For those who have purchased an apartment in a new building or decided on another repair, the question inevitably arises of laying or replacing the floor covering. The modern construction market offers a wide range of materials for consumers, but the most popular of them is laminate.
What is laminate flooring?
Laminate is a floor covering consisting of elements made in rectangular as well as in square form. It was invented in the 70s of the last century in Sweden and was first used in the manufacture of kitchen furniture. The main raw materials used are fiberboard, chipboard, very rarely MDF.
The edges of the laminate panels have profiles by which they are interconnected. The connection takes place according to the type of puzzles followed by gluing or special locking systems.
Attention! For preventive purposes, it is recommended to use not a glue, but a castle laminate, as the most environmentally friendly option, for covering the floor in the children's room.
The laminate structure is multilayer. The strength of the board under pressure and loads is given by the core part - a fiberboard or fiberboard.
From below it is covered with various substances at the choice of the manufacturer: melamine, paper impregnated with paraffin or resin. Their function is to increase the rigidity, resistance of the material to humidity and changes in temperature conditions.
A decorative layer is applied to the “core” of the laminate panel. It provides the appearance of the coating, consists of paper with a pattern, containing melamine.
The top laminated layer is a transparent strong acrylic or melamine film. It protects the panel from mechanical, ultraviolet, chemical influences and protects the painted part of the board from abrasion.
The total thickness of the panel is from 6 to 12 mm. Each layer can be additionally laid with paper impregnated with synthetic resins, which increases the wear resistance of the material.
Important! The thicker the laminate, the better it “absorbs” sounds and is easier to assemble.
Modern production technologies allow you to create a laminate board with imitation of natural wood, brick, masonry, parquet, tile, mosaic tiles.
The most important advantage of the laminate is the ideal ratio of cost and quality. The material has a reasonable price, while it has such characteristics as: strength, wear resistance. According to the degree of wear resistance, the laminate is divided into 10 classes. It is a worthy substitute for wood and parquet.
The board is easy to install. Styling is available for anyone who does not even have repair experience. If an error occurs during installation, the coating can be disassembled and re-laid. This saves you a family or production budget.
Important! When laying the laminate, it is necessary to first level the floor surface.
The picturesque variety of the coating allows everyone to choose it according to their taste and in accordance with the design of the room.
The material is fire resistant, suitable for installing underfloor heating, harmless to health. It does not require laborious care, just wipe the floors with a damp cloth.
The main rule of care for the laminate floor is to prevent it from getting wet. Water, falling through the joints of the boards, deforms the coating, it loses its appearance, begins to collapse. If such situations arise, you should promptly wipe the floor dry.
Subject to the rules of operation and installation, the coating can last about 10 years for the landlord.
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