Today, the use of laminate flooring for interior decoration is very common. This is due primarily to its strength characteristics, with a fairly simple installation process, affordable cost and, of course, beautiful appearance.
Choice of laminate
There are certain criteria for choosing a laminate. So, first of all, you need to decide in which room the flooring will be present. In this case, we are talking about assessing the load on the floors. For example, when setting up a kitchen or hallway, it is necessary to take into account the high susceptibility of the flooring to wear and moisture. That is why there is a generally accepted classification of this building material. The first of the numbers contained in the material classifier indicates the type of building for which it is suitable. For example, if the first is the number 2, then such a laminate is intended for the arrangement of residential premises, respectively, the number 3 indicates its use exclusively for the interior decoration of public buildings. The second group of numbers reflects the degree of stress on the laminate flooring.
In Russia, the most widespread is the laminate of the 31st, 32nd, 33rd and 34th grades. Different manufacturers have different methods for calculating the strength of the coating.
Particular attention must be paid to the tool joints of the material. It is this that represents the weak point of the laminate, since when moisture enters the cracks, the canvas as a whole will be destroyed. To avoid this, many manufacturers impregnate the joints with various water-repellent compounds or recommend the use of special adhesives. The most reliable type of lock connection today is the Click – latch. The main advantage of such a lock is its mobility, that is, if necessary, such a floor covering can be dismantled and moved to the desired location. The thickness of the laminated coating is also important, which determines the level of load on it. Accordingly, a thin floor covering will quickly become unusable if there are heavy objects in the room or, for example, chairs on casters.
In addition, you need to pay special attention to the appearance of the material. So, the material should first of all fit into the overall color scheme of the interior and its style. Today, the color range of laminate flooring is quite diverse. More often there is a material of brown, woody color, less often white, gray and others. In addition, various patterns can be present on the surface, the texture can be an imitation of ceramic tiles, natural wood, stone, etc. In any case, it is best that the laminate you choose matches the color of the furniture, doors and other finishes.
When choosing a laminate, you should pay attention to its environmental characteristics. So, many manufacturers, in order to save money, use inexpensive resins for the manufacture of surfaces, which provoke the appearance of an unpleasant odor during operation. The ideal option in this case is a material made on the basis of binding acrylic resins. The cost of such a material is several times more expensive, but in addition to its safety from an environmental point of view, its surface will be quite warm to the touch. As a rule, the manufacturers of such laminate are European companies.
A large number of European companies in recent decades have opened representative offices and even production facilities in Russia. Therefore, the laminate of an eminent brand can be inexpensive due to the fact that it was produced in our country.
In addition to quality characteristics, when choosing, special attention should be paid to the color scheme of the flooring. So, if the laminate in the interior is a neutral background in the general interior of the room, then it is best to use light colors, since this will visually increase the space. The use of dark-colored laminate is not recommended in very bright rooms, because in bright light, every speck of dust will be visible on the flooring, which in turn will make the overall appearance of the room untidy.
Often, laminate is used for wall cladding and the creation of various room partitions. The most important thing is to choose the right material in terms of color and texture. Since the use of laminate in wall decoration is very common today, on the market of finishing materials, you can easily find a special wall laminate for the interior, equipped with a mount. Using laminate in this way creates a unique design style. It becomes possible to divide the room into functional zones, to achieve interesting effects, skillfully combining various shades and textures of the material.
Laminate is also used for the manufacture of screens, when decorating window sills, when facing loggias and balconies, using laminate to make sliding doors and panels, restoring furniture, etc. In other words, this material is universal and is used to decorate absolutely any interior.