Which laminate company is better to choose - the advantages and disadvantages of the manufacturers. Laminate strength class: how to choose the optimal coating for your room Stylish Tarkett RIVIERA

Rating of expensive laminate brands

Rating of inexpensive laminate brands

Possibilities of laminate 34 classes

Decorative quality of class 34 laminate

Where can I use laminate class 34

Guarantees and precautions when purchasing laminate flooring

Coating properties

Which class to choose?

About the thickness value

Pergo

Alloc Original

BerryAlloc

Haro

HDM

Kaindl

Parador

Witex/Wineо

Quick Step

Tarkett

Egger

Lebenholz

Sinteros

Laminate layers

Basic properties of laminate

What types of laminate connection systems are there?

Explanation of the laminate designation on the packaging

What are the disadvantages of laminate?

How to choose the right laminate

Which laminate company is better to choose? We will look at this in today's review. The first in our rating will be brands that are members of the pan-European association EPLF, which in itself is a guarantor of quality.

The criteria and requirements for technology and materials there are very high, therefore, if any service life is stated there, then this is exactly true and such a floor will last even longer than the manufacturer guarantees.

In this article you will find out who is the leader in this segment, as well as what quality standards for laminate flooring the European manufacturer has, and what the Russian and Chinese ones have.

So let's get started.

In this block we present only expensive laminate brands. Of course, they are the highest quality of all, but there is a big difference between them, which you will learn about by studying this top of 2018.

The price range for all these manufacturers is from 2000 to 3000 rubles per square.

Manufacturer: Sweden

Warranty: Lifetime

The company was founded in 1974 and since then has been producing premium laminate flooring. This brand is the first in the ranking of expensive coatings, as it is truly the best. Its quality is simply “indestructible”, which is confirmed by a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer.

In addition, it is environmentally friendly and has 84 options interesting design. And this is rare among representatives of such elite classes. Usually the company limits itself to simple and discreet designs, compensating for this with quality.

Pros:

The collection has all wear resistance classes, including 34
Features a unique clutch mechanism that guarantees simple and quick installation

Cons:

There are no downsides to it, a very good choice

Customer reviews:

Manufacturer – Norway

EPLF Association Membership: Yes

Warranty: Lifetime

This company is the progenitor of the more famous BerryAlloc on our market; the plant has been operating since 1952 and produces premium products. The Heathrow airport, the worldwide Novotel hotel chain, and all Volkswagen showrooms are decorated with the products of this brand.

Pros:

Laminate for any and various wear resistance classes
More than a hundred designs
Unique aluminum lock that can be removed and reinstalled up to five times
Incredible impact resistance. The flooring can withstand weights from 550 kilograms per square meter to a ton

Cons:

Although there are many designs, there is nothing original

Customer reviews:

Manufacturer – Belgium

EPLF Association Membership: Yes

Warranty: Lifetime

Belgian subsidiary of Alloc. Their products are only premium.

Pros:

Very strong locks
Many natural colors and designs (concrete, stone, slate)
There is a thirty-fourth, the highest class
There is a new generation laminate made using technology using high pressure. Considered the strongest laminate in the world
Moisture resistant, silent
Original fiber-aluminum clutches, which provide easy and reliable installation, with the possibility of subsequent dismantling and transfer to another location

Cons:

No thick board

Customer reviews:

Manufacturer – Germany

Membership in the EPLF association: Yes

Warranty: 25 years

The oldest brand on the laminate market. He began his activities in 1866, however, as an ordinary woodworking company.

Pros:

It is considered the most environmentally friendly laminate in the world, as well as the quietest. Its noise level is sixty percent less than other brands
Four-sided chamfer
It is not afraid of heat, which means that it can be placed on a heated floor
Spring installation system, which is carried out using light pressure

Cons:

A very poor collection of colors, in which only woody motifs are present

Customer reviews:

Manufacturer – Germany

EPLF Association Membership: Yes

Warranty: 30 years

The brand has been on the market for almost 60 years. It is famous for producing an unusual, glossy laminate, which is created using acrylic resin, which is cured by an electron beam.

