Overview of the best laminate collections for domestic and commercial use, as well as moisture-resistant coatings and lamellas for underfloor heating.
Content:
Which laminate is better to buy
All the basic characteristics of the laminate, as well as its service life, are closely related to its class and lamella thickness:
1. Class 31 - 6-7 mm boards, replacing household laminate. They serve 5-10 years and are suitable for bedrooms, nurseries and living rooms.
2. 32 class - panels with a thickness of 6-10 cm. These are used in private homes and small offices. Average service life of 10-15 years.
3. Class 33 - lamellas of 8-12 mm, designed for rooms with high loads (shops, cafes, offices). The term of operation is 15-20 years.
4. Class 34 - the thickest and durable boards of 9-12 mm, which are suitable for municipal public institutions, commercial and industrial organizations.
Also, when choosing, pay attention to the labeling of the speakers - it denotes the wear resistance of the upper layer of the laminate. For household premises, coatings with indicator AC1-AC3 are recommended, for commercial this figure is higher: AC4-AC6.
Different laminate and the type of connection bands. Glue is more accessible, but does not give in to local repair and is extremely difficult in laying.
Slats with collapsible Click-locks can be mounted over the bases with irregularities up to 3 mm / sq.m. Lock snaps are suitable only for perfectly level floors and require certain styling skills.
Other nuances that will help you choose the right laminate, you will learn from another our article. In the meantime, look at the best coverage from reputable manufacturers.
The best laminate class 31
Lamels of 31 classes differ in the most reasonable price, however have smaller resistance to wear. Such laminate is purchased for rooms with low intensity of operation.
KRONOSPAN Kronofix Classic - budget option
Laminated board Kronofix Classic is made in Russia from local wood - hence the low price. At the same time, the quality of laminate is not inferior to foreign counterparts of the same class.
The matte floor covering is composed of single-sided panels without chamfers of 1285x192 mm in size. The thickness of each is 7 mm, the picture imitates the natural wood.
Although the panels are not 100% waterproof, they are treated with an impregnation that increases resistance to swelling. The lock connection here is the proprietary Kronospan 1Clic2Go system, which provides quick and easy installation.
The Classic collection includes 12 shades: Walnut Sicily, Ship Tree, Urban Legends, Teak Azian, California Oak and others. Laminate packaged in 10 pieces. with a total area of 2.47 sq.m.
Advantages:
- Low price;
- A variety of colors;
- Non-slip surface;
- Successful locks;
- Water-repellent impregnation panels;
- Easy to clean.
Disadvantages:
- Few original colors.
Kronofix Classic is suitable for residential premises, tolerates wet cleaning, and due to the lack of chamfers it looks like a continuous coating on the floor.
HARO Tritty 75 - practical and non-capricious laminate
One of the most accessible collections in the range of the German manufacturer is designed for residential areas with increased load.
Lamels have an additional top layer with antistatic properties, are resistant to mechanical damage and UV rays, and are easy to clean.
Sizes of boards 1282х183 mm with a thickness of 7 mm. In the package they are 8 pieces with a total area of 1.73 sq.m. The palette is presented in 13 colors with imitation of wood texture and a matte surface: natural, white, gray and sand oak, tobacco, honey pine and others.
Advantages:
- Scratch resistant;
- Anti-static coating does not trap dust;
- Non-slip surface;
- Resistant to fading in the sun.
Disadvantage:
- Predominance in the collection of light shades.
Tritty 75 laminate is a durable and wear-resistant coating that is suitable for hallways, living rooms and small offices with windows on the east or south side.
The best laminated parquet 32 classes
Laminate class 32 is suitable for use in rooms with medium traffic. It is laid in receptions, shops, offices, although in private homes such coverage will be used.
BALTERIO Impressio - a very rich selection of colors
A series of Belgian laminate is represented by a wide range of colors with imitation of wood texture. In total, the collection has 20 shades, including white and almost black.
In addition, the manufacturer applied the Panoramic Design technology here, thanks to which after laying the pattern smoothly passes from one lamella to another, creating the effect of a solid board with a two-sided bevel.
The 8mm Impressio slats are quite wide and measure 1261x244 mm. Each package contains 8 such boards - they are enough to cover an area of 2.46 sq.m.
The base is made of HDF-plate, in it is formed a groove-ridge (fiber) lock ClickXpress, for which the manufacturer gives an additional guarantee - 25 years.
Advantages:
- Large selection of colors;
- Textured surface that adds to the similarity with natural wood;
- Strong castle connection;
- High wear resistance;
- Maintains massive furniture;
- Does not fade in the sun.
Disadvantages:
- Relatively high price.
Due to the variety of colors, laminate Impressio harmoniously fit into the interior with any design.
