What is vinyl laminate

Recently, vinyl laminate flooring has been in great demand on the market. He has a lot of positive reviews. And this is not surprising, because it is beautiful, practical and suitable for any room.

What is vinyl laminate

Vinyl laminate has a different structure than regular laminate. The classic versions have 3-5 layers, while the vinyl version has only two (vinyl and aluminum oxide). But additional materials (wood, stones) may also be present.

The difference also applies to advantages and disadvantages. Among the advantages of vinyl are:

1. Wide variety of products. You can combine different boards to achieve an original design.
2. Resistance to mechanical damage and ultraviolet radiation.
3. Service life is about 20 years.
4. Vinyl is resistant to extreme humidity.
5. The coating is easy to care for. It withstands any detergents and washing powders.
6. The price of materials is not too high.
7. Good thermal conductivity.
8. Elasticity.

But there are also disadvantages:

1. The material burns well, so it is not suitable for rooms where people often work with fire.
2. When ignited, vinyl releases toxins.
3. The composition may contain chemicals that are released for some time after manufacture. It is advisable to buy a coating and let it sit in another place until it wears off.
4. It is impossible to restore damaged areas. In case of defects, only replacement will help.
5. Pigmentation.Some materials and chemicals can come into contact with vinyl, causing stains that cannot be removed. One of these substances is rubber. Therefore, it is not recommended to place rubber mats on the material or walk on it in shoes.

What does this material look like?

Like the standard material, the structure may contain a lock and a plate that serves as the base (fibreboard or particleboard). Or, perhaps, instead of a lock, a connection is made using glue, and instead of a wooden base there is polyvinyl chloride. You can also find self-adhesive models on the market.

Very often, a layer of quartz sand and a layer of fiberglass are added to the structure of the material. That is why the material has an additional name - quartz slab. There are also additional materials that are often added to the structure. Among them:

1. Wood dust.
2. Stone chips.
3. Natural cork.

When these elements are added, the coating is considered natural.

Attention! There is another difference between vinyl laminate and regular laminate – the thickness of the boards. For standard ones it is from 1 cm or more. Vinyl ones are always less than 1 cm.

Where is vinyl laminate used?

This type of laminate can be used in the following places:

1. Living spaces.
2. The shops.
3. Offices.
4. Restaurants.
5. Hospitals.

The latter is especially important. This means that the design is completely natural and does not contain harmful substances. This is confirmed by numerous quality certificates.

Reference! In most cases, installation does not require fastenings (this also applies to glue). A tape is installed on the boards, allowing the joints to interlock, creating a single structure.

Installation on any type of coating is allowed; there is no need to remove the old floor.Vinyl flooring is superior to standard laminate flooring. More and more people are choosing it.