The best laminate flooring

Want to know which company produces the best laminate? Today, there are more than a dozen companies that produce these products. And they all have certain manufacturing secrets and different quality of their goods. In order not to make a mistake in buying and not to get lost among the variety of laminate flooring, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the criteria for choosing a laminated coating.

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Laminate Benefits

To start the repair in the room should be with the finish of the floor. Laminate flooring has a lot of advantages, and all this at a relatively inexpensive price:

• attractive appearance and variety of design;
• the surface of the floor looks perfectly flat;
• extremely easy care.

Due to its qualities, laminate flooring is very popular among buyers and is worthy of competition with natural parquet and tile. A variety of colors, structure and high technical characteristics make it possible to use it not only for finishing the floor of apartments. Certain models can also be used for office or retail space.

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How does a laminated panel work?

If you have never encountered a laminate, then before proceeding with the direct selection of the right product, you should familiarize yourself with the structure of such a floor covering:

1. The bottom layer of the lamella is made of hard, waterproof melamine. Thanks to him, under the load on the laminate, the board does not deform.
2. The basis for the production of laminate are panels made of fiberboard or chipboard, which account for the bulk of heavy furniture and other interior items.
3. Next is a paper layer that repeats the structure of wood or other material.
4. The top of the lamella is covered with a glossy or matte film of melamine or acrylic resin.

Important! The more the coating contains melamine, the stronger the laminate and is resistant to wear and mechanical damage.

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Laminate Features

Making a choice based only on the name of the company is rather difficult. Each manufacturer has its own specific advantages and disadvantages in production. Based on this, there are criteria that you should pay attention to when choosing the best laminate:

• Wear resistance class;
• The size and shape of the lamella;
• Types of castle connection;
• Environmental friendliness of raw materials;
• Color spectrum;
• The method of surface finishing.

Let us consider in more detail each criterion for a better understanding of it.

Laminate wear class

In order for the new laminated coating to retain its color and original appearance longer, it is necessary to correctly determine which type of flooring is suitable for which room more.

There are classes of surface wear resistance. Thanks to this classification, you can choose a floor covering based on the intensity of its use.

The Association of Floor Laminated Panel Manufacturers has approved the following standards for laminate durability:

• Class 21. Laminate has a low resistance to stress. Laying lamellas is recommended for rooms with low traffic (bedrooms, offices or libraries).
• Class 22. The use of such a laminate is better for rooms with medium traffic, such as nurseries or living rooms. The surface has a moderate level of abrasion resistance.
• Class 23.Products perfectly withstand heavy loads. Suitable for rooms with high traffic (kitchens, halls). The coating is highly resistant to abrasion.
• Class 31. It is advisable to use such a laminate for small office rooms or conference rooms. The coating has a high degree of abrasion resistance.
• Class 32. Class 32 laminate is used for laying in public places (for example, school classes, boutiques, offices). The surface of the lamella has a high level of wear resistance.
• Class 33. Such coverage can be used for rooms with heavy workload (restaurants, gyms, trading floors). It has the highest degree of abrasion resistance.

The most popular among consumers are the laminate classes 31, 32 and 33, due to the high wear resistance of the coating. It is used for finishing floors in apartments and rooms with high traffic. Due to the increased demand for such products, manufacturers are constantly expanding the range of colors and styling methods for these types of materials.

Important! Despite the increased cost of the laminate, its service life is several times higher compared to a laminate for domestic use.

Lamella size and shape

Important enough criteria to choose the best laminate for an apartment:

• The main form of panel production is a rectangle. It is very rare to find a square laminate.

Important! A square shaped laminate is easier to lay; its installation does not require a substrate. But its cost is an order of magnitude higher than the price of a rectangular one. In addition, the repair of a square laminate in comparison with a rectangular one is more labor-intensive and takes more time.

• As such, a standard for the manufacture of a laminate does not exist. The most popular are panels with a length of 1260 to 1380 mm and a width of 185-195 mm. Optimum resistance to stress is possessed by products with a thickness of 8 mm.

Important! Short trims are much easier to install. When installing long slats, it is very important to consider their geometry - this will prevent deformation of the floor.

• The width of the laminate depends on the area of ​​the room and the desired result (imitation of a wooden floor, parquet and the like).

