Laminate: installation, mounting technology, nuances

Today, one of the most popular materials for flooring is laminate. Its installation is quite simple, the coating itself is versatile, aesthetic, characterized by an extensive color spectrum, a variety of textures and, of course, accessibility. That is why in this article we will pay special attention to laminated panels, consider their features, the finer points of choice, the scope and technology of laying.

Structure and scope of application

Laminated panels are a modern decorative four-layer coating, in which the base plates are chipboard or MDF.

The lower layer of the material is treated with water-repellent compounds, so that the product does not absorb the condensate accumulated at the base. As the third layer is a solid MDF board, which performs a load-bearing function and imparts strength to the material.

Above the plate there is a decorative coating of paper, which gives the product the desired color and relief pattern. It is coated with an ultra-strong polymer film, which prevents material damage and acts as a face layer.

Focusing on the composition of panels, you can understand what materials they best combine and where else you can use a laminate. Installation of laminated products today is carried out on almost all surfaces in the interior. In modern design projects, you can see the laminate not only on the floor, but also on walls, and even on ceilings.

But can laminate in all rooms? Let's consider this issue in more detail.

Requirements for premises

Before choosing this material as the main floor covering, you should make sure that the microclimate inside the repaired room is suitable for this type of finish. After all, it depends on the operating conditions that depends on how much the laminate will last. Installation of panels is carried out in heated rooms, where there are no sharp changes in temperature and humidity level jumps.

Optimum temperature for the operation of laminated floors is considered to be within 15-30 degrees, while the humidity level in the room should not exceed 70%.

As a basis for laying panels can act flat concrete floor or wooden flooring (with differences in height of not more than 2 mm per 1 m²). If there are large differences and irregularities on the surface, it must be leveled with special leveling compounds or by pouring a new concrete screed. Installation on an uneven base will inevitably lead to a rapid failure of the coating.

Laying the laminate over the underfloor heating system: for or against?

Today, many are interested in the question "Is it possible to install a warm floor under the laminate?". After all, some experts say that this coating is completely unsuitable for operation when heated, others argue that laminated panels - the most successful option for the arrangement of warm floors. So who do you believe?

The thing is that 10 years ago this cover really could not be exploited in this way. Panels crumbled, deformed, covered with a huge number of cracks and completely broke down.

Modern laminated coatings perfectly tolerate heating, so they can easily be laid on top of heating systems. But there is one nuance: not every kind of laminate is compatible with similar heating systems.

Manufacturers produce specially designed for these purposes products and mark it in a special way. In order to avoid unpleasant situations, before buying a laminate, pay attention to its packaging. It should be marked "Allows the use of floor heating" or "It is possible to use heating for the floor". Next to these marks, the maximum permissible temperature of the heating of the coating and the type of heating system for which it is intended (water or electric) are usually indicated.

Laminate as a decorative element of the interior: what to choose

Recently, it has become increasingly common practice to install a laminate on the wall. In the living rooms with its help equip panels for TV, in the bedrooms make up the walls at the head of the bed, and in the corridors set it as high skirting and decor for the ceiling.

When choosing a laminate for walls, you should not purchase expensive options, as usually the price is overstated for the resistance of the coating to abrasion, which is more necessary for the floor. Since the walls are not subjected to any stress, for their decoration you can buy samples of the lowest class.

Cost of laying laminate

When undertaking repairs, each owner of the premises wants to know the approximate amount that he will have to spend in the process of performing the work. Therefore we will touch upon the cost of the laminate and the works on its laying.

Price list of low-class products starts from 300 rubles per m². More wear-resistant options cost from 400 to 700 rubles for the same volume. Do not forget that there are laminated panels of premium class, whose price list is not limited.

Installation of laminate will be paid separately. The price of the services of specialized teams also depends on the material class and the complexity of the work. The minimum payment for laying the laminate is 250 rubles per square meter. Installation of elite products is carried out at 400-700 rubles per m². For the facing of surfaces of complex geometry, an additional fee is charged.

