Selecting And Laying Laminate

Finishing the floor with laminate is no longer considered a sign of luxury, it is a reasonable decision to make your home cozier. Laminate flooring has ceased to be a novelty, but its popularity is not lost, but steadily increases due to its harmlessness, practicality, aesthetics and cost-effective (especially in comparison with the finishing of natural materials).

Structurally, a laminate can be compared to a layered pie, since this is a multi-layered coating, where each layer performs its specific functions:

1. The bottom protects the laminated board from mechanical damage and adds rigidity to the entire structure.
2. Bearer (middle, or main) performs all the main functions: sound insulation, resistance to changing temperature conditions, strength.
3. The decorative layer is responsible for the appearance. It is imprinted with a pattern imitating various natural or artificial materials.
4. The quality of the product depends to a large extent on the protective layer. It protects against loads and mechanical damage. In the latest developments, a drawing was also applied to the protective layer.

The floor of the laminate needs special care. It is important to keep it dry, and when it hits the surface of moisture, it should be removed by wiping the lamellas with a dry cloth. Otherwise, the product is deformed (if it is not a moisture resistant laminate).

How to choose a laminate: classification according to the purpose of the room

The class assigned after the tests indicates for the laminate, in which group of rooms it is recommended to rationally use the coating - commercial or household. When choosing a laminate for classification, you need to pay close attention.

1. Laminate is class 31. The floor covering of this class is used in commercial premises where there is no large flow of people (for example, in small offices and offices). In the household group there are no restrictions.
2. 32 class. Installation of laminate of this class is also used in both groups. It is calculated for the average load - in domestic conditions and in commercial ones with small traffic capacity of people.
3. 33 class. Can withstand heavy loads. It is used in rooms with intensive traffic (such as conference rooms and museums).
4. 23 class. Great loads can not stand. The service life is limited. Applicable only in the household group of premises.

Not so long ago on sale it was possible to meet a laminate of 21 and 22 classes, so-called household. But over time it was withdrawn from production due to the short term of the ex-payment.

To assess the quality of the selected products when choosing a laminate board of a particular class, you must pay attention to the guaranteed life. The manufacturer indicates how many will be covered in certain conditions.

Laminate installation: step-by-step instruction

Tools and materials for work

If the choice is made and the laminate has been purchased, then the necessary tools can be prepared:

1. Roulette - for measuring lamellas and areas of the room in which a floor covering is supposed to be replaced.
2. Pencil or chalk - will be needed to fix the dimensions and make the markings.
3. Electric jigsaw - it will be necessary if necessary to cut slats.
4. Spacer wedges - used to fix the gap along the wall.
5. Hammer and rubber bar - with their help, the laminate is padded for proper fit in the grooves.

After delivery of the laminate from the store, its adaptation is necessary in a room where the flooring will be laid. In a few days, while the laminated board will get used to the humidity of the room, it is possible to prepare the surface area.

How to prepare the surface before starting work

To repair already lived-in premises it is necessary:

1. Completely free the room from furniture and household utensils.
2. Get rid of the old flooring.
3. Check the condition of the floor for horizontal flatness and perform work that eliminates all the flaws in the surface (align it). On the concrete floor make a screed, if the coating is wooden - lay plywood.
4. With a flat surface, there are always flaws in the form of depressions, holes or cracks. They also need to get rid of. Concrete coatings are treated with mortar, the wood is straightened by driving the wedges or replacing worn-out planks.

Before laying the laminate floor surface is covered with a special substrate.

In a new house when starting work from scratch:

1. Fill the screed. It is desirable that this is done by professionals, since the process requires special skills and knowledge.
2. The surface is carefully leveled and dried until the areas to be hardened are completely solidified.
3. Cover with a polyethylene film - it will serve as a waterproofing.

The substrate is laid on the finished rough floor.

Methods of laying the laminate

The laminate can be installed in one of two technologies: floating and glued.

1). Lock (glueless) installation.

First choose the direction of laying - along the sun rays falling from the window. The lamellas are cut according to the size of the room. Stacking is carried out from the far left corner. If after cutting has not remained a single piece of lamella, then it can be started from it so that the "illiquid" piece does not spoil the appearance of the entire coating.
Spacer wedges fix the clearance from the wall - it should be one centimeter.
For high-quality laying, the laminated board is pummeled with a rubber hammer or bar (avoiding impacts on the lock joint). The panel is inserted into the notch at an angle of twenty degrees. Competent jointing of seams, without cracks - the main condition for a quality coating. Moving on the floor when laying a laminate lock mode is allowed immediately after the completion of work.

2). Adhesive installation.

This method of laying is considered to be more qualitative, since the service life of the flooring mounted on such a technology is much longer. Special water-repellent glue is applied to the ends of the panels. With instructions on the amount of glue applied, it is always possible to familiarize yourself with the laminate packaging. Moving after the end of installation is allowed only after the glue has dried completely (this takes at least 24 hours).

Laying laminate in the premises of different purposes has its advantages and disadvantages, therefore the decision is always individual and is taken only by the production manager or the homeowner. Advice on care and assembly is obtained at the place of purchase of the laminate.