Classic laminated parquet is a thin, hard finishing coating for the floor. Due to its sufficient wear resistance and unpretentiousness, it quickly gained popularity, becoming one of the sought-after coatings for residential and commercial premises.

Characteristics of laminated flooring material

Structurally, the finishing material consists of four layers:

Overlay - a thermopolymer layer that protects facing material from damage, water, dirt. Depending on the hardness of this layer, the laminate is assigned a load class - from 21 to 43.

Decorative paper with the image of parquet, solid board, textiles, leather, stone surfaces. Thanks to high-precision industrial printers, a completely realistic simulation is obtained.

Load-bearing plate with tongue-and-groove Click-lock at the ends. Made from fiberboard high density– up to 1100 kg/m³. The thickness varies from 6 to 14 mm; it is possible to treat the locking joints with hydrophobic compounds.

The bottom stabilizing layer, which is paper impregnated with synthetic resins. Protects the coating from residual moisture of the subfloor and significantly reduces the risk of deformation of the planks.

Advantages of PVC and HDF laminate

Laminate has many advantages. Including:

• a wide selection of decors and shades;
• excellent wear resistance;
• moderate moisture resistance;
• the ability to replace the damaged area;
• repair of minor local defects is allowed;
• good size range;
• compatibility with floor heating systems (water, infrared, electric from the “soft heat” series);
• prices for any budget - from 280 RUR/m² and more.

Disadvantages of laminated coating

Let's note the disadvantages flooring material. First of all, these are high requirements for the foundation, as well as the need to install complete sound insulation under a concrete or dry screed (for apartment buildings from the 2nd floor and above).

In addition, HDF flooring is not waterproof, so when exposed to liquids for a long time, the planks swell and become deformed.

The choice of laminate for an apartment or private house is determined by two indicators: the purpose of the room and the operational load.

The latter combines whole line damaging factors: the level of foot traffic, the presence of abrasives, the likely impact of dog and cat claws, the risk of cigarette ashes, water, coloring and caustic liquids, etc.

Choosing a laminate for a specific room

Based on the above, consultants recommend:

For bedrooms, children's rooms, guest rooms and other rooms with low traffic - a coating of 23 and 31 wear resistance classes with a thickness of 7–8 mm.

For halls, offices, kitchens, hallways, loggias - laminated parquet of load category 31–32 with a cross-section of 8–10 mm with moisture-resistant impregnation of the locks. In extreme cases, when laying, you can treat the joints with special compounds or sealing compounds.

Flooring - laminate - is one of the most popular types finishing materials. Laminate is made from fibreboard and consists of three layers. The bottom one, impregnated with special resins, determines the stability of the entire slab and prevents the penetration of moisture. The middle layer is load-bearing, and the top layer determines the aesthetic qualities of the laminate and its wear-resistant properties.

The main characteristic of a laminate board, which determines its service life, strength, and wear resistance, is density.

Density is measured in kg/m3, and its value determines the durability of the coating, its resistance to loads, and the ability to retain its original properties, both consumer and decorative.

The density of the laminate depends on the quality of the material used for its production. The higher the compaction density of the fibreboard fibers, the higher the density of the laminate strip and its interlocking joints. In addition to strength indicators, the density of fiberboard indirectly affects the degree of moisture resistance of the laminate, but this indicator is mainly determined by the quality of the resin impregnation of the fibers.

The density of a material is determined by conducting a series of tests, based on the results of which it is assigned a certain class. MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) of different densities has different purposes and is classified into several types in accordance with European standards EN622:

• Ultra light MDF;
• Light MDF;

Ultra-light board Ultralight MDF has a density of 450-550 kg/m3, and LightMDF - 550-650 kg/m3. Medium density MDF board corresponds to 650-800 kg/m3, and HDF board shows a value of 800 kg/m3.

From the above density indicators it follows that the HDF board has the most high performance and that is why it is used to produce laminate flooring.

When talking about the density of a board - MDF or HDF - they mean a value corresponding to the arithmetic average of the density of the material on the surface and in the depth of the board.

For example, on the surface of an 18 mm MDF board the density of the material is above 1000 kg/m3, and the density in its central part is no more than 500 kg/m3. Therefore, the average value of MDF board is indicated as 650-800 kg/m3. It would seem that average densities are acceptable for using the material as flooring. But you need to understand that for milling a lock, which should be located exactly in the middle part of the slab, a density of 500 kg/m3 is not enough to ensure high reliability and strength of the connection. Such a lock will quickly collapse, most likely even at the installation stage, and the laminate planks will “sag.” Finishes are made from slabs with a low density that are not subject to heavy loads during operation.

To produce high-quality laminated floors, HDF boards are used, the average density value on the surface and in the central part of which has a minimal difference. HDF has a density of more than 800 kg/m3, which indicates the material's ability to withstand high loads.

