendly and can be used in children's rooms, living rooms and bedrooms, where the load is low. The surface of such a coating is usually glossy, there is no relief.
considered to be of higher quality. Its thickness ranges from 7-12 mm, the collapsible lock allows you to lay the laminate without using glue. Manufacturer's warranty: for residential premises - 15 years, for commercial premises - 5 years. Installed in places with high load: in the kitchen, in the hallway or in the hallway. There are many patterns and textures of natural wood, and there are examples that imitate stone and other materials. The coating is textured, which prevents slipping.
has improved characteristics. Board 8-12 mm thick, click lock. Warranty from the manufacturer is 20 years for residential, 12 years for commercial premises. It has additional thermal insulation, is moisture-resistant, and resistant to temperature fluctuations. This laminate is reliable and durable, is not inferior to parquet in terms of environmental friendliness, and can be used in places with high humidity: in the bathroom, toilet and kitchen. The coating pattern repeats the structure of valuable or exotic wood; there are exclusive options that will allow you to bring to life the most daring design solutions.
intended for industrial use. This material is particularly durable, moisture resistant, and can withstand significant loads. It is used as flooring in shopping and sports halls, in administrative buildings, where the service life is 7-15 years. If you lay such a coating, you will be given a lifetime guarantee. It is characterized by increased wear resistance and can withstand loads of up to 1 thousand people per day. The design of the coating is varied and can imitate the texture of wood, stone or leather.

Another characteristic of laminate is its fire resistance. The EN 438 standard is responsible for this. The laminate has a fourth degree, which means that during the testing the surface was not damaged or deformed. Exposure to an open flame on laminate corresponds to category B1 (hardly flammable material).

UV resistance is tested according to the Blue Wool Standard, which has an eight-position scale. laminate ranks sixth. This means that laminated coatings practically do not fade when exposed to sunlight.

The environmental properties of laminate deserve special attention. Thanks to the use of natural materials in the production process, laminate flooring is close in performance to parquet and parquet boards. It is based on fibreboard, pressed under pressure. To bind and obtain the required strength and hardness, it is impregnated with phenol-formaldehyde resin. To ensure that the release of formaldehyde does not exceed permissible standards and cannot harm human health, the floor covering is tested and complies with European standards. A high-quality one has class E1, exactly the same as parquet made of natural wood. It is absolutely safe for humans and can be used in residential areas.

If we consider such laminate characteristics, like strength and moisture resistance, you need to focus on the means and methods of its impregnation. HDF wood board is the main structural element. The main characteristics of the board itself and the reliability of the locking connections largely depend on its density. Thanks to special impregnation, it acquires water-repellent properties and can keep water from penetrating into the structure.

In order not to make a mistake when choosing such a coating, you need to thoroughly study laminate properties. These include:

Abrasion resistance (abrasion resistance);
Ability to experience loads of varying duration and intensity;
Resistance to temperature fluctuations;
Fire safety;
Moisture resistance;
UV protection;
Environmental friendliness;
Antistatic properties.

Properly selected will allow the coating to serve for a long time and flawlessly. This coating will not be scratched by moving furniture, heels or animal claws.

Easy to install using locking connections;
The basis can be various surfaces;
Eco-friendly, does not emit substances harmful to humans;
Relatively inexpensive;
Laying is done on a perfectly flat base;
Do not allow moisture to get into the joints of the covering boards.

According to the type of assembly, the laminate can be

adhesive;
made.

It's easy to distinguish them. To do this, you should pay attention to the shape of the ends and the method of attaching the boards to each other. If this is a variant of an adhesive laminate, then the ends of the boards, which are located next to each other, are connected using a special glue. The glue must be water-repellent to prevent moisture from entering the joints.

The assembly method does not require the use of glue. The entire assembly is carried out in a floating manner using locking connections. This method allows you to easily install and dismantle the floor covering without damaging the board.

