Eco-finishing involves the use of natural (natural) materials for all types of surfaces, including floors. What better parquet or parquet board? - Many people ask this question. The use of any of the listed materials has its own positive sides and nuances. To decide, let’s consider the characteristics and features of using these floor coverings.

For many, these materials are the same type. In fact, the difference between parquet and parquet boards is significant, even in terms of design features. The first is a solid block of valuable hardwood: oak, maple, beech, ash, cherry, pear, etc. And the parquet board has a three-layer structure. The middle fibers are located perpendicular to the top and bottom layers. Expensive wood is used for the front part; for the other two, less expensive but high-quality canvas, usually coniferous. The design affects the characteristics of the materials.

Advantages of parquet:

• Durability. Hardwood species are used for production.
• Aesthetics. Unique natural shades in the cross-section of one type of wood allow you to lay out beautiful patterns.
• Ease of repair. It is carried out on site without dismantling the coating.
• Unlimited number of times the possibility of scraping the surface.
• Environmental friendliness. Natural origin speaks for itself.
• Strength. Resistant to mechanical stress.
• Heat capacity. This surface always remains warm to the touch.
• Increased sound insulation properties.

The disadvantages include: high cost, requirement to maintain a constant microclimate (wood is afraid of moisture and too dry air), complexity of installation.

Advantages of parquet boards:

• Easy to install. The panels are fastened using a locking connection. No scraping or work with varnish is required.
• Environmental friendliness. Natural fibers are used for production.
• The ability to dismantle several times without losing the quality of the material.
• Not as sensitive as parquet to changes in the indoor microclimate.
• Variety of assortment.
• Compared to parquet, the price is not so high.

The disadvantages include:

1. Weak resistance to mechanical stress;
2. Limited number of scraping repairs. According to the technology, the finishing layer is only up to 4 mm.
3. Reduced moisture resistance. This can be solved with additional processing during installation.

Useful video: Advantages and differences between parquet boards and parquet

Considering the pros and cons of each material, it is clear that parquet differs from parquet boards in durability, strength, and installation. An important factor when choosing a coating is maintenance.

Comparative characteristics of floor coverings

To decide on the material for the finishing layer, let’s look at the differences. When comparing floor coverings, attention is paid to three main indicators.

Features of processing and care

Both materials are resistant to direct exposure to water. The parquet bulges from liquid and humidity, and when it dries out it returns to its normal appearance. The finishing layer peels off the parquet board, and this is a replacement of the canvas.

Afraid of sudden changes in microclimate. You will have to maintain a humidity of 60% and a temperature in the range from 15 to 20 °C. The board has factory protection, which makes it resistant to microclimate changes.

For parquet it is important to use special means for care once a quarter. For boards the period is longer. During repairs, the parquet is scraped without dismantling. In case of major changes, the board will have to be dismantled before repair. Otherwise, the care of the coatings is the same.

Which is easier to install and dismantle?

Both types of material require flat surface, this will increase the service life of the coating. It is better to provide waterproofing for the floor. Installation is done with technical gaps from the walls, since natural fiber changes linear dimensions under the influence of microclimate.

Laying parquet is complex and is done in several stages. First, a trial layout of the pattern is made using a combination of bars. Then, installation begins using glue, which is selected based on the finishing material and base. The solution is applied to the tenon, groove, subfloor. After installation, factory defects are eliminated by scraping. Finishing work consists of varnishing the surface. The number of layers is two or more. The larger the quantity, the more voluminous the parquet pattern. Each frozen layer is sanded. It is difficult to remove the coating without damaging the bars.

Useful video: Laying block parquet

Parquet boards are much easier to install. There are two methods: glue and lock. The second one is more popular. For reliability, locks are treated with wax before installation. This will provide greater resistance to moisture. carried out in a running start. The second row is shifted in length relative to the first. After installation, no scraping, sanding or lengthy varnishing process is required. The front part of the panels already has a protective factory layer. Depending on the type of lock, you can remove the parquet board up to 6–8 times without damaging the panels.

