The correct choice of flooring during the repair work in the house or apartment is a serious task, the implementation of which must be taken with all responsibility. Indeed, it is much easier to replace the wall cladding or, for example, ceilings, than to change or repair the floor covering.
Therefore, as a rule, when choosing the latter during the repair work, most people are guided by the fact that the floor will not be repaired or remade in the near future.
Recently, the so-called wooden laminate has gained great popularity in the building materials market. The advantage of the material compared to other floor coverings, such as linoleum or wooden parquet, is that it is able to withstand large loads that appear during external exposure to it.
In addition, a laminate on a wooden base after installation does not require laborious and time-consuming maintenance.
Material Description
The vast majority of people, only hearing the name "wooden laminate", mistakenly begin to think that it is made exclusively of wood. The basis of such a flooring is not wood itself, but only its fibers. During the production of a wooden laminate, the latter are pressed, after which a laminated board of increased strength is obtained.
Important! During the pressing of wood fibers, in the process of laminate production, special bonding additional substances are used. They are necessary in order to give the material resistance to moisture. If nothing is used, then the laminate will swell after even a small amount of moisture gets on it.
During the manufacture of the material, wooden fibers also undergo special processing, which involves the use of wood resins. Thanks to their use, the fibers can be firmly bonded to each other. In addition, the more resins used in the production of laminate, the stronger, warmer and more resistant to moisture.
Builders call this material laminated panels that are used during flooring. Their size may vary, depending on which collection they belong to.
However, the maximum parameter of a laminated panel or wooden laminate is not more than 1.5 m in length and 0.25 m in width.
Material layers
The wooden laminate consists of 4 layers. They are tightly connected to each other.
Lower
It is usually made from parts such as unrefined or tarred paper, which is an excellent waterproof material. The task of the bottom layer of the laminated panel is to protect the main one.
Some collections of natural wood laminate in the lower layer may have special coatings made of soundproof material.
Main
It is made of a material such as wood fiber, which after the pressing process has the shape of a plate.
For the manufacture of the main layer, laminate manufacturers use a variety of tree species. This layer is the main one, since its thickness reaches 4-6 mm. It gives the laminated panel rigidity and makes its shape more clear.
In addition, it is in it that special locks are mounted, which are necessary for fastening separately laminated panels to each other during assembly.
Decorative
It is a layer of special paper on which the drawing is applied. Also, as a decorative design, special furniture foil can be used, which is necessary to simulate a variety of wood species.
Upper
Protects the laminated panel from abrasion and physical stress. This layer is made using acrylic or melamine resins.
After application to the panel, they begin to harden gradually, forming a strong, rigid surface.
Classes
A high-quality laminate has several classes of wear resistance, which are determined by the level of loads acting on it. The latter are:
- Light.
- Medium.
- High.
It is recommended to install a wooden laminate in the office or bedroom, which is able to withstand an easy level. The load class of such a laminate is 21.
In the hall or living room, the level of load on the surface of the laminated panel is average. Therefore, in this case, it is recommended to use a wooden laminate 22.
The highest load on the surface of the flooring is carried out in the children's room, in the corridor of a house or apartment, in shops or bars. Therefore, in this case, it is preferable to use the panel of the 23rd class.
Advantages
Of all the known building materials that are used as flooring and imitate wood, the most economical solution is to use a wooden laminate.
In its composition, the material is a fiberboard, which is additionally covered with a special decorative film. It is worth noting that the latter can imitate not only the surface of the tree. It can also depict the texture of marble, wild stone, and so on.
A wooden laminate is an excellent alternative to using planks or parquet during the arrangement of floors in a private house or apartment. Its advantages include:
- cost;
- simplicity of laying;
- durability;
- combined use with a system called underfloor heating.
The undoubted advantage of the laminate is also the fact that it can be used for arranging floors in almost any room. It fits perfectly on any surface - concrete, wood, concrete slab and so on. Therefore, before installing the laminated panels, there is no need to remove the old flooring.
Attention! Laminate, unlike wooden boards or parquet, is resistant to moisture, so mold or fungi that are dangerous to human health do not appear on its surface.
Some types of this finishing material during their production are additionally treated with special anti-allergenic substances, which increase the level of environmental safety of products.
disadvantages
Wood laminate is a fairly noisy finish. When walking on it in high heel shoes or shoes, a loud sound appears, which, undoubtedly, is one of the biggest shortcomings of the floor covering.
In addition, damaged laminated panels cannot be repaired or repaired. The only option in this case is to replace the damaged laminate with a new one. Also, when using the material as a floor covering, it must be remembered that its surface is very slippery and it is easy to slip on it.
Recommendations
For the arrangement of floors, a wooden laminate can be used both in living rooms (living room, bedroom), and in the kitchen. In addition, the material is used in technical rooms.
However, it should not be used for arranging floors in rooms with high humidity (bath). Even oak laminate is not recommended.