If your budget is severely limited, you can lay the laminate yourself. Let's see what is the technology of its installation.

Installing the laminate yourself: the necessary materials and tools

Before embarking on the work with your own hand, read the basic rules and nuances of this kind of activity. Prepare all the necessary tools and materials that will be required during the finishing of the floor.

So, for laying a laminate you will need:

• laminate;

• primer;

• waterproofing material;

• wedges (for fitting gaps);

• fasteners for plinth;

• plinth;

• substrate for laminate;

• Screwdriver;

• measuring tool;

• knife;

• electric jigsaw;

• Rubber hammer;

• a pencil.

Laminate should be taken with a margin, since even experienced masters are not immune from errors. Take into account the fact that the products of different parties may differ in shade and even in size.

Preparing for laying

After the purchase, the panel should be released from the packaging and left for two days in the room in which they will be deposited. This is necessary for the material to "adapt" to the microclimate of the room and not to deform after laying.

The most important step in laying the laminate is the preparation of the substrate. To him are high enough requirements, so the floor must be prepared in advance:

1. The base is carefully inspected, all irregularities and other defects are revealed.

2. If a large number of significant differences in height, chips and peeling are found, the old coating is removed.

3. Using the building level, the smoothness of the surface is checked. All the pits found are sealed with cement mortar or filled with self-draining formulations. If an unevenness of more than 5 mm is detected on the surface, it is poured with a layer of concrete screed.

The smooth base is cleaned of debris, dust and various contaminants, after which it is treated with a primer. If the laminate is to be mounted over a wooden floor, the surface is pre-treated with an antiseptic.

Stacking related materials

The waterproofing material is laid on the cleaned and dry floor. The film is positioned in such a way that the adjacent strips overlap each other by 20 cm. The docking points are glued with adhesive tape.

The next step is the substrate under the laminate. Laying of panels usually starts from the window, so the substrate is laid from the same angle. It is not necessary at once to cover the whole base, because in the process of work you will have to walk on it, it will become uneven and dirty. You can lay the material as the flooring is laid. To form a strip of cushioning, the substrate should go to the walls of the room for 2-3 cm. Joints are fixed with an adhesive tape.

Laminate mounting technology

Now you can lay a laminate. Installation of laminated flooring is carried out in the following order:

1. The first panel is placed in the far corner of the room from the source of the natural light (window). At the first board, you should carefully cut the lock, located on the side of the wall.

Pegs are inserted between the product and the wall. So lay out a whole row until it stops in the wall. The panels are fastened with special grooves located at the end of each element.

If it is necessary to cut out a small piece of laminate, turn the panel over to the other side, mark the desired length and, using a jigsaw, gently trim.

2. The second row should start with a piece of laminate, which remained from trimming the last element in the first row (it should be no shorter than 30 cm). All panels of the second row are joined only by the end slots (until the entire row is laid). Then all the products of the second row lift slightly, enter the grooves of the first and snap into place.

To make sure that all locks have worked, a wooden block is attached to the ends of the second row and the laminate is lightly taped with a hammer.

3. This is how the flooring of the entire floor is mounted. In places where the floor and wall meet, gaps of at least 1 cm width are left.

4. A day after laying the laminated flooring, the skirting boards are installed on the laminate. First of all, the skirting boards are mounted along those walls to which the end faces of the covering elements are adjacent. Immediately before the installation of the sills and skirting boards, the pegs installed for the gap are removed.

Installation of doors on a laminate

Usually, after installing the decorative coating, the installation of interior doors is carried out. Laminate in the process of these works is very easy to scratch, so it is recommended to cover it with a thick cardboard.

Many will decide that it is better to first put the door, and then lay the cover, but this can cause certain difficulties, because it is impossible to guess at what height the floor level will rise after laying the substrate and decorative material. There may be problems with opening the door. In addition, the box and trim are also adjusted according to the level of the floors, and it will be very difficult to cut them after installation. That's why experts recommend first lay the laminate, and only then deal with the doors.