Pros and cons of laminate

Laminate is one of the relatively recent developments that has quickly gained popularity among apartment owners. Its attractive price is combined with ease of installation and a decent range of designs. At the same time, this floor covering is easy to maintain, and the manufacturers guarantee its long service life. But is everything really so rosy?

Laminate - what the characteristics depend on

All the advantages and disadvantages of an aesthetic floor directly depend on the structural features of its elements. The board most often consists of four layers:

• lower melamine layer that prevents deformation of the lamella;
• wood fiber board (MDF or HDF) - the base on which the strength of the laminate depends;
• paper with printed patterns and textures, providing a decorative finish;
• acrylate protective layer that protects against abrasion.

In some cases, the boards are supplemented with a wax coating on the locks, impregnation that increases moisture resistance, and even a soundproofing substrate applied by the manufacturer to the back of the product. But all these innovations are typical only for expensive premium products.

And the best way to determine the advantages and disadvantages of a material is a detailed review of the middle price segment.

Benefits of coverage

The first thing that catches your eye when you look at the range of laminate flooring is the variety of design solutions.

The most common on the market are imitation of various types of valuable wood. But with due diligence, you can find a laminate that is visually indistinguishable from various types of decorative stone, and even slabs that fold into a mosaic.

A more detailed study of the lamellas attracts attention to the diversity of the structure of the locking systems. Each manufacturer is trying to bring something new that makes it easier to assemble the coating and increases the reliability of the adhesion of the boards to each other. And they succeed - installing laminate flooring has become a feasible task even for those who have never worked with building materials before.

The wear resistance declared by the manufacturer is another advantage of the laminate. True, in order for the coating to serve the entire 8-10-15 years without loss of aesthetic qualities, it is important to choose the right thickness and confidently navigate the markings. There's just a couple of numbers. The first indicates the purpose: 2nd house, 3rd public place. The second is for strength: 1 - for places with low traffic, 2 - with medium traffic, 3 - withstands heavy loads.

Among the “public” ones there is even class 34 - laminate for airports and train stations. But it is not advisable to choose it for your home - it will be an expensive extravagance.

Ease of care is perhaps one of the most attractive advantages. To keep the laminate perfectly clean, just vacuum it and wipe it with a damp cloth. Even art applied with a marker or felt-tip pen can be easily removed from a high-quality coating. And no rubbing until it shines, as is the case with parquet - the acrylate layer looks perfect until it completely wears off.

The strength will please those who were previously familiar with linoleum. There will be no traces of furniture, heels or accidentally fallen objects on the laminate.Expensive coatings even withstand the test of fire with honor - a fallen candle or cigarette does not leave behind unsightly burns.

Flaws

There are a little fewer of them than advantages, but they are there.

The most serious weakness of the laminate turned out to be ordinary water. Despite all the attempts of manufacturers to increase the moisture resistance of the coating, it was not possible to make it absolutely invulnerable. Therefore, the kitchen and bathroom are crossed off from the list of rooms with original flooring - just fill the floor with water for an hour and it will become completely unusable. True, occasional puddles, which are removed instantly, will not harm the slats.

If you manage to scratch or break a durable board, it is impossible to repair it. Minor damage is temporarily hidden with putty of a suitable shade, but more serious damage will require a complete replacement of the slats. It is for this reason that it is always recommended to buy laminate with a small margin.

The slats conduct sound well. Even soundproofing underlayment cannot cope with the booming echo, regardless of its thickness. And if in a private house this is a small problem, then in an apartment building it is better to think about soundproofing the subfloor. Otherwise, the neighbors below will hear every step.

And finally, the laminate is cold. If a heated floor system is not laid underneath, walking barefoot on the slats will remind you of walking on damp concrete.