Pros:

The lowest content of fordamelhyde
A wide variety of designs and textures
Silent
Moisture resistant
Very strong locks
Covered with antistatic film

Cons:

No thick 12mm boards
The gloss gets dirty quickly

Customer reviews:

Manufacturer – Austria

EPLF Association Membership: Yes

Warranty: 30 years

It is the Austrian market leader in laminate production.

Pros:

Possesses special system, with which it can be mounted not only on the floor, but also on the wall
A very natural wood motif is imitated.
Boards of various and non-standard formats (width, length)

Cons:

There are no designs other than wood motifs
No 12mm thick board

Customer reviews:

Manufacturer – Germany, Austria

EPLF Association Membership: Yes

Warranty: 25 years

A relatively young European brand, existing since 1977. Their main strong point is unusual and original design. No other company has such a variety of colors as this one.

Not found

Customer reviews:

Manufacturer – Germany

EPLF Association Membership: Yes

Warranty: Five Times Lifetime

This brand provides not just a lifetime guarantee, but a fivefold guarantee. What this means is not very clear. Is it really possible that your great-great-great-grandchildren will be able to contact the company in 150 years and demand a replacement?

Pros:

Silent
Moisture resistant
Incredibly durable
There are very long boards

Cons:

The design is boring

Customer reviews:

This block contains brands whose price range is from 350 to 1000 rubles per square. This rating was compiled based on an analysis of about 100 reviews from 2016-2017 on specialized forums.

Manufacturer: Germany, Belgium, Russia

EPLF Association Membership: Yes

Warranty: 25 years

The manufacturer is famous for the fact that glueless installation (lock) is his invention, which he introduced in 1997.

Pros:

Very scratch resistant
There are thick boards 14 mm
Variety of board formats
Wonderful selection of designs (marble, slate, leather)

Cons:

Produced in Russia using European technologies

Customer reviews:

EPLF Association Membership: Yes

Warranty: 25 years

A very old manufacturer that started working in France. Then he opened branches in the USA and Sweden. Then they united in Germany.

And today there are factories in Russia, namely in Otradnoye and Mytishchi, where they produce inexpensive laminate for our market.

Pros:

Despite the fact that the price is affordable, the choice of colors is very large: 15 collections with a wide variety of designs in each
There are thick boards 12 mm

Cons:

There are many designs, but they are all wood-themed.
Production in Russia

Customer reviews:

Manufacturer – Germany, Russia

EPLF Association Membership: Yes

Warranty: 20 years

The brand has been operating since 1961, on Russian market relatively recently, but has already gained popularity due to its quality and reasonable price.

Pros:

Anti-slip surface
Moisture resistant
Boards in five formats

Cons:

Very dull design and insufficiently realistic textures
Production in Russia

Customer reviews:

Manufacturer – China

Warranty: 15 years

The name of this brand sounds German, so many people get confused and mistake it for Germany. But this is just a marketing ploy.

The quality here is originally Chinese, but we included it in the rating because the company is quite popular due to its price.

Pros:

Several board formats, including extra long ones
Four-sided chamfer
There is a thick board

Cons:

Very implausible design of wood textures
Quickly loses its original appearance

Customer reviews:

Manufacturer – Russia

EPLF Association Membership: No

Warranty: 15 years

This company is part of the Tarkett group, but it is Russian, previously called “Roofing and Polymers”. It produces laminate that is inexpensive, but of sufficient quality for the money.

Pros:

Environmental friendliness
Good price
There is a moisture resistant board

Cons:

It has only 2 collections, and even in those the design is absolutely rustic and uninteresting. Wood motifs are unrealistic
The boards do not have a chamfer
Only thin floorboards with a thickness of 8 mm

Laminate(from English laminate– multi-layer) is a floor covering based on laminated fiberboard (Fiberboard) or chipboard (chipboard), which has high density, strength and rigidity.

Laminate flooring has a very beautiful aesthetic appearance, low cost compared to natural flooring and practicality in use. Such properties of laminate have recently determined its widespread in civil engineering.

Laminate was first made at the end of the 19th century in Sweden based on wood, with low compressive strength and abrasion. Initially, laminate was created as a relatively cheap flooring alternative to parquet. IN modern world laminate is made using two technologies : high (HPL) and direct pressure (DPL). HPL technology is used to produce high quality expensive laminate. DPL technology involves simultaneous pressing and gluing of all layers. This laminate is cheaper, but the quality is worse than HPL laminate.

