In Odessa, when they want to wish something bad, they can say: “What would you have been building all your life,” and indeed, building and repairing in your own home gives little pleasure. Therefore, the strength of the laminate for an apartment is far from the last meaning, because the better it is, the less often you will have to start another repair.

Laminated panels

Laminated panels are packaged in packs, each of which has an installation manual, which indicates the strength class and service life of the product. The upper, transparent layer is responsible for the abrasion of the material, but the HDF layer is responsible for the overall strength.

Laminate device

The laminated panel consists of four main layers, each of which has its own purpose and the classification depends on the combination of their qualities. It is because of this that you can determine which laminate is the most durable.

In addition, classiness indicates that the product belongs to the household or commercial group.

1. The bottom layer is waterproofing for the panel and is made of either tar or unrefined paper.
   In some collections there is an additional layer in the form of a backing for heat and sound insulation.
2. The second layer is made of high-strength fiberboard (HDF)... It is, in fact, the main one, because a lock is cut into it and it is the thickest of all parts of the panel.
   The thickness of this layer directly affects the build quality of laminate floors, because the thicker the fiberboard, the better the lock.
3. The third layer is made of paper on which the drawing is applied... This does not affect the quality of the panels, but the decorative possibilities of the laminate are very great, because you can imitate any finishing material, moreover, giving it a variety of shades.
4. And, finally, the fourth layer, on which abrasion depends, and hence the strength classes of the laminate.
   This is acrylic or melamine resin, which is applied to the decorative third layer and its thickness allows the panel to last for more or less years.

Recommendation.
The service life of the laminate in the table is determined by the degree of wear of the top layer, although after that it can last for more than one year.
As for the commercial group (classes: 32, 32, 33), for domestic use, laminated panels can last 20-25 years, but the price of a commercial laminate, of course, differs significantly from that of a household one.

• If you decide to lay laminate floors with your own hands, then you should remember that the strength, and therefore the life of the laminate, will directly depend on the flat plane of the base.
  The panel is not able to withstand fracture loads, so it must fit snugly against the subfloor.
• The basis for can be planked or covered with panels chipboard, OSB (OSB), fiberboard. But the best base for the panels is a cement-sand lighthouse screed.
  But in any case, any base must be dry and even (no more than 1-2 mm difference is allowed per 1 running meter).

• can be made of polyethylene foam, as in the photo, from extruded polystyrene foam or from cork.
  The thickness of this material ranges from 2 to 20 mm. It is noteworthy that penofol can be laid with an overlap, but other types of insulation are stacked joint to joint.

• Laying laminate floors should be started from the first row of panels, assembled in length, lock in lock.
  Then it is necessary to make gaskets between the panels and the wall so that a gap of 1-1.5 cm is obtained, but no more than 2 cm so that the gap is covered with a plinth.
  This measure is necessary so that the laminate can "move", because when the air humidity changes, it will change its shape and this gap compensates for swelling.

Advice. If the laminate does not fit well into the lock (the lock is clean at the same time), then it must be hammered, but in no case hit the lock with any objects - you will break it.
To do this, you can use unnecessary pieces of panels by inserting them into the lock or attach a rail to the lock, but to its shorter part and hit them.
If the laminate is of good quality (thicker) and dry, you can avoid blocking the panels.
Remember that hammering the panels with a hammer is not a method of installation, but an extreme measure - with the correct assembly of a good laminate, it is enough to tap the gap with a rubber hammer, and even then not at every connection.

Conclusion

Now we can summarize and say that the most durable laminate is a commercial grade laminate (31, 32, 33), but at the same time laid on a flat surface. If the subfloor is uneven, then even the best and most expensive panels will disperse in the locks, and in some cases may even crack.

In order to objectively judge which laminate is better to choose for an apartment, it is important to understand the features of the structure and characteristics of this floor covering, as well as its classification. The reason for complaints about the durability and reliability of this material is often the wrong choice, as a result of which the laminate wears out and loses its attractive appearance faster. Another important point affecting the functionality of the laminate flooring is the quality of the installation, so it should also be given due attention.