Useful video: Instructions for laying parquet boards

Such differences between parquet and parquet boards significantly affect the size of the installation budget. For the first option, you will need to hire a professional to high-quality installation. And laying parquet boards at home with your own hands is quite feasible and does not require additional costs.

Overview of flooring prices

The cost of piece parquet starts from 200 rubles/sq.m. m. (ash), more expensive tree species 10,000–16,000 rub./sq. m. Do not forget about the additional costs of work, material for protective and finishing coating. The asking price is from 650 rubles/sq.m. m.

Parquet board depending on technical characteristics lies in the range from 1,200 to 4,000 rubles/sq.m. m. The work will cost from 200 rubles/sq.m. m. Installation costs can be avoided if you do it yourself.

Based on the three listed parameters, the main disadvantage of parquet is determined - the high cost of material, installation, and maintenance. Therefore, such coverage has always been considered a sign of wealth.

Conclusion

Everyone decides for themselves what to choose parquet and parquet boards. An important point is a complex cost of three parameters: material, installation, maintenance. If a parquet board is in the middle price segment, and installation, maintenance, and repairs can be done with your own hands, then parquet is an expensive coating in all respects. For high-quality installation, maintenance, and repair, a professional is required. And these are additional significant costs. But no laminate or parquet board will convey the depth, texture, and volume inherent in block parquet.

No one doubts that the best flooring should be made from natural wood. This material is beautiful, has natural warmth, gives comfort and coziness to the home, it is environmentally friendly and harmless. But today there is such an abundance of natural wood flooring on sale that it is difficult to make a choice in favor of one of them. Many buyers do not know what to choose, solid or parquet boards. We will try to figure out which material is better by studying the features, pros and cons of both floor coverings.

Features of solid boards

Solid wood flooring is a solid wood floor covering. To fix the elements on the floor, milling is done at the ends of the board. The boards are connected using the tongue-and-groove principle. To remove internal tension in the wood, a longitudinal cut was made on the back side of the board.

The width of one element can be from 90 to 200 mm. The length of the board is from 90 cm to 3.0 m. At the same time, one package can contain boards of a fixed length, that is, all the elements are the same, for example, 90 cm, or a combined length. In the latter case, one or more boards are made of a large length, for example, 1.6 m, and other elements in the package are shortened (30, 40, 60, 80 cm). The thickness of the element ranges from 18-22 mm.

As a rule, a solid wood product comes from the factory with a coating in the form of varnish, oil or oil with wax:

1. With the help of special UV varnishes it is possible to obtain a durable and durable coating on the board. This layer reliably protects the board from wear and prolongs the service life of the coating. But if the varnish layer is damaged, local repair is impossible. You will need to sand the entire floor and re-varnish it.
2. A solid board impregnated with oil is very similar to an untreated surface. The oil is absorbed into the top layer and does not create the same protection as varnish. Oil-treated coatings are easy to apply local repairs. But the oil layer is very short-lived and needs to be renewed regularly.
3. Impregnation with a mixture of oil and paraffin is also short-lived, but unlike oil, it creates protective layer. A floor made of solid boards impregnated with oil and wax can be repaired locally, but the coating must be periodically renewed over the entire surface.

Solid floor boards can be subjected to a wide variety of treatments, which allow you to highlight the beauty of the design, age the surface or change the color. Also on sale is a solid board without treatment, simply varnished. At the factory, a solid wood product can be subjected to the following types of processing:

• Toning - applying several thin layers paints. Often used in conjunction with brushing.
• Brushing – aging the surface. The product is being processed metal brushes, allowing you to select soft wood from tree rings. The result is a relief surface, as if aged by time. Sandblasting is used for the same purpose.
• Planed and sawn solid boards are made to produce a wear effect.

Advantages and disadvantages of solid wood floors

The advantages of solid wood flooring include the following:

• the product is environmentally friendly and harmless;
• the service life of a floor made of this material significantly exceeds other coatings (solid oak coating can last up to 100 years);
• solid wood floors can be repaired and sanded multiple times;
• the wooden surface retains heat well (it is comfortable to walk on such a surface even in winter);
• the unique unique pattern of each board allows you to get very beautiful floors.