Nowadays a huge variety of laminates are produced, imitating not only parquet and wood texture, but also the surface of other floor coverings, such as ceramic tiles, natural stone, carpets, leather (photo 1.).

Photo 1. Varieties of laminate texture

In most cases, laminate consists of 4 layers (photo 2.):

Top layer-film consists of acrylate or melamine resin with high strength and wear resistance. The surface layer can also be polyurethane.
Second layer– consists of decorative paper that imitates the surface different breeds wood or other building material.
Third layer (main)– consists of high-strength fiberboard (fibreboard) or chipboard (chipboard), which is designated HDF or HDF (High Density Flag) and has a thickness of 6.6...7.7 mm.
Fourth layer– consists of moisture-resistant paper impregnated with resins or paraffin. Performs the function of a stabilizer.

Photo 2. Varieties of laminate structure

The surface of the laminate can be:

solid smooth (matte, semi-matte, glossy);
textured (imitating another material, with all kinds of chamfers and convexities).

Laminate is produced with the following parameters:

laminate thickness from 6 to 14 mm. Its thermal conductivity and strength depend on the thickness of the laminate. Also, its price depends on the thickness of the laminate: the thicker, the more expensive.
width from 90 to 400 mm, but the most common is 185...200 mm.
length 1200...1400 mm (some manufacturers produce lengths up to 2 m).

Strength. This is the main property of laminate. Laminate is classified according to strength class:

Class 21, 22, 23 (household, home laminate) – strength sufficient for using the laminate at home;
Class 31, 32, 33 (commercial, office laminate) – strength, allowing it to be used as a floor covering in office and home spaces.

The thickness of the laminate has some connection with the class:

Class 31: thickness up to 8 mm;
Class 32: thickness 7…12 mm;
Class 33: thickness 8…12 mm.

Wear resistance. Laminate flooring is also classified according to wear resistance classes: AC1, AC2, AC3, AC4 and AC5. The maximum wear-resistant class is AC5.
Water resistance. Since laminate flooring is primarily made from fiberboard or chipboard, it is not a waterproof flooring material.

In relation to water and moisture, laminate is divided into:

regular laminate (not moisture resistant, class 21, 22);
moisture-resistant laminate (class 23, 31);
waterproof laminate (class 32, 33, 34).

The “sick” area of the laminate is the joints, where water can get in, which will lead to soaking and swelling of the material. To increase moisture resistance, laminate joints are glued with a water-repellent compound, and fiberboard (HDF) is additionally impregnated with a water-repellent agent. This laminate can be laid in the kitchen, in the toilet, but still, with prolonged contact with water, it swells.

Waterproof laminates that can be used even in bathtubs and saunas include vinyl laminate or laminate in which fiberboard is replaced with plastic. Laminate with increased resistance to moisture and water is called “aqua laminate”.

Soundproofing. The sound insulation of conventional laminate is low, which is due to its hardness and rigidity. To reduce noise when walking on a laminate flooring and increase sound insulation, a noise-absorbing substrate with a thickness of 2...4 mm is used ( photo 3.):

cork;
cardboard;
foamed polyethylene;
padding polyester;
felt;
padding polyester with metal foil.

The underlay is also capable of leveling out minor unevenness in the floor, which is important. It is not recommended to use a substrate with a thickness of 5 mm or more, since the laminate may sag over time and the locks may fail. The lack of a backing for the laminate leads to its rapid wear.

Photo 3. Varieties of laminate substrates

By using table 1, you can choose the most suitable underlay for your laminate flooring.

Table 1

Comparative table of material properties of various parquet/laminate substrates

Note: ++ excellent; + good; - Badly

Fire resistance. Laminate is resistant to high temperatures. Material flammability class G1...G2.
Bioresistant material. Insects and bacteria do not grow, and mold does not grow.
Resistance to chemical cleaning agents(laminate class 31...34 has increased durability).
UV resistance. Color fastness (laminate class 31...34 has increased durability). Laminate classes 21…23 over time under influence sun rays“burns out” (color is lost).

