There is a trend nowadays for people to want to install the highest possible grade of laminate in their home, thinking that it will last longer. However, this is not always the case, so we would like to explain the criteria that should be followed when choosing a laminate floor. <\/p>\n\n
First, let’s recall again the use of the class:<\/p>\n\n
– Class 31\nlaminate for use in low-traffic public areas\n(e.g. small office) <\/p>\n\n
– Class 32\nlaminate is designed for use in public areas with medium traffic, such as\ndoctor’s surgeries, shops, etc. <\/p>\n\n
– Class 33\nlaminate intended for use in high-traffic public areas or\nsupermarkets and other similar areas where there is constant movement of people and\nthe floor has to bear the greatest frictional load <\/p>\n\n
As you can see, we are only talking about public areas here, so any of these laminates is suitable for domestic use, as long as it really does meet at least wear resistance class 31. Sometimes manufacturers recommend, for example in a corridor or kitchen, a class 32 laminate, but this is more because a good floor in these areas has to meet other quality criteria than just friction. We would like to stress that when we talk about class, we are only talking about frictional load, which is only one of the characteristics of a good laminate floor. We can say from practice that no less important is <\/p>\n\n
We have noticed that the most common reason why laminate fails is not because the top layer has worn away, but because moisture has got into the seams between the laminate boards. This is most often visually evident as worn joints in the laminate. You may say – but wear resistance is more important! Nothing! If you wash the laminate with a damp cloth every day, or if you spill something on it, moisture gets into the seams and they swell. If you walk on the floor, of course the seams will wear first, because they are higher than the overall plane of the laminate surface and therefore take the most load and wear the fastest. <\/p>\n\n
The joints between laminate boards are a very important element in the quality of the laminate. They should be as tight as possible after laying (and smooth if the laminate is not bevelled). If the joint is not tight enough, there is room for excess moisture, which swells the edges of the laminate. When it comes to the laminate joint, the evenness of the subfloor cannot be overlooked. One thing to understand here is that the subfloor must be smooth, at least smooth enough for the underlay under the laminate to be able to level the subfloor plane. Otherwise, bumps or dents in the subfloor open up the joints of even the highest quality laminate. As for laminates that incorporate bevels for design reasons, in the long term they prevent the edges from swelling, because if moisture enters the joint and swells it, the bevel makes this swelling virtually invisible. <\/p>\n\n
The laminate substrate consists of wood dust pressed at\nhigh pressure with added binders. In English, this backing is abbreviated\nas HDF or High Density Fibre. This high density\nvaries widely from one manufacturer to another (and even from one manufacturer to another)\n. It is an important parameter because it affects the\nrigidity of the “Click” joint, the resistance to heavy falling objects and, very importantly,\nprovides protection against moisture. Without a doubt, a higher density substrate absorbs moisture\nmuch more slowly and less than a low density substrate, so\nthe laminate also looks new for longer. <\/p>\n\n
Laminate tends to be antistatic or, conversely, static-consuming\n. The abrasion resistance of laminate is\nprovided by a synthetic surface protective layer which, when in contact with a\nsynthetic cloth or even your cat, acquires a static charge. After this\ncharge, the laminate starts to attract dust. <\/p>\n\n
Unfortunately, there are also laminates available in this country that are of such poor quality that they release significant amounts of chemicals when laid, and I have even seen some that smell strongly when the packaging is opened. This is no longer a common occurrence and manufacturers who offer quality floor coverings do not produce them. However, if this is important to you, ask the seller to show the relevant symbol on the laminate packaging. <\/p>\n\n
If you are looking for a quality laminate that will last as long as possible, then it is worth paying attention to all the above criteria. Conversely, if you are looking for a laminate for a rental apartment or for a room that will undergo a major renovation in five years’ time, the most important criteria will be design, price and the absence of harmful fumes. <\/p>\n\n
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There is a trend nowadays for people to want to install the highest possible grade of laminate in their home, thinking that it will last longer. However, this is not always the case, so we would like to explain the criteria that should be followed when choosing a laminate floor. Laminate wear resistance class First, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12243,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[390],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n