Important! Planks, which have a large thickness, are much more resistant to loads and have low thermal conductivity.

• When choosing a floor covering, consider the dimensions and geometry of the room. Long and wide boards are perfect for large rooms. In turn, small rooms look harmoniously with a narrow laminate.

Important! When purchasing a laminate, it is necessary to consider the expense of trimming the slats. With direct laying, it is 7% of the area, with a diagonal - 10%.

Types of castle connection

The way the laminate is laid depends on the lock connection of the slats. There are two types of joining between Click and Lock laminate. Which laminate system is better - we will consider further.

Lock system

Laying is carried out by driving the protruding part of one plank into the groove of another:

• Each of the boards has a protrusion and a groove, which prevents the formation of gaps during the operation of the coating.
• Due to the low cost, the laminate with the Lock system is in great demand.

Important! Flooring with a Lock system is not recommended for installation in rooms with heavy traffic. Locks are quickly erased, as a result of which the coating breaks.

• Before laying laminate flooring should have a perfectly smooth surface to avoid sagging.

Important! It is better to entrust the laying of the laminate to the master specialist, so as not to damage the trims.

Click system

A very simple installation system that even a beginner can easily handle:

• One board is attached to another at an angle of 45 degrees. Pressing until a characteristic click the bar is stacked one after another.
• A flooring with such a system is resistant to stress and easy to repair.

Important! Number the panels before laying. In case of repair of one of the boards this will greatly facilitate its replacement.

• Compared to the previous version, the Click system is more expensive.

Environmental friendliness of raw materials

Each of us, when choosing a material for decoration, tries to choose one that is made from environmentally friendly raw materials. The state of our health depends to a large extent on this. How to determine the best laminate flooring?

• The laminate with the E1 marking is considered the safest for installation in the apartment. Such products contain a permissible rate of formaldehyde and other chemical impurities.

Important! When choosing a laminate, do not forget about the existence of fakes. Therefore, open the packaging and make sure that there is no pungent odor.

• It is also worth considering that the price of products made from natural material will be much higher.

Color spectrum

The creative departments of laminate flooring companies do not cease to amaze with new refined options for the color and texture of the surfaces of lamellas. To give the room a personality, there are different types of textures:

• The classic wood flooring is very similar to expensive parquet. It has the structure of different species: maple, alder, oak.
• Exclusive connoisseurs can create an individual design in the form of crocodile skin.
• To complement the Hi-Tech style, technologists created a laminate with imitation of metal in the colors of zinc and chromium.
• For lovers of classics, you can add an interior to a stone-like laminate like agate, slate, onyx.

Surface Finishing Method

Another important criterion when choosing a finish for the floor is a feeling of comfort in the room. It largely depends on the texture of the lamella:

• The classic panel decoration and the most common option is the relief of natural wood.

Important! For rooms in the Provence style, imitation of an old board is perfect.

• The glossy finish of the laminate creates the effect of a lacquered wooden board.
• The matte surface creates an oil tree effect. This option will give the floor a stylish and complete look.
• Country-style finishes create the effect of freshly laid plank sanded planks.

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Laminate flooring

In order for the laminate to serve for a long time and not be deformed, you should initially take care of a quality substrate. There are several options for the substrate.

Cork backing:

• It is made of natural material.
• It has good sound insulation.
• Hides bumps on the floor.
• The only drawback is the possibility of crumbling due to exposure to the floor surface with increased humidity.

Styrofoam:

• Such a substrate has high sound insulation.
• Resistant to moisture and resistant to decay.

Duplex

Three-layer perforated polyethylene substrate. A layer of polystyrene foam granules, which are used for ventilation, and polyethylene is superimposed on it.

Polyethylene

The cheapest option for a laminate substrate is foamed polyethylene.

• Wear-resistant material, has high sound insulation.
• Among the shortcomings, the possibility of crushing from the load during operation can be noted.

Important! It is not recommended to overlap the backing, in order to avoid the appearance of swelling and unevenness of the floor.

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Which company laminate is better to choose for an apartment?

Manufacturing companies make almost the entire laminate using the same technology. However, product quality may vary. One of the best manufacturers of flooring has long been foreign companies.