When choosing a laminate, it is very important to choose a material with a high-quality joining system. There are two types of connecting laminates to each other ( photo 4.):

— adhesive fastening. This connection involves gluing the boards together using a special glue. When using water-repellent glue to join laminate boards, the water resistance of the laminate flooring as a whole increases. Laminate with this type of fastening is cheaper than interlocking laminate, but its installation is more complicated and takes more time.

- connection using locks. This connection is obtained due to a special profile at the ends of the laminate boards, which allows you to connect the laminate like puzzles. There are two types of locks ( photo 4.):

Latch lock(click). This connection is simpler and more reliable to use and works well even with minor floor unevenness;
Drive-in lock(lock). The cost of laminate with the “drive-in lock” connection type is cheaper than with the “lock-latch” type of connection.

Laminate with a lock-latch connection is easy to install - it greatly simplifies and speeds up its installation. It is also possible to easily disassemble it, replace individual boards, and put it back together. Laminate with built-in lock connection cannot be re-installed.

Photo 4. Types of connection of laminate boards

Please note that according to the European standard EN13329, all grades of commercial laminate have a glueless interlocking system.

On photo 5 pictograms are presented that are found on laminate packaging, which indicate its main advantages and properties.

Photo 5. Possible pictograms on laminate packaging

Laminate flooring with increased thermal conductivity is also produced, which allows it to be used with a “warm floor” system. At the same time, there is a limiting heating range for the laminate, (27...28°C), at which its geometric parameters and basic properties do not change. This laminate has a certain marking ( photo 6).

Photo 6. Designation of laminate for heated floors

It is practically impossible to use in very damp (“wet”) rooms. The material is “afraid” high humidity(except waterproof class 33, 34).
If the laminate laying technology is violated, it may creak during operation (from friction in the locks).
Laminate is electrostatic: it attracts dust particles.
High quality laminate has a significant cost.

Table 2.

The scope of application of the laminate depending on its wear resistance and strength class

Laminate strength class			Features of operation, service life
Household (home)		Bedroom, children's room, storage room	Service life: 2…3 years. Can quickly change color and abrasions appear. Usually covered with carpets on top
		Bedroom, children's room, storage room
		Kitchen, corridor, hallway	Service life: 4…5 years. For home rooms with low traffic levels
Commercial (office)		Conference room, school	Average wear resistance and moisture resistance. Service life: 2...4 years (in public areas), and 10...12 years (in home areas)
		Office, reception, school	Most best option prices/quality laminate. Reliable and most popular class of laminate. Service life: 3...5 years (in public premises), and 12...15 years (in domestic premises)
		Public premises with intensive movement of people: sports and shopping centers, bar, cafe, dining room, restaurant	One of the most durable laminates. It has high resistance to stress and humidity. Service life: 5...7 years (in public areas), and 15...20 years (in home areas)
	Class 34	Premises with very heavy load on floor coverings - airports, railway stations, bus stations, supermarkets

One of the new quality floor coverings is vinyl laminate, photo 7. Vinyl laminate is produced with a texture that imitates wood, tile, natural stone, marble and other materials.

Photo 7. Vinyl laminate

Vinyl laminate, like regular laminate, consists of four layers ( photo 8.):

Top surface strong edge.
A layer of very dense vinyl with texture.
High strength base layer.
Bottom edge.

Photo 8. Structure of vinyl laminate

Advantages of using vinyl laminate:

high durability of the material (more than 40 years);
high strength, rigidity and elasticity;
very easy and quick installation (within a few hours you can lay the covering in a medium-sized room);
very flexible material;
not afraid of water (moisture- and water-resistant);
environmentally friendly material, non-toxic;
has good thermal conductivity (ideal for heated floors);
vinyl laminate can be laid over old flooring;
manufacturers claim that using vinyl laminate can smooth out certain unevenness of the base;
thin coating;
impact-resistant material;
silent laminate;
material is resistant to ultraviolet radiation.

On photo 9. Let's give an example of designating the main properties and parameters of Art vinyl laminate ( photo 8.)

Photo 9. Basic symbols on Art vinyl laminate

Laying a vinyl floor involves gluing its tiles together - an adhesive is applied along the joints, photo 10.

Photo 10. Gluing vinyl laminate

Vinyl laminate is also produced in several strength classes, which allows various types This laminate can be used not only at home, but also in enterprises with a high load on floor coverings. In commercial conditions, a laminate is used to which stone chips are added. This laminate can withstand loads of 10 MPa or more.

