The choice of flooring is a very important matter. In our time, besides the usual simple wooden boards, parquet or chipboard, other building materials of artificial origin have appeared. In the beginning, it was used as a kind of substitute for natural parquet, but quite quickly people realized that it was an independent floor covering and deserved respect. Let's look at what laminate is made of, listing all its pros and cons compared to other popular materials.
What is laminated parquet?
If the natural board consists only of wood of different species, then the laminate has a complex multi-layered structure. As a basis here serves a plate of fiberboard, pasted from above and from below by moisture-resistant materials. For beauty, it is covered with decorative paper. On it, to protect against external influences, apply a transparent, but strong, acrylate or melamine resin with various mineral additives. The quality of the last layer should be such that the coating does not burn out in the sun, does not wear off under your feet, was resistant to household chemicals and mechanical damage.
This "pie" is made by pressing or gluing layers. The strength of the coating is measured in special units of taibers (Taber). 1200 Taber means that the laminate can withstand 1200 revolutions of the grinding wheel while the top layer is completely erased. Listing the disadvantages of laminate, many mention the fact that it contains formaldehyde. You need to buy a material in which the amount of this substance does not exceed 0.01 mg / m³, and another dangerous element of phenol is 0.003 mg / m³. In this case, the owners will be sure that their sex is completely safe and will not bring any harm during the operation.
Advantages of laminate in front of ordinary parquet are the difference in price, it is cheaper by three or even five times. It can be placed in any room and not be afraid that sharp women's heels, childish pranks, animal claws or a fallen cigarette will damage the expensive coating. Are there any advantages of a parquet board in front of the laminate? First of all - it is presentability and natural raw materials, from which it is made. But the lower cost and easy maintenance lead to the fact that the admirers of the laminate every year becomes more. Laminated parquet does not need to putty, varnish, cycle and produce other specific operations. The average lifetime of the laminate is up to 8 years. It is not a material that will serve for decades. But it will not be a pity to take it off and change it for another, more beautiful and new. Especially it concerns office and other public premises in which the floor is quickly erased and comes to disrepair.
Advantage of a laminate before linoleum
Both materials fit easily, although with a laminate of work there will be a little more. The first thing to note is the more solid appearance of the laminate, here linoleum slightly inferior to its competitor. But the strength of laminate is much faster. Those who dealt with heavy furniture know that on linoleum it leaves strong dents. It is necessary to fit special plates and move the chair or sofa as neatly as possible so as not to damage the thin material. A cigarette butt will leave a stain on it, because linoleum is not fireproof. With laminate it's a little easier - it's much stronger and more resistant to damage. In addition, it is suitable for the installation of warm floors. The big disadvantage of a laminate is that it is afraid of standing water. You can not have a puddle on the floor for a long time. Any moisture will need to be quickly cleaned with a cloth. Quality linoleum moisture is not afraid so much, being a polymer, but the constant impact of water can lead to the fact that the pattern will quickly fade and the material will also become unusable.
We gave some arguments in favor of the laminate or its competitors, and listed the shortcomings of each material. Perhaps you will soon have to choose flooring. We hope that this small article will be of use and help to make the right decision.
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