What thickness to choose laminate

Among the variety of materials used for finishing the floor, among other things, laminate can not be overlooked. It can be called one of the most versatile, as this material is used both in the finishing of residential apartments and in work in industrial or public premises. Particular attention should be paid to what thickness to choose laminate for use in certain conditions.

Types of material

This versatility is ensured by the fact that the laminate presented on the modern construction market is divided into classes. The differences between them are due to a number of criteria, but the most important of them are indicators of resistance to abrasion and the effects of mechanical loads. In this regard, choose a laminate for a particular room is not difficult. For convenience of understanding, you can pay attention to the table:

As can be seen from the table, laminate can be divided into two large groups.

• For home use.
• For commercial use.

They differ mainly in resistance to stress. It should be noted that the higher the class of material, the higher will be the price.

Note! If you have to choose a laminate for an apartment, then you can use classes 21, 22 and 23. But, in fairness, it must be said that in this case material of the 31st and 32th classes is in the greatest demand.

Criterias of choice

Depending on the class and performance characteristics, different materials should be chosen for each specific purpose. It should be guided by certain selection criteria.

• Wear resistance. When you come to the hardware store, you can see that some samples will cost a little less, and some more expensive, moreover, their class will be the same. The fact is that in the production of cheap laminate, melamine resin is used as a protective layer, which provides protection against premature abrasion. However, it does not guarantee protection from scratches. Therefore, corundum is added to the protective layer of the more expensive laminate, which provides additional protection. This factor should be taken into account, especially if there are pets in the apartment.
• Mechanical strength. Laminate is a material consisting of several layers. Some of them provide protection, some are responsible for appearance, but the basis responsible for mechanical strength is MDF or HDF. It is on its thickness and strength that the overall strength will depend, both on the individual laminate panel and on the entire floor covering. It is necessary to decide individually how thick the laminate is. If the surface to be coated is perfectly flat or has slight height differences (no more than 2 mm per linear meter), then a laminate of 6–7 mm thick can be used. If the drops are more significant, then it is necessary to purchase material with a thickness of about 10–12 mm. In addition, you need to take into account that the thickness of the material affects the noise insulation properties of the coating.
• Resistant to moisture and chemicals. This criterion must be taken into account when working in the kitchen. There, it is necessary to wash floors much more often than in other rooms, therefore a laminate with good moisture resistance is better suited for flooring this room.

Video

This video should also help you choose a laminate, depending on its characteristics.