KAINDL Easy Touch 8-32 Premium - with extended warranty
The collection of laminated boards in 18 shades with a pattern of oak, pine, elm and walnut wood is single-sided slats with a double facet and a matte surface.
Laminate is sold in packs of 10 pcs. With the size of each strip of 1383х159 mm it is about 2.2 sq. M. Thickness standard for 32 classes - 8 mm.
As a base, an HDF high density plate (950 kg / m3) with water-repellent impregnation is used here. And although the Austrian manufacturer recommends wet cleaning with a well-wrung cloth, he assures that the panels do not swell even at high humidity and gives a guarantee on their products for up to 30 years.
Advantages:
- Compliance with European quality standards;
- Increased strength of the HDF base;
- Good protection against moisture;
- Easy installation;
- Lamels are 98% made from natural materials.
Disadvantages:
- High price.
Easy Touch Premium with proper care will last a really long time, and rare contact with water will not cause him much harm.
Top class coverage 33
This section contains shock-resistant, abrasion resistant coatings that are used in rooms with a large daily flow of people.
TARKETT Navigator - Romance of Adventure
The new collection of the Serbian brand includes 13 models, named after famous navigators, straits and ocean currents (Magellan, Columbus, Bosporus, etc.).The palette includes both light and dark shades, although the latter are still in the minority.
The design of the boards has the maximum similarity with the natural array due to the deep embossing and color transitions, giving the effect of aged wood. A four-sided painted chamfer also contributes.
The size of the boards - 1292х194 mm, thickness 12 mm. In packs of only 5 lamellas, so the total footage was small (1.25 square meters). But Navigator laminate is really good: its AC5 abrasion level with the recommended AC4 value, and the surface of the slats is also resistant to deformation and damage from furniture legs and heels. The boards themselves are connected to each other with a reliable TC-lock lock.
Advantages:
- Spectacular design;
- Easy styling method;
- High wear resistance;
- Low price compared to peers;
- Service life is 25 years.
Disadvantages:
- Requires a perfectly smooth base.
Externally, laminate Navigator can not be distinguished from solid wood or real flooring, although its cost is much lower. And due to the small number of lamellas in the package, it is beneficial to purchase such material for small rooms.
EGGER Classic 12/33 - on a moisture resistant basis
According to its characteristics, Egger laminated boards are very similar to the product of a Serbian manufacturer. Even the size of the panels here is about the same (1291x193x12 mm). But the colors in the collection are noticeably different - they are brighter and richer, without the effect of antiquity.
Nevertheless, the number of different shades will not disappoint anyone. Here are white, gray, honey, sand and dark brown colors - a total of 12 design options with oak texture.
Panels with a single-sided pattern have a four-sided chamfer, which makes them look like natural solid wood boards.
The basis is a moisture resistant HDF board with fiber mesh. There are 6 lanes in the package with a total area of almost 1.5 sq.m.
The laminate itself, although considered to be German, is produced for our market at Russian brand enterprises - to reduce the cost. But even there he passes all the required quality control steps.
Advantages:
- Scratch resistant;
- Good sound insulation;
- Moisture resistant base;
- 20 years warranty;
- Reasonable price with excellent quality.
Disadvantages:
- Sometimes the locks "sit down" not the first time.
Best waterproof laminate
Laminated boards that are resistant to water, as a rule, belong to the 34th class, because they also have increased wear resistance.
WESTERHOF Style Grand - beautiful floor with expressive texture
The collection of the German brand has combined 12 types of lamellae, named after different musical directions: Chanson, Jazz, Foxtrot, Bibob and others. The HDF-plate with the density of 940 kg / m3 is taken as a basis, the locks are additionally treated with wax-resistant impregnation.
The size of the panels Style Grand is 1215x197 mm with a thickness of 8 mm. In the packaging of such strips 10 pieces with a total square 2.39 squares. On each side there is a V-shaped chamfer on each of them, the surface is embossed with a matte effect.
On sale there are boards of European and Chinese production - the latter, of course, are cheaper.
Advantages:
- Durable HDF-based plates;
- Pleasant to the touch surface;
- Suitable for installation over a warm floor;
- Low price for Chinese-made slats.
Disadvantages:
- Due to the deep texture it is difficult to clean up complex dirt.
Despite the small thickness, Style Grand laminate does not deform from the weight of heavy furniture and successfully resists wear and tear even in public places (25 years with a moderate load and at least 20 with an increased load).
PRAKTIK Benefice - covering in ethno-style
The Benefice collection imitates the texture of natural oak and has 7 shades. In this case, the manufacturer gave the surfaces of the lamellae a deliberately rough rustic embossing with rare repetitions so that the coating looked as natural as possible. Boards are sized 1210х240 mm with a thickness of 8 mm, with a U-shaped chamfer on each side.
