We tell you how not to make a mistake when choosing laminate flooring, not to confuse moisture- and water-resistant coatings, as well as where to install and how to care for a laminate floor.
Why is laminate so popular? From a design point of view, it has no equal in its ability to imitate natural patterns and surface reliefs of wood or stone. And many are familiar with the consumer qualities of this flooring first-hand. It can be found in most new buildings with finished finishing. And in the old housing stock, block parquet, and modular parquet boards are being actively replaced with more durable and practical materials. However, on the sales floor, among a huge number of collections, choosing several samples and determining which one is better is not easy. We tell you which laminate to choose for your apartment and what to pay attention to.
What is laminate?
Look at the plank diagram:
1 – transparent wear-resistant layer for protection;
2 – decorative layer, reproduces the pattern of natural wood, stone, or ceramic tiles;
3 – the base made of high-density fiberboard (HDF) is responsible for the stability of the plank and stability;
4 – stabilizing layer, prevents deformation of the strip.
Where can I lay it?
This is a truly versatile material. It can be installed in bedrooms, living rooms, children’s rooms, hallways, and kitchens.
They also began to actively install it in country houses, including seasonal residences. But this is risky since the guarantee only applies to finishing in residential areas with a constant temperature and slight fluctuations in humidity: from 30% in winter to 60% in summer.
A seasonal country house is not heated for most of the cold season, and, naturally, the floors in it either heat up or cool down. Such climatic disasters are not useful for finishing.
Today, the material can also serve as an original wall design. The planks are fixed directly to the base using silicone glue and pins (nails without heads) or to a wooden sheathing. Of course, such cladding should not be used near water sources, as a kitchen apron, or as wall decoration in the bathroom.
5 mistakes when choosing laminate
1. Wrong choice of wear resistance class
The most common mistake is the wrong choice of wear resistance class. This parameter affects the price, so many, to save money, take the cheapest option, forgetting that it is not suitable for high-traffic areas. A typical case: the happy owners of a new building took a beautiful but cheap product and laid it throughout the apartment, including the hallway. After a couple of rainy seasons, it deteriorated from constant high humidity and mechanical stress.
Therefore, the first thing you need to pay attention to is the class. It shows how durable the coating is, resistant to abrasion and scratches. In specialized stores and chain hypermarkets, the entire line of decors from whitened to dark is usually presented in different classes. Therefore, you can find an item that matches the color and texture.
Before going to the store, first of all, determine for which room you are choosing flooring; this will determine the choice. For example, for rooms with low traffic, such as bedrooms or living rooms, class 31 is suitable, and for rooms with medium traffic – kitchen, living room, nursery, corridor, or office – it is better to use the more durable class 32. For rooms that bear the heaviest load, it is better to choose class 33 products; they can even be installed in hallways.
For your convenience, we have compiled a summary table. It indicates for which rooms which class of laminate is best to choose.
| Recommended class | Room | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 31st grade | Bedroom, living room (for a small family), office | No |
| 32nd grade | Bathroom, kitchen, or hallway | Perfect for an apartment with pets |
| 33rd grade | Bathroom, kitchen or hallway | Perfect for an apartment with pets |
2. Incorrect thickness
The second important parameter that determines the quality and performance properties is the thickness of the board. It affects how noisy the flooring will be, that is, the thinner it is, the better the neighbors will hear your steps.
The thickness of the cheapest product starts from 6 mm, and the thickness of the boards of an expensive class 33 coating can reach 12 mm, like a parquet board. This is often where people who like to save money come across, who choose a product at a higher level, but do not take into account the thickness, and as a result, they end up with a scratch-resistant, but very “noisy” floor.
What laminate thickness should I choose for my apartment? If heavy furniture and equipment are installed in the room, it is better not to use a coating thinner than 10 mm, otherwise it will not withstand long-term static loads. However, if you plan to install slats on a heated floor, choose thinner boards as they will transmit heat better.