The disadvantages of such products include:

• changes in humidity and air temperature in the room can negatively affect the floors (the coating can dry out and become deformed);
• Solid wood floors are quite expensive.

On our market, solid boards are represented by such well-known manufacturers as the Belarusian Coswick, Magestik Floor, the German Amigo, and the Russian company Amber Wood.

Features of parquet boards

Unlike the previous product, the parquet board consists of several glued wooden planks. Segments in layers are located perpendicular to each other. To increase wear resistance and protection, varnish or oil is applied to the top layer of the product.

Parquet board consists of the following layers:

1. Upper layer made from valuable wood species. Its thickness can be from 0.5 to 6 mm. This layer performs protective and decorative functions, so it is often subjected to factory processing (planing, brushing, heat treatment, bleaching). This layer can be tinted, varnished or impregnated with oils.
2. The middle layer is made of slats made from less expensive coniferous wood. The slats are located hardly across the length of the parquet flooring. The height of this layer is 8-9 mm. At the end of the middle layer, cutting is made for the connecting element of the parquet board. The connection can be tongue-and-groove or locking.
3. Coniferous wood is also used to make the bottom layer. The thickness of this layer is 1.5 mm. It is made from a solid board, attached transversely to the elements of the previous layer.

Due to the transverse arrangement of the elements in the layers, high strength and wear resistance of the coating is ensured. Parquet flooring is impervious to temperature changes and shock-resistant. The product is ready for installation without preliminary preparation.

The sizes of parquet boards vary. The length of one element can be from 1.1 to 2.5 m, the width can be in the range of 12-20 cm, the thickness of the parquet is from 10 to 22 mm. The product can be laid with glue or floating.

Advantages and disadvantages of block parquet floors

The advantages of such floor coverings include the following:

• parquet boards do not react so strongly to changes in humidity and temperature in the room due to the internal compensating layer;
• the price of such a coating is lower than that of solid wood products;
• installation is faster and easier; the procedure can be done with your own hands without the involvement of specialists.

Cons of parquet floors:

• the durability of this flooring cannot be compared with the impressive service life of solid wood products;
• Since glue is used to glue the layers of the product, it is impossible to give a 100% guarantee of harmlessness.

Popular parquet manufacturers: Upofloor, Barlinek, Scheucher, Eco Parquet, Grün Wald, Magnum, Weitzer Parkett.

What's better?

To understand which flooring is better, you need to not only take them into account performance characteristics, but also calculate installation costs. As you already understand, the price of parquet flooring is lower than the cost of solid wood products. But in addition to this, you need to add the purchase costs to the price of the product. additional materials for laying and payment of professional workers.

It is worth adding the following costs to the cost of parquet flooring:

• for the purchase of a substrate;
• payment for the work of a professional stacker (4 $/m²);
• for an uneven base you will need plywood or a self-leveling compound to level the floor.

The cost of laying solid wood flooring will consist of the price of the material and the following costs:

• to level the floor you will need plywood, glue and screws for fastening the sheets;
• for installation of solid wood products you need special glue and screws;
• In order to install high-quality flooring, you will have to hire a professional installer.

The stability of multi-layer flooring products is higher. They do not react as much to changes in humidity and temperature in the room. But some solid oak, ash or teak floors also offer high geometric stability combined with increased moisture resistance, so they can be used in areas with high humidity and in open areas, terraces or balconies. Parquet flooring will never be able to boast of such an area of ​​use.

Gaps between the covering elements are more common in solid wood floors, which is why they are often made with chamfers. Although single-strip parquet flooring is also made with chamfers.

As a result, in terms of performance and durability better coverage made from solid wood, but parquet is more affordable at a price. However, there is a compromise option that combines the features of solid wood and parquet flooring - this is an engineered board.

Engineered board - a profitable compromise

If you still can't decide which is better, choose an engineered board. It combines the best qualities of both floor coverings. The product has the same performance characteristics as solid wood floors, combined with an affordable price and geometric stability.