After considering the main properties and varieties, we present a brief algorithm for its selection.

It is necessary to determine the strength and wear resistance class of the laminate, which will correspond to the operating conditions of the room (intensity of movement).
Define required quality laminate (HPL or DPL technology).
Determine the environmental friendliness of the material. The content of phenol-formaldehyde resins must meet class E1 - an environmentally acceptable content standard (according to European standards).
Determine the parameters (dimensions of the laminate board) of the laminate and the main properties, type of connection (adhesive or locking).
Determine the texture of the laminate.
Calculate the required amount of laminate: you need to divide the area of the room by the area of the visible part of one laminate panel (and not the area including locks), and then multiply by the coefficient (taking into account trimming):

1.07 (7%) – when laying the laminate longitudinally;
1.15 (15%) – with diagonal laying laminate

For faster determination the desired laminate you can use table 1 or more advanced table 3.

Criteria the right choice laminate

Table 3. How to choose the required laminate

Advice! And finally, I would like to give advice on manufacturers. The leaders in laminate quality are German (Tarkett and Classen) and Belgian (Quick Step) manufacturers. Excellent quality Swedish laminate (Pergo). You can also buy Ukrainian, Russian or Chinese laminate, but it may be of worse quality (you should pay attention to reviews about a specific material). The average cost of laminate flooring ranges from 7...27 $/m2.

P.S. In addition to laminate, in some rooms you can use or on the floor.

Konev Alexander Anatolievich

Laminate is considered not a very reliable and durable coating. And in vain. There are types of laminate that work well not only as flooring in a house or apartment, but also in crowded places. Such a durable laminate is no miracle. Simply “invulnerable” laminate has an increased strength class, which is marked with the number 34.

Laminate itself high class In terms of strength, it can stand on a par with porcelain stoneware. Suffice it to say that class 34 laminate is used to cover dance floors, floors in airports and hypermarkets. That is, this laminate can be used even in the harshest conditions, where every day there is a lot of traffic and the load on the floor is maximum.

Laminate of this class is extremely difficult to damage. It's even difficult to scratch. This unusual strength, especially for a laminate, is achieved by the fact that stronger and denser materials are used in its production. Moreover, density and strength are inherent in all laminate elements of this class, from the base to the top decorative coating.

By the way, as for decorativeness, laminate of this class is not much different from other classes of laminate. It can imitate wood, stone or plastic. There are many options.

At the same time, the degree of persuasiveness is maximum, since the decorative layer literally consists of a high-quality, high-resolution photograph, which is laminated on top with very durable resins. Of course, with this approach one cannot fail to obtain a perfect imitation, as this material demonstrates.

Class 35 laminate can be installed not only in commercial establishments where the load on the floor is maximum. If desired, you can place it anywhere, in any room. Including, of course, this class of laminate can also be used in a residential apartment or house.

Of course, if we are talking about a residential space and not a commercial one, then there is no point in installing it in a bedroom or office. Such strength is not required here. The most inexpensive laminate can handle the load quite well. Quicker this type laminate is more suitable for the kitchen, hallway, bathroom. This is where the strength and reliability of this laminate will come in handy.

The laminate in question is has a long service life. Manufacturers of this laminate are ready to provide a guarantee of up to fifty years, which is an extremely high figure, even for the most durable floor coverings.

However, you need to be careful. The fact is that there are many counterfeits on sale, and, as a rule, it is class 35 laminate that is counterfeited. To avoid getting into such an unpleasant situation and purchasing a fake, you should purchase laminate flooring from trusted stores that have been operating for a long time and have a positive reputation.

When choosing laminate as a floor covering, you should not forget that in addition to the color that matches the interior, this material has its own exclusively mechanical characteristics.

The first thing you should pay attention to- this is the strength class indicated on the packaging. This indicator determines the time during which the coating will retain its quality and appearance.

Systematic exposure to various loads, sometimes quite sharp impacts from falling objects, constant pressure installed furniture, influence detergents and much more, gradually deteriorate the condition of the coating.

When choosing a laminate, you should familiarize yourself with its basic characteristics.

Coating strength

Manufacturers present on the market various types laminate - for use in everyday life, for office and industrial premises.

