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Laminate flooring
The pavement of our home may be one of the most outstanding elements in home decoration and in turn, it is the one that must most resist friction, blows and falling objects or continuous footsteps.
There are many materials that we can use, but thanks to innovation there is one in particular that stands out both for new construction and for reform or rehabilitation, we talk about the laminate flooring. For many, the perfect coating!
The laminate flooring They have a wide range of colors, designs and properties that other types of flooring do not. So we have created the following guide so that we can understand its real usefulness.
What is a laminate floor?
Is a type of flooring made from several layers of materials derived from wood or synthetics that realistically imitate different types of finishes. The finishes imitate wood (which are the most typical), a polished concrete finish, an oxide finish, ceramic … etc.
The laminated floor They have a great hardness and are classified mainly according to use and resistance criteria according to the type of laminates, both to impact and wear (Later we will see the most important points that we must know).
In the following diagram we can see the structure of the laminated floor and its different layers that make it very resistant to wear, fading and stains. Schedule ofSheets that imitate wood with different finishes:
Now, we would like to analyze the disadvantages and advantages of a laminate floor to see if it really suits us for our house by leaving our opinions …
Advantages of laminate floors
- We have a wide range of models and colors on the market, as well as finishes.
- One of the greatest advantages is that to install them it is not necessary to remove the old flooring or screed.
- They are inexpensive in relation to, for example, a wooden park, and allow you to have a "wood effect" on the floor at a low cost.
- They are, on average, more resistant than normal parquet and are suitable in places with pedestrian activity (Shops and businesses), they resist impacts, scratches, water, stains and chemical agents. There are models as durable as traditional parquet floors.
- They do not change color in sunlight.
- They are compatible with underfloor heating. In the case of radiant floors, you should see the article on radiant floors where we explain all its peculiarities.
- They are easy to maintain and clean. In addition, it is not necessary to stab it as it happens with the typical parquet, nor to proceed to varnish it.
- They provide comfort and warmth to rooms.
Disadvantages
- The main weakness of this type of road surface is the joints. Here it is important that the floor is level and that a good installation be carried out to avoid the separation of the joints.
- As laminate designs change according to supply and demand, over time, it can be difficult to get replacement parts.
- In those floors that have a very thin layer on the finish, it does not allow sanding to be carried out - stabbing and varnishing, only very soft polishing. Especially in the cheap ones!
- The laminate coating produce electrostatic charge. The problem usually comes when low-quality materials are used that do not include antistatic treatment characteristics in the model.
Now it's time to see the types of laminate flooring, its uses according to the space where we place it and characteristics …
Types of laminate flooring
As we have commented previously, they are classified according to resistance criteria; both impact and wear, constituting a very practical purchase option due to its easy installation and maintenance.
The types of laminate flooring are defined in the UNE-EN 13329 standard. This standard establishes a classification of laminate flooring according to the intensity of use and levels of use:
- Class 21. Moderate domestic use
- Class 22. General domestic use
- Class 23. Intense domestic use
- Class 31. Moderate commercial use
- Class 32. General commercial use
- Class 33. Intense commercial use
To better understand its variations, we leave the following scheme that reflects the different types of laminated pallets according to standard:
According to the manufacturing process there are two main types that we can find in the market and that largely define the resistance to impact and use of the material:
- Direct Pressure Laminate Flooring (DPL)
- High pressure laminate flooring (HPL)
In the following diagram we will identify the main characteristics and their benefits according to the type of laminate flooring from factory:
In relation to the materials that are composed, we have an excellent guide of insulating materials that may be of interest.
Note: At level normative, cladding and not wood flooring are considered (technical subtlety that the consumer does not appreciate except for the distinction that one is made of wood and the other imitates it), since according to the European standard UNE-EN 13756 it does not have a noble layer of wood with a thickness equal to or greater than 2.5 mm.
How to choose laminate flooring?
What laminate flooring is best for home?… At the time of buy a laminate floor, we not only have to look at the previous classification, other aspects help us determine what is the best laminate floor for home. We started!
The color
The range of colors that you can find is practically the same as your imagination, you will have no problem choosing the right color to decorate your home.