Engineered board is the same parquet flooring only plywood base and with two layers. A quarter of its thickness is occupied by the front layer of valuable wood. The second layer is plywood slats located perpendicular to the longitudinal side. Due to this arrangement of plywood elements, high stability of the engineered board is achieved.

Parquet board or parquet – this difficult choice faces every owner who has started a renovation. On the one hand, you can save money by buying parquet boards, on the other hand, you can forget about repairing the floor for a long time. Well, we will try to help you decide!

Parquet or parquet board – decide on the task

Between the parquet and the parquet board there is one common feature– both materials are entirely natural, which distinguishes them from laminate or other imitation coatings. The difference, however, is also significant, and very briefly, it lies in the durability of the materials. Parquet boards have every right to exist. Firstly, this is a completely finished flooring option. Once it is assembled, there is no need to sand or varnish anything; you can immediately walk on its surface. In some cases, this speed is very important.

If you do partial renovation apartments, there is absolutely no point in spending money on durable materials. In 5-10 years, when you are ready for a major overhaul, expensive parquet flooring can be significantly damaged by the actions of repairmen - someone will drop a hammer, someone will spill mortar. And no matter how you protect it with film, traces will still remain. But if the floor is covered with a short-lived parquet board, there will be nothing to regret, but replacing the coating with high-quality and completely new parquet or other durable flooring material it will come in handy.

Differences in materials – the main thing is not to confuse them!

The parquet board has a three-layer structure, firmly glued together. The top layer (front) is valuable species wood, the thickness of which is 3-4 mm, the middle layer is load-bearing, made of coniferous wood. Coniferous wood and the bottom layer is stabilizing. Total thickness finished product– about 15 mm. Manufacturer from one square meter In this way, valuable wood is obtained many times more in finished products, and consumers receive a beautiful and natural floor.

The parquet board is produced with a completely finished varnished surface, it does not need to be scraped or sanded, and there will be no difficulties in installation - even a beginner can put together a regular locking joint. The main disadvantage of parquet boards is the impossibility of repeated restoration. This floor can only be scraped once. So, even with the most careful treatment of the floor covering, after 10-15 years it will have to be replaced.

Parquet boards are usually laid in one pattern - “Deck”. “Deck” installation can very successfully imitate natural parquet, especially if the parquet board is three-strip, or single-strip - imitation of solid wood parquet. In the end, only the owner himself can distinguish a good parquet board from real parquet - he probably knows what he laid.

Natural piece parquet is a much more durable coating option. It reaches the consumer mainly in the form of separate dies from 10 mm to 20 mm thick, which still need to be laid, sanded and covered with a protective layer of varnish. There are a huge variety of styling options, ranging from standard “Herringbones”, “Braids”, “Squares”, and ending with complex designer patterns using different breeds tree.

Piece parquet consists entirely of one type of wood, so it can be scraped and restored many times, especially if the thickness of the dies is more than 10 mm.

Solid board is an even more expensive parquet, the production of which takes much more wood, and the finished coating very well conveys the pattern of the rock and its texture. The advantages of block parquet and solid wood parquet are the ability to tint, cover with your favorite mastic or varnish, and use various decorative effects. In a word, the apartment owner will have “living” material at his disposal, which can be changed at his discretion. Parquet board is a completely ready-made option, and even if after some time you don’t like its shade, there’s nothing you can do about it.

How to extend the life of parquet - secrets of proper installation

Even having figured out that parquet and parquet boards have significant differences, you still have to figure out what the difference is in the installation of these coatings. Even piece parquet can last only half its life if serious mistakes were made during its installation.

• The first mistake is ignoring the need to use additional Supplies. It is imperative that a backing be laid in front of the parquet on the screed, no matter how smooth it is. Technical cork is best suited for this purpose - it does not cake, it levels well minor irregularities floor, takes part of the load upon itself. If, according to the technology, the parquet is supposed to be “planted” with parquet glue, choose best composition! Saving on such little things can significantly affect the quality of the floor.
• The second mistake is doing the work yourself. If you are a skilled person, have dealt with parquet more than once, or simply like to do everything with your own hands, we are unlikely to persuade you not to do this work yourself. Still, it’s better to entrust the installation of parquet to knowledgeable people - although their services are not cheap, the work will pay off many times over over the years. Moreover, in this case you can be confident in the result! Otherwise, blame yourself.

