Elimination of defects and repair of laminate flooring: tips for the master. Problems with laminate flooring after installation and how to fix them Common causes of gaps

Despite the high cost of the repairs performed and the quality of the work done, all materials are prone to aging and deterioration. The tiles may “move away” from the wall surface, noticeable shapeless spots will appear on the wallpaper, and the laminate flooring will become covered with a thick web of cracks and scratches of various sizes.

However, despite such unsightliness, there is no need to despair, since most defects can be eliminated and corrected independently. This can be done without undertaking large-scale repairs.

The most common among the listed troubles is damage to the surface of laminate slabs, which, for obvious reasons, you want to properly fix without resorting to large financial costs. This desire is quite feasible, and you can repair laminate flooring yourself, without the need to involve expensive specialists.

Types of laminate damage

First you need to decide on the options for damage to the laminate:

— cracks and chips;

- scratches;

- swelling.

Such defects can appear on laminate for completely different reasons. But in order to carry out high-quality, outwardly imperceptible floor restoration, you need to have an idea of the causative factors of each defect. This is necessary for the timely cessation of the action of these destructive agents and to prevent their influence after the damage has been repaired.

Let's take a closer look at the reasons for the formation of noticeable damage and the best available methods for eliminating them.

The origin of laminate defects and methods for their qualitative elimination

Attention! A material such as laminate tiles is quite resistant to all kinds of physical and mechanical influences. But, when the installation was carried out with obvious neglect of the technological process or if the operation was replete with careless attitude towards the coating, it begins to be damaged, accumulating defects that appear day by day!

So, let's analyze the most common flaws.

Cracks and chips in laminate flooring

These are very common defects in the surface of the laminate, formed mainly from the fall of heavy objects from a fairly large height (depending on the weight of the object).

Read also: Pebble plaster (photo): composition, types, application rules

Removing cracks and chips is, in principle, not difficult. A successful result requires the use of a special mixture for restoration and repair. Shallow scratches, cracks and chips are filled with this composition using a rubber spatula. If the mixture is applied in excess, then after applying it, the excess must be immediately removed with a clean dry rag. The repair composition is left to dry passively. There are times when the mixture settles a little after drying and in order to adjust its level, it is necessary to repeat the process again until a high-quality, flat surface is obtained.

It is permissible to replace the special composition with another material - acrylic sealant. In this case, it is recommended to purchase white or transparent sealant. By adding small portions of the appropriate color to it, it is possible to achieve an optimal contrast combination with the color of the laminate.

Scratches on laminate

Among all the possible defects of laminate flooring (and other hard flooring options), such damage is confidently in the lead. They can appear on the surface at any moment.

The main causative factors of their occurrence are:

- women's heels;

— particles of solid debris (grains of sand, shavings, fallen components of wall and ceiling decoration, etc.);

- rearrangement of furniture;

- pets.

Based on intensity, scratches are divided into deep and superficial flaws. The latter have the property of growing in width and deepening in the absence of taking appropriate measures to eliminate them. Scratches become clogged with contaminant particles and moisture enters. This combination contributes to the growth of the defect, but despite this tendency, it is quite easy to deal with them.

It is better to eliminate scratches using a special product called a wax pencil. You can easily find such pencils in construction stores; the main thing is to choose the most suitable color and tone for the laminate being repaired.

The technology for repairing laminate flooring with your own hands is as follows:

— the required amount of wax pencil is applied to the prepared, cleaned surface of each scratch;

— the treated area is left to dry passively;

— the final manipulation will be polishing the surface using a soft rag.

Read also: Why does the bathroom smell like sewer: causes and solutions

This technique can eliminate any scratches on the laminate. It is important here not to accumulate a large number of defects, eliminate them in a timely manner, and monitor compliance with preventive measures.

Gaps between laminate planks

The formation and growth of gap spaces between laminate planks can happen at any time. Most often, the reason for this is poor-quality installation of the floor covering on a poorly prepared base (uneven surfaces, debris, level changes, etc.). As a result, when active use begins, the laminate begins to emit an annoying, annoying creaking and, a little later, diverge in the tile joints. This causes curvature and sagging of the floor surface.

With such a scheme for the formation of defects, the repair of the gaps should be carried out using a sealant, since a wax pencil is completely powerless here.

Recommendation! When damage to the floor covering occurs over a large area, the best repair option is a comprehensive replacement of the “damaged” area. When installing in this case, it is necessary to use self-tapping screws and special glue to create greater strength and stability of the material!

Swelling of the laminate

There are situations in which large volumes of water spill on the floor. The reasons are completely different in their source. This could be children's play, leaking pipes, a container of water spilled during cleaning, and other possible options for excess moisture getting onto the floor.

Of course, the water needs to be collected quickly and the floor left to dry passively. However, often people are not aware of the upcoming development of events - after a couple of hours, the wood base of the laminate sheets begins to swell, in the place where moisture has leaked.

The situation is, of course, unpleasant and the first thought in this case is only one - complete dismantling of the damaged coating and laying new material. But there is no need to rush into implementing such a scenario, since the resulting defects can often be corrected.

It is necessary to remove the still wet, swollen tiles from the floor covering and place them under a heavy press on a flat, hard surface. After approximately five days, the deformed planks regain their original configuration, after which they should be returned to their original place.

Date: 08-03-2015
Views: 3609
Rating: 31

Laminate is a unique floor covering that is so widespread these days that it can be found almost everywhere.

Laminate flooring is appropriate both in apartments and in various institutions, offices, enterprises, and educational institutions.
But sometimes during its installation and during further operation annoying problems arise, which are not easy to eliminate without special knowledge and experience. Therefore, in order to avoid such unpleasant phenomena as gaps and deformation, you need to act correctly from the very first.

You bought laminate flooring and delivered it to your home. Here it is important not to immediately start laying a new covering, but to keep the laminate in the room for several days, thus allowing it to adapt to the existing humidity and temperature and take on the appropriate dimensions. While the laminate you purchased is lying around, waiting for the right time, you need to evaluate the quality of the surface. In fact, this coating is thin sheets with a thickness of 6 to 11 mm. The length is different, usually ranging from a meter to one and a half, the width of the strip is 20 cm. The edges of the panel are equipped with “locks”, thanks to which the sheets are joined.
Why do gaps occur?

A durable film is the top layer; it provides the coating with protection from sun rays, mechanical abrasion, and sunlight, since these factors are constantly present during the operation of the laminate. The next layer is paper, texture and colors are applied to it. It could be stone, wood, sand. Then comes the load-bearing layer; high-density wood board is used for it, which gives the future coating the required strength. The final layer is paper impregnated with resins, protecting against moisture.

But if the laminate is so ideally designed, why sometimes after a certain time after use does it diverge and gaps appear? Moreover, this happens not only if the coating is laid independently. Sometimes such results can be obtained by work performed by professionals, qualified craftsmen. Experts believe that there may be several options, and each one must be approached responsibly. Among the most common reasons are the following:
Constant low humidity.

The surface under the laminate is not smooth enough.

Broken laying technology.

Manufacturer defect.

Error of the master performing the work.

The most likely causes of the gap are known to every specialist, so you can find ways to combat this problem. For example, if the gap is insignificant, barely noticeable to the eye, then low humidity in the room is to blame. During the cold period, when the central heating is running, the owners of such floor coverings begin to notice that gaps appear and the laminate “walks.” As the floor covering dries out, it causes minor gaps. In this case, eliminating such a defect is not difficult; you just need to turn on the humidifier.

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Common causes of gaps

Common causes of gaps include uneven surfaces. Practice shows that often incompetent craftsmen simply underestimate the importance of the preparatory stage of work, so they may suggest laying laminate directly on the surface of the old chipboard floor. Although at first glance the old floor appears to be quite level, in reality it is not. As a result, subsidence of the laminate occurs in many places, unwanted gaps and other defects are formed. In addition, in such situations, the floor also begins to make a cracking sound.
The first time after installation, the floor functions normally, but you can be sure that this will not last long. In this case, professionals advise disassembling the floor to identify and eliminate irregularities. The best option for laminate flooring should be a concrete screed. Another reason for unsightly gaps is poor operating technology. This applies to irregular gaps located around the perimeter of the room. Moreover, both gaps that are too small and, conversely, gaps that are too wide are considered an undesirable phenomenon. In any case, there is no correct distribution of the load on the floor. Therefore, laminate discrepancies may occur in many places.

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Correcting gaps

To eliminate the deficiency in this case, you need to cut the boards where there is not enough space. If the gap is too loose, you can correct the situation by inserting wedges. In addition, gaps sometimes arise due to the negligence of the craftsman who performed the work. If he left small debris, such as sawdust or stones, unattended, they could get into the joints. As a result, some of the boards stopped touching tightly, and a crunching sound began to occur due to friction.

These seemingly insignificant problems must be given maximum attention, otherwise re-flooring cannot be avoided.

What can be done here? If you lightly coat the locks with glue when laying them, the adhesion will be more reliable. In addition, you can use a wax composition for this purpose. When gaps arise due to manufacturer defects, the reason is unreliable fastenings. This happens if you purchased low quality laminate. During operation, unreliable fasteners often break, and the owner of such a floor tries to understand what is happening and how to correct the situation.

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Laminate features

Laminate flooring looks excellent, it is no worse than parquet, but the cost is lower, which is good news. It should be noted that this material is not capricious, although sometimes you can observe the occurrence of gaps and other defects. In addition, if you wish and have free time, you can lay the laminate yourself. It is important that the base of such a floor is reliable, for example, fibreboard is suitable.

Laminate flooring looks noble, prestigious, and the costs are quite moderate. It is important that such a floor can be laid using the glueless method, since the sides of the laminate boards have grooves and ridges.

Compared to laying classic parquet, these plates can be easily repaired if necessary, and their delivery does not cause problems. A floating floor is considered an ideal option, since nails and glue are not required to secure it. The result is a movable floor that easily adapts to the imperfections of the subfloor. Often a “groove-screw” is used, in which case the plates are connected using this combination.

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To avoid gaps

Laying laminate flooring using the screw-and-groove method is simple, and therefore this method is preferred. In this case, the advantage is the possibility of installation without necessarily dismantling the old floor. A new coating can be laid with a minimum amount of glue, and replacing damaged segments is also easy if gaps have formed. When choosing which coating to lay yourself, it is better to consult with specialists. It is often optimal if you follow the instructions.

The plates should be stored in a room that is well heated and sufficiently dry. Only in this case can you expect that the surface of the laminate will remain beautiful and will not lose its attractive and respectable appearance. Be sure to make sure there are no drafts. To acclimatize the material before installation, it must remain in the packaging for up to 3 days. In addition, the temperature should be within 18%, not higher. Ideal air humidity is 75%. The packaging should be removed when laying the plates directly. In this case, the occurrence of gaps and discrepancies in the future can be minimized.

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Compliance with the deformation gap

When laying interlocking floor coverings, it is mandatory to maintain the deformation gap. If this rule is violated, then serious problems with the operation of the floor will arise in the future. The gap is not always closed with decorations, thresholds or baseboards. Most often, open spaces are the gaps between the heating pipe or between the laminate and the parquet box or parquet board. If we consider the option with pipes, then you can use special sockets, which are a decorative ring located near the pipe.

It should be noted that, given our conditions, this is not a very aesthetic solution. The fact is that the heating pipes are not located very close to each other and the walls, moreover, the pipes are often uneven, which also creates certain inconveniences. Therefore, decorative fillers will be more convenient, and the main task in this case should be considered to be the correctly selected colors. The following are used as decorative agents when eliminating gaps:

Acrylic sealant.

Silicone sealant.

Special wax.

Wood putty.

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Selection of materials for decorating gaps

Each of these products must be matched to the color of the laminate board coating. Initially, sealants have a given tone, so making this choice is not difficult. As for the putty, it can be used as a primary color (red, brown, yellow) or a diluting color (black, white). In addition, when eliminating gaps, you can use wax, although this product is relatively expensive, it cannot always be matched by color, and it is not used in close proximity to heating pipes.

Experts say one of the best options is a silicone-based sealant, chosen to match the tone of the laminate. Its main advantage is considered to be “rubbery”. For example, putty, like acrylic sealant, hardens after drying, and if the floor covering moves, it will crumble. The service life of the coating is determined by the quality of the laminate. If there are gaps or cracks, it means your purchase was not very successful. At the same time, much depends on the master performing the work. It is known that the more time you spend preparing the base for the flooring, the longer the canvas will serve you.

Despite the commitment of a large number of buyers to natural materials, many are gradually leaning in favor of laminate flooring - a practical, not so expensive, easy-to-install covering. Laminate properties and characteristics have optimal properties that meet the basic requirements of buyers, which is why it has earned considerable popularity.

Advantages of laminate

The choice of floor coverings is a serious matter, if only because the lining of the walls and ceiling can be renewed or completely replaced in a year or two, but the floor is rarely repaired and any reconstruction of it is planned, if not forever, then for a long time. And I really want the floor finish to be wear-resistant, environmentally friendly, safe for health, creating a feeling of warmth and comfort in the house.

Laminate boards are inert to high temperatures. Of course, you shouldn’t put a hot frying pan on it, but if small sparks or hot ashes fall on the floor, they won’t even leave a trace. The same property allows the coating to be used in underfloor heating systems.
Thanks to the top protective layer, laminate does not allow dyes to pass through easily; it will not be difficult to wash off a stain from coffee, tea, or even a drop of nail polish.
Laminate floors practically do not change color in areas that are constantly exposed to direct sunlight.
You don’t have to worry about marks left after installing heavy furniture; laminate flooring is highly durable.
Aesthetics, variety of textures and decor. In living rooms, we most often encounter wood or parquet floor decor. But there is a laminate for stone, marble, ceramic tiles and exotic options for leather and metal.
Installing laminate flooring is quite simple. Installation takes place in a glue-free manner; the canvas can be disassembled and laid in another place.

Which laminate flooring to choose

When choosing a floor covering, pay attention to the classification. Depending on the expected load on the floor, laminate is divided into 6 classes:

Household laminate – 21, 22, 23 – the first number “2” indicates that the laminate is recommended for installation in living rooms;

The second number characterizes the wear resistance indicator:

21, 31 is intended for floors in rooms with low traffic, where there is no frequent movement of furniture and equipment, that is, the risk of rapid abrasion of the top layer (bedrooms, dressing rooms, guest rooms, storage rooms or conference rooms, meeting rooms in the office);
22, 32 is designed for rooms with an average rate of traffic (children's rooms, living rooms, in offices - workrooms);
23, 33 class laminate is used for high traffic (floors in the corridor, reception area, in the halls of cafes, bars, hotel lobbies). Including those intended for household purposes, where there is a risk of falling sharp or heavy objects (glass, knives, etc.), in rooms with vibrating mechanisms (washing machine, dishwasher) or “roller” furniture.

Lifespan of laminate floors

To create a safety margin, experienced users advise studying the classification of laminate and choosing a higher class. And the use of classes 31, 32, 33 in residential buildings guarantees a significant increase in service life. For example:

31, 32 class laminate will “live” on the floors of commercial premises from 2-3 to 5 years, in residential ones - 10-12;

Class 33 laminate will not lose its performance characteristics in industrial and commercial buildings for up to 6 years, and in residential buildings for up to 20.

European manufacturers currently do not produce laminate of classes 21, 22, 23. If you come across such markings, then these are the remains of a large batch or an ordinary fake.

The strength of the coating also depends on the thickness. For residential premises, 6-8 mm is enough, commercial laminate should be at least 8 mm, and more often a 10-12 mm coating is used.

Laminate properties, characteristics, structure

The coating consists of 3-4 layers, pressed under strong pressure and at high temperature:

Protective layer (acrylic or melamine film). Acrylic or melamine are almost harmless components, but the problem is that formaldehyde is used to thicken the resins, the release of vapors of which is dangerous for humans. The manufacturer reports its contents with special markings E0, E1, E2, etc.

If the purchased product is marked E0, E1, you have a copy in which the presence of formaldehyde could not be detected or its content does not exceed the norm (10 mg per 100g). The E2 sign indicates a content of 10-30 mg (which is not scary, but not good).

Coatings marked E3 are not recommended for residential premises, and especially for poorly ventilated ones. The formaldehyde content in it reaches from 30 to 60 mg per 100 grams of dry matter. Which is not harmful in a normal state, but in the event of a fire, the concentration of its vapors in the air is extremely dangerous.

Eco-friendly wood coatings (without the use of additional impregnations) have an E1 value, and coatings made from chipboard and MDF are no different from laminate in terms of formaldehyde content.

There are attempts to produce completely environmentally friendly laminate - without formaldehyde. For example, such material was developed by ELESGO. According to the test results, the presence of harmful components was not detected (or their content was less than 0.005!).

Another important characteristic of the protective layer is the presence of corundum. The presence of aluminum oxide gives strength to the coating, but, unfortunately, increases the cost.

Second layer – decorative, made of paper with a permanent printed design applied to it.

The third, which makes up the main thickness of the entire coating, is also called the load-bearing base. It is made of fiberboard, chipboard, MDF boards, varying in density. Provides heat, sound insulation, and fracture toughness.

Fastenings are also located here, simplifying the joining of individual elements. Locking joints are cut directly from the base (fiber) or manufactured separately.

The strength of the fiber connection depends on:

From the thickness of the base (more durable fastening is provided by locks on a thick panel);
The depth of the groove and its shape;
Impregnation quality of panel edges and fastenings.

What to look for when choosing

Impregnation can be external and internal (deep). Joints with internal processing are slippery and give the impression of a wet edge. Scratch the lock, and if the surface remains smooth and no wax has collected under the nail, you are lucky, you are dealing with laminate specimens whose locks have undergone high-quality deep processing.

If the wax is removed, it is an external impregnation that can rub off after some time, and the entry of foreign inclusions into the grooves will reduce the strength and water resistance of the joint. This laminate has not the best properties and characteristics, if not “low quality”.

It is a mistaken belief that impregnation provides water resistance. Its main function is the ease of connecting grooves. Wax hides shortcomings in the tightness of the lock for some time, softens creaking due to the mismatch of the geometry of the connection parts. But if there are shortcomings, they will appear after the impregnation wears off.

Recently, polymer materials have begun to be used for the base. Their main advantage is water resistance.

Waterproof laminates include:

products with reinforced impregnation of HDF panels (allows two to three hours of contact with water),
elements based on a plastic panel.

The laminate, whose wood-chip base was replaced with a plastic one, is absolutely protected from deformation during prolonged contact with water (6-hour guarantee). This type of coating can be safely used not only in wet rooms, but also where direct contact with water is possible on the floor (bathroom, toilet, kitchen).

Advertising or materials from the future? Some manufacturers have already started selling class 34 laminate, which they claim is super-strength and super-water-resistant. However, this is rather an advertising campaign for the product. Since this type of laminate is not registered in the official classification.

But: with this marking, large European companies Praktik, Parafloor, Alloc produce 12 mm laminate of the Brilliant, Glossfloor, AMOAGE, MATflooring collections. The special strength of the coatings of these collections is marked with class 34.

Laminate: properties, characteristics - video

Laminate , undoubtedly, an excellent alternative to parquet or parquet boards. Economical, safe, easy to install and maintain. But sometimes, some time after installation, laminate flooring can begin to throw up unpleasant surprises. What to do if you encounter one of the “laminate tricks”?

Problem one. Creak and crackle. You stepped on a freshly laid laminate floor for the first time and immediately heard the characteristic creak of the panels. Or perhaps the squeaking occurred two to three months after installation. Although this defect does not spoil the appearance of the floor, it is one of the most annoying problems with laminate flooring. There may be several reasons. If you have moved into a new building, perhaps the flooring is creaking due to the shrinkage of the house, which is natural in the first two years after commissioning. Additionally, your home likely experiences significant changes in temperature and humidity. For example, if a heating system was installed under the floor. In this case, you risk ruining the laminate if you suddenly increase the floor temperature. To avoid this mistake, increase the temperature no more than one degree per day until you reach the desired level.

Creaking may also be the result of the fact that the room preparation and installation technology was not followed. If the concrete base was not prepared carefully enough, if the backing was too thick, the installation was carried out continuously throughout the entire apartment without using thresholds for the laminate, and the distances from the walls were not observed...

What to do? Do not overuse heated floors. Check whether the workers have made the necessary indentation along the perimeter of the walls of 7-10 mm for the free expansion of the laminate, make sure that thresholds under the laminate were used between the rooms. Dust generated from crumbling concrete screed can also creak (if the layers did not use a finishing leveling mixture when preparing the subfloor). If the apartment has laminate flooring with locks, you can check for yourself whether there is concrete dust underneath it. Otherwise, contact a specialist. If this defect occurs, it is not always necessary to redo the flooring of the entire house.

Problem two. Radiating seams between panels. The laminate must have freedom to expand, but this freedom cannot exceed the prescribed limits. In addition, the permissible difference in the height of the panels should not exceed 2mm. If in some places, due to defects in the concrete screed, the difference in height becomes greater, expansion of the seams between the laminate boards may occur, and the joints will be at a break - ultimately this can lead to their breakage. And if the builders, when laying the floor, allowed too large a gap around the perimeter of the walls, the excess freedom is compensated by the expansion of the seams between the panels.

What to do? To begin with, do everything the same as in the previous case. After this, use mastic to seal the seams; now there is a wide range of such products specifically for different types of laminate. A similar problem arises when choosing a low-quality laminate. The locks do not perform their functions, so the seams come apart. In this case, of course, nothing can be done. You can either forget about this defect if it has little effect on the appearance of the floor, or try to solve the problem with mixtures to smooth out the seams, or after some time change the floor covering to a better one.

Problem three. Blistering of laminate boards. The problem is the opposite of the previous one. There is not enough freedom to expand the laminate, so in some places the boards protrude above the level of the entire floor - “heaving”. Or the boards have expanded due to excess moisture. To avoid this, promptly treat your laminate floor with moisture-repellent waxes or polishes.

What to do? Many people think of simply replacing a damaged panel in some way. But this will not solve the problem; the new board will swell again. Check whether the installation rules were followed by the workers. Is there enough clearance around the perimeter of the walls? If the problem occurs, for example, at the junction of laminate and ceramic tile floors, you can try to increase the distance between the two coatings yourself by cutting the edge of the laminate by 1.5 mm. However, this is almost jewelry work, so it is better to contact a specialist.

Laminate is a floor covering made of several layers of fibrous material (usually paper is used) impregnated with melamine resins. This material first appeared in 1909 in Pittsburgh and was used as an insulator for electrical wiring.

Since 1920, Westinghouse Co. began to produce sheets of multi-layer paper and use them as tabletops. But the first laminate floor appeared only in the 80s in Switzerland. Now this is the youngest flooring material and occupies only 10% of the entire flooring market.

Sometimes it is called laminated parquet, although they have nothing in common. Because parquet is made from natural wood and is not laminated, but covered with a thin layer of special varnish.

Laminate characteristics

Laminate flooring is represented by many companies and firms. Properties and characteristics will easily satisfy any taste and suit any, even the most sophisticated interior.

This article gives you only the general properties, characteristics and classification of laminate, since each class has its own features unique to this class.

The size of laminated panels, which in professional circles are called laminate, can be different - the length is no more than 1.5 m and the width is up to 0.25 m. Each panel has a groove and a tenon along the edges to connect them to each other.

Laminate structure

It itself looks like a layer cake, which consists of 4 tightly glued layers:

The bottom one is unrefined or tarred paper that does not allow moisture to pass through. Stabilizes and protects the base layer. May have additional sound insulation or stand-alone underlay.
The main layer is wood fiber pressed into a board. The thickest of all layers, and therefore considered the main one. The standard thickness is 4 - 6 mm, there are options with a base layer thickness of 8 mm. This layer gives the panel rigidity and a clear shape. A connecting groove and tenon are made in it.
Decorative - special paper on which a pattern with imitation wood or furniture foil is applied. The pattern can be anything: the structure of various types of wood, marble, sand, wooden parquet, etc.
The top layer is melamine or acrylic resin that protects against abrasion. It can be made of 2 - 3 layers, the more layers the higher the performance characteristics.

It is the strength of the top layer that determines the class of the product.

Laminate classification

Laminated panels are divided into classes depending on the load they can withstand. The panels go through 18 tests: light fastness, wear resistance, smolder resistance, impact resistance, etc.

After passing all tests, the laminate receives a class from 21 to 34. 21 - 23 - for home use, 24 - 34 - commercial. Today, commercial grade panels are often used in homes.
Below is a table describing the classes of laminated floor panels:

Today, laminate is gaining increasing popularity among consumers, which is not surprising. After all, it has good load resistance and a long service life.

The cost of the material is quite affordable and at a price lower than finishing made of natural wood (parquet).
Average prices vary from 240 to 500 rubles per square meter and depend on the class, country of production and the manufacturer itself.

When choosing flooring for your home, do not forget about such characteristics as:

Moisture resistance

If the laminate is moisture-resistant, then it should have a greenish tint (just like moisture-resistant drywall). This material is used for finishing rooms with high humidity - bathrooms, kitchens.

Its lining contains a substance that protects against the appearance of fungus, and the core of the panel is impregnated with substances that reduce water absorption. An example of a waterproof laminate is Kronoflooring and Egger made in Germany.

Water resistance

Waterproof laminate is produced by pressing under very high pressure. This coating can withstand even a large flood due to excellent sealing of seams (hot wax is used), the addition of wood dust to its composition and some other secrets that manufacturers do not share.
Manufacturers of waterproof panels can be counted on one hand: a German company - Witex and a manufacturer from Norway - Alloc.

Environmental friendliness

The production technology of laminated coatings is such that it is impossible to do without phenol-formaldehyde resins. Therefore, before purchasing a floor covering, read the hygienic certificate of the product and ask the seller about the chemical composition of the laminate. The phenol content should not be higher than 0.003 mg per cubic meter, and formaldehyde should not be more than 0.01 mg.

Guarantee

The guarantee applies to the top layer and is related to its class and the room in which it will be installed. If you want the laminate to serve faithfully for 15 - 20 years, use class 32 (15 - 20 year guarantee) for the kitchen and hallway, and for other rooms use 31. As a result, it turns out that the laminate flooring will last on average 15 years.

If you want to set it and forget it, then you need material with a lifetime guarantee, but this option will cost two to three times more. This coating is produced only by the Norwegian company Alloc.

Watch the video: HOW TO CHOOSE LAMINATE!? (secrets of choice)…