Which class of laminate is best for an apartment: recommendations from experts

Laminate classes

It is known that all products are divided into 2 types: commercial options

and household. We advise you to pay attention to commercial ones. In principle, their cost is low, but their service life exceeds household copies several times:

• Class 31 :
  floors can be used in commercial premises with a characteristic light load. On average, the service life is from 2 to 3 years. In everyday life - from 10 to 12;
• Class 32 :
  installed in commercial premises with a typical average load level.
  Service life in the office is up to 5 years, at home - up to 15 years. Wear resistance class 32
  is the best option. This is what most buyers choose, both for their apartments and for shops, offices, cafes, etc.;
• Class 33 is suitable for commercial establishments with intensive load. Service life in an enterprise is up to 7 years, in everyday life – up to 20 years. Many take into account such a long service life in everyday life. The undoubted advantage is that such floors do not lose their appearance over a long period;
• Class 34 :
  lamellas with the highest technical indicators and characteristics. They are designed for commercial premises with maximum load. Although, today such flooring can also be found in the homes of many families;
• Class 43 is not a widely used laminated coating option. It is classified as a premium laminate, which is produced to order.

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If you are interested in high-quality products, we advise you to pay attention to laminate from German manufacturers. This is where quality always comes first!

Vinyl laminate

Vinyl laminate or PVC tiles are a modern development of flooring manufacturers.

The characteristic differences between vinyl plates lie in their base, which consists of vinyl.

This material gives vinyl flooring the appropriate characteristics, which have advantages over conventional laminate: flexibility, 100% moisture resistance and ease of installation, which can be handled by almost any adult alone.

Due to their high moisture resistance, vinyl panels can be installed in rooms with high humidity: bathroom, kitchen, etc.

Accidentally spilling water on a vinyl floor will not harm it in any way.

But at the same time, it is recommended to remove water that gets on the floor, if possible, as quickly as possible with a dry rag or the like.

When choosing vinyl laminate, you should pay attention to the packaging markings and the manufacturer's brand, because... not all products made from this material are environmentally friendly.

The thickness of vinyl sheets is from 2mm to 6.5mm.

The easiest vinyl laminate flooring to install is considered to be the one with modern locks.

Such locks allow you to assemble and disassemble the floor in a matter of minutes, because The plates are a kind of construction set that even a child can put together.

Find out more about vinyl products here

Using heated floors under laminate

Underfloor heating is a very popular choice among those who are seriously considering installing a laminate finish. The modern market is pleased to offer several excellent options for such systems, the most reliable of which are rightfully considered:

1. Infrared;
2. water;
3. electric.

Infrared heated floor under laminate

– the most modern heating system, manufactured in the form of IR film. This product is popular both among average consumers and among professionals. The main reason is the fact that installation does not require special skills and knowledge at all: the work can be completed in just a couple of hours.

Water-heated flooring under laminate is the most “ancient” method, but no one refuses it even now. The reason is that this is the most gentle option and the most suitable for slats. The rise in floor temperature is very smooth, which guarantees the absence of sudden thermal shocks to the coating.

Electric underfloor heating under laminate is a system characterized by its mobility and rapid heating. Unlike the previous option, the process can be controlled by setting the required temperature.

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There are also other insulation options, such as using a substrate.
One of the most common options is Teplon under the lamellas.

Class 32

Class 32 laminate best meets the necessary requirements, and this is what explains its increased popularity.

This laminate is perhaps optimal for the home, as it is designed for medium load. It will serve faithfully in the living room and dining room for 15 years, even in corridors and kitchens it will last for 10 years. A worthy choice.

Chinese laminate: check, and then trust

In most cases, Chinese laminate flooring is made from hardwood. Green dye is added only to hide all the shortcomings of the product. During operation, the lamellas swell, quickly deform, cracks appear, and formaldehyde is released. What can we say about locking joints, gaps at the junction of boards and insufficiently hard materials!

BUT

, there is no need to be so reprehensible towards Chinese products, because not all of them are low-grade. For the most part, this is a cheap laminate, but there are also brands that are trusted by European manufacturers.

Advantages of class 33 laminate

• Its thickness is 12 mm, therefore, greatly increased noise insulation and strength.
• The locks are made in such a way, impregnated with a special composition, that the swelling of the seams from moisture is eliminated.
• Laminate flooring can be installed in bathrooms.
• This laminate is made using the latest technologies with resin processing.
• This class of laminate has increased anti-slip and fire-resistant properties.
• Does not react to ultraviolet light.
• You can buy it at a profit. Due to competition, the Germans sometimes sell this laminate cheaper than the 32nd from other manufacturers.

Laminate floors in the kitchen

Many people do not want to lay tiles in the kitchen. Why? It's cold, impractical, slippery, expensive, etc. Everyone has their own reasons, but there can be only one solution - a special laminate for the kitchen.

If you have already figured out the wear resistance class of the panels, and you are not afraid of moisture, you can choose moisture-resistant slats or the option for ceramic tiles. The advantage of the latter option is visual imitation: after installation, the coating will have an excellent appearance, plus it is moisture resistant, which means it will not deteriorate over a long period of use. Could there be anything better?