As in the case of parquet, so in the case of parquet boards, the service life of materials depends on operating conditions. Optimal for wood temperature regime- in the region of 18 °C-25 °C, and relative air humidity - no higher than 60%.

Parquet board and laminate - obvious similarities

Surely, many readers were inspired by the description of a parquet board to think about laminate. There is also a multilayer structure, some of the layers are also made of wood. That's the whole point - the parquet board consists entirely of wood, and the laminate just imitates wood. Products from the USA and Europe, as a rule, consist of 95% wood, but Chinese laminate is only 50%.

Laminate flooring usually consists of four layers. The main layer or core of a laminate sheet is a wood-fiber material, somewhat reminiscent of plywood or chipboard. The outer layer is a layer of high-strength film made of polymer materials, more often acrylic resin, which protects the floor from abrasion. This “lamination” at one time gave the name to the product.

Under the protective layer is decorative. As a rule, this is furniture foil or special paper that imitates valuable wood species. By the way, modern manufacturers They cope with this task very well. The core is located under the decorative layer, and the bottom layer is located under it, the main task which is to protect the laminate from moisture coming from below.

To be fair, it is worth noting that some high-strength laminate can be more expensive and durable than the same parquet board. But here it’s up to you to decide what to choose - many consider laminate to be artificial turf, while parquet boards inspire confidence as an environmentally friendly pure material. However, such a comparison is strictly subjective - modern building materials, even artificial ones, undergo a number of tests and certifications. If you don’t trust our authorities, buy laminate manufactured abroad - everything is very strict there regarding safety issues!

Regardless of what kind of renovation is planned - “money is not an issue”, “cheap, but decent”, the purchase of flooring must be approached equally seriously and thoughtfully. This is a difficult and responsible task, because the floor creates the perception of the interior. Plus, people look down more often than at the ceiling. Undoubtedly, the modern market offers many materials with different characteristics, color solutions. This article will discuss two popular floor coverings, namely, which is better – parquet boards or laminate.

The purpose of the room is an important issue

It is not easy to understand the existing variety of floor coverings, because when choosing laminate and parquet boards, you need to take into account not only functional indicators, but also the purpose of a particular room. So, which room is parquet board best suited for? Firstly, for a living room, study, library - it will fit perfectly into any interior, as it can be combined with many materials. Parquet boards look best in a room decorated with natural wood, or surrounded wooden furniture. Sometimes parquet boards are laid in spacious hallway, but this material is afraid of moisture, and the hallway itself is a room with high traffic, that is, there is no way to do without wet cleaning. Therefore, laminate flooring is more often used in corridors and hallways.

As for the children's room, comfort is needed here - of course, soft carpet covering fits the best way, but laminate will also work. There is just one nuance - in play area It is imperative to lay a warm carpet, because children love to frolic on the floor.

The bedroom is a special place in the house; for this room you should choose flooring with good heat and sound insulating properties: cozy atmosphere is the priority parameter. Actually, best option– natural cork flooring. But due to the high cost, not every person can afford such pleasure. For this reason, laminate will be an excellent alternative; it can be wet cleaned, it is wear-resistant, and in combination with furniture that is in harmony with it in texture and color, it will decorate a classic bedroom.

Important: if we're talking about O small room, it is better to use a parquet board that imitates piece parquet.

Naturally, parquet boards are more expensive, and if the interior, according to the plan, will not last a century, but will change for a change in a couple of years, laminate flooring will best option.

What is good about parquet boards?

Parquet boards are characterized by a rather complex structure; they consist of glued layers located perpendicular to each other. This method gives the board strength and resistance to changes in geometric dimensions. The top layer is a valuable, expensive type of wood, the maximum veneer thickness is 0.5 mm, the minimum is 6 mm. Most often, parquet boards with a top layer thickness of 4 mm are used. The middle layer (9 mm) is made from coniferous wood, and the bottom layer is 1.5 mm thick.