Colors of light tones, such as pine, maple or beech, achieve luminosity and spaciousness.
Colors of light tones, such as pine, maple or beech, achieve luminosity and spaciousness. Dark colors provide a greater sense of seclusion and warmth. Look at your needs!
Remember also that colors with strong tones enliven the environment, but if we abuse a lot, we can get tired.
Coatings
There is a variety of representation in laminate floor coverings that provides different types of finishes on its surface, so you can choose the one that best matches your decoration and achieve the effect you prefer.
- According to its texture; they can be embossed or they can be smooth.
- According to its finish; they can be shiny, matte, etc.
The shine of the varnished woods allows to visually expand the dimensions of the room
- According to your design; actually here the possibilities are endless. The decorative panel allows a specific surface to be photographed and printed by the rotogravure procedure on paper and, therefore, it is likely to form part of the designs printed on laminate floors, although we always find traditional materials such as wood and its different material variants or finishes imitating stone materials such as marble, granite, etc.
Keep in mind that you must also buy some necessary accessories to achieve its correct installation and the perfect finish:
Thickness does matter!
It must be clear that depending on the use of the room or where we are going to place the laminate flooring, the plank must have a minimum thickness. In order not to get confused, it is better to follow the following scheme:
The thickness of a laminate floor It is normally accompanied by other characteristics of hardness and stability, taking into account that the higher the thickness its sale value increases.
Wear and its comparison
Resistance to wear or abrasion of a laminate floor It's very important. Determines the ability and tolerance to resist friction, footfalls or blows and falling objects.
The standard classifies these pavements into five categories, which measure the degree of resistance to abrasion. In the laminate flooring comparisons following we can test qualities:
Be careful with the choice for bathrooms and kitchens, they need greater resistance, by the way, you can see our article on how to decorate a dining room, if you want some good design ideas.
What laminate floor can you put according to the pavement you have?
When we choose this type of coatings For our home, other factors also determine whether we can use it or not, we have already seen the resistance, but not all these types of layered floors They can be placed on the pavement that we have at home or in a certain room.
Remember to check the attached diagram to verify its compatibility. For example; with a carpet, an old park, a PVC floor, chipboard, etc. This is important!… Since, if it is not suitable, we will not be able to buy it.
Tips for choosing laminate flooring
We want to contribute some tips for choosing laminate flooring since, they incorporate different features that are thought to cover the different needs and uses, as well as to facilitate their maintenance and installation:
How to install a laminate floor?
We are going to follow a series of step-by-step points with several diagrams and a video to proceed to install a laminate floor in a coherent way:
1.- Storage and environmental conditions
Although for many the environmental conditions and the way in which we store this type of soil cannot appear an important aspect, we must bear in mind that we are dealing with a material whose base is wood and, therefore, humidity and temperature does affect.
Given the complexity, we wanted to put together a small diagram that we must read, yes or yes!
2.- Installation planning
Due to the way in which we place the slats on the base surface, we can install it like the following image, but we must also keep in mind the sense of placement.
- From the aesthetic point of view, it should be considered that the orientation of the floor elements, the incident light and the angle of vision can significantly influence the perception of the dimensions and perspective of the space (See article on lighting and natural light).
- From a functional point of view, it is recommended to install it in the direction parallel to the longest wall of the room, here the board moves less in the longitudinal direction than in the width. This is especially important in long, narrow rooms, such as hallways and hallways.
For small spaces, use narrow tables that provide a more spacious visual sensation.
If you want to increase the feeling of space in the home, it is convenient that the slats are in the same direction that the light follows when entering through the window. In the case of corridors, in the direction of circulation.
Due to the hygroscopic properties of the board - slats used as the core in laminate floor coverings, they contract and expand in plane when they are subjected to temperature variations within the room in which they are installed.
For this reason, it is advisable to plan a series of joints to compensate for these possible dimensional variations by means of jousting planning on the platform:
3.- Installation
In this case, the best solution is to watch a video that we think is one of the best we can see:
As a complement, we leave a laminate flooring installation manual guide in PDF… HERE (Very good). And remember! Before starting the installation, ask as much as you can, solve all your doubts and recognize that if you are not a DIY handyman, that's what the professionals are for.
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