The choice of a laminate for an apartment as a floor covering is often due to the fact that while visually similar (there are virtually no external differences between good quality boards from well-known manufacturers) with parquet, this covering costs much less and does not require as much maintenance as is necessary for an elite wooden floor. class.

The advantages of laminate flooring include:

• ease of installation,
• ease of repairing damage from mechanical stress (, dents, etc.),
• duration of operation,
• environmental friendliness (E1 marking must be present),
• hygiene (the material does not allow bacteria to accumulate and actively multiply on the surface),
• hypoallergenic,
• a wide range of applications.

Important: Only with the right choice of coating, taking into account all the nuances of operation, can we expect it to meet the declared qualities.

Cons of laminate:

• susceptibility to moisture, the ability to deform when water enters the coating,
• swelling and blistering of the surface due to improper installation,
• the appearance of a squeak when laying boards on an uneven surface.

A significant part of the shortcomings is the result of violations of the laying technology. Some disadvantages can be made less noticeable by choosing the appropriate type of material and providing it with the right care. For example, adhesive laminate is more resistant to moisture, and it is possible to reduce the susceptibility to moisture of any kind of floor covering of this type by using special impregnations and mastics.

Material structure

Which laminate to choose for an apartment is determined by many factors. The structure of the material of all classes is practically the same.

• The basis of each board is a fibreboard, in the production of which wood-based materials are mixed with a bonding composite and pressed with simultaneous heating. The result is a high density and strength of laminate boards.
• A decorative layer is applied on top of the base - a film or special moisture-resistant paper with an image that imitates the texture of wood, marble, other natural materials, or with a fantasy pattern. Thanks to this layer, the laminate (photos in the interior of the apartment can be easily found on specialized sites) can be anything, which makes it possible to accurately select the color and pattern of the floor covering in accordance with the overall design.
• The uppermost layer is a protective laminated coating that increases resistance to wear and other external influences.
• On the other side of the base, the lowest stabilizing layer is placed to protect against moisture that may emerge from the floor slabs. This layer also protects the laminate from deformation and increases its rigidity.

Panel thickness

The commercially available laminate boards have a thickness of 6-12 mm. When deciding how to choose a high-quality laminate for an apartment, take into account that the cost of boards with a greater thickness is higher, all other things being equal. At the same time, thick laminate boards have more reliable locks, and their installation is more convenient and easier. The insulating properties of the coating also increase in proportion to the increase in panel thickness.

Classification

Each class of laminate meets certain technical characteristics and is assigned after an 18-step test. The class designation can be numerical or alphanumeric.

• Until recently, class 21, 22 and 23 coverings were popular. They were the most affordable and were produced for rooms with low traffic (minimum load on laminate boards). Now such a laminate is not produced due to its low strength and wear resistance.
• Today, when discussing which laminate to choose for an apartment, reviews note an affordable cost, combined with a fairly good quality for class 31 (or AC3) coatings. It is only important to remember that such boards are not suitable for offices and other premises with high traffic. For boards of this type to serve for a long time (up to 12 years), they need proper care.
• The coating of class 32 (AC4) can be considered universal, which can be used in premises for various purposes. The service life of such a laminate under different operating conditions differs significantly: in living rooms - up to 15 years, in offices - up to 5 years.
• For the repair of commercial premises, class 33 (AC5-AC6), recognized as extra durable, is often chosen. If you are considering class 33 as a solution to the question of which laminate would be better to choose for an apartment, you should know that in residential premises its service life reaches 20 years.
• Class 34 materials are expensive and built to withstand heavy use. Such coverings can be installed in dance and sports halls.

What class of laminate to choose for an apartment is chosen individually, taking into account the nuances (the purpose of a particular room, the number of people living, the presence of pets, whose claws can damage the coatings of a low class).

Base for laminate

For those who do not know how to choose a laminate for an apartment, it will be interesting to know that the operational characteristics of the coating depend not only on the class of the selected board, but also on the installation method, including the presence of the base and its type.

The underlay is intended for leveling the floor in the presence of minor surface defects and provides additional sound insulation. When laying laminate, all types of substrates are laid end-to-end over the entire surface of the floor of the room, with the exception of gaps at the edges (a width of 1 cm is sufficient). The fixation of the substrate can be performed using construction staples, but their use in most cases is not justified, it is enough to use a special adhesive tape.