The installation of the Praktik laminate is quick and seamless, thanks to the Click-2-Click locking system. The seams themselves are treated with Aqua Stop's patented impregnation, protecting them from water. The total area of coverage in one pack is 2 sq.m.
Advantages:
- Spectacular design;
- The highest level of durability - AC6;
- Maximum protection against moisture;
- Quality locks.
Disadvantages:
- A poor choice of colors.
Laminate Benefice fits perfectly into the interiors, decorated in a classic, ethnic or provincial style. And its high resistance to any external influences makes it an excellent choice for rooms with high humidity and active use.
The best series for underfloor heating
In combination with the "warm floor" system, the laminate should pass heat well, but not emit any odors or hazardous chemical compounds when heated.
KASTAMONU Floorpan Blue - affordable and durable
The series with the traditional pattern of natural wood in 10 versions of warm colors is represented by 8-mm panels measuring 1380x193 mm. In a pack of such strips fit 8 pieces with a total area of 2.1 squares.
The panels do not have a chamfer, and thanks to the Double Click lock connection, after installation, the gaps on the floor become almost imperceptible. A durable scratch-resistant protective coating has been applied on top of the slats, increasing the wear resistance of the laminate to 33.
Advantages:
- Believable imitation of natural wood;
- Reliable double locks;
- Mechanical damage resistant protective coating;
- Environmental friendliness (emission class E1);
- Low cost for a laminate of this class.
Disadvantages:
- Complicated care due to deep embossing.
Thanks to its balanced characteristics, Floorpan Blue is suitable for both residential and commercial premises. And he allows laying on the base with small irregularities - up to 3 mm per square.
PERGO Public Extreme - with heavy duty coating
The collection of the Belgian brand has about 50 colors and includes panels of the highest - 34 classes of durability. 9mm boards measure 120x19 cm and packaged in stacks of 6 pieces each. However, there are also non-standard lamellae of increased width (40.8 cm).
The slats go without chamfers, but are equipped with the PerfectFold 3.0 locking system - it is good because it allows you to “unfasten” the boards without difficulty during the installation process and reassemble them. But TitanX Adv, which protects the laminate from animal claws, furniture legs and sharp heels, deserves special attention.
Advantages:
- Incredible selection of colors;
- Convenient and quick locks;
- Very durable scratch resistant coating;
- Antistatic properties;
- Lifetime warranty from the manufacturer.
Disadvantages:
- High price.
Public Extreme is a durable, heavy-duty laminate that will be appreciated by owners of clawed pets and lovers of noisy parties. Not worse, he will show himself in restaurants, cinemas, banquet halls, as well as in dance clubs.
Best Square Laminate
Square panels are easy to install and have high stabilizing characteristics. Many of them are pleased with the original colors and are suitable for creating decorative patterns on the floor.
QUICK-STEP Arte - unusual textures
A very unusual collection of laminate, repeating the pattern of parquet dies, marble pattern and even natural leather.
There are no chamfers here, so the gaps between the panels are almost imperceptible (with the exception of the darkest models). The “Arte” series was created by Belgian designers, but the laminate itself is produced at Quick-Step plants in Russia.
The size of each plate is 624x624 mm with a thickness of 9.5. Thanks to these parameters and Uniclic locks, laminate can be laid on the base with defects up to 3-4 mm per square meter.
Arte panels belong to 32 strength classes, but also have a moisture-resistant base and an additional Scratch Guard coating on which no scratches remain.
Advantages:
- Exclusive design;
- Moisture resistant base;
- Can be mounted over the "warm floor";
- Easy installation;
- High scratch resistance.
Disadvantages:
- Quite a price.
Arte is a beautiful, and most importantly, original laminate, which is suitable for finishing rooms with small and medium operating load.
FLOORWOOD Arte - the most original laminate
The Arte collection from the German company Floorwood has 6 articles, but only two of them come in the form of 600x600 mm square panels - this is “Venice” and “Capriccio” with an imitation of artistic parquet.
The plates themselves are 97% made of natural wood and have a thickness of 12 mm, corresponding to class 33 of durability.
Chamfers are applied on all four sides, the seams of laminated "parquet" are additionally protected from moisture.
Advantages:
- Antistatic properties simplify care for a textured surface;
- Maximum of natural materials;
- Easy installation;
- Resistance to sunlight;
- Seam protection from moisture.
Disadvantages:
- Only 2 colors;
- Increased by 10% consumption due to the installation.
Floorwood Arte will quietly serve at least 25 years even in commercial premises. It is a pity that the choice of colors of square panels is not rich here.
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