How to choose a laminate for apartment 2

Today, many modern consumers choose laminate flooring. He has long become a worthy competitor to linoleum and parquet, the latter of which is somewhat less in demand due to the higher price and complexity of installation.

Premium laminate flooring does not differ from expensive parquet in its external characteristics. Before you choose a laminate for an apartment, you need to familiarize yourself with its performance characteristics and recommendations of experts.

Criterias of choice

The quality of a laminate is determined by several quality factors, according to which it is tested before it goes on sale. According to European standards, it is tested on 18 class parameters. Each of the classes determines the degree of resistance to various mechanical loads and possible damage during operation.

Wear test

The main test that passes the coating, which determines whether it belongs to one or another class, is a taber test. When it passes, the laminate is exposed to an abrasive tool for a certain time. At the end, its resistance class is determined, according to the number of turns, after which the coating will be damaged.

At the end of the test, the laminate is assigned a grade sign. Today, the most popular and popular four classes:

1. 21 and 23. Manufacturers refer such coating to the household class.
2. 31 and 33. These are the classes that were originally intended for commercial use.

In manufacturing, to give the laminate surface resistance to minor mechanical damage, its surface is covered with a transparent film based on corundum.

Note! The large thickness of the film indicates an increased content of corundum in its composition. Such a film will more reliably protect the surface of the coating from mechanical damage.

Moisture resistance

The main component of the laminate is wood. Therefore, in the production process, various technical tricks are used to make it resistant to moisture. This process is especially important because in natural conditions of operation it is impossible to completely protect the laminate from exposure to various liquids.

A good option would be the choice of premium laminate. In its production uses a special impregnation, providing full protection from moisture. This quality primarily affects its value.

Note! Experts do not recommend laying the laminate in places where it will be constantly in contact with water. This rule should be noted when choosing a cheap option.

Butt joint quality

This is the most vulnerable part of the laminate. When choosing it, you need to pay attention to the impregnation of the lock joints. Typically, this is used impregnation of paraffin wax. This, of course, will not save the coating when in constant contact with the liquid, but with single ingress of moisture will significantly reduce the risk of its penetration.

Resistance to mechanical damage

This is a property of the coating that allows it to withstand gentle mechanical loads.

1. Drop heavy or sharp objects.
2. The movement of furniture.
3. The impact of animal claws or thin heels of women's shoes.

The laminate board can be of different thickness, the thicker it is, the higher the impact resistance of the coating, respectively. As a rule, MDF or HDF boards are used for the base material. The second option has a higher density and reliable locks, so the impact resistance of the coating assembled from such plates is higher.

Price policy

A large influence on the choice of laminate for an apartment has its value, which consists of several parameters.

1. Quality coverage.
2. Decorative characteristics.
3. Brand manufacturer.

Types and classes of laminate

As mentioned above, the coverage is divided into classes. 21 and 23 classes, due to the low degree of wear resistance is rarely used today and its production is limited. The choice remains between two options.

1. 31 class. This material is usually used to cover public areas with a small degree of load. When laying it in a residential apartment, it will last about 12 years with proper use.
2. 32 class. This coating with a higher degree of resistance to stress. It is allowed to be laid in rooms with a large cross, and at home it will lie for about 15 years without damage.

Note! The thickness of the laminate plays an important role in his choice. The thicker and denser the plate, the easier it is to lay, having achieved evenness of the coating.

Select by color

Manufacturers offer a huge amount of color solutions of this material, but conditionally they can be divided into two types.

• Bright hues. They are popular with lovers of eco-style. These include maple, ash, oak and birch. They allow you to originally arrange a small room.
• Dark tones. This variant of the coating is successfully used in the design of the premises in the classical style or to give it additional contrast. These colors include dark oak, walnut, mahogany, teak and rosewood.

Note! When making a design, it is recommended to combine a dark covering with light furniture. This will give the room a bit of refinement and originality.

