The most problematic place for laminate flooring is the joints between the panels. The sealant for the laminate is used for additional stitching. It protects the surface from moisture, filling the voids and microcracks between the boards, eliminating the unpleasant creaking from the material when walking.
Sealant for laminate - protection and reliability
When deciding whether a laminate sealant is needed, one must take into account that moisture in joints is a great danger, it is fraught with the appearance of mold and decay of panels with time. The water repellent properties of the gel protect the locking systems from water ingress and prevent them from drying out and loosening. Compounds treated with a sealant are connected ideally tightly and overcome all loads during the period of operation.
The sealant itself is not a glue, but a water repellent putty. In this laminate coating does not stick together, which makes it possible to quickly disassemble it or replace some board if necessary. Often the sealant is sold together with the laminated board.
Such material does not contain harmful substances and can be used in children's rooms.
Sometimes such putty also performs thermal insulation function, protecting the room from drafts.
The sealant is applied to the locking joint with a continuous layer just before the lamella is laid. The panels are connected immediately, the remnants of the putty are removed after 15 minutes. The putty itself after a few minutes freezes. The application of sealant on the entire surface of the floor does not take much time. Surplus gel after laying can be removed with a spatula with a plastic backing. If they are not cleaned in time, then they are easily washed off with a solvent.
What sealant to choose for a laminate?
In the market there are many options for such water-repellent putty.
The sealant for laminate is often used on the basis of silicone, it has increased performance. A good sealant should be colorless, leave no residue during installation, it is easy to flush and do not glue the panels together.
In the composition of silicone can be added various plasticizers, dyes and fillers.
There are sealants based on acrylic, they most often do not have a color, and besides the protection they perform a decorative function, they hide their shortcomings. Each particular color can be applied to a certain kind of laminated board. Such a sealant can also be embedded in chips or other defects. The use of acrylic putty eliminates the appearance of yellow plaque.
This gel is sold in small tubes or cylinders, which use construction guns. The standard tube is enough to handle about ten square meters.
Especially succeeded in manufacturing hermetic putty for laminate floor German company Click Guard. Such a sealant has very high moisture resistance and increases the operating period of the lamellas.
Companies manufacturers improve products and do everything to improve its quality and extend the long-term products.
The use of sealant for the laminate will perfectly protect the coating from dirt, dust and water, prevent the formation of cracks and extend the life of the material. The use of such material allowed to solve all the main problems when using laminate coating. After the appearance of the sealant, the operation of the laminated board went to a higher stage.