Based on the number of tiles, parquet boards are classified into:

• single lane– looks like a regular board made of solid wood: Looks beautiful in large rooms. As for the cost, it is an order of magnitude higher, since wide strips of expensive wood are used in its production. Typically the width of such a board is 137 mm. Some manufacturers also produce single-strip boards with chamfers at the edges. It turns out that after laying, a groove is formed between the boards, it imitates seams and allows you to create the effect of a floor covering made of solid boards;
• two-strip board– two wide planks laid in continuous strips or divided into modules. The large width of the slats gives the room a solemn look, better suited for classic interiors;
• three-strip parquet board– the most common option, in demand among the population. The working layer consists of three parallel strips. Typically, the planks are divided into short sections (modules) rather than laid in continuous long strips. Three-strip board imitates parquet pattern"deck", suitable for decoration different rooms. Width – 190-208 mm;
• four-strip board made from wood waste. This board has stripes that are too narrow, so it looks colorful on the floor. This option looks good in a country house.

It is also necessary to say about structured (artificially “aged”, steamed, antique) parquet boards, which have recently become fashionable. How does this process happen? The principle is this: darkening or artificial defects are created in the decorative layer. First, a parquet board is assembled in a factory, then the core is selected from the top layer using a metal brush. As a result of such manipulations, the board becomes embossed, its structure is clearly defined. Then the parquet board is treated with colored oil and wax (black, white). Wax fills microcracks, emphasizes the natural pattern, and white and black veins appear on the surface. It is important to note that “aged” parquet boards are usually single-strip.

In addition to original beauty and a subtle sense of antiquity, these boards have an undeniable advantage - scratches and damage are less noticeable on them. Caring for such a floor covering is simple: 2-3 times a year it should be treated with special wax.

One more point: the parquet board can be varnished - sanded, calibrated in thickness, coated with waterproof matte, glossy varnish. Immediately after installation is completed, this floor is ready for use.

Board with oil coating– an oil-wax composition is applied to the parquet board at the factory, so the floor appears as natural as possible. It is protected from moisture and mechanical influences, and the wood texture is perfectly visible. The only negative is that the oil composition needs to be updated once a year.

Brief information about the type of wood will certainly be useful when considering the difference between laminate and parquet boards. Classics of the genre:

• oak – the heartwood has a pleasant color, yellowish-brown, dark brown. Durable material that, even if damaged, can be easily restored;
• ash – elastic and durable, color yellow-white, black, dark brown. Often the kernel is different irregular shape, and this creates an interesting pattern;
• Cherry is a very beautiful parquet board with a soft pink tint. An undoubted advantage is the uniformity of texture;
• beech – strength similar to oak, reddish-yellow color. Under the influence of the sun, beech parquet boards slightly change color and brownish notes appear.

Exotic parquet board:

• Jatoba - grows in the valleys of the distant Amazon River, the wood is so strong that it is difficult to process. But the parquet board turns out amazing, white or lemon color;
• wenge - common in African countries. The wood is heavy, dark brown, this board is characterized by pressure resistance and moisture resistance;
• Iroko is a tropical tree that is not afraid of climate change. The wood has a yellow-brown color and is not afraid of pests.

What's so special about laminate?

“Laminate” in translation means “multilayer coating”. The top layer is made of special polymers that retain their decorative appearance for a long time. And the second layer is decorative; it is made in a printing house, and the pattern of the laminate can be very diverse, although it is often wood. Next comes the main layer, namely fiberboard, treated with hydrophobization. Then there is a layer of kraft paper, it protects the material by repelling water. The properties of the last layer significantly increase the service life of the laminate.

This flooring is divided into two types, if we talk about the degree of load: for residential or public premises - high, medium, light load category. If this is a bedroom or an office, the best option is laminate flooring with a light load; living room, children's room - from the middle; kitchen, hallway – high.