3. Inappropriate shade
For the room to look harmonious and not visually “break up” into separate parts, all finishing materials must be in the same color scheme – warm or cold, even if they are in contrasting shades, for example, a dark floor and light doors.
If you want to visually expand a small room, use light, cool colors in the decoration, and if you want to make a very large space more cozy, choose a warm color scheme.
When choosing, we advise you not to rely only on memory, but be sure to take samples of the materials that you plan to use in the interior and see how they combine before purchasing.
4. Moisture-resistant laminate is confused with water-resistant
Humidity is one of the main enemies of this material: if water gets into a joint, the boards easily absorb it and swell, causing unevenness to appear and the decorative coating to come off. Manufacturers have taken this feature into account and offer waterproof options that can be installed in rooms such as the kitchen and even the bathroom. If you decide on such an experiment, the main thing is not to confuse moisture- and water-resistant laminate.
What’s the difference? The moisture-resistant board is based on high-strength fiberboard; it is treated with paraffin and other compounds that can protect the board from moisture only temporarily. This coating will withstand various stains and wet cleaning and will prevent the development of mold and mildew. But if you do not immediately wipe the water from the surface, it will penetrate the joint, the finish will begin to deform and lift, and as a result, the floor will become uneven. Moisture-resistant laminate changes volume with temperature changes, so it is suitable only for kitchens and hallways. But it is no longer suitable for a bathroom, sauna, balcony or veranda.
Only the waterproof type can survive direct contact with water. It can withstand prolonged exposure to water, does not deform due to temperature changes, and practically does not wear out. All joints of a waterproof floor are treated with heated wax, and the surface is made non-slippery and given antistatic properties so that dust does not settle on it.
5. Ill-considered savings on the substrate
Another typical situation is when, when drawing up estimates for repairs, they forget to include the substrate. As a result, you have to waste time on additional trips to the store. Or they take the cheapest option for a substrate if the entire budget has been spent, and then they greatly regret it. After all, a high-quality underlay not only levels the concrete surface but also provides additional noise and heat insulation, softens impact loads, and extends the service life of the floor covering up to 5 years.
A cheap substrate has a big, but not obvious, disadvantage – the smell. Of course, the unpleasant aroma will disappear, but this will not stop the substrate from releasing chemicals that can be toxic and cause allergies. Therefore, we recommend not to save money and choose options made from natural materials, for example, cork or pine substrate.
Technical cork is not electrified, which means it does not attract dust, does not absorb foreign odors, is hypoallergenic, and contributes to the natural regulation of the internal climate in the room. The coniferous substrate is made from 100% natural materials – coniferous wood. It significantly reduces “impact” noise, and the room will become noticeably warmer due to the low thermal conductivity of the material. The density of the coniferous underlay is selected in such a way as to smooth out the small unevenness of the “sub-floor” and protect the locks from excessive pressure.
The final elements include baseboards of various heights, widths, and configurations, as well as linings for the inlet openings of the heating system elements and thresholds.
How to choose a quality laminate
- Choose manufacturer’s products with a guarantee.
- Don’t go after cheap prices, as there are no products that are too cheap and of high quality.
- Pay attention to the type of connection. There is a distinction between the so-called “click”, when the slats are connected using locks, and “lock” – when the elements seem to be driven into each other. The first one is, of course, more convenient.
- Don’t buy a product with a strong smell.
- Manufacturers offer a wide variety of colors and textures. There are also types with a pattern when a pattern or marks are applied to the top layer. The choice is yours, but a universal solution is an imitation of a wooden surface.
Price
As for the price range, it is very wide: from 3$ /m² to 40$ /m². And the buyer’s natural desire to minimize material costs is understandable. Some manufacturers attract attention precisely because of this. They save on the quality of the top protective coating or HDF base. But all this negatively affects the consumer qualities of the floor and, accordingly, its service life.
How to care
For the floor to look the same after several years as it did on the first day after installation, it needs to be properly cared for. We hope everyone already knows about rugs in the hallway and felt pads on furniture legs. It is advisable for owners of mobile chairs to replace hard casters with soft rubber ones.