Advantages of laminate

You don't have to change the flooring that often. And if you have to do this, then you want the material to be of high quality, have an attractive appearance and last long years. Laminate can also be confidently classified as one of these materials. To finally make a choice, it would be useful to familiarize yourself with its advantages:

Laminate is quite inert to high temperatures. Ashes falling from a cigarette or a random spark will not harm it. This coating can be used when laying heated floors as finishing coating. Heating within normal limits will harm it.
The protective layer will protect not only from abrasion, but also prevents penetration inside coloring compositions. If you spill tea or coffee, watercolor paint or nail polish, the stain can be removed without consequences.
Sun rays do not harm the coating, laminate does not fade under the influence of ultraviolet radiation.
Installation of the covering is not difficult. Thanks to the interlocking joints, it can be laid in a “floating” manner without the use of glue.
You can choose a material with different patterns to suit the interior of the room. The most traditional remains the imitation of valuable and exotic wood, but there are also stylizations like marble, leather, and metal.
The environmental friendliness of laminate allows it to be used almost everywhere: in children's rooms, in medical institutions, in medical institutions.
Special impregnation of joints makes it possible to achieve significant moisture resistance of such a coating. Thanks to this, it can be installed in places with high humidity: in the kitchen and bathrooms.
Cheap in relation to parquet and parquet boards.

Disadvantages of laminate

Like any coating, laminate is not without its drawbacks. They are not so significant, but they should be known and taken into account when purchasing and using this material.

All types of laminate, except moisture-resistant, have a negative attitude towards moisture. If you lay the board on a wet base, you can ruin the coating even further. initial stage. Spilled water or any liquid should be wiped up immediately. Otherwise, it will seep inside through the joints and cause deformation and delamination of the laminate.
Moving heavy furniture without special pads can scratch the laminate, ruining its appearance. If you wear outdoor shoes, high heels, or drop heavy objects, you can also damage the coating. The resulting dents and scratches will have to be masked using wax pencil or putty.
Improper installation can cause cracks and bulges that will have to be eliminated by disassembly and correction.
Poor quality substrate and uneven base lead to cracks in the coating. This defect can only be eliminated by replacing the damaged board.
The use of aggressive detergents is also strictly not recommended. They can damage the protective layer and ruin the design.

All these disadvantages are not critical, and can be minimized by purchasing high-class wear-resistant material from trusted manufacturers. You should not neglect the recommendations for caring for laminate flooring, then it will delight the eye with its impeccable appearance and will last for many years.

Laminate installation

Covering floors with laminate is not as difficult a task as it is troublesome. Preparation for installation work begins at the stage of purchasing laminate flooring. When purchasing laminate, you need to take into account the thickness of the board, its cutting, and installation method. Please remember that installing laminate flooring will raise the floor and doors may not close properly if they have been installed previously. We must not forget about waste, which directly depends on the cutting of the material and the method of installation. If you take wide board long length, then there will be much less waste.

Most often produced along windows and doors (sources natural light). This is done in order to reduce the shadow from the joints, which occurs during transverse laying and spoils the appearance of the floor. If the windows are located on different walls, you can use diagonal mounting. It is rarely used, as it is quite complex, and the costs compared to traditional way increase significantly. For normal installation, it is enough to have a material reserve of 6%, and for diagonal installation - at least 12%. If a design solution with a geometric pattern is planned, then costs increase to 25%.

Laying is preceded by preparatory stage. For installation work, the following set of tools is required: a hacksaw, a metal ruler, scissors, sharp knife, rubber hammer, nails, wooden beams and wedges. The base should be as level as possible. Laying laminate on concrete, cement screed and even old coatings is allowed. Installation of the coating can begin only after complete completion of all construction and installation work. The temperature and humidity in the room must be within acceptable limits, the screed must be absolutely dry.

