The laminate has several classes of wear resistance. The choice is made depending on which rooms are used for decoration. Only if all factors are taken into account, the floor covering will please its owners for a long time - both in appearance and in technical characteristics.
About the main criteria for choosing a laminate
It is worth considering each of the significant parameters. Then the choice is simplified.
Building Material Manufacturer
The larger the company, the higher the quality of the products. You can get confused in the number of offers available for the modern market. But there is one simple rule that facilitates any choice. Products can be considered 100% quality if it is known that the company is part of the EPLF association. Either on the product itself, or in the accompanying documentation, this information should be indicated.
Attention! The company that operates in Russia is the most famous Tarkett.
Different types of laminate design
Most often there are products whose surface imitates parquet or other varieties of natural wood floors. West European manufacturers specialize in this area.
Laminate embossing is also different, depending on the imagination of the creators. This is a relief pattern on the outer layer, making the structure somewhat convex. Thanks to this design, the flooring really resembles a natural tree. Embossed laminate is a practical product - cleaning is simplified, after it there are no stains on the surface. Now with a smooth surface, only the cheapest varieties of laminate are produced.
A chamfer for this material is called a special groove. It has the shape of the letter V, and is formed between boards or lamellas located nearby. Thanks to the chamfer, the product also takes on the appearance of a natural tree. The same element allows you to hide the joints when the need arises.
Wear resistance: what classes are
When choosing a class, it is important to pay attention to which room the floor covering will be in.
Deciding on the wear resistance class of a product is simple. It is enough to rub on the surface with sandpaper. The longer it takes for any traces to appear, the higher the class.
What is the difference between classes
There are several important points that will also help with the choice.
- 31st grade. Suitable for flooring in rooms with low load indicators. Usually this applies to workrooms, bedrooms.
- Panels 32 classes. Designed for conditions with increased load. They can be placed inside living rooms, children's rooms.
- 33rd class - for maximum load. Including - for dining rooms, kitchens.
- 34th grade. The most durable and expensive products. Technical and operational characteristics are the highest.
Class 31 Features
For long-term intensive loads, such products are not intended from the very beginning. Because they are placed in rooms where patency remains negligible. Then the coating can last up to 10 years or more.
Here are just a few of the parameters that such material should meet:
- Water absorption within 18%.
- IC-1 - shock resistance group.
- 2500 is an indicator of a taber test.
- AC-3 - designation of a class for wear resistance.
- The top layer is 0.2 millimeters.
- Lamels with a standard thickness of 6-8 millimeters.
The surface of the board retains its properties even when exposed to moisture in large quantities. But this effect persists for a short time. The ends and lock joints remain the weakest places in such structures. They are least protected against large amounts of fluid. The faster it can be removed from the surface, the better. Otherwise, the coating will begin to swell.
The positive aspects of the laminate are as follows:
- Simple installation.
- Textures and colors in a wide selection.
- Resistance to heat treatment.
- Resistance to aggressive substances, including chemically active ones.
- Low price level.
Attention! When walking in shoes with hard soles, the coating makes characteristic sounds, which not everyone likes. Of the disadvantages also note the lack of additional protection against moisture.
What features does 32 class have
Among ordinary consumers, such products are one of the most popular. This class accounts for about 2/3 of all sales. The material belongs to the average price range, and is designed for rooms with medium traffic. In this case, the standard service life reaches 15 years.
Here is a list of the main parameters that the laminate should match:
- Up to 18% water absorption.
- IC2 - shock resistance.
- 4000 is the result of a taber test.
- AC-4 - designation of a class for wear resistance.
- From 0.2 to 0.4 millimeters - the total thickness of the outer layer.
- The total thickness of the entire board is 7-12 millimeters.
Among the advantages, the following properties are separately distinguished:
- Reasonable price for a coating that can serve up to 15 years or more.
- The increased level of wear resistance.
- Board thickness within 12 mm. Strength and sound insulation are thereby enhanced.
- Huge selection of design options for coverage. Most products have a relief coating that imitates other materials, including those of natural origin.
Reference! Of the shortcomings are the same booming sounds, if you walk on the surface in shoes with a fairly stiff sole. Again lacks moisture protection.
Class 33 options
The material acquires additional strength and wear resistance due to special additives used during production. In the case of home conditions, it is better to lay such a laminate where the traffic is always high. And even with this operation, the service life of the coating reaches 20 years. If there are no serious loads, then this indicator increases to 20 years.
Material requirements are as follows:
- Standard water absorption at 18%.
- IC-3 is the level of resistance to shock.
- 6500 in the taber test.
- AC-5 - wear resistance class.
- 0.4 millimeters - the minimum thickness of the upper layer.
- 8-12 mm - total thickness for the entire board.
The main advantages include a long service life, together with a relief surface with an attractive appearance, a high degree of abrasion resistance. But for rooms where there is always a lot of moisture, it is necessary to choose special varieties of laminate, in which moisture absorption is at least at the level of 8%.
How to be in the case of class 34
In the production of laminate in this class, the technology with the designation HPL is often used. This means that they use pressing while maintaining high pressure. The use of special impregnations allows to achieve a high level of strength at the base. Different impregnations are added to different layers to achieve optimal results.
Class 34 laminate is rarely used for home flooring. The material is more relevant for objects where a large number of people constantly accumulate. Usually these are shops and airports, even car dealerships. If you use such structures in your apartment, you can forget about the repair almost until the end of your life.
In this case, the main parameters and requirements are as follows:
- The amount of water absorption in 8%.
- IC-4 - shock resistance parameter.
- 6500 in the taber test.
- AC-6 - wear resistance class.
- 0.6 millimeters is the thickness of the protective layer.
- 10-12 millimeters is the total thickness of the board.
These are waterproof products that are suitable even for rooms with a high level of humidity. The design of the bond is improved, so that the lock joints become more reliable. This makes it easy to carry out any installation work. Of the shortcomings, only a high price is noted, but the characteristics cover this flaw.
If you study in advance information about the features of each of the classes, it will be easier to choose the material. Bedroom, kitchen, hallway - each room has its own purpose and individual characteristics. Depending on this, materials for flooring are also chosen. It should be borne in mind that the laminate has been used for many years. Therefore, it is important to competently approach the choice not only in appearance, but also in other characteristics.
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