Distinguish between substrates of different materials:

• The most expensive option is natural cork sheets. They are environmentally friendly, have the best sound and noise insulation properties.
• A budget type of substrate is polyethylene foam, the advantages of which are biological resistance (mold does not appear, does not contribute to the growth of bacteria) and moisture resistance. The insulating qualities of polyethylene foam also meet the requirements. Due to this combination of qualities, polyethylene foam substrates are popular, but their disadvantage is crushing under mechanical stress, and such a deformed and compacted polyethylene foam partially loses its advantages.
• Composite substrates are made in combination, in which natural cork is combined with bitumen or rubber. Such an improvement made it possible to obtain a material of the middle class, which applies to both its qualities and cost.

Connection methods

There are two types of laminate panels according to the connection method.

Adhesive coating

For the installation of such boards, special adhesives with a short drying time are used. Adhesive is applied around the perimeter of each panel. Such a laminate is cheaper, which, however, in most cases does not imply a reduction in the total cost of installation. The installation of adhesive laminate requires skills, therefore, in order to avoid the risk of deterioration in the quality of the coating due to installation errors, it is advisable to use the services of professionals. In addition, the purchase of glue is required. All this leads to an increase in costs, negating the savings in the purchase of material.

At the same time, adhesive panels have certain advantages. If you are deciding how to choose the right laminate flooring for an apartment without gaps, this kind of coating will be the best option. The disadvantages of adhesive panels are the impossibility of dismantling. In the presence of such a floor covering, it is difficult to repair the "warm floor" systems; it is almost impossible to replace the damaged section of the laminate.

Glueless laminate

The panels of such a coating are interconnected without the help of glue, due to the special design of the boards, depending on the type of which they are divided into two types:

• Lock panels have locks, the elements of which are driven into each other during installation. This coating is recommended for laying on perfectly aligned surfaces.
• Click panels allow slight unevenness of the base and are connected using snap locks. Click panels are more expensive, but they are easier to install and much more convenient.

All glueless laminate flooring can be dismantled if it is necessary to transfer the coating to another room, repair the "warm floor" systems or replace damaged boards. The disadvantage of snap-joint laminates is the higher sensitivity to moisture due to the permeability of the joints. When moistened and then dried, the boards change in size, due to which the size of the gaps increases. As a result, the performance of the coating decreases, its appearance deteriorates.

Thus, the best laminate flooring for an apartment can be both glued and glueless - each type has its own advantages. It is important that the quality of the materials matches the requirements as much as possible in a particular case.

Manufacturers and brands

Among the reliable, but affordable laminate coverings, panels of brands are noted:

• Kronostar,
• Klassen,
• Kronospan,
• Kronotex.

When determining which laminate company is better to choose for an apartment, you should know that the products of many well-known manufacturers have their own characteristics:

• The Egger brand (Germany) uses an improved click lock system, providing maximum ease of installation. Plates from this manufacturer are highly durable.
• Thanks to improved production technology, the manufacturer Tarkett has achieved a laminate lifespan of 15 years or more.
• Quick Step laminate (Belgium) has maximum durability in moderate use. Pergo (Sweden) has developed and introduced into production special convenient smart-lock locks for joining laminate panels.
• Experts recommend when choosing to pay attention to Balterio brand products from a manufacturer from Belgium. The brand is not very well known, so the materials are affordable (there is no “markup” for the brand), but they are of high quality and reliability.

Considering all the above information, information about the structure, classification, pros and cons of flooring, you can understand how to choose the right laminate floor for an apartment, which factors are considered decisive and which are secondary.

Home flooring can be made from different materials. The main requirements for it are strength, durability, appearance and cost. Natural materials are expensive. Therefore, one of the best substitutes for natural parquet today is a beautiful and practical type of finish that is available to almost all categories of buyers.

There are several classes of material presented. It is distinguished by the strength of the top layer. , the advice of professionals will help you figure it out. Their recommendations will be discussed later.