If this is an adhesive laminate, then you should know that it is not recommended to lay it on a warm floor. When installing, you must maintain the distance between the joints. Water-repellent glue is applied to the ends of the boards, then they are connected using the tongue-and-groove principle on the edges of the boards. Installation is carried out gradually, with short breaks after laying several rows. A gap is left between the wall and the last row of boards using spacer wedges; after finishing the work, they are removed, and a plinth is installed on top. It should not be forgotten that it is attached to the wall, and not to the laminate.

When assembling the coating using the floating method, no glue is required. Installation is carried out on a substrate that is laid on top cement screed for shock absorption, noise and waterproofing. Laminate flooring can be laid over a heated floor system if there is special permission on the packaging. The floor is installed using locking connections and laid around the entire perimeter of the room. You can handle this type of work yourself, but if you lack experience and skills, it is better to trust the professionals.

Which laminate to choose

Knowing the main characteristics, properties and features of various types of laminate, it will be much easier to decide on a specific sample. Best of all, which can be used everywhere. If desired, you can lay it in the kitchen, bathroom and bathroom. Then there will be no problems with locking the locking joints, the coating will not delaminate or deform. Of course, you shouldn’t wash the floor by pouring a bucket of water and rubbing it over the surface, but spilled tea, water or other liquid will not cause harm.

When purchasing laminate flooring, you want to achieve maximum resemblance to natural materials. One of the most sophisticated floor coverings is. Even a specialist will not be able to distinguish such a coating from a parquet board at first glance. The decorative layer completely repeats the pattern and texture of the wood, so that the resemblance to the natural coating is achieved as much as possible. If you want to improve your home, make it more comfortable and respectable, then imitation oak is the right solution.

A large selection of textures, a wide range of shades will allow you to choose an option for any interior and design solution. Dark color more suitable for decoration in rustic style, and light - for a children's room or living room in a high-tech style. Light natural oak goes well with light and elegant furniture, visually enlarging the room. Collections famous brands They have in their assortment such types of laminate as bleached oak, royal, alpine and many others. Dark oak is also appropriate in a modern interior. It is a spectacular backdrop that emphasizes the features of other interior elements.

An important point when choosing a laminate is its low price. This allows you to save money and not compromise on quality. External differences with natural parquet boards are minimal, and the savings are quite significant. High-quality laminate is no less environmentally friendly than parquet, moisture-resistant, wear-resistant and durable. If you choose the right wear resistance class, a proven brand from a well-known manufacturer, then such a coating will not disappoint and will not deteriorate in the coming years.

The variety of textures and patterns imitating valuable wood is huge. If desired, you can choose exotic tree, which does not grow in our area, a unique color or an original stone. You can experiment with the thickness, size of the board, and laying method. The main thing is correct installation on a perfectly flat surface and a high-quality substrate that will eliminate booming and squeaking. You should not forget about proper care of laminate flooring, do not flood it with water, do not walk in heels, and do not move heavy furniture without pads.

When making such a responsible purchase, you need to thoroughly read the accompanying documentation. You need to know that the laminate must be certified, and the seller must have a full package of documents. The environmental friendliness of this product is confirmed by a sanitary and epidemiological examination. His conclusion about a quality material must contain an indicator of formaldehyde release, which must have a value of E1. This means that the laminate is environmentally friendly, and the release of harmful substances is within permissible norm. Resistance to hot surfaces and open fire is confirmed by a fire safety certificate with values RP2 and B2. The certificate of conformity indicates the country and manufacturer.

The knowledge gained will allow you to choose high quality products, famous manufacturer and at a reasonable price. You should not trust cheap Chinese laminate, which will bring additional costs instead of saving. It is better to turn to proven European brands that are subject to careful control and inspection by international commissions. Factories that are current members of the Association of European Laminate Manufacturers (EPLF) monitor the quality of their products, releasing only proven products to the market.

There are a lot of options when it comes to flooring finishes on the market today, but when we want our floors to look truly great, the choice is usually between parquet and laminate. What are their similarities and differences? What would be preferable for a person who is not ready to spend fabulous sums, but at the same time wants to see his sex truly beautiful? What advantages does parquet have over laminate and vice versa, and what are their disadvantages? We will examine all these questions in this article.