When starting to make renovations in their apartment or private house, owners are often faced with the age-old problem of choice. And flooring is not uncommon here, especially given the huge selection of types and shapes presented on the modern building materials market. So why has laminate become a real leader in this segment, what are its advantages and how to choose it correctly so as not to regret or be disappointed in the future?

Laminate is a pressed fiberboard panel (aka HDF), where each lamella is equipped with a four-sided lock, which makes it possible to lay the material on the floor without much difficulty. Even a common person without special skills and not a professional.

Melamine resins used in the manufacture of laminate provide it with high wear resistance and moisture resistance. Unfortunately, cheap types of this coating cannot boast of such characteristics, but they also remain quite resistant to mechanical stress, leaving no marks from the legs of heavy furniture or stripes from chairs. And another big plus is that the laminate is laid on the floor using a dry method, and this allows you to avoid large quantity dirt and dust, inevitable during any repair.

The content of the article:

1. Introduction

Currently on the market building materials There is a huge selection of products, and laminate is no exception. For an ignorant buyer, in this abundance and external similarity of samples, there is a high risk of encountering an outwardly attractive, but low-quality material. Therefore, the choice of coating should begin by paying attention to some subtleties, which will be discussed below.

2. Texture and color

It's no secret that many owners choose floor coverings based on color, as a result of which the decisive factor remains design solutions and personal tastes of the buyer. However, the most practical color, on which neither small specks, nor dust, nor even small scratches will be visible, remains bright hues. The absolute leader among them was “bleached (milk) oak.”

The texture is also a matter of taste and aesthetic perception of the buyer and does not speak at all about the quality of the product. Any texture can be cleaned equally well, and, contrary to popular belief, a textured board does not collect more dust - this is just a myth.

3. Cost

The second thing that people always pay attention to after color and shape is the price of the product. As when purchasing any product, you should know and remember that free cheese only comes in mousetraps, and wait High Quality A cheap but beautiful-looking coating is not worth it.

Products cheaper than 450 rubles per square meter will be short-lived and will very quickly lose their marketability appearance. average price for economy class laminate flooring ranges from 450 to 700 rubles. When choosing, preference should be given to brands European manufacturers or famous Russian factories, remembering that, having saved on flooring, in the future you will have to spend money on carpeting to hide the unsightly worn out and scratched slats.

It should be remembered that the floor bears the maximum daily mechanical load, and trying to win some money on laminate means dooming yourself to seeing an unsightly floor in a couple of years.

When the buyer has decided on the price category of the product, it is worth paying attention to this important characteristic, such as wear resistance class, moisture resistance and thickness of laminate planks.

4. Laminate class

Laminate class is the main quality characteristic that an inexperienced buyer pays attention to. To understand the concept of laminate class in more detail, let’s study the structure of this building material:

1. Protective layer – acrylate or melamine resin, may also include corundum (aluminum oxide) – a very durable material. Protects laminate from scratches and abrasion.

2. Decorative layer– it is this layer that gives the laminate specific color and pattern. Represented by paper with a design printed on it.

3. HDF board- is the basis of the laminate. HDF stands for High Density Fiberboards, or high-density fiberboard in Russian. It is this part of the laminate that is responsible for most quality characteristics: wear resistance, moisture resistance, noise insulation, lock quality.

4. Bottom layer gives the laminate greater rigidity and stability, and also protects against moisture, mildew and mold. Presented in plastic or cardboard impregnated with paraffins.

4.1 European standard EN 13329

Laminate flooring is classified according to wear resistance according to the European standard EN 13329. According to this standardization system, a laminate board must pass 18 tests, after which it is assigned the appropriate class. In total, according to this standard, there are six wear resistance classes of laminate.

For residential premises, coating classes 21, 22 and 23 are suitable, and for premises with immeasurably greater traffic (offices, various institutions) a coating that is more resistant to abrasion is required. For such cases, you can use the 31st, 32nd and 33rd class laminate as the most durable and strong.

Separately, I would like to note that there is a 34th class on the building materials market, but it is not included in the European standard EN 13329

On this moment“home” laminate of 21-23 classes has practically gone out of circulation. And “commercial” laminate - class 31-33 is widely used at home.

4.2 Class is a relative concept

That is, purely theoretically, the higher the class, the longer term operation of this floor covering. But in practice it often turns out that a laminate with a lower class retains its original appearance longer than higher grade laminate.

There are two reasons why this happens:

1) For example, Belgian, German and Austrian laminate manufacturers, in addition to class, use such an indicator as the wear resistance of the top protective layer and designate it AC. And the laminate class itself from 31 to 34 characterizes the wear resistance of the HDF board. Thus, it may turn out that a laminate of the same class will have different wear resistance indicators of the top layer - AC. And in practice, we will find that a laminate with a higher AC will be more resistant to scratches and abrasion and will retain its presentable appearance longer.

You need to pay attention not only to the class, but also to other indicators: wear resistance of the upper protective layer (AC), moisture resistance, country of manufacture, quality of the lock, as well as reviews from other buyers.

