A large number of various materials for decoration can allow to realize the most diverse fantasies of the owners of their own homes and numerous professional designers. With their help, you can turn your apartment or house into a real work of art. Since any decoration should be performed at the proper level and designed to add beauty to the premises, it is necessary to approach the choice of materials with full responsibility. And among the most popular materials, one can single out a vinyl laminate, reviews of which are only the most positive.
The coating is a separate strips, which consist of several parts - the upper and lower. In the first case, this is a protection layer. With its help, it turns out that the laminate imitates a variety of natural materials, such as wood, stone, etc. Such a material is popular due to the fact that it has a large number of positive characteristics. Strength, wear resistance, resistance to mechanical type impacts and the same damage are only a small part of the advantages that, for example, a quartz-vinyl laminate possesses. All this must be taken into account if there is a desire to make a beautiful and durable floor.
What varieties are on sale?
- Self-adhesive vinyl laminate. Reviews about him are the most favorable. The material is able to take the form of a square or rectangle of different sizes. The lower adhesive part should be covered with special paper protection. It is necessary to glue such a laminate completely.
- A vinyl castle laminate that has an adhesive tape. It is not required to adhere completely to any particular surface. The main thing is to connect the bars to each other.
- Rolled vinyl laminate. Reviews of professionals say that it must be completely glued to the surface, using specialized adhesive solutions.
The main characteristics of this material will completely depend on the selected type of laminate. In addition, do not forget about the beauty that they carry in themselves.
Categories into which the laminate can be divided
- Domestic. It is used in those rooms where people do not go very often. This is due to a very thin layer of protection. The durability of the material reaches an average of 6 years.
- Commercial. Stacked in those rooms that are characterized by high traffic. The protective layer is quite thick. Durability reaches 10 years.
- Special laminate flooring. It is used in those rooms in which the floor can be subjected to various mechanical loads. Thanks to special additives, such a factor as gliding was significantly reduced. Stacked in workshops or in gyms. It can last up to 15 years to serve such a vinyl laminate, reviews of which are very good.
Household laminate flooring is the most optimal flooring that can be laid in residential premises.
What are the benefits of coating?
The laminate is characterized by high strength and wear resistance. In addition, it is characterized by high resistance to various scratches and impacts. It can not be said that he is able to crack and crumble. In addition, it can withstand enormous loads.
Thanks to its excellent moisture resistance, it can be used in rooms that are characterized by high humidity. Environmental friendliness, ease of installation, saving both money and physical means - all this can be safely attributed to the positive aspects that are characteristic of a laminate. Well and separately it is necessary to note delightful esthetic qualities thanks to which it is possible to tell about a covering that it is beautiful and refined.
What are the disadvantages of coverage?
However, there are disadvantages. Especially when it comes to vinyl laminate castle. Reviews and comments of professionals must be taken into account in order to know about all the negative aspects.
- When laying, it should be borne in mind that the roughness of the main floor should not be more than three millimeters.
- The lock type of fastening may be damaged by careless handling. An ordinary hammer should not be used.
- Liquid must not be allowed to enter the coating. Otherwise, it will swell and deform.
- In the traditional way, it is better not to wash the coating. It is enough to use a vacuum cleaner.
How is coating laid?
- First of all, immediately after the purchase, the laminate should be left for one day in the room in which the installation will take place.
- In this case, the air temperature in the room should not be less than 18 degrees. It is necessary to make sure that the installation of the panels is not accompanied by temperature differences.
- First you need to carefully prepare the base for the laminate.
- Any type of surface can act as a rough floor.
- If the room uses floor heating, then it must be turned off a few days before the start of installation. You can turn on the heating technology again only after 5 days after the end of the installation.
- Previously, the floor will need to be well cleaned of all traces of dust and dirt.
Floor preparation work
First of all, you need to purchase a vinyl laminate. Reviews of professionals should be taken into account when measuring a room. For example, so as not to buy too much. All niches and numerous protrusions must be taken into account, adding about 10 percent to the stock.
If the main floor is made of concrete, then it must dry completely, gaining the greatest strength. In the event that the screed was poured relatively recently, the laminate will need to be laid only after 90 days.
The floor of the plywood, chipboard or fiberboard should have sufficient strength. In addition, it will definitely need to be completely leveled and dried. If there is ceramic tile on the rough floor, you should get rid of all gaps and seams with cement mortar.
Flexible coatings must be carefully fixed to the floor before fixing, for example, a quartz-vinyl laminate. The reviews of professionals and ordinary people only confirm this.
Self-adhesive coating installation
You need to start laying either from the center of the room or from the wall. From the owner of the house you just need to remove the protective layer that protects the adhesive base of the laminate. After this, press the coating to the subfloor. It is advisable to lay individual slabs “apart”, slightly cutting them with scissors and breaking them in place of the incision.
The use of adhesive solutions
It is necessary to acquire the glue that is recommended by the manufacturers of a particular vinyl laminate. Information about the solution can be seen in the instructions that go on sale with the coating. Also in this instruction the method of using glue is indicated.
With a notched trowel, you will need to grease the base with glue in such a way that you can immediately lay the laminate in two rows. Then on the surface on which there is already glue, you need to put the coating panel and press it. Use a rubber spatula to get rid of excess air.
Laminate installation method with lock
Glue will need to lubricate only the edges of the panels. It is necessary to start laying laminate from the wall. The first row is mounted so that the spike is located against the wall. It is better to completely cut it so that it does not interfere. Between the wall itself and the panels it will be necessary to leave a not too large gap of 3 mm. In order not to form a straight line of castle joints, installation should take place "apart".
If there is an obstacle that needs to be circumvented during installation, then you will need to pre-prepare a special template, according to which the panels will be trimmed.
When the installation is finished, it is necessary to treat the coating with a special roller, with which it is possible to create a load of 80 kg.
Installation of roll laminate
In this situation, you will need to use a special adhesive solution. Installation of the coating takes place in the same way as in the case of laying ordinary panels on the adhesive solution. The main difference is that absolutely the entire area of the room will need to be lubricated with glue. In this case, it is necessary to make sure that no air remains under the laminate.
In some situations, the seams between the laminate panels can be closed by hot welding. But for this you will need to purchase a special cord, which in color will be exactly the same as the coating itself. After the hot welding is completed, the vinyl laminate will become completely waterproof.
This completes the installation procedure, and you can admire what a vinyl laminate is. Photos, as well as the review itself, we hope you will be helped in this.