We have known parquet boards for a long time. Such floors were actively installed back in Soviet times, but now their increased variety makes it possible to keep high level demand. Like laminate, parquet is a multilayer system, but all layers in a parquet board are of natural origin, which is one of the main advantages of this material. Wood species can be very different, and both visual characteristics and price, coupled with technical properties, depend on them.

Advantages of parquet boards

Noble material. If you want your floor to give the impression of something high-end, then this finishing method will be the best option. The rarest, most expensive and unusual types of wood are at your service;
Environmental friendliness. If we're talking about O high-quality version, then you don’t have to worry about its safety at all. This factor is especially important for those who have small children, since the latter often like to play on the floor;
Strength. If we compare it with laminate, which usually lasts about five years, we can talk about a lifespan several times longer. The material is incredibly durable due to the fact that the wood fibers in its layers run perpendicular to each other;
Sturdy locking design. According to this indicator, parquet is definitely better than laminate. Durable locks make it possible to place less demands on floor levelness. Of course, quite already serious shortcomings it is necessary to correct it, but total leveling, as is the case with laminate, is not necessary.

Disadvantages of parquet boards

Despite the fact that parquet is stronger than laminate, it is more capricious. The fact that natural materials form its basis makes this method of flooring subject to constant external influences. To reduce this influence and eliminate its consequences, the parquet is polished, scraped and varnished;
High price. If we talk about a quality product, the price can be much more expensive than in the case of laminate. And this is not the only cost item, even if you take into account the care described above;
Serious requirements for the qualifications of the installer. Another serious cost item, and a very serious one, since truly high-quality professionals know their worth. After all, all the advantages of a parquet board can fade if it is not professionally installed.

By the way! Parquet and parquet boards are different. The second one is cheaper and larger in size, so it is easier to install. Parquet, on the other hand, offers a large number of appearance options, but is more expensive and requires delicate installation. Otherwise, these materials are similar.

Laminate is a real hit in flooring

Over the past ten years, laminate has spread greatly throughout our country. And if earlier it could be found on the floors of rooms with a very high level of renovation, now everything is different - the product has become truly popular.

A multilayer structure is also present here, but unlike parquet boards, all the components of the laminate are artificial. Moisture-resistant paper, fiberboard, decorative layer and similar artificial components are included in its base. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage. But more about everything.

What are the advantages of laminate?

Affordable price. Of course, there are very different types of laminate, and among them there are those that many of us cannot afford. But at the same time, you can find fairly inexpensive options, and of very decent quality;
Unpretentiousness. If you want to lay down the floor and forget about it, then laminate is better for you. Sanding, polishing, etc. are completely unnecessary for laminate flooring. It is not affected Sun rays and similar things that eventually lead to fading of other floors. However, its service life is still several times less than that of high-quality parquet;
Variety of species. The artificial structure allows you to create almost any texture and pattern. Today you can choose the ideal laminate for almost any interior design. The imitation does not have to concern wood - it can be stone and metal;
Convenient option with heated floor. The laminated coating has excellent thermal conductivity, which in turn makes it perfect combination with heated floors;
Easy to install. Of course, everything is relative. So, compared to linoleum, laying parquet is very difficult, but if you compare it with parquet boards, and even more so with parquet, then laying laminate really looks simple and quick.

Disadvantages of Laminate Floors

Artificiality. For some this will not be a minus, but for those who want to use exclusively safe materials, this is extremely important. Of course, laminate flooring can be safe too. But for this you should not purchase the cheapest options, the quality and chemical composition of which you are not sure of;
High cost of really high-quality models. If you want to be sure of the high quality of the laminate and that you won’t have to re-floor the floors for the next ten years, then you need to buy only high-quality foreign laminate, the cost of which can be comparable to the cost of parquet boards;
Bloating, blistering and squeaking. All this occurs when a low-quality laminate is used, or when the technology for laying it is violated. So, it is also not recommended to lay these floors yourself without experience;
Laminate floors are noisier. Walking on them in shoes and especially in heels creates a lot of noise. So in a nursery, for example, such a choice would be very questionable.

