Which laminate is better to choose for an apartment?

There are many criteria for choosing a product. These include the characteristics of the material itself and the features of the room. But the brand also plays a very important role. There are several manufacturing companies. You won't regret buying their products.

Criteria for choosing a laminate for an apartment

The criteria depend on the use of the premises. For example:

1. In some places, moisture-resistant material is needed.
2. Some places require a strong product.
3. Some rooms will become more beautiful if you install a dark laminate, and some - light ones.

Thanks to modern installation technologies, it is possible to correctly combine several types of laminate or this type of material with linoleum in one room. But remember that manufacturers make boards of different thicknesses. The difference may be a couple of millimeters, but even this will cause some difficulties in installation. That is why it is advisable to buy products from one manufacturer.

Choice depending on room

The premises have different purposes. Therefore, the characteristics of the material must be different.

Kitchen

Laminate is a very good covering for the kitchen. It is very practical and easy to care for. It is recommended to choose moisture-resistant panels, since in the kitchen you often have to do wet cleaning and deal with water (during cooking and washing dishes).To protect the joints from water getting inside, they are treated with special solutions. Also, for the kitchen floor, a material with a factored surface is better suited. It has the following advantages:

1. The floor will be comfortable.
2. It won't be slippery.
3. It does not show smudges or fingerprints.

Attention! When asked about thickness, the kitchen requires fairly thick boards, since the room is often used and the load on the floor is high.

Bathroom

The most important criterion here is protection from water. There are many laminates on the market that are treated with solutions that protect against moisture. But you can also choose slabs based on polyvinyl chloride. It repels water. But do not confuse water-repellent and moisture-resistant laminate. The former is made from polyvinyl chloride, and the latter from wood-based fibers. Waterproof materials have the same characteristics as ceramic tiles. On the modern market you can also find rubber-coated boards. This is the best protection against water. The thickness of the boards does not play a special role, because the bathroom is rarely used.

Living rooms

The main criterion here is compatibility with the design of the room. Convenience fades into the background. But some other characteristics are still important, for example, sound insulation. Unpleasant squeaks may appear when walking, so an additional layer is needed for sound insulation. The quality and thickness of the boards, as well as the substrate, play a big role here. Some manufacturers make the material with an already installed sound insulation layer. But if you don’t have it, you can buy a substrate on the market and cover the floor with it during the installation of the product.

Reference! Living areas are not used as often as the kitchen. Therefore, there is no point in having a laminate that is too thick.

Hallway or corridor

Here the laminate is selected according to two criteria:

1. Moisture protection. Shoes are stored in the hallway, so the floor often needs to be washed to get rid of dust and debris.
2. High cross-country ability. The hallway is a place where people often walk. Therefore, you should choose strong and thick boards.

Top 10 laminate manufacturers

According to customer reviews, a small list was created of the best, in their opinion, laminate manufacturers. And although the structure and characteristics of materials are most often the same, the creation process also plays an important role (workers can save on quality). According to the top, foreign companies became the leaders:

1. Quick-Step. Manufacturer – Belgium. One of the leading companies in the world. Their products are bought in Russia, Europe and the USA. The company uses a Uniklic lock, which makes the installation process easier. Materials are always in demand as the company develops and constantly uses something new. The products are high quality and safe. There is a large selection. There are both positive and negative reviews. Disadvantages - the price of materials is most often high, and if the material was made in Russia, there is a risk of poor quality and poor resistance to mechanical damage. Pros: long service life and quality when manufactured abroad. Negative reviews are more likely due to frequent fakes.
2. Manufacturer – Belgium. Although the company appeared recently, it has already managed to take one of the places in the top. All thanks to the high quality of the products. This company uses Click Xpres locking connection, thanks to which there are practically no seams. The slabs are durable and do not lose their quality over time. And thanks to good decoration, the appearance of the coating will be magnificent.
3. Manufacturer – Germany. Laminate flooring is of high quality and good appearance. But the most important thing is a good percentage of protection from water and moisture, allowing the product to be installed both in the bathroom and in the kitchen. The material is safe and durable. The best choice in terms of quality and price.
4. Manufacturer Europe. The products do not have a separate country of origin. Laminate is made in Germany and Sweden, and in other countries. The products are of very high quality, they are equipped with an interlayer and a locking system. Resistant to deformation. Large selection of materials.
5. Manufacturer – Sweden. The products of this company are distinguished by their attractive appearance, suitable for the design of any room and a large selection of laminate. All materials have several wear resistance classes. But the two most important characteristics are ease of installation and protection from damage.
6. Manufacturer – Norway. But recently the company merged with Belgium, so the laminate has two producing countries. Thanks to the use of modern technologies, laminate flooring has become very high quality. The company has its own locking connection made of aluminum. The product is well protected from water and mechanical damage, so it can be used in the kitchen and bathroom. Large selection of products. The price is higher than other manufacturers, but the material boasts good quality.
7. Manufacturer – Germany. The characteristics of the material are high. But the most important thing is the original design, capable of repeating the patterns of stones, trees and other materials. Thanks to our proprietary locking technology, the bonding becomes very good. Laminate flooring has one difference from products from other companies - an air purification system installed in the material.It will remove harmful substances from the environment. Good value for money.
8. Manufacturer – Germany. Environmentally friendly materials. The slabs are easy to install and easy to maintain. High resistance to moisture, fire and mechanical damage. The material is natural and high quality. These products are also made in Russia. Their price is lower than in Germany, but the quality is worse.
9. Manufacturer – Germany. The company appeared in the last century, immediately took one of the leading positions in the market, and still maintains it. All thanks to good protection of the material from wear and damage. The top layers are impregnated with solutions to protect against moisture, fire and deformation. But the material is also treated with special substances to protect it from moisture (these substances were created by the company itself). Thanks to this, the products can be installed in any room (in the kitchen, in the hallway, in the bathroom).
10. Manufacturer – Germany. This company creates a coating that is easy to install. The laminate is based on compressed wood fibers. Thanks to this, the coating becomes of high quality. But the most important characteristics are protection from moisture, ultraviolet rays and wear. Thanks to the convenient connection system, fastening the boards becomes easier. Large selection of materials. Many different colors.

It is impossible to say which of the listed companies is the best. All of them were able to establish themselves in the market. Everyone has enough positive reviews to compete with the rest. Most of the features are of equal quality. Choose the laminate that suits your space.