Fans of non-standard solutions can be advised to choose the color of the laminate under the concrete pavement or stone. The second option is used in the design of country style, and the first will be the original solution for high-tech style adherents.

Pattern classification

In the market, laminated board is represented by a huge variety of patterns and colors. With a certain choice, you can imitate indoors a surface made of natural stone, wood or floor tile.

The surface of the laminate can be matte, textured or glossy. When choosing, first of all, consider the style and design of the room.

Designer Tips

1. Do not save when choosing coverage. The old Russian saying, as well as possible concerns the choice of a laminate. It is better to purchase expensive coverage and protect yourself from additional repair for 12–15 years, rather than constantly repairing cheap lamellae.
2. When choosing a laminate in the store, check with the sellers class of wear resistance. Do not forget that good coverage has a category not lower than 31 classes.
3. When purchasing, be sure to purchase some material in stock. Because if you need to purchase the missing part when laying, no one guarantees the similarity of the laminate in color and texture to you.
4. Check the manufacturer of the laminate and require a warranty coverage.
5. Choose the color of the laminate according to the overall design of the room.

Solutions for individual rooms

After talking about some of the features of this material, it will be easier for you to decide which laminate to choose for the apartment. In addition to the general concept, you can familiarize yourself with the recommendations on the choice for certain areas of the apartment.

For kitchen

As we know the kitchen is a room that is constantly experiencing mechanical loads, there may be some effect on the floor covering moisture. The rational solution is a moisture resistant coating with high wear resistance. Such material is able to withstand high loads and at the same time maintain an attractive appearance.

You can choose a lacquer coating. It is distinguished by good functionality and it successfully combines the characteristics of endurance and external qualities.

Note! Experts advise to choose for the kitchen 32nd class of laminate. Although it is focused on commercial space, for the kitchen is the best option.

For the bedroom

Answering the question on the choice of coverage for bedrooms, you must, above all, be guided by color. It is not necessary to acquire material with a motley coloring or bright tones in color. Such coloring can affect the emotional balance of a person.

Given the low permeability of the room, you should not make a choice in favor of expensive material of class 33, there will be enough 31 and even 23.

For a child's room

Particularly meticulous should choose a laminate for the nursery. The room where the child lives is constantly subjected to mechanical stress, so when making a choice, consider the following characteristics.

1. Be sure to ask the sellers to provide you with a certificate of hygienic compliance.
2. Pay attention that there is no unpleasant smell from the material.
3. The surface should not be too slippery, and on the colors it is better to choose a calm soft tone.

Note! Here it is better to prefer high-class material. The thicker the board, the better. In a word, coverage for a nursery should be reliable and of high quality.

Manufacturer selection

Which manufacturer to give preference? This is also an important question that potential buyers are asking. The main thing here is to follow one rule - do not expect German coating quality from material from China. You can be sure that this will be reflected, first of all, in the price list, and then in use.

For those who focus on high quality, we can recommend the Belgian or German laminate. However, today the majority of Russian manufacturers also offer high quality coatings at a relatively low price.

The following manufacturing companies are considered to be key players in the production of laminate:

Quick Step. A Belgian company offering a quality product with a declared warranty of 25 years.

Tarkett. This company is known for producing not only high quality linoleum, but also laminate coating. The latest production technologies guarantee the preservation of the quality of the coating over the course of 15 years of operation.

Pergo. Swedish company producing reliable coverage. In addition to the well-known quality of products, it is also the ancestor of the smart-lok technology.

Egger. A German company, in the production of laminate, only high-quality material is used here, and all work is carried out with the pedantism inherent in this nation.

Balterio. Another representative of the Belgian quality. This brand is less promoted than Quick Step, but its quality is also high.

Laminate is an expensive and long-term purchase. Therefore, before choosing, take into account all its characteristics - technical and price, in order to make the right choice.

A photo

Check out the photo beauty of laminate coating in the interior: