How to connect laminate flooring between rooms. Learning to join a laminate between rooms with and without a sill How to join a laminate of different thickness

Laminate has appeared relatively recently, but has confidently taken its place on the shelves of hardware stores and has already received recognition from the inhabitants. In addition, compared to parquet, this material has a low price, which is an important factor for many consumers. In this article, we will help you figure out how to lay a laminate, that is, show all the stages of this process.

Stages of installation work

Any construction or renovation process starts with preparation. And here laminate flooring was no exception. It is necessary to inspect the subfloor for flatness and defects. By the way, according to all building canons, laminate flooring can be laid only on that surface, the flatness difference of which will not exceed two millimeters per square meter of area.

How can a 2mm drop be determined? For this, a level or meter ruler is taken to help. It is installed on the surface, but it must be placed in different places and in different directions. The air bubble of the level will show exactly where the hollows are in the room and where the bumps are.

If the floor is concrete, then a screed based on cement and sand will help to level it, and to repair defects. Wood floors are best covered with plywood or chipboard.

Why is this done? Under the influence of the person's gravity, whether you like it or not, the laminate begins to sag. If the base of the floor is uneven, then the deflection in some places will be maximum, which will create conditions for improper use of the locks, leading to their abrasion and failure. This means that the laminate will not last long.

The next step is laying the substrate and vapor barrier material. In the event that the laminate is laid on a concrete floor or on a floor where ceramic floor tiles are laid, then you will have to first lay a vapor barrier on it from a simple polyethylene film.

This is a necessary condition, because according to all the laws of physics, humid air vapor from the lower floors will penetrate the floor. Of course, moisture does not penetrate immediately, it permeates the concrete floor, and then the floor gives it to the room. And plastic wrap is an excellent protection against wet vapors.

Then the substrate is laid. It is best to use a polyethylene foam backing. The building materials market offers a fairly large range of this material. For instance,

isolon;
penofol;
polyphom

other.

There is a choice, so you just have to decide on the thickness of the substrate. You should not buy thick materials for apartments. Within 2-4 millimeters will be sufficient. You can use a cork backing, but it costs much more, although it is made from natural material, which means it is an environmentally friendly product. And in general, with regard to the substrate, one conclusion can be made - its service life, as practice shows, is much higher than the service life of the laminate, so it is best to choose at an economical price.

Before you start laying the laminate, it must be kept in a room with room temperature for at least two days so that it adapts to both the internal temperature of the room and its humidity.

Now about the installation process itself. It should be noted that there are two types: glue and lock. The first type is much better, because in its process the joints between the panels are closed. And this is an excellent protection against moisture penetration. Which has a detrimental effect on the laminate. But note that this method is much more complicated, and the extra costs for glue are not small. But quality comes at a cost, mind you.

Adhesive is usually applied to a laminate kit. This is a special water-repellent glue. If you decide to use this particular installation method, then you should not use another type of glue for this, for example, PVA, because it is water-based.

Before laying the panel, the adhesive is applied to the entire length of the groove side. Then the second panel is inserted into the first, it will be good if you knock the second panel with a bar and a hammer. Excess glue is immediately removed with a damp, clean cloth.

After three rows of laminated panels have been assembled, it is necessary to allow two to three hours for the glue to dry. Then they continue in the same order. Such a floor can be operated only ten hours after the completion of all installation work.

If you plan to install a laminate in a room where the "warm floor" heating system has already been installed, then it is prohibited to use the adhesive method for laying the laminate.

Currently, the adhesive method is less and less used for laying laminate. Locks come in its place. The variety of castles is quite large today. This method is not only easy to install, it is also characterized by the fact that such panels can be easily dismantled and moved to another room, where they can be laid again.

Types of lock connections

There are two main types of locks:

Lock;
Click.

The first lock is simple enough. In panels with such a lock, installation is carried out by hammering the panels into each other with a hammer. Here the main role is played by the configuration of the tongue-type tongue, which fits tightly into the connection in the groove.

Today, this type of lock connection gives way to the second option, not only in terms of ease of installation, but also in terms of the quality of the connection. Such locks are considered by specialists to be of better quality and more durable.

The installation process takes place according to the following technology. It is very important here to correctly bring the panels to each other. The connection angle should be within 30-45 degrees.

Then the panel is pressed against the floor base, thus the lock clicks into place. By the way, you will hear this peculiar sound. In all the instructions that are attached to the laminate from the manufacturers, there is not a single word that in this case you will have to use a hammer. But experts with extensive experience with laminate flooring advise using this tool. Tamping the panels is a must.

The locking method of laying the laminate does not require additional time before its operation. That is, they laid the laminate on the floor, closed the entire necessary area, and you can immediately walk on it and install furniture. Therefore, the advice is to buy a laminate with a Click lock connection, install it yourself, it is not difficult, besides, you will save not only on labor, but also on additional materials.

When connecting two materials that are different in texture and texture, it is necessary to somehow arrange the place of their connection. In this article, we will discuss how to beautifully join laminate and tile. The methods are different, as are the results.

Where can there be a joint and how best to arrange it

Different floor coverings are used in a modern house or apartment. In the places of their connection, differences in height are often formed - due to the different thickness of the coating. It is possible to arrange such a transition beautifully and reliably only by knowing what and how to do it. Most often you have to dock tiles and laminate. These are the two most popular types of flooring for a variety of indoor applications. The junction of tiles and laminates in place of position occurs in two places:

As you already understood, there are two ways to make a laminate-tile joint - with and without a sill. The first requires a high quality tile trim, the same gap between the two materials throughout the seam. Only in this case a decent result is obtained. The second is simpler in execution, does not require special precision when trimming the material and special skills when performing. But it looks a little "rude".

Docking methods without a nut

When joining tiles and laminate without a sill, the problem of height difference must first be solved: due to the layer of glue, the tile can be higher. Only after that you can start working. Also, the joint will look good if it is carefully processed, the gap will be even.

If two different materials are joined - ceramics and laminate - they cannot be placed close to each other without a gap. When temperature or humidity changes, they can increase in size (the laminate suffers more from this). The presence of a gap prevents the problem - it allows it to change in size without compromising the integrity of the coating. When joining the laminate and tiles without a sill, this gap is filled with a suitable elastic material.

Whatever material is used for sealing, the edge of the laminate adjacent to it must be treated with a protective compound that prevents moisture absorption. Most often, a sealant is used for this. Better - silicone, which, after drying, does not lose its elasticity and does not turn yellow over time.

Cork expansion joint

A cork expansion joint can be placed between the tiles and the laminate. This is a thin strip of cork, which is painted on one side and covered with a layer of protective varnish or finished with a layer of veneer. The second option is a larger wood surface, you can choose a color that is very similar to your flooring. But they use it more often to join parquet - it costs a lot.

Dimensions

In addition to the fact that the "face" of the cork expansion joint is finished with different materials, it can be of different shapes: with different types of chamfer or without. In addition, the sizes may vary:

A standard length cork expansion joint is only good if the joint is under the door. Then its length is sufficient. In other situations, you either have to merge or order.

Mounting

Install a cork expansion joint at the junction of the tile and the laminate when laying the flooring. When one type has already been laid, and the second will only fit. First of all, if it is necessary to cut the height of the cork, it is not always possible to find the ideal option. Therefore, carefully, with a sharp knife, cut off the excess.

More preparatory work - finishing the laid edge. We remind you once again that it must be smooth and well finished. Most often, the edge is sanded with sandpaper, leveling the cutting marks.

A cork expansion joint is mounted on glue, preferably for wood. The installation site is well cleaned and degreased beforehand. Further, the process is as follows:

If done correctly, you get a neat, unobtrusive seam. What is good, you can design both straight and curved joints.

Grout for joints

If the materials have already been installed, the laminate / tile joint can either be filled with a sill or filled with tile grout. We will talk about sills later, but now we will discuss how to use grout.

The edges of the laminate must be coated with silicone. It can also fill the joint by about 2/3. When the silicone is dry, fill the remaining space with diluted joint grout, level it and wait until it dries.

A simple and effective way. But only if the edges are processed with high quality. For greater color stability and easier maintenance, it is better to cover the seam with a colorless varnish.

Cork sealant

The joint between the laminate and the tile can also be sealed with cork sealant. It is itself a sealant, so this is the only option where the cut of the laminate does not need to be protected from moisture. Another plus - the dried composition has the color of cork - light brown. If it suits you, you don't have to worry about painting it.

Cork sealant is a mixture of cork bark chips and a water-based binder. Without dyes, after drying, it has a cork color - light brown. There are palettes painted in basic colors. Produced in polyethylene tubes, can be applied using a closed-type pistol (with a container) or a spatula. Can be used for filling joints in floor coverings.

When using this compound, you will most likely have to use a spatula. Therefore, on both sides of the seam we glue masking tape. We clean the seam itself, remove the dust. You can work at temperatures above + 5 ° C.

It is simple to seal the joint between tiles and laminates with cork sealant:

After drying, we have a tile and laminate joint ready to use. The only drawback is that the base color is not suitable for everyone. And one more thing - it is necessary to carefully and evenly distribute it immediately after application. Then you will not be able to align or fix it.

Using sills

Making a joint between laminate and tile using sills makes sense in three cases. The first is when the joint is under the door. In this case, the presence of a nut is logical and “does not hurt the eye”. The second option is when there is a difference in the heights of the two materials being joined. There is simply no other way out.

And the third case. When tiles are laid out in the hallway, and then there is a laminate. Even if their level is the same, it is better to put a nut here. It rises slightly above the finish and will retain sand and debris that is inevitably brought in by shoes. This is the option when you can close your eyes for some aesthetic imperfection.

Types of sills for joining materials

There are the following sills that can be used to close the joint between laminate and tile:

It just seems that the options are few. There are all of these sills in different sizes and colors, with different locking systems. There are a lot of them in large stores.

Installation of flexible PVC profile

As already mentioned, the flexible PVC joining profile consists of a base and a decorative strip, which is held on it due to the elastic force. It must be mounted after the tiles have been laid, but before installing the laminate.

First, the base is mounted along the cut of the laid tile. It is attached to dowels or screws. Choose fasteners with flat caps - so that in a twisted state it almost does not protrude and does not interfere with installing the cover.

The installation process is as follows:

With the help of a flexible PVC profile, the joint between laminate and tile is easy to close. Outwardly, of course, not everyone likes it, but the installation is simple.

Video on the installation of sills at the junction of laminate and tile / porcelain stoneware

It is believed that laying a laminate floor is quite simple. We will not dispute it, but in the process of work, depending on the specific circumstances, certain difficulties may arise. The most common problem arises when it is necessary to connect one coating to another. A similar situation occurs even when the entire apartment is covered with the same laminate. All the same, you have to face the question of how to join the laminate between rooms, use a sill or do without it. It all depends not only on the design solution, but also on the technical readiness and expertise of the installation specialist.

The joint between laminate and laminate is made under the following circumstances:

By combining laminate flooring, you can make all kinds of design solutions. For example, it is possible to visually increase the size of the room. To do this, docking of the same coating in the room without installing thresholds.

By combining different materials, it is possible to create a unique interior. It is possible to dock laminated panels of different shades or textures in the space of one room. The joining of the boards is done in accordance with the overall design.

Note: at present, the combination of two floor materials in the design of a room is becoming an increasingly used artistic technique, as a result of which the interior design of a room acquires a special charm and originality.

Preparation for bonding laminate flooring

Let us remind you that for laying laminated panels, the base must be well prepared, leveled and cleaned of all dirt. This condition is also required for joining two floor materials.

For joining a laminate with a laminate, it is necessary to foresee that the panels can have different thicknesses, it is 6 - 12 mm. The best way is to get laminated boards that are the same thickness to avoid the smallest difference in surface heights. It is very good if materials from the same manufacturer are to be joined so that they have the same type of lock joints, the same strength class, and therefore the service life.

How to join a laminate with a laminate, with or without a sill, and which profile should be used to join the laminate?

There are several options for joining laminate to laminate. Let's consider the most common and less complex ones.

Most often, the connection of laminated surfaces occurs when moving from one room to another, that is, in a doorway. It is imperative to leave a technological gap here. In its absence, the formation of deformation, swelling of the floor surface is likely. The left gap must be filled in somehow. How to close the joints of the laminate?

Laminate joint in the doorway

To our delight, all these questions have long been thought out, the answers to them have long existed, our task is to take ready-made solutions and apply them correctly. Coating manufacturers also produce a variety of components. This includes: underlays, skirting boards, laminate connecting strips. The connection strips are also called a threshold, molding, connection profile. They vary in shape and are made from different materials.

Profile form

According to the shapes, the connecting strips for the laminate can be divided in this way:

The considered products bear a decorative load, but not only. When installing a laminate floor, a technological gap is required, which the connecting profiles make hidden, protect from damage and at the same time allow to have an aesthetic appearance.

Threshold materials

The connecting profiles are made from various materials.

Laminated - made of compressed wood fibers, laminated film with decoration is applied on top. A wide variety of colors and textures, so it is not difficult to match the decor of the laminate flooring. The connection looks aesthetically pleasing and, if properly selected, is almost invisible. It is often installed on the joint of a doorway.
Metal - aluminum, brass, steel; the top is covered with a decorative film. It is characterized by high strength, thanks to which it is installed in places with high traffic, for example: doorways.
PVC profile is a flexible joint profile for laminate flooring, perfect for wavy connections. Available in a wide variety of colors, i.e. well matched to the color of the mating surface. It is relatively inexpensive.
Rubber - more often an angular profile for decorating stair steps. They are non-slip and increase the safety of walking up the steps.

There are several ways to design a joint line:

using thresholds, profiles;
the use of a cork expansion joint;
the use of building sealants.

For all its advantages:

ease of installation;
beautiful view of the joint;
no threshold - not used too often.

The point is their serious shortcomings:

after using them, it is impossible to dismantle the panels in contact with the joint compound without damage;
when filling the joint with sealant or foam, the laminate loses its expansion capacity, this can damage the coating.

Installation of connecting profiles

Aluminum moldings can be mounted by surface mounting using dowels and self-tapping screws. On the aluminum strip there are already ready-made holes for self-tapping screws, accessories are sold together with a metal nut.

Aluminum threshold, open mount

The decorative way of fastening - looks more attractive, the fastening is not visible, it is hidden under the decorative attachment.

The fastening profile is connected to the base with self-tapping screws. A decorative nozzle is placed on top, pressed until it clicks. It covers the fastening marks and the joint looks pretty.

How to fix the universal profile:

Docking laminate and linoleum

This combination of materials is quite common. Both coatings are of high quality, but it is necessary to correctly and aesthetically arrange their joint. The strength of the floor covering and the interior of the room depends on this.

Consider a connection case: the thickness of linoleum is much less than the thickness of laminated panels with a backing. There are two ways to connect in this case:

joint in one level;
joint at different levels of surfaces.

CONCLUSION

Now you know how to connect a laminate with linoleum at the junction, how to connect the joints of a laminate with a laminate between rooms, it remains to make all this come true. Big problems when joining coatings will not arise if everything is done according to the instructions. If the connection line is complex or too long, it is better to entrust the connection of the surfaces to specialists.

The level of repair and the general interior of the renovated premises largely depend on such small but important points as the design of the joints of the coatings.

Linoleum, parquet, carpets - all this is in the distant past.

Even the high price pays for itself already in the first days of operation, since the surface has incredibly resistant properties against external factors.

"How to join a laminate between rooms?" - the main question that arises during installation. If the usual layout is uncomplicated, then the joints require a little knowledge and effort.

So that during the installation of the laminate there are no problems with transitions between rooms, thresholds and an uneven floor, it is worth getting connecting strips.

Laminate manufacturers have already found a solution that does not need any additions.

When installing the floor covering, it is not at all necessary to use planks. They serve to hide seams, as well as work with hard-to-reach places, sheets at different levels.

Nevertheless, professionals recommend using at least one of the types in the calculation process. This is due to the fact that in the process it is worth making gaps every seven meters, and you can hide them with the help of a straight or final plank, while the aesthetics will not be disturbed.

This element is also used in the following cases:

Is the solution to the question: "How to join a laminate between rooms without thresholds?"
When using multiple types of laminate where the docking locks do not match.
When finishing steps and other heights.
When the floor is uneven and the laminate sheets are at different levels.

You can avoid working with planks, but this will harm the appearance of the floor covering and over time, cracks will form, leading to its destruction.

How to choose planks

Today, there are several types of these products on sale, which are divided depending on the shape and material.

To choose a really suitable bar, we will consider each of the types separately. Depending on the form, they are:

Straight - are used for joining elements on a straight surface without obstacles of two parts of the laminate or for joining with another floor covering (tiles, parquet).
Transitional - they are used in cases where the parts to be connected are at different levels.
Corner - used when joining laminate in corners and other hard-to-reach places.
The final ones - with their help they hide the seams, other nuances of the calculation.

Depending on the material of manufacture, the strips are:

Laminated - the most suitable for the composition of the model, which are selected depending on the color chosen. It is used most often in doorways and when joining two parts.
Metal - they look cheap visually, but they are durable, since they are made of aluminum or steel. With their help, they mask or connect the seams in the most vulnerable places.
Plastic - due to its flexible properties, they are used in places with a curved surface.
Rubber - according to the type of application, they are completely similar to plastic ones. Bend easily, durable and have good friction effect.

Based on the shape features, choose the required types of strips, but keep in mind that during the installation process, you will certainly need the final and corner ones.

Installation of connecting strips

If there should be no problems with the choice and purchase, then there are several nuances with the installation.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

Fasten the rail that comes with the slats between the joints. It is advisable to do this with self-tapping screws, but gluing is also permissible.
Slide both sides of the laminate towards each other the way you would like to end up.
Secure the grooves together with a strong hammer blow.

Many people have a question: "How to join the laminate between rooms with a drop?" The answer is much simpler than one might imagine. For this, there are transition bars that are created specifically for such situations, and the installation technology is completely similar.

If there are slats of suitable type, installation will not take much time and will not cause additional questions at all.

Undoubtedly, you can install the joints yourself and it is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. Based on the above recommendations, even joining laminate pieces at different levels will not be an obstacle to creating a perfectly flat and high-quality floor covering.

How to put laminate flooring between rooms without joints - in the video:

Laying laminate flooring is an important stage in the renovation of an apartment, because the floor covering is often the first to catch the eye and contact us. When working with laminate, many difficult tasks arise, including organizing the connection of lamellas between rooms. This task is not difficult to cope with, and in this article we will talk in detail about how to dock the laminate.

The main solution to the problem

As mentioned above, the joint between the laminate and the laminate is quite simple to make, and this question arises only for beginners. Professionals in the field of flooring are faced with similar cases when renovating any apartment, so they came up with a solution long ago - connecting strips.

By using a laminate connector, you can create a strong joint between slabs from the joined lamellas. This joint will have not only aesthetic value, but also prevent deformation and movement of the planks under the influence of heat and moisture.

Should I use connecting strips?

Before starting to talk in detail about the types and installation of connecting strips, it is worth mentioning that they are used only if you are going to connect new lamellas with already laid material. The connectors are not used for joining the planks when assembling the floor covering.

Specific cases where a laminate splice may be needed:

When laying laminate flooring in large rooms, you will have to create damping gaps, which will help you with the connecting strip;
Joints between rooms in an apartment are also often made using connectors;
If you are laying different types of slats in the same room, which are attached to each other with different locks, then you cannot do without a connecting strip. This happens, for example, if you want to create different zones in the same room;
Floor level drops or steps are finished with these strips.

How to choose planks

The docking profile for the laminate differs in the field of application, and, accordingly, in the shape, as well as in the material from which it is made.

First of all, you must decide on its shape:

Straight profiles are used to join the laminate evenly with another part of the laminate, or for joining with another floor covering, such as tiles. Most often, a laminate and tile joint is made without a sill, but other options are also possible;
Transition profiles are used when it is necessary to connect floor coverings at different levels;
Corner profiles are used for finishing joints, perpendicularly connected surfaces, for example, when finishing a podium or stairs;
The finishing profile is used for decorative finishing of the open edges of the laminate.

For any installation of laminate, you will have to use at least one type of connecting profiles, because the instructions say that every 7 meters you must make a gap that compensates for the expansion of the laminate, and the thresholds for the laminate will be able to decorate this opening between the lamellas. If you do not make these gaps, then the laminate may bump in some places, which will ruin the connecting locks, and you will have to purchase new material.

As mentioned above, the connecting strip for the laminate also differs in the material from which it is made:

Laminated planks are made like the lamellas themselves from wood-compressed fiber, covered with a special film on top. Such joints are usually used in doorways, and the color and pattern of the planks is matched to the main floor covering to make the joint as invisible as possible.
Metal strips are taken solely because of their strength. The appearance of the floor with the use of such planks is significantly deteriorated, but such planks made of brass, aluminum or stainless steel do an excellent job with high loads, for example, at the connection of lamellas at the podium.
Plastic connecting strips are distinguished by their flexibility, therefore they are used on curved joints, for example, on rounded stairs. Significant advantages of these strips are also the price and a huge choice of colors, but plastic quickly wear out under load, which is a big disadvantage.
The rubber profiles are also flexible and have a high level of friction, which will protect you from falling, for example, on stairs.

Installation of connecting strips

Having chosen the desired strip, it remains to figure out how to connect the laminate with its help. First of all, you should pay attention to the mounting rail that comes with the connecting strip. This rail is needed in order to attach the connecting strip without visible fasteners, for example, self-tapping screws. In a similar way, the transition from tile to laminate is done when needed.

Installation process of the connecting strip:

First fasten the batten to the floor. This can be done using glue or screws, and the second option is more reliable, therefore it is always recommended by professionals.
After you have placed the fixing strip on the laminate, install the second piece of flooring.
Fasten the connecting strip in the grooves of the rail by hitting it with a hammer through a wooden block.

It is worth making a correction here, because this method is not entirely suitable for metal profiles. They are fixed in the open with self-tapping screws, and the holes for them are prepared immediately at the factory.

Using this method, you can bond your laminate to a variety of floor coverings such as tiles, linoleum, etc.

Conclusion

Do not forget that making laminate joints between rooms is at a high level, because this will have a positive effect on the beauty of the entire room, as you can see by looking at the photo.