In public spaces, namely, in conference rooms, in meeting rooms - light load; classrooms, reception area, office – intermediate degree; cafes, gyms, bars, shops – high.

Each type of laminate is characterized by differences in the decorative layer. Below we will describe this parameter in more detail in order to delve deeper into the essence of the issue.

• The traditional surface structure resembles wood coated with silky varnish. Laminate has a flat, smooth, shiny surface.
• “Natural” surface – in principle, there are no special differences from the previous one, only its execution is of higher quality. Therefore, this laminate looks more like the real thing. wooden parquet, and the wood pores are located in strict accordance with the pattern.
• The "waxed" surface is very similar to natural wood, treated with wax. The pores seem to be filled with wax, the surface is smooth, even, and the shine is slightly noticeable.
• The glossy surface imitates wood coated with a shiny varnish. The top layer is similar to wood material, but there are no pores.
• Textured surface - irregularities reminiscent of wood fibers are specially provided here. This type laminate is similar to parquet because the pattern is made synchronously. A type of such coating with a textured surface is a relief laminate; its difference lies in the fact that the longitudinal irregularities are made symmetrically, but they do not repeat the pattern.
• “Oiled wood” resembles natural wood that has absorbed oil. The surface does not cause discomfort when viewed, it is not shiny, even, smooth.

One more interesting variety The laminate is country - a large smooth relief, imitation of hand-processed wood. This original covering looks cozy in dachas.

Laminate high pressure(composite) consists of several layers of films impregnated with a special resin. A specific protective layer is applied on top, which protects the coating from the influence of sunlight and mechanical influences. Under protective films a decorating layer is placed, and underneath it is a base. The base has impact-resistant and fire-resistant properties. By pressing method at high temperature the layers are formed into a complete slab, and the thickness depends on the article.

Low pressure laminate consists of only one layer of durable film, one decorating layer, they are pressed with a base of hardboard or chipboard.

Arguments for and against - which is better?

Advantages of parquet boards:

• naturalness, environmental friendliness;
• the strength is in no way inferior to solid wood;
• due to the presence of natural wood veneer, the parquet board has the appearance of expensive wood;
• repeated sanding and varnishing are possible;
• installation without gaps;
• There are no special requirements for the base, because the thickness of the board is at least 14 mm.

Its disadvantages:

• necessary a large number of natural raw materials, which means deforestation is increasing;
• You can wash parquet boards only with special products;
• possible scratches;
• after a flood it cannot be restored - it swells, and after drying it becomes deformed;
• You need protection from the impact of furniture legs in the form of plastic plugs.

Advantages of laminate:

• forests suffer less - wood shavings are used in the production process;
• is moisture resistant;
• does not rot or be affected by fungi;
• successfully resists scratches and impacts;
• no scraping or varnishing required;
• ease of care - allowed wet cleaning, as well as cleaning products;
• a huge number of decors - traditional designs, all kinds of colors, imitation;
• UV resistance.

Disadvantages of laminate:

• if damage occurs, it is impossible to repair the scratch;
• coverage below class 31 needs additional protection from furniture legs.

From all of the above, it becomes clear that laminate and parquet boards are quite popular materials. Having rationally weighed all the arguments, you can choose the best option, for example, if naturalness is important, it is better to buy a parquet board, and if long term services without additional investments and at a low price - laminate.

The flooring must meet many requirements: aesthetics, environmental friendliness, maintainability. In this case, the dilemma - which is better, parquet boards or solid boards - is a common occurrence. Both materials are beautiful, durable and clean. The article gives an assessment by experts, on the basis of which you can make the final choice

The flooring must meet many requirements: aesthetics, environmental friendliness, maintainability. In this case, the dilemma - which is better, parquet boards or solid boards - is a common occurrence. Both materials are beautiful, durable and clean. Below is an assessment by experts, on the basis of which you can make your final choice.

Parquet features

Parquet class board is a multi-layer unit. All stabilizing and decorative layers are connected with glue. Front coating – varnish, oil, wax. Read more in the article “What is a parquet board”.