In our article, we will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of well-known brands of laminate flooring, which will help you acquire a high-quality and wear-resistant floor covering.

Quick-Step (Belgium)

The leader in sales of floor laminate is Quisk-Step. Its products have established themselves as one of the highest quality and most reliable coatings.

The advantages of a laminate company:

• The hallmark of the company should be noted the patented Uniklic lock, which greatly simplifies the process of laying the laminate.
• Continuous work of technologists and an improved design allow you to choose the flooring for any room interior.
• For the manufacture of products, Quisk-Step uses environmentally friendly and high-quality material.
• Laminate has high wear resistance and strength.

Disadvantages:

• The high cost of production can significantly affect the purchase of the family budget.
• Instability to mechanical damage to the varnished surface.

Important! Consumers note a decline in the quality of this brand's products manufactured at domestic factories.

Balterio (Belgium)

High quality products have provided this company one of the leading places among competing companies.

The advantages of a laminate company:

• A feature of the products should be noted the seamless connection of the panels when laying the floor, thanks to the patented Click-Xpres system.
• The manufacturer uses high-quality HDF panels as the basis for the manufacture of laminated boards.
• Additional decorative finishes are most similar to the structure of natural materials.
• When laying, no cracks form.
• Laminate is not afraid of moisture, has scratch resistance.

Disadvantages:

• For all its positive qualities, Balterio laminate has a significant drawback - high cost.
• The first time after installation, the coating may creak a little.

Egger (Germany)

Egger laminated panels are in great consumer demand.

The advantages of a laminate company:

• High quality material, durability of the coating and a variety of designs make it possible to choose the flooring for the most fastidious buyer.
• The special marking “aqua +” indicates the possibility of laying laminate flooring in the bathroom and in the kitchen.
• Egger uses high-quality and environmentally friendly raw materials to produce flooring.
• Simple laminate system.

Disadvantages:

• According to some consumers, this is not the best laminate, as it is difficult to clean, dust quickly settles on it and scratches form.
• High cost of goods.

Tarkett (Europe)

Want to know which company laminate is best to choose? Products of the well-known Tarkett brand are very popular among neighboring countries. Laminated panels are produced in Sweden, Germany and other countries. Thanks to the high quality of its products, Tarkett competes with a large number of enterprises.

Features of the company laminate:

• Laminated panels of 32-33 classes are excellent for installation in both residential and office premises.
• When laying, the reliable T-Lock system is used, thanks to which no gaps are formed between the panels.
• The high quality of the surface makes it resistant to mechanical damage.
• A wide range of finishes and colors for flooring makes it possible to choose products for any interior.

Pergo (Sweden)

Pergo products have established themselves as one of the most diverse and design-exclusive laminated panels.

Features of the company laminate:

• A wide range of structures and environmentally friendly material for production make products in demand.
• The special PerfectFold locking system greatly facilitates the installation process.
• The coating is wear-resistant due to the special technological treatment of TitanX.

BerryAlloc (Belgium- Norway)

You can not decide which laminate manufacturer to choose? One of the most famous companies producing these products is the Norwegian company Alloc. In 2012, combining industrial resources with a Belgian company, she began to produce a laminate with HPL and DPL plate processing technology, which significantly improved the quality of the flooring.

Features of the company laminate:

• High quality products, wear resistance and moisture resistance are far from a complete list of the positive qualities of the coating.
• The company uses environmentally friendly raw materials of high quality to produce flooring.
• Exclusive aluminum locking system increases the resistance of the panels to deformation.

Parador (Germany)

Which laminate is better to choose? Manufacturer from Germany Parador offers a choice of laminate flooring, made with an exclusive design. Lamels repeat the structure of wood or stone as much as possible.

Features of the company laminate:

• The high quality of environmental raw materials used for the manufacture of products makes it possible to lay flooring in residential premises.
• The proprietary, patented locking connection guarantees the strength of the panels under any load.
• Additional processing of plates with water-repellent impregnation increases resistance to moisture.
• Affordable cost of products.

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Stock footage

Repair in the room is an investment for many years. Therefore, do not save on the quality of building materials. Implement the recommendations for choosing a laminate from this article with benefit. Thus, you can choose a floor covering that will not only create comfort in the room, but will also last for many years.