How to choose laminate for an apartment based on quality

Many people prefer laminate when choosing flooring. It successfully imitates wood, but is much cheaper. This flooring is also very versatile, which allows it to be used in any room, from an office to a children’s room. Very often it is used to decorate walls or doors. But few people know that there are many types of laminate and in order for it to last a long time, it must be chosen correctly. Let's consider which laminate is the best in quality.

How to choose a quality laminate

Laminate has many advantages. This is the reason for its popularity. The advantages include:

• Easy installation;
• When installed correctly, laminate flooring lasts a very long time without losing its original characteristics;
• Environmental friendliness. The production uses high-quality materials that do not contain caustic or toxic substances;
• Design. The coating has a wide selection of colors and different textures. Thanks to this, it can be used to create an interior made in any style;
• It is quite resistant to moisture, hypoallergenic, has antistatic properties and is hygienic;
• Maintainability. If scratches or chips form, you can easily fix them yourself;
• Universal in use;
• It is very easy to care for;

If the flooring is of high quality and chosen correctly, it will last for many years.

Laminate also has its disadvantages:

• It does not have the same soundproofing qualities as linoleum;
• Low thermal conductivity. Laying must be carried out on a special coating;
• Installation must be carried out on a flat surface, otherwise over time the floor will begin to creak;
• If installation was carried out incorrectly, gaps may form. If moisture gets into them, the product will swell;

REFERENCE. Basically, all coating deficiencies are caused by a violation of the product installation technology.

Kinds

Laminate, depending on what technology was used in manufacturing, is divided into several types. This:

1. Direct pressing. It is made immediately with the top layer. Typically this coating is used for domestic use.
2. High pressure. The top layer is made separately. It has a special protective coating and is made of kraft cardboard. When producing this type, the top layer is subjected to high temperature, after which it is pressed with the remaining layers. This is a very durable product, it can withstand heavy loads and is resistant to mechanical damage. Typically used for commercial purposes;

Thus, laminate flooring can be divided into domestic and commercial.

The household version of the coating does not have high strength, and its service life is quite short. It is also susceptible to moisture, so its use is very limited. Therefore, it is practically not in demand.

Commercial laminate is more wear-resistant, its service life is much longer, and it is also resistant to moisture. Even though the price of the product is slightly higher than that of a household product, it is widely used both for industrial needs and for finishing residential premises.

Main selection criteria

When choosing a laminate, you should rely on several basic criteria:

• Manufacturer. The manufacturer must be a member of the EPLF association. This guarantees that the products produced are of high quality. Serious manufacturers use modern equipment and technologies;
• Coverage design. Laminate most often follows the structure of wood, however, there are products imitating leather, metallic shine, stone, and also made in children's designs. The coating also has a wide selection of colors from gray to black. There are products made with embossing that imitates the structure of wood;
• Wear resistance. It is one of the most important parameters when choosing flooring. When choosing a resistance class, you need to take into account the nuances of the room in which the laminate will be installed. The higher the class of the product, the more resistant it is to mechanical stress;
• Moisture resistance. The base of the product is responsible for this parameter. It is made from HDF boards. The denser the slab, the higher the resistance to moisture;
• Environmental friendliness. Safe and high-quality products are marked E1;
• Thickness. The optimal thickness is considered to be 0.8 mm. It is responsible for the rigidity of the product and a value of 0.8 mm is quite sufficient;
• The basis. High-quality products are made from HDF board. Laminates made from MDF must be abandoned;
• Price. The final cost of the product consists of all the parameters described above.Therefore, a high-quality product cannot be cheap.

Laminate structure and application

As a rule, all products have the same structure.

1. The basis. Made from compressed wood fiber board.
2. Decorative layer. This is a film on which an image is applied. He is the one responsible for the appearance of the product.
3. Protective layer. It is necessary to give the laminate durability.
4. Stabilizing layer. This is a layer that provides moisture resistance and gives the coating the required rigidity. It is the bottom layer of the product.

How to choose high-quality laminate for a private house or apartment

When choosing a floor covering, you must take into account the room in which it will be placed.

Kitchen

It is difficult to choose a good covering for this room. It is necessary to give preference to a product with increased wear resistance and good moisture resistance. It is also necessary that the boards have chamfers. It will hide the joints. This will prevent moisture from entering and will protect against possible deformation of the product. After installation, it is recommended to additionally treat all joints with mastic.

Bathroom

The main parameter when choosing a bathroom coating is moisture resistance. This laminate is made from PVC boards. They don't absorb water. This is a very durable option that is almost as good as tile. There are products that have a rubber seal, this allows you to achieve 100% waterproofness. It is recommended to use a laminate that has a textured surface to prevent slipping.

Hallway

This room is characterized by high traffic; here the coating is constantly in contact with dirt and moisture. Therefore, the laminate must have a high wear and moisture resistance class. These include grades 33 and 34.

Children's room

The main parameters that should be taken into account when choosing a covering for a children's room are:

• environmental friendliness;
• hypoallergenic;
• fire safety;
• heat.

Also, the product should be pleasant to the touch. A laminate with a children's design would be ideal; it is bright and has an unusual pattern that the child will really like. Since the room combines the functions of a bedroom and a playroom, the product must have a high level of resistance to mechanical damage.

Bedroom, hall

For these premises, in addition to the resistance of the laminate to mechanical stress, it is necessary to take into account other characteristics. For example, sound insulation. It is especially important for the bedroom. It provides comfort and coziness in the room. The coating and its substrate must be of high quality. This will reduce the noise level.

Some manufacturing companies produce products with a special soundproofing layer. They are, however, somewhat more expensive. It is also necessary to take into account lighting and room area. For small rooms with poor lighting, it is recommended to choose light-colored laminate flooring. This will visually expand the space. Also, when installing, the boards can be laid across the room, this can also make it visually larger.

Expert advice

There are a large number of laminate varieties on the finishing materials market. You can easily get confused when choosing. Therefore, experts recommend paying attention to the following parameters:

1. Company manufacturer. Preference should be given to manufacturers with a good reputation.
2. They will check the seller's words. When purchasing, you can ask for a product quality certificate.
3. Explore all the new products available on your own. Get acquainted with the experiences of friends.
4. You also need to take into account the main characteristics of the coating: moisture resistance, resistance to mechanical damage and sound insulation properties.

The range of laminate flooring is very wide. It will be a worthy choice for flooring and will easily fit into any interior.