The floor of laminate planks with chamfers is first cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, then wet cleaned, and then wiped with microfiber.
Regular dirt from the surface is removed with a slightly damp cloth. Make sure that the fabric is damp, not wet.
Specialized cleaning products are usually added to a bucket of clean water in the amount indicated on the package. Then wipe the floor with a cloth soaked in this solution and well wrung out. To remove stubborn stains, use a small amount of undiluted cleaner or leave it on heavily soiled areas for a few minutes. After finishing cleaning, it is important to check whether there are any traces or stains left since poorly removed cleaners attract dirt. Cleaning compositions based on oils and waxes have the same effect. They cannot penetrate deep into the coating and form a film on the surface. They do not need to be used for cleaning.
Water protection
The weak point of the laminate is the moisture-sensitive end joints of the planks. If water often gets on the floor and, even worse, stagnates, then, gradually penetrating through the ends into the main slab, it can cause deformation. Because of this, it is recommended to coat the upper parts of the lock joint with a sealing agent. For example, compositions made from polyurethane or silicone resins in an organic solvent or more environmentally friendly wax ones. All of them effectively protect the floor covering from the negative effects of water, but they eliminate the important technological quality of the material – quick and easy installation.
Moisture-resistant laminate differs from ordinary laminate only in the rate of moisture absorption due to the presence of water-repellent impregnations in the base, so puddles should not be left on its surface either.
To overcome hydrophobia, some manufacturers increase the density of the base and reduce its absorbency, others add water-repellent impregnations to the load-bearing slab, and all of them treat the ends of the planks with a protective compound. Among these collections: are Classic Aqua+ (Egger), Sensation (Pergo), and Impressive Ultra (Quick-Step).
Do not allow large amounts of water to appear or accumulate on the floor near window sills with flower pots and water taps.
Mistakes that will shorten the life of the laminate
It is important to strictly follow the installation technology. We pay attention to typical situations. They can significantly reduce the service life of the floor and do not apply to warranty cases:
- laying the material without acclimatization indoors for 48 hours;
- laying on a screed with a moisture content of more than 2.5%;
- laying on an uneven base with height differences of more than 2 mm over a length of 1 m;
- lack of waterproofing film and substrate;
- the absence of small gaps around the perimeter of the room (8-10 mm) and along the line of the doorway;
- use of film-electric heated floors (infrared heating mats). If the laminate is laid on a floor heating system, then a vapor barrier must be used. It is placed under a substrate. During the operation of the heating system, the temperature on the surface of the floor covering should not be higher than 27–28 ˚C.
By the way, when moving, a characteristic clicking sound is often heard. This is evidence that there is a small gap between the finish coat and the base. It works as a kind of resonator, amplifying the sounds of heels and causing irritation among the inhabitants of the apartment, and especially among the neighbors below.
It is not difficult to neutralize the unwanted effect. Place a substrate between the decorative coating and the base, which will act as a shock absorber and effectively dampen impact noise. Moreover, the underlay will increase the “thermal comfort” on the floor surface and smooth out minor unevenness of the base if they do not exceed 2 mm over a 2 m long section. Otherwise, the base of the floor must first be leveled.
Do not use substrates that are too thick: 4–5 mm. Then, when walking on the floor or installing heavy furniture, the planks will sag greatly and create additional load on the locking connection. As a result, the floor will begin to creak, and in the worst case, the locks may be damaged. Substrates that are too thin (less than 2 mm) will not provide acoustic comfort. Experts consider the optimal thickness to be 2 to 3 mm.
Laminate flooring is always laid floating on the floor so that it can expand freely and return to its original state with changes in temperature and humidity. Small gaps (5–8 mm) are left around the perimeter of the room near walls, steps, pipes, etc., as well as along the line of the doorway. They are necessary for the natural movement of the coating. You cannot attach the planks to the base with nails, screws, or glue. This can cause creaking, cracks between individual elements, or, conversely, their warping.
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