Important! Laminate is not suitable for installation in rooms with high humidity. As an exception, it is worth highlighting models with a wax coating.

What's the end result?

Without a doubt, in the absence of unlimited budgets, there is not even a choice, and the floor must be finished with laminate flooring. But at the same time, even with a very limited budget, laminate is also not worth purchasing, since its quality will be mediocre.

If we don’t take the economic component, then it depends more on personal preferences, design tastes and attitude to the issues of decorating a house exclusively with natural ingredients. In general, both materials have many advantages that compensate for the disadvantages.

Alternative view

If you want to look at flooring more broadly, not limited to the main characters of this article, then the choice becomes even wider.

Linoleum. It also outperforms laminate, parquet boards and especially parquet due to its low price and extremely simple installation. However, you shouldn’t take the cheapest options either, as they will fail quite quickly. And of course, you need to look at the strength of the product, selecting it depending on how you plan to use the floors.

Array. Like parquet boards, it is a completely environmentally friendly natural material. Is different large sizes and thickness. So, if the rooms have low ceilings, it may not be suitable for finishing the floor. At the same time, parquet, and even more so laminate, is provided wherever large quantity appearance options.

There is also paint and self-leveling floors. Not to mention finishing this part of the room with stone or tiles. So the choice is really large, and ultimately it all comes down to personal preference, the level and purpose of the room itself and, of course, the thickness of the wallet.

One of the stages overhaul or finishing work in the house is laying flooring. How to choose the right material in accordance with your taste, financial capabilities and practical requirements? It is necessary to obtain information about the quality of the floor covering, the features of its installation, service life, and specific care. It’s worth figuring everything out on your own, because store consultants will talk a lot about the appearance, but will definitely “forget” to list the product’s shortcomings.

In this article we will look at what are the features of such a popular flooring as laminate? In a specialized store, first of all, they will offer dozens of options for this coating, both to the ordinary buyer and to a representative of the supply department of a large construction company. To do right choice, you need to know all the pros and cons of laminate. Will you need a special tool for installation, and how will it affect high humidity on the operation of the coating, will the surface withstand the abrasive effects of dust and sand? Answering these questions will help you save money on regular maintenance and push the repair time into the distant future.

Disadvantages of laminate floors

Buying a very high-quality laminate and doing the renovation again a year later is a familiar situation for many property owners. This is due to the fact that the shortcomings of the laminate, which can be easily compensated for, were not taken into account. This material loses its attractive appearance under the abrasive influence of sand and dust from heavy traffic, but the presence of a multi-stage shoe cleaning system at the entrance to the room will eliminate this problem. You need to know what laminate flooring is afraid of and how you can extend its service life.

Swelling of the laminate when water gets into the joints

The main disadvantage is sensitivity to moisture, since the base of the laminate is pressed wood board- bad, but still absorbs water. As a result, the slab swells, the geometry changes, locks are broken and the floor surface takes on an unacceptable appearance. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

do not use conventional laminate flooring in rooms with high humidity;
during installation, avoid the formation of gaps between the panels;
Do not lay on a damp screed.

How to minimize exposure to moisture if there is a risk of water getting into the flooring? The answer is simple: you need to use collections whose locks are treated with water-repellent compounds. This material is produced by leading manufacturers from Germany, Sweden and Belgium.

Another big drawback is the resonating properties of the material. Unlike wooden floors, laminate flooring reflects the sound of heels that carries throughout the room. These disadvantages of laminate flooring in an apartment where people walk barefoot are not significant and are fully compensated for by the standard one. In offices and public spaces where such noise will disturb, it is recommended to use it as a substrate.