Material features

To understand how to choose a good laminate for an apartment, it is necessary to consider the features of the presented material. Its board consists of several layers. Various materials are used for them.

The bottom layer prevents deformation of the board. It contributes to the moisture resistance and hardness of the coating. It is created from kraft cardboard impregnated with artificial resins. Above the bottom layer is the base of the board. This is a load-bearing material that is made of fiberboard. It is this material that compensates for mechanical stress. It prevents heat loss in the room and serves as sound insulation. In this layer, locks are provided for the installation of all floor boards.

Top layer prevents wear. Quality and laminate cost depend on this particular coverage. The thicker and stronger it is, the more durable the material will be.

Class

It can belong to different strength classes. In total, there are several categories of finishes, which are designed for different types of premises. Previously, according to the Directive EN 13329, which was approved by European manufacturers, laminate boards of class 31 to 34 were made for commercial premises. For an apartment, varieties of class 21-23 were suitable.

Today, products for home and industrial, office buildings do not differ in the group number. For apartments, they also began to produce classes 31-34. Categories 21-23 have been abolished. They are not made today.

The class to which the board belongs characterizes the strength of the supporting layer. For the top coat, a different classification is used, which characterizes the resistance to mechanical damage. It is indicated by the AC indicator scale. There is a laminate of categories 3-6. There are Asian products with a class of wear resistance of the upper layer AC5.

What does the class show?

Considering, what class is the best laminate for an apartment, it is necessary to delve into the system of such marking. Before specifying this indicator, manufacturers conduct a series of tests. Based on the results obtained, the product is assigned a strength class.

The material is examined for a number of indicators. First of all, the resistance of the laminate to stress over a long period of time is determined. Its temperature resistance, endurance to mechanical wear and shock are checked. The adhesion strength of the plank layers is also controlled.

High-end laminate flooring must be resistant to sunlight, not lose its original qualities. It should not appear on stains from dirt, liquids. When hitting the surface of water, a high-quality board does not swell. The surface cannot be slippery. A good laminate does not release formaldehyde into the environment. The antistatic index is checked. Only having received high characteristics in the listed categories, the product can be classified as a high strength class.

Features of choice

An overview of the laminate will allow you to choose the right type of finish. It is important to understand what issues you need to pay attention to first. The more stress is put on the flooring, the stronger it must be.

When choosing, they take into account how many people live in the apartment, how much they weigh. They also take into account what furniture will be installed in the room, what items will have to be moved without lifting them from the surface.

It should be foreseen what liquids, chemicals can get to the surface. If the exposure to moisture will be prolonged, you will need to buy the most durable type of laminate. In loaded conditions, it will last a long time. You should also correlate the strength class of the base with the surface features of the board. For example, the bottom layer may be strong, but the top coat will wear out quickly and lose its appearance due to scratches.

How to choose a class?

Today, there are a number of generally accepted recommendations that allow you to choose the strength class in accordance with the needs of the room. The most inexpensive and simplest class 31 laminate is suitable for rooms such as an office and a bedroom. The floor in such rooms is less subject to stress.

Designed primarily for the living room and nursery. Here the load on the floor will be higher. Class 33 is intended for the bathroom and kitchen. Water often gets to the surface here. Also in such rooms, household appliances are installed, for example, a washing machine or a dishwasher. In the process of their work, a large mechanical load and vibration are exerted on the floor covering. In order not to damage the laminate, it must be very strong in such places.

There are 34 class laminates. It is considered the most durable, but expensive. It is used in rooms with very high loads. For example, it can be a bathroom or a hallway in a large family.

Features of class 31

Should be 7-8 mm. This condition is fully consistent with 31 classes of material. It is able to provide a reliable floor covering both in the apartment and in the office.

The presented type of board is resistant to various adverse influences. It is not subject to temperature changes. A dropped cigarette will not leave a trace on the surface. Average susceptibility to abrasion allows such a laminate to be used in a bedroom or study. However, there should be no rolling furniture in the room.

The presented type of laminate will last about 10-12 years if used correctly. This category of finish has a low resistance to high humidity. Therefore, it can only be installed in dry rooms with low traffic. It is not recommended to wipe it frequently with a damp cloth during the day. The cost of this material will be the most acceptable for all categories of buyers.

