Laminate - production, class, installation Automatic translate

For several decades, the use of laminated parquet has been included in the concept of repair, high-quality and fast flooring. Laminate is especially popular with home developers - almost all apartments sold ready-to-use have laminate floors. Although it is difficult to call it parquet, it is a completely artificial material that has no common characteristics with a parquet board or block parquet, and in terms of wear resistance and appearance, a good laminate is not inferior to an array. Haro is one of the good examples of a good balance of high quality and affordable prices. You can buy Haro laminate in Moscow , for example, in the ZFloor online store ( zfloor.ru ).

What does the laminate consist of?

First, it is composed of several layers:

The top layer is a thin film of melamine or acrylic resin. The main function is assigned to this layer - to protect the floor from dirt, water, all kinds of chemicals and a little from mechanical damage. Depending on the quality of the laminate and its price, one can judge whether a multilayer or single-layer film was used in production;

The decorative layer - in fact, because of this layer, the laminate has acquired the name laminated parquet. This layer is made of special paper or furniture foil, which imitates various valuable types of wood and other decorative materials;

The layer that is made of chipboard or fiberboard (chipboard, fiberboard) is a material that performs the main load-bearing function;

The bottom layer or back sheet is made of paper, which is impregnated with a special resin and which protects the entire board from moisture and dirt and is responsible for the geometric stabilization of the entire board.

Laminate properties

Laminate has a number of undeniable advantages. In addition to the price, this is the fact that it does not need additional varnishing, sanding and sanding. Laminate does not fade in the sun, any dirt can be easily removed with solvents. This is an environmentally friendly material, as it does not emit anything harmful to humans. Laminate is made by different manufacturers, but the strength characteristics of individual classes are the same or almost the same for all.

Laminate classes

The most popular of all is laminate, which is intended for use in commercial premises and can be:

Class 31 - used for styling in offices, meeting rooms and reception rooms. Initially, the laminate of this class is designed for service in 2-3g. When installed in apartments and houses, it can last from 10 to 12 years. The most convenient type of laminate in terms of service life - quality - price;

32 classes - used for laying in rooms where the traffic intensity corresponds to the average level, and is designed for 3-5 years of service. The use of a laminate of this class in an apartment or house provides a service life of up to 15 years;

33 class - used for laying in rooms with high walking intensity, and can last from 5 to 6 years, five to six years. In an apartment or house, it provides a service life of 15-20 years.

Also, a laminate is produced specifically for use in residential premises - class 21, class 22, class 23. However, it is so impractical that it is not popular.

Choice of laminate

Laminate flooring, which was laid using special glue and tightened with special tie belts, has long lost its popularity. Modern manufacturers are focused on the production of a laminate with a lock, excluding the use of glue. Therefore, when choosing, you need to pay attention to the thickness of the purchased material.

The thicker the laminate flooring, the more reliable the joint will be and the longer the floor will last. The thickness of the laminated parquet has a positive effect on the sound absorption coefficient - the thicker it is, the better it absorbs sound and the less the floor rattles when walking. Installation of laminate with a thickness of 8–12mm is easier than installation of 6–7mm.

In addition to a simple laminate, you can turn your attention to class 33 moisture resistant laminate. Its surface is also covered with melamine film, but with the addition of corundum, and it is also produced with special locks that allow it to be used in wet rooms such as bathrooms, kitchens, and lavatories.

Laying laminate

Laying the laminate must begin with preparing the floor surface, that is, by checking how smooth it is. An aluminum rule 2.5 m long is used for this, which checks the evenness of the floor. The curvature should not exceed 3mm. For curvatures exceeding 3mm, it is recommended to level the floor. If the subfloor is wooden and creaks, you can get rid of it with a 10mm plywood underlayment.

The prepared floor is covered with a 2-4mm thick substrate, on which the laminate is laid. The substrate should be laid perpendicular to the direction of laying the laminate, and the laminate itself should be laid perpendicular to the window opening. The laminate is laid out in a spaced manner, the seam is displaced by at least 40 cm. Laying must start from the wall and a gap of 7mm is left between the wall and the laminate.

Laminate care

Proper care of your laminate flooring consists in following some rules. After laying the laminate, it can be treated with special water-repellent agents. Wet cleaning is done using products that do not contain abrasive ingredients and solvents. Under the legs of chairs and armchairs, you can put special plastic transparent rugs that protect the floor from damage. You can also use special felt heels for furniture legs, and when buying furniture, choose with special wheels that protect the floor.