The downside is the high sensitivity to errors in installation technology. However, it is worth noting that this is also true for materials such as parquet and parquet boards, which are also demanding on the base and compliance with the rules of work. The presence of height differences of more than 2 mm per 1 square meter screeds lead to cracks and lock defects.

Due to the lack of temperature gaps along the walls, the laminate rose

The absence of compensation temperature gaps can lead to deformation of the coating. Poorly connected panels diverge, forming cracks where water can get in with all the ensuing consequences. These disadvantages of laminated flooring are compensated by compliance with the installation technology.

Often the buyer is not satisfied with the low maintainability of the finishing material. Damaged panels can only be replaced, so if there is a possibility of noticeable defects, then you need to find time to think about purchasing several additional boards for urgent repairs.

Advantages of using laminate

Laminate flooring in the apartment (no joints between rooms)

As practice shows, the numerous advantages of laminate have much greater weight in the eyes of potential buyers. They make the material in demand and popular when performing finishing work in premises for various purposes. The main advantages of laminate are as follows:

Affordable cost - competes in price with linoleum, much cheaper than solid natural wood or ornamental stone, clinker or porcelain stoneware. You can always purchase a collection in accordance with your planned budget.
Wide range - you can choose the color of the laminate, its texture, optimal size. Products are produced in different styles; there are original collections for fans of high-tech and modernism.
Simple installation - just basic usage skills plus and you can get to work.
There is no need for additional processing - scraping, grinding, coating with antiseptics and protective compounds are not produced during the installation process. This reduces cost and saves time.
High wear resistance of the surface - the protective layer of all collections easily withstands the impact of wheels office chairs, thin heels of women's shoes, high temperature from an accidentally dropped cigarette.
Good thermal insulation properties – high density pressed board does not make laminate an ideal thermal insulator, but the thermal conductivity coefficient of the material is lower than that of tiles or thin.
Good sound insulation properties - this is an advantage of laminate in the descriptions of collections with a special additional layer of sound insulation, which allows you to choose this material for renovation in an apartment located above a store or cafe.
Respectable appearance - the advantage of cladding for laminate flooring is the ability to transform a room. All collections carefully reproduce the texture of natural materials, have rich colors, and easily create an atmosphere of luxury and prosperity.
Versatility - can be used in any room of the house, office space, shops and shopping centers. It is possible to choose a floor covering that optimally meets the requirements for wear resistance, which allows you to save money when purchasing.
Easy maintenance - the laminate surface does not need to be maintained with special means, enough damp cloth with fine pile to quickly remove dust and dirt from the surface.
– it is based on natural wood, the processing of which uses a minimum amount of harmful substances. The emission of phenol and formaldehyde from the base layer is 2-3 times less than from the chipboard from which cabinet furniture is created, including children's furniture.
Long service life - when renovating an apartment, the first thing you should pay attention to is the service life of the flooring. It depends on how often you have to spend money on maintaining coziness and comfort. Manufacturers produce modern collections whose service life reaches 25 years, and some even come with a lifetime warranty.

Properly selected characteristics add advantages to practical use for this material. These include the opportunity to purchase panels of different sizes and colors to create an exclusive, unique interior. Such collections are offered by many industry leaders. All the advantages of laminate seriously outweigh the disadvantages, so the consumer votes with his money for this type of product.

conclusions

Dark laminate flooring in the apartment

The minor shortcomings of laminate do not make it a less popular coating. Most of them are compensated by compliance with basic standards of reliability of the water supply system and operating rules. Water – main enemy many materials, but always, if necessary, it is possible, characterized by high hydrophobicity.

Variety and attractive design make this flooring suitable for apartments ideal solution. No less important is the opportunity self-installation, and good performance characteristics. A comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of laminate allows us to place it above other materials in a number of basic parameters, including price, durability, aesthetics, and practicality. Choosing products from a well-known manufacturer and proper installation will help you not to be disappointed in this floor covering.