Features of 32 class

Suitable for medium-duty environments such as a children's room or living room. In such conditions, it has been in operation for about 15 years. The thickness of such a board is 7.5-9 mm.

The presented category contains a large number of textures and shades. This is due to the high demand for this category of laminate flooring. It perfectly combines price and quality. This material is good at repelling water. Wet cleaning can be done several times a day.

The laminate of the presented class does not fade, does not quickly become covered with scratches, abrasions. You can walk on such a surface in heels. The surface is resistant to household chemicals. Good anti-static properties prevent dust from settling on the surface. Such a laminate is characterized by high-quality sound insulation. At the same time, a special comfort is created in the room.

Class 33 advantages

High quality laminate 33 class allows it to be mounted in rooms with high loads. It can be a kitchen or a corridor, a bathroom. In such conditions, the coating will last about 15 years. If a similar laminate is used for other premises, in unloaded conditions it can be used for about 30 years.

You can even choose such a board for gyms, restaurants, shops. The cost of this material is higher than that of the previous two classes. However, the lifespan of this laminate will be longer.

The thickness of the presented product is about 12 mm. It is a durable, quiet and comfortable floor. He is not afraid of prolonged exposure to moisture. Even if a large amount of water gets on it, cracks and swelling will not appear. The locks are impregnated with special compounds. This prevents the penetration of dirt and liquids between the seams.

Class 34 characteristics

Considering, you need to pay attention to the elite variety. It is the 34th class of coverage. This laminate appeared later than the others. He is able to withstand the heaviest loads. Most often it is used in commercial organizations where heavy equipment, machine tools are installed in the room, there are large vibrations and other adverse effects.

In an apartment, this laminate provides a guarantee that the coating will withstand even the highest loads. In this case, the service life is 50 years. This is the most expensive material. It is rarely placed in apartments. Such a coating can withstand the traffic of 1000 people per day. This figure corresponds to a movie theater, airport, train station or shopping center.

The 33rd class of flooring is produced by many companies. The market leaders today are products of joint production of Russia and Germany under the brands "Tarkett", "Ritter". The domestic manufacturer Sinteros also demonstrates high quality products. We can highlight the products of the Belgian company "Berry Allock", the German-Norwegian brand "Maestro Club".

Products of class 34 are supplied to the domestic market by the Swedish company Pergo and the Norwegian manufacturer Maestro Club.

Having considered, what class is the best laminate for an apartment, as well as the features of this material, everyone can choose the best option for themselves.

The choice of flooring is an important part of any major renovation, but deciding on a purchase is often more difficult than it seems at first glance. More and more people are abandoning linoleum, which was boring in the Soviet era, you cannot cover all the floors with carpeting, and noble parquet is too expensive.

And here a fashionable and democratic laminate comes to the rescue - comfortable, effective and quite durable. To understand all the intricacies of choosing the best laminate flooring, we invited an expert to answer our questions - a master with 12 years of experience, Alexander Eremeev.

This comfortable, beautiful and durable material is now available in a wide range.

• Alexander, tell us, first, what criteria should be followed when choosing a laminate flooring? What to look at: price, manufacturer, board thickness or design?

Buying a laminate is a responsible business, because floorboards are bought for more than one year or even five. To choose the best coating, be sure to consider several factors: brand and country of origin, price, wear resistance, moisture resistance and shock resistance, scratch resistance. And, of course, the design.

• Let's start with durability. Laminate has several classes, but how do you understand them?

Today, laminate flooring is usually divided into 7 main classes: 21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 33 and 34. The first number 2 in the marking indicates use in residential premises, number 3 - in public, commercial.

• class 21 boards are laid in rooms with the smallest traffic - bedrooms, living rooms,
• 22 is suitable for children, where there are constant games,
• 23 - for the kitchen and corridor.

However, these types of coatings are already unpopular, and the manufacturer gives them a minimum warranty of 6 years. Today the most popular types on the market are “30s”. They are used for both residential and non-residential premises:

• 31 - in conference rooms,
• 32 - in offices,
• 33 - in shops and sports clubs,
• 34 is a laminate "for ages", for places with the largest human flow.