2) There is a European Association of Laminate Flooring Manufacturers (EPFL), and if any laminate flooring manufacturer is not a member of this organization, then he is not responsible for the class indicated on the packaging. Therefore, it may turn out that some Chinese laminate with a declared class of 32 does not even reach class 21 according to the European standard. In order to avoid such disappointments, you can check the manufacturer on the EFPL website.

The laminate class indicated on the packaging may not correspond to reality, beware of unscrupulous manufacturers!

4.3 Service life of laminate of different classes:

Since “home” laminate of class 21-23 has practically gone out of circulation, it is worth assessing the service life and characteristics of the “commercial” laminate:

Class 31 - service life in commercial premises with light load is 3-5 years, and in domestic conditions 10-15 years.

Class 32 - service life in commercial premises with an average load of 6-7 years, at home about 20 years.

Class 33 - service life in commercial premises with intensive load is about 8 years, at home about 25 years.

Class 34 - service life in commercial premises with more intense loads up to 15 years, in domestic conditions - up to 30 years.

4.4 Use of laminate of various classes at home

Class 31 laminate is perfect for bedrooms, wardrobes and closets (no need to overpay for the class)

Class 32 laminate is suitable for almost all rooms in your apartment, but if you want the service life of the flooring to be maximum, then for the kitchen and hallway you need to choose the highest quality and wear-resistant material, so you should pay attention to class 33 laminate from a trusted manufacturer.

Class 34 laminate is still more designed for commercial use in premises such as airports, train stations, night club, therefore, its use at home is irrational, as it incurs large financial costs.

5. Moisture resistance of laminate

If manual or mechanical cleaning is periodically carried out in an apartment or office wet cleaning, then you should not neglect such an indicator as moisture resistance. In this case, it is recommended to purchase a laminate with increased moisture resistance. Manufacturers have not yet been able to achieve 100% moisture resistance for laminated parquet, and if the seller claims that the product is absolutely moisture resistant, this should alert the buyer.

For the bathroom it is necessary to use moisture-resistant or waterproof laminate. That's two different material, which differ in their composition. At the core waterproof laminate– a high-strength PVC board, and the moisture-resistant laminate is based on an HDF board with special additives. On the packaging of ordinary non-moisture resistant laminate you can find an icon that indicates that this laminate cannot be used in rooms with high humidity. (You can read about the icons on laminate packaging below).

6. Board thickness

Finally, let's talk about the thickness of the product. This characteristic shows what mechanical load the bar can withstand. Thickness modern laminate ranges from 6 to 16 mm, but for use In residential premises, 8 mm coating will be sufficient, capable of supporting the weight of heavy solid wood furniture without any consequences.

7. Laminate locks

Many people are concerned about the strength of the locks that will hold the laminate planks together. But, strange as it may seem to a layman, this item- the last thing you should pay attention to when choosing a product. Visually determining the quality of the lock is almost impossible, especially if there is no choice professional master, but an amateur. But this does not mean that this issue should not be given attention. For some products locking connections are obviously fragile, peel off, break when touched with your hands.

When choosing, you need to take two planks of the selected sample and connect them yourself. If the lock is of high quality, the connection will occur without visible effort, and the seam between the planks will be practically invisible.

8. Environmental friendliness of the product

As mentioned above, the basis of the laminate is an HDF panel, and its composition, like fiberboard and MDF, includes phenol-formaldehyde resin. Therefore, such materials emit a gas hazardous to health - formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde (CH2O) is a colorless gas with a pungent unpleasant smell. The main danger is that this substance is associated with the occurrence and development of cancer.

The release of formaldehyde is standardized by emission class, which are designated as E1, E2, E3. For a standard laminate, an HDF panel with emission class E1 is used (up to 10 mg of formaldehyde per 100 g of board), this indicator is indicated on the packaging of the laminate.

As you know, the indicators on the packaging do not always correspond to reality, so trust your nose. If there is a strong odor when opening the laminate packaging, then you should discard such material.

Also, every potential buyer must remember that the laminate should not be exposed to thermal influences, since when the coating is heated strongly harmful substances will be thrown into environment in larger quantities.

9. Designations on laminate packaging

Some symbols used on laminate packaging

Designations of the same characteristics on the packaging various brands laminate may vary

The image below shows the packaging icons for Aberhof Victory laminate flooring. For example, the first icon on the top left indicates that this laminate cannot be used in the bathroom and in rooms with high humidity. And almost all other icons correspond to those discussed earlier.

10. In conclusion

Before purchasing laminate flooring, you should definitely pay attention to some points that may mistakenly seem unimportant.

Firstly, you should carefully study the characteristics indicated on the packaging label and make sure that they are completely true. Also, the label must contain icons of the moisture resistance class, wear resistance of the product and the thickness of the strip.

Secondly, it is necessary to request from the seller a certificate of quality of the purchased coating. Make sure that the place of manufacture is the same as stated. It would also be a good idea to study the hygiene certificate of the product to make sure that it can be used in residential premises.

I hope these tips will help you choose a truly high-quality laminate.