It is logical to assume that the maximum strength indicator corresponds to a laminate that will be installed in frequently visited places. Such places include a reception area, a hospital, a lecture hall, premises in an enterprise, a market and many others. Wherever thousands of feet step every day, a floor with a margin of safety is needed.

Useful information ! According to its characteristics, the coating belonging to the strength class from 21 to 23 is intended for installation in private homes. Places with heavy loads require the use of material with a class of 31 or more.

At home, the hallway and kitchen are subject to increased load, while the bedroom and hall are subject to moderate load. No one forbids the use of high-strength laminate brands for installation in an apartment, but the amount for them will need to be paid much more impressively.

Moisture resistance

This is not the least important indicator, because very often the floor surface comes under the influence of liquids. At home, the most vulnerable place is the hallway, which receives wet marks from shoes, drops from outerwear and umbrellas. Such conditions prompt the choice of a laminate that is protected from moisture.

Advice! Each part of a standard laminate has a protective film coating, while the joints are not sufficiently protected. Liquid, penetrating into the smallest gaps, has a detrimental effect on the structure of the material and disrupts the shape of the entire element. Therefore, when choosing, it is better to choose a moisture-resistant laminate that has the appropriate marking.

The design of this material is supplemented either with a polymer base or with special impregnation of the docking units.

Noise protection

To reduce noise when using a new floor, it is recommended to lay a special substrate under the laminate covering, consisting of prepared polyethylene, padding polyester with a layer of foil applied, or felt.

This remedy will prevent the appearance of unwanted sounds from the contact of elements with an uneven base. In addition, the laid gasket will prevent bending of parts, thereby increasing its service life.

Methods of fastening elements together

There are differences between locking and adhesive. Lock systems in high-class materials provide comfortable and quick assembly. The installation of such a coating makes it possible to independently install and disassemble the entire surface.

The availability of repeated assembly and disassembly operations is indicated on the packaging in the form of an image of white and black boards. High-end sets often feature durable metal latches.

Adhesive-type kits do not allow disassembly, but in return offer more reliable protection from moisture, provided that waterproof glue is used.

Laminate grades 21, 22, 23 are used for laying floors at home. It is not designed for significant loads and will remain in working condition for five years. There is no need to step on it with heels, move cabinets or sofas, or allow heavy objects to fall.

Useful information! In the Russian Federation it is rarely produced, because sufficient parameters are achieved only with a thickness of 6 mm, and this does not attract the consumer at all.

The series of laminate strength classes continues with numbers 31, 32, 33. They belong to a higher commercial category and are characterized longer duration suitability under fairly high loads. An increase in the numerical value corresponds to an increase in quality.

Class 31 is more often used in conference rooms, office premises. The next strongest level takes place in medical institutions and classrooms. The rather respectable price is compensated by the equally decent quality. Proper care will allow you to use this coating for up to 10/20 years.
Class 33 allows you to equip production premises, retail outlets, catering establishments, in other words, places with increased level wear.
Class 34 deservedly occupies the top level in the hierarchy of similar materials. Dance floors, art galleries, large stores, train stations - this is an incomplete list of places where you can see it. Showing the level of quality of their products, many manufacturers guarantee an almost unlimited service life.

Advice! In most cases, moisture-resistant laminate has the highest quality. The description for it speaks of complete immunity to water. You can trust this because it contains the latest ingredients.

Material type

Properties

Material type

Ensuring sound comfort in the room

Smoothing out uneven floors

Resistant to rot and mold

Easy to install

Impact on the human body

Expanded polystyrene

Cross-linked polyethylene foam

Non-crosslinked polyethylene foam

Considering the gradation of the thickness of parts, it is enough to note that it is indicated by numbers, corresponding to millimeters.

6 millimeters in height classifies the die as a household level, each of the sizes 7, 8, 10 and 12 mm, respectively, as a commercial one.

The strength of the product is directly proportional to the value of the indicator.

For comparison, when using class 33 laminate with a height of 8 or 12 mm, you can not be afraid of strong impacts and walking in heels.

To select a laminate with maximum strength, it is enough to determine the brand with the highest numerical indicators. You may not regret paying for a quality product once and forget about the problem of replacing the floor for a long time.