The advantages of the material are as follows:

• Strength. Thanks to the layers laid perpendicular to each other, linear expansion, pressure and climate change affect the parquet to a lesser extent.
• Affordable DIY styling methods. Boards may have locking connections tongue and groove With them, a floating floor is created, which, if necessary, can be dismantled without damage.
• Beauty. The natural pattern of noble breeds is emphasized by a matte or glossy composition, emphasizing or shading the natural colors. The artistic options are worthy of reception halls.

With proper care, parquet restoration occurs with minimal changes - it will last a long time in its original form.

Let's look at the disadvantages to decide what better array or parquet board:

• Parquet is environmentally friendly, since the layers are natural wood. But glue cannot meet this condition. In addition to this, a mounting compound is also used for adhesion to the floor. Therefore, it is important to always be aware of the chemical components of parquet boards.
• The service life of parquet below solid wood is 1.5 times.

Parquet remains at the peak of popularity among other noteworthy floor coverings. If you use the raw materials wisely: choose the optimal installation option, provide timely care, carry out preventive maintenance, the floor will delight you with its splendor for a long time.

Features of solid boards

The material is a solid piece of wood without delamination or inclusions of synthetic raw materials - in detail “What is a solid board”.

Advantages:

• Complete ecology.
• Strength. Due to the thickness, the service life of the board reaches up to 70 years. In addition, timely procedures - scraping, grinding - prolong original appearance natural floor covering.
• Heat capacity. Solid wood floors do not require heating systems.

Flaws

Which is better: parquet board or solid wood?

To decide on the choice of flooring, it is important to consider the behavior of the boards under real-life conditions. Many factors matter: the material of the house’s construction, foot traffic, willingness to care for the floor in accordance with the rules, etc. Let's start:

Stability

The concept defines the original appearance of the coating over time. The massive board wins. It has great thickness and weight. Therefore, it will successfully withstand changing loads. Creaks and shifts in solid wood occur later; in parquet boards, the problem may begin immediately after installation if the work is carried out without proper control.

The appearance of parquet is maintained with special care.

Solid wood boards are undemanding detergents, but similarly does not accept excess moisture. Over time, solid wood floors are painted. It is not recommended to do this with parquet - sanding, sanding and other manipulations are required.

It is not forbidden to install parquet in apartments, but for this it is important to choose the right room without aggressive environments. Parquet boards do not fit in children's rooms - there is constant activity and the risk of spilling or dropping something is high. Her prerogative is living rooms, halls, and offices. The array is unpretentious only if a certain breed is chosen. For example, larch is successfully placed in bathrooms and baths, where it is absolutely inert to moisture.

True, such varieties are high in cost. The rest of the wood suffers from longitudinal cracks; parquet does not have this feature.

The material the home is built will also affect your wood floors. Bricks and stones can create dampness inside, which is detrimental to wood. The hardwood will be the first to be hit; parquet is more stable. Both coatings require moisture control.

Maintainability

Due to the thickness, scrape the array, possibly 7-8 times. However, problems with solid floors appear more often due to the structure of the board - longitudinal cracks, large gaps. To replace the floorboard, you will have to open the nearby boards up to the wall, otherwise the looseness will not go away.

Over time, solid wood floors are painted, as cracks have to be puttied

Parquet requires careful handling; its thickness allows the sanding procedure to be carried out 3–5 times. Sand, heels, and animal claws can ruin the coating. Type-set or artistic parquet floors are restored only by professionals. Easy installation will allow you to make repairs yourself without dismantling the entire coating, preserving appearance floor.

Price

Definitely, it is impossible to name the difference between a parquet board and a solid board in terms of price. The cost depends on many factors: the species and type of wood, installation method, number of boards, related materials - their purchase is necessary. You need to take into account the price of the work - parquet boards, as well as solid wood, are difficult to lay correctly. It is important to focus on the quality of the material.

conclusions

So, what is the difference between a solid board and a parquet board? To many. What to prefer? In accordance with the goal and finances. Is an array definitely better? Only according to some of the described indicators. The primacy in practicality is given to solid wood, the leadership in aesthetics is occupied by parquet. You decide.

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