The guarantee for high-grade laminate boards is from 10 to 20 years, and it can last much longer.

• And yet, what class of laminate to buy for an ordinary city apartment?

From my professional experience, I can say: the best choice in terms of price-quality ratio for apartments is 32nd class laminate, for the noisiest and most active families - 33rd. But here you need to take into account some subtleties.

Wear resistance is determined both by the rate at which the top layer of the board breaks down and by how easily the surface is scratched. To determine the class of the laminate, the following test is carried out in production: the board is fixed in a special device under an abrasive disc and it is considered how many revolutions it takes to destroy the top layer and leave noticeable scratches. Often, these figures differ significantly for different brands, but they add up to the same indicator. For example, some boards may have scratches already at the 300th revolution, and the destruction of the protective layer - at 5000th, the average number is 2650 revolutions. In another laminate class, scratches are visible after the 1500th revolution, and the protection is damaged at the 3800th. The average indicator is the same as in the previous sample, but the scratch resistance is 5 times higher.

Therefore, it happens that a person buys an expensive class 33 product, but the coating quickly scratches and loses its shine, although the top layer is still intact. The same is with a good laminate of a lower class: it happens that the 32nd has practically no scratches, but the boards are noticeably worn out.

• Moisture resistance is also an important property of the laminate, especially in an apartment with children. How to choose a coating that practically does not allow water to pass through, is durable, and does not appear when laying?

First of all, you need to have a good idea of ​​what the laminate board consists of. This is a stabilizing layer, then an HDF board, then a decorative layer (photograph) and a transparent protection. The most important part is the HDF board, the higher its density, the less the laminate is afraid of water and the stronger its locks.

The board of this modern flooring consists of several layers.

Moisture resistance also depends on the type of laminate - adhesive or lock. If the plates are laid on glue, then there are no gaps between them, which means that moisture will not penetrate inside. But such a coating has a significant disadvantage - it will be impossible to replace 1-2 damaged tiles, unlike those boards on which the side locks simply snap into place when laying. There is a worthy alternative - water-resistant lock laminate on a standard basis.

For a good laminate, the moisture resistance index should be no more than 18%. To check this, you need to saw off a small piece of the slab and lower it in the water for 8 hours at home. The branded board will swell by 15-18%, while for a low-quality one this percentage can reach 40.

The thickness of the laminate board is also important - the more millimeters it contains, the stronger it is, and it is easier to lay. In addition, such a coating perfectly absorbs sounds, so in apartments where there are kids, I always recommend buying a laminate no thinner than 8-12 millimeters.

• What is a laminate backing?

The underlayment is a very important material for floor renovation, the material insulates the laminate boards from the floor and provides heat and sound insulation. A high-quality laminate of 32 class and higher usually already has a substrate; when buying cheaper classes, you need to purchase it separately.

There are three types of substrate, the most affordable and popular is polyethylene foam. It is resistant to moisture, it is as easy as shelling pears to lay it, but over time, such a layer sags. Cork is a little more expensive - it keeps heat well, but it can release condensation. The solution is very simple - to buy a cork substrate with the addition of bitumen or rubber. There is also a so-called special substrate, it is the most expensive, but it perfectly absorbs sound, retains heat, and condensation never appears on it.

The substrate can be made on the basis of cork material

• What can you say about sustainability? How important is this quality for an apartment laminate?

The environmental friendliness of building materials has long been at the forefront, and in my work I definitely take this factor into account. In the production of floorboards, phenol-formaldehyde resin is used, which allows to reduce production costs and the price of the final product, but releases formaldehyde, which is hazardous to health. Therefore, when buying a laminate, you need to look at the degree of content of hazardous resins in the tiles.

So, in Europe, the formaldehyde content in laminate flooring is strictly regulated, and expensive parquet and standard laminate are equally harmless to health. Another thing is China, according to the laws of this country, the requirements for the content of phenol-formaldehyde resin in wood-like boards are much lower!

