Parquet or laminate flooring - which is better?

The choice of flooring is one of the most difficult moments when repairing an apartment. The whole question is that various construction companies produce so many varieties of floor coverings that it is no wonder and confused. Let's try to figure out: parquet or laminate - which is better? Both of these materials are very common. Parquet is the epitome of luxury and quality. Laminate also looks pretty decent. Moreover, it is easy to care for. Next, we pay attention to all the details and features of these coatings.

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Laminate - Features

To understand the difference and decide for yourself, parquet or laminate flooring - which is better, consider the arrangement of materials, their pros and cons.

Laminate device

The main feature of the laminated coating is multilayer. As layers are used:

• Kraft paper and wood-fiber boards connected by polymer resins.
• The upper decorative part is covered with a protective layer based on melamine resin. This gives the product particular strength.
• The fiberboard layer gives the product certain geometric shapes and sizes, as well as resistance to temperature fluctuations.
• There is a plastic or paper (with special impregnation) layer under the fiberboard layer.
• Wax-based impregnation makes the material moisture resistant.

Important! Different types of laminate are distinguished by the load that he is able to take on. The “marking capacity” is indicated by the corresponding marking. The choice of this or that type of coating largely depends on the patency of the room and the intensity of operation. The biggest floor load is in the kitchen and bedroom. In the children's room, this figure is average.

Laminate advantages:

• Antistatic effect (the coating does not attract dust).
• Shock resistance, wear resistance. The most durable coatings of 31, 32 and 33 classes are used in public institutions. For residential premises, materials of 21, 22 and 23 classes are most often used.
• Resistance to UV radiation, heat resistance.
• Chemical neutrality with detergents.
• The ability to combine with underfloor heating.
• A variety of textures and tint variations.
• Quality Assurance - 5 years or more.
• Extremely easy care.

Minuses

There are certain weaknesses:

• Limited scope. Despite the presence of moisture-resistant species, the material is not recommended for use in very humid rooms.
• Weak sound insulation, if you lay the floor without a substrate.
• Zero maintainability. If the board is out of order, it can only be replaced. It is not subject to repair.
• Despite the beautiful appearance, it is noticeable that the laminate is an artificial material.

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Advantages and disadvantages of parquet flooring

Like a laminate, a parquet board has a multilayer structure, however, of a completely different composition. The design is a plank, perpendicularly fastened together. This significantly extends the working life of the board, making it resistant to shocks and various loads.

Device

Consider its structure in more detail:

• The topmost layer (or rather, several layers) is a varnish. Its purpose is to protect the board from external influences.
• Valuable wood (oak, beech or ash) with a thickness of 2.2-6.0 mm.
• Lamels. This is the central part of the board made of spruce or pine wood. In the side, they have a “spike” mount for attaching to another board. This and the previous layers are mutually perpendicular.
• The bottom layer is pine or spruce plywood, which gives the board stability.

pros

The advantages of parquet coating include:

• Excellent sound insulation. Antistatic effect.
• Ecological purity of varnish. It does not contain toxic substances.
• The possibility of multiple resurfacing and restoration. The thicker the top layer, the higher the maintainability of the coating.
• Refined and stylish look. Few materials can compete with the texture of natural wood.
• Easy styling.
• Work resource - from 10 years.

Minuses

Parquet has a few shortcomings, but they are also available:

• Do not use parquet in wet rooms.
• The protective coating on the floor wears out faster than the top layer of the laminate.
• The need to maintain a stable indoor climate.

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Comparison by parameters

With the advantages and disadvantages sorted out. Now we find out which is better - a parquet board or a laminate according to certain parameters.

Impact resistance

In this regard, the parquet floor is inferior to the laminate. Of course, provided that we are talking about high-class coverage. Such a floor can not be damaged neither furniture nor a sharp heel. In addition, it is able to withstand a large weight load compared to parquet. Laminate flooring remains intact even if heavy furniture is moved around. If you move the cabinet on the parquet, it will be mercilessly scratched.

Resistance to fluctuations in humidity and temperature:

• Parquet flooring equally poorly tolerates too dry and excessively humid air. In the summer heat, it is drying up, cracks form between the dies. In the rainy season, parquet boards, on the contrary, swell.
• Laminate is resistant to changes in humidity and air temperature, and this is its advantage. Actually, the laminate was originally created as an imitation of parquet, but without its disadvantages. Therefore, at first the cost of the laminate was higher than that of parquet. Then, with the development of technology, the cost, and hence the price of the laminate, decreased.

Important! Laminate coatings belonging to classes 31-34 are much more reliable than parquet. The basis of such a laminate is a high-strength fiberboard (HDF), which expands evenly. There are no gaps in this floor.

Appearance:

• Here noble parquet wins significantly. For a room designed in a classic style, a parquet board literally asks for itself. It looks great next to a marble fireplace, stucco decorations, antique furniture and paintings.
• For modern interiors, laminate floors are more appropriate. The material has many color and textured varieties, so you can always choose the option to taste, suitable for this design.

Care Issues

In particular, this issue is relevant when arranging floors in rooms with high traffic:

• A quality laminate tolerates washing well at least every day. Of course, pouring water in buckets is not necessary. Use powders and “any” detergents, too. There are detergent compositions specifically for the laminate.
• Parquet in relation to care is more moody. It is cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, being careful not to damage the varnish. For care, special formulations designed for caring for the tree are used.

Type of premises:

• For a hallway that takes on street dirt on shoes, a laminate is more preferable. For the kitchen, it is also much more practical.
• In the living room, bedroom or children’s room, natural wood is more appropriate than artificial.

Issue price

Many types of laminate flooring are much cheaper than parquet. But sometimes a good laminate is more expensive than a medium-quality parquet. The following factors influence the price of a laminate:

• Manufacturing company.
• Coverage class. The higher it is, the more expensive it is.
• The components that make up the material.

The cost of a parquet board depends on the type of wood, on the quality and thickness of the lacquer coating. A parquet board dotted with knots will not be expensive.Products from well-known companies from homogeneous wood will be very expensive.

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Exposing Myths

So, a laminate or a parquet board - what to choose? Let’s try to deal with persistent “myths” about these materials. Sometimes, trying at all costs to sell the goods, sellers convey untruthful information to buyers. Therefore, it is important to be able to separate the truth from myth:

1. You can often hear that only natural material is environmentally friendly and safe. This is not true. The environmental safety class for a laminated flooring is the same as for parquet - E1. Parquet has a multilayer structure, its layers are glued together. Therefore, there is no need to talk about absolute naturalness.
2. Parquet is not as booming as a laminate. This statement also has nothing to do with the truth. If the floor is well leveled and a substrate is used during installation, a good level of sound insulation can be achieved. If the installation technology is not followed, both coverings will be booming.
3. Low maintainability of the laminate. It’s true, but after repair the parquet does not look as beautiful as it was originally. So in this respect, the laminated coating is not much inferior to natural.

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Stock footage

Despite the fact that each of the options considered has its advantages and disadvantages, it is up to you to choose. Carefully analyze all the factors, and only then make a choice.