Today there are several types of slats for the kitchen. When purchasing, pay special attention to:

• class: start choosing from wear resistance class 32. Only such models are suitable for the kitchen;
• moisture/water resistance indicators. Don't confuse them. Moisture-resistant ones are protected only from moisture, while water-resistant ones can even withstand a flood.

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This material costs much more than usual, but it also lasts an order of magnitude longer.
Today, the most famous manufacturers of such panels are European companies, especially German and Belgian. Among the huge number of brands, the following deserve trust: Tarkett, Pergo, Eco Flooring, Egger, Kronotex, Classen, Witex, Alloc, Kronospan and Kronostar.

Specifications

• It's great that a dropped cigarette won't leave a mark. Let's leave aside the question of why smoke in the bedroom or office. But the heat resistance and fire resistance of this coating are impressive. A very important factor is fire resistance.
• Laminate of this class is abrasion resistant. True, if the office has roller chairs, it is better to buy a different laminate, for example, class 34.
• This laminate is impact resistant and difficult to scratch. It has good resistance to pressure and loads.

According to the results of the Tiber Test for abrasion and strength, a laminate of this class will last in an apartment for 10-12 years.

• Thus, laminate 31 is advisable to use in the bedroom, nursery, dressing room, but in no case in the hallway or kitchen.
• Using this laminate in rooms where there is a lot of foot traffic is only possible temporarily.

Note ! This laminate is not installed in bathrooms or in rooms where frequent wet cleaning is expected, since it is poorly protected from dampness and is not resistant to moisture.

It is worth considering whether to lay it in the children's room; frequent cleaning is required there.

Laminate options for home

• Suberic

The texture of the front layer of the lamellas is varied. It can vary from lamellar to fine-grained. More classic designs include warm shades of yellow, brown and ochre. For lovers of exotic coatings, options with colored splashes are available. You can read more details here.

The advantage of such finishing bases is that they do not accumulate static electricity and do not emit harmful substances. They are also characterized by high dirt-repellent properties: no trace of oil or ink stains will remain.

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In general, the production of such material is well established. Thanks to modern technologies, such flooring can last up to 30 years in a home and up to 10 years in a public place.

• Vinyl

This variety appeared on the market quite recently. The structure of the board differs from the layers of ordinary lamella. It consists of only two layers, which are combined together into a plank for arranging the subfloor:

1. The front layer is aluminum oxide or polyurethane. A pattern is applied to its surface that imitates the natural surface of expensive wood;
2. The base is vinyl, which is resistant to moisture. It is this that increases the rigidity and strength of the floor, extending the service life of the entire flooring.

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The main advantages of vinyl laminate are resistance to mechanical damage, wear resistance and durability.

• Glossy

Everyone, sooner or later, thinks about buying glossy laminate. We are attracted by its mirror shine. Yes, such a coating has many advantages, but we should also not forget about its disadvantages.

Therefore, before you decide to purchase, analyze all the pros and cons. Then you will understand what will be best for your house/apartment. Externally attractive material will fit into any interior and any design. The gloss will reflect light, scattering it throughout the room, making it lighter and larger. An undoubted advantage is that all dust, dirt and stains are removed more easily than with a matte structure.

• Under parquet

Lamels for artistic parquet are a completely new trend. Special innovative technologies used in the production process make it possible to give the panel any appearance, including the appearance of a parquet board. So, you pay less, but get almost the same floor.

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You can also buy any option with or without a chamfer. Typically, the 12mm beveled panel option is particularly popular.

Choosing a laminate for an apartment

When choosing which laminate is better, we are guided by a simple rule: the higher the load on the floor covering in man-kilograms and the more aggressive the environmental impact, the stronger the laminate should be and the higher its class.

When choosing a laminate, we look at what room it is intended for. Naturally, the load in the living room is higher than in the bedroom, and so on. In general, we first evaluate the purpose of the room where we will lay the laminate.

The proximity of the room to the bathroom and the washing machine is assessed. This is in case of flooding. If there is such a danger, you need to choose a more waterproof option. The country of manufacture and company must be taken into account. Here we must not forget that who pays twice? That's right, greedy. The last thing to choose is the appearance of the coating, although this, of course, is also important.

Class 34

This laminate can withstand the highest loads and high humidity. It was created for such extreme conditions. Its operation is guaranteed for 50 years.

The strength of this floor can be compared to natural stone, while it is light in appearance, beautiful, and almost impossible to damage.

They lay it in airports and shopping centers, where a lot of people pass through during the day. Whether it is worth laying such a laminate at home is up to the owner to decide.

Advantages of class 34 laminate

• The main advantage, which has been mentioned more than once, is strength.
• This also includes the indelibility of the laminate and its hardness.
• It resists loads, shocks, and scratches.
• Laminate flooring and its locks are moisture resistant.
• It is safe to use, environmentally friendly, antibacterial.
• Not afraid of temperature changes or fire.
• Has anti-slip properties.
• Easy to assemble.
• Undemanding and easy to care for.
• Has a great guarantee.

This is truly an elite laminate. It can, of course, be laid in residential premises. Laminate of this type is produced by Swedish, Norwegian and other companies.

Knowing the distinctive properties of laminates of different classes, you can choose what is necessary specifically for a given room.