When choosing a laminate in a store, trust only yourself and your observation - an opened package should emit only a faint aroma of sawdust. Any foreign smell - glue, paint, etc. - should alert you. See also the price tag: too cheap laminate in almost 100% of cases is hazardous to health. And here it makes no difference where you buy building materials - even in a large hypermarket there may be a dangerous product. I know that large stores often write in contracts that the supplier bears full responsibility for the quality of the laminate, in addition, hypermarkets are not even legally obliged to check certificates for goods - this is the concern of special organizations.

• Let's talk about cover design. What colors are in vogue today, wood, stone or monochromatic? Can you choose a quality laminate by color?

The situation with the design of laminate tiles is quite interesting. Classic laminate flooring is an imitation of parquet flooring, and real wooden floor boards are unique - you will not find two identical ones. Therefore, the best laminate flooring boasts minimal pattern repeatability, knots and natural variegation of wood. The repetition of the image 1: 6 will tell about the European production - this means that 4 packs should have at least 6 variants of the color "under the tree". By the way, in the most expensive collections of premium manufacturers, for example, Quick Step, this ratio reaches 1:60.

The Quick Step material has beautiful and virtually non-repeating patterns

But the Russian consumer has its own quirks - we are accustomed to a solid color of floors, so we believe that the correct laminate should be either a solid color, reminiscent of floor paint, or an even shade "like a tree", the same, symmetrical and without any knots. Usually such coloring is found in inexpensive Chinese laminate - they use the simplest imitation pattern, and the repeatability is 1: 3.

And so it turns out that the whole world is chasing an exclusive parquet laminate, but give us what is simpler.

• Nowadays there is a lot of talk about beveled laminate. What is it and what are the advantages of these plates?

A chamfer is a V-shaped bevel of the end edge of a laminate board (1-2 mm deep), due to which small grooves appear at the joints of the boards when laid. Chamfers are found both along the entire perimeter of the board, and along 2 long sides, double-sided.

As we have already said, a sign of an expensive laminate is a complete resemblance to parquet, and the bevel only enhances this similarity, because such grooves are almost always present on a natural tree. In addition to aesthetics, the chamfer allows you to increase the life of the laminate by 2-3 times, and when exposed to moisture, it helps the coating not to lose its original shape.

Another plus - if you buy a beveled laminate flooring, you do not need to spend a lot of money and effort on the perfect leveling of the floor. Usually, a perfectly flat surface is needed so that cracks do not appear on the planks, which over time take the shape of the floor. The chamfer hides these cracks - provided that the difference on the floor is not more than 4 mm per 1 meter.

• You have repeatedly mentioned the high quality of European laminate brands. So which manufacturer should you choose? Only Europe, or China and Russia also produce high-quality laminate flooring?

I have been dealing with laminate flooring for many years and I can say with confidence: the best and most responsible manufacturers are Europeans. Manufacturing a laminate board is a high-tech process, it does not require cheap labor, as in China, but the most modern equipment and high responsibility of companies. Not a single European manufacturer with a worldwide reputation will place the production of laminate flooring in the Middle Kingdom - it will simply be a blow to the image.

In addition, there is another indicator of quality - a construction company must necessarily be a member of the Association of European Manufacturers of Laminate Flooring (EPFL), in this case it bears full responsibility for its product and for what is written on the label. Therefore, I always advise my clients - if you need a high-quality laminate, be sure to check if the manufacturer is a member of the Association - on the company's website on the Internet.

Russian and Chinese manufacturers, which are not part of the trade union, have every right to write anything on the label, therefore, a 32nd class badge can flaunt on a low-grade laminate. In fact, the quality can correspond to class 21.

• Tell us about the most famous manufacturers. Which laminate flooring is better to choose, taking into account the different purchasing power of consumers?

In terms of price-quality ratio, laminate has three classes: premium, comfort and economy.

In the premium segment, the most famous firms are Austrian Kaindl, Belgian Quick-Step and Pergo. These companies have excellent quality, interesting collections, but an expected high price. Interesting lines of glossy coatings from the German HDM, the Belgian company Balterio is famous for its unique black laminate.

Austrian brand Kaindl is a premium flooring material

From the comfort class I can definitely recommend the French Alsafloor - it is excellent quality, many different design lines, there are boards of the 33rd class with a thickness of 12 mm and high strength. The German manufacturer Kronotex works in comfort and economy class, but it does not have the widest color palette, minimum technical characteristics. Another well-known representative of the laminate economy version is the German Egger. The price of such a coating is quite affordable, but the design also suffers - the minimum number of colors, imitation wood, mainly from photographs.

• Let's summarize our conversation. Can you formulate a few rules for our readers by which it will be easy to distinguish branded Western laminate from cheap and low-quality ones?

I have already named a few rules - this is a pleasant woody smell of a laminate board, a moisture resistance indicator of no more than 18%, a pattern repeatability of at least 1: 6.

Another indicator of a good floor covering is its high price: a real laminate cannot cost less than 400-500 rubles per square meter. Also, always look at the markings: Chinese laminate flooring often has no identification marks or has, but with errors. In European, the information is always indicated in full, and the name of the country is without abbreviations. Another identifying feature is the color of the back of the laminate tiles - a pleasant beige color, while for Asian products it is brown. Recently, however, oriental manufacturers have also begun to supply laminate with a beige backing.

A special size will tell about Chinese production with almost 100% probability - the length of the laminate board is 1215 mm, the thickness is 12.3 mm. For Asian manufacturers, these dimensions are very convenient, the manufacture of such plates is the least expensive, so such parameters should also be alarming.

High-quality material will serve you for a long time and will delight you with its appearance

There are a lot of rules, but remembering them is quite real. Take your time with the choice of flooring: go to several stores, look through the prices, check the manufacturers you like for the "quality mark" - and you can easily buy the best laminate for your apartment.

Laminate Berry Alloc (Belgium-Norway)

0 (from 950 rubles / m2)

The huge transnational corporation Beaulieu International Group includes a group that is rightfully considered one of the most important areas. This is a production complex that produces laminated finishing materials under the Berry Allock brand.

The association of the Belgian plant Berry Floor and the Norwegian company Alloc has combined huge production capacities, a strong research base and accumulated experience. As a result, the production of parquet flooring using the unique HPL technology (High Pressure laminate) was launched. The principle is that the top layer is pressed first:

• Protective overlay;
• Decorative paper;
• Multiple layers of kraft paper.

The result is a layer that significantly exceeds the parameters of a conventional DPL (Direct Pressure Laminate) in terms of characteristics. Accordingly, HPL coatings are of high quality and excellent inertness to various types of surface influences.

Main pluses:

1) Huge selection of designs - one of the largest sets of collections.

BerriAllok produces more than 18 lines of 32-34 wear resistance class laminates, each with up to 20 different decors: classic, modern, art nouveau, eclectic, beveled and smooth, like concrete, slate, typical parquet or marble.

The section of the laminate is from 8 to 11 mm. The assortment includes interesting solutions, such as:

• Narrow herringbone parquet with Best Loc® X-Treme locking system;
• Planks with integrated PVC sound-scattering pad;
• Long Planks with Infinity Effect Extra-long Planks;
• Extra wide lamellas for large rooms 2410x236 mm;

2) The best indicators of the laminate in terms of wear resistance.

BerryAlloc guarantees:

• 10 years for commercial coatings. Applies to indicators such as resistance to abrasion and moisture, staining, fading;
• 30 years on residential floors.

3) Reliable lock.

• Aluminum Lock System - the famous Allock aluminum lock used in the High-Tech series;
• Best Loc® X-Treme is a three-way connection for the rest of the product.

4) Easy to operate.

Laminate is easy to keep clean with a vacuum cleaner or a damp soft cloth. Special cleaners and household chemicals are not required.

5) Security for users.

Berry Allock laminate is certified according to:

• PEFC;
• DOP 170 DL3113 1 (Declaration of Performance).

It should be noted that according to the last document, the highest classes were assigned to laminated parquet in terms of such parameters as fire safety, antistaticity, and anti-slip. There are certificates confirming the low level of emission of toxic substances (formaldehyde, pentachlorophenol).

• High price;
• It is often possible to purchase a fake of unknown origin (without certificates and other documents).