Quality of flooring: parquet, laminate, linoleum

Contents

1. How to determine the quality of the parquet?

• Characteristics of parquet
• Criteria for selection of quality parquet

How to determine the quality of the laminate?

• Characteristics of laminate
• Criteria for choosing high-quality laminate

How to determine the quality of linoleum?

• Characteristics of linoleum
• Criteria for choosing high-quality linoleum

Indoor flooring is one of the most important elements of the interior and its choice of many types will be very important. Special attention requires consideration of the quality parameters of the flooring, a careful study of which will help you choose the best option. By choosing a good flooring you will get not only the durability of floor operation, but also good thermal insulation and sound insulation characteristics of the room.

Of the many types of decorative flooring, which represents the modern construction market, let's look at three main ones: parquet, laminate and linoleum. All three types have a number of performance characteristics, which can vary both between types and between wear resistance classes and different models. To choose the most optimal and affordable option from a variety of products by the mass of manufacturers, you should understand the main criteria and characteristics that determine the quality of the flooring. After reading the article you will get an idea of ​​the parameters that will help you make the right choice.

How to determine the quality of the parquet?

Characteristics of the parquet

In order to better understand how high-quality parquet you first need to understand what it consists of. If you thought that the floorboard is made of solid wood, then you are mistaken, it has a multi-layered structure. Each layer carries a specific function, which together determine the quality of the parquet. So let's take a closer look at each layer separately.

• The top layer is - this layer is primarily decorative. Its resistance to abrasion is determined by the hardness of the wood, various wood species have different strength characteristics. The top layer is usually made of precious woods such as oak, beech, aspen, maple, pine and many others. Usually this layer is 4 millimeters thick, which is quite enough for the parquet to last 10 years without any complaints. The smaller the thickness of this layer, the less durable parquet flooring. The thickness of the upper layer determines the number of grinding cycles.
• The middle layer of the is the next layer, which consists mainly of pine or other softwood. Its thickness ranges from 8 to 10 millimeters. This layer is important in that it is a junction, that is, at this level there is a lock that holds the parquet boards together. It is important that the layer does not consist of solid wood, and was formed from a variety of planks located perpendicular to other layers of the floorboard. This is required for better stability of the parquet to changes in humidity, temperature and a more durable connection with other parquet planks.
• lower layer - the last layer is a fixative and fixes the middle layer. This is solid plywood, which is the final link in the parquet, and has a thickness of about 2 millimeters. It has no special parameters, therefore it does not require close attention.

Criteria for the selection of quality parquet

1. In the first place, the choice of parquet is determined by its appearance and texture .If the top layer has a non-uniform color gamut and has various defects that are inherent in the tree, such as knots or uneven annual rings, then this indicates a not very high-quality wood material. This does not mean that it is less durable, but such a parquet will not be expensive and will not look as impressive as a floorboard made of high-quality wood.
2. One of the main criteria for the quality of parquet is and its hardness is .This is determined by the type of wood that is used for the top decorative layer. There are five classes of hardness, which determine the quality and high cost of floorboard.
   • The first class of is the hardest wood, such as ironwood, boxwood, merbau.
   • The second class of is hornbeam and ash.
   • The third class of is beech, oak, maple, elm. The fourth class is aspen and soft birch. The fifth class is the softest species, which include cedar, pine or linden.
3. To make the right choice, you need to pay attention to the marking on the parquet itself. Carefully look at the certificate of conformity with GOST , as well as the quality certificate from the manufacturer and the same as hygiene safety .If you meet too praised product, it is a sign that the products are not of the highest quality. Self-respecting manufacturer clearly knows the price of its product, and will not deceive the buyer.

How to determine the quality of the laminate?

Laminate

Characteristics Like parquet, laminate has a multi-layer structure. It is not made of natural wood materials, which are modern analogues of pressed wood with the addition of chemical binders. These are hardboard, MDF, chipboard or HDF, which are most often used in the manufacture of laminated coatings. Laminate is a more practical flooring due to its low cost and excellent durability and strength. But this material has a number of characteristics that speak about the quality of coverage. Let's look at the layers that make up the laminate.

• The first layer of the is the top protective layer that protects the panel from external influences. This layer gives resistance to abrasion and is one of the most important. The layer is a protective film, which is also called an overlay. It can be implemented in several layers, which gives greater stability.
• The second layer of is a decorative layer that imitates the surface of natural materials. Probably the most common is the stylization under the tree, but there are other imitations, such as natural stone or other material and color. This layer is a special paper that has a large number of textures and colors.
• The third layer - is the basis for other layers and is made of fiberboard, MDF, chipboard or HDF.Depending on the use of a base material, the strength of the laminate is determined. For example, HDF is a high density wooden base, which gives the laminated floor even greater strength and durability.
• The fourth layer of is a special paper coating impregnated with a resin compound that prevents moisture from entering the main layer. Also protects the wood board from deformation under the influence of temperature and humidity of the environment.

Criteria for choosing high-quality laminate

1. First of all, laminate is divided into classes , which speak about the degree of strength of the floor covering. The higher the class, the more stable and stronger such a floor. The most popular classes are 21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 33 laminated panels. The first three with the first number 2 indicate a low degree of strength and resistance to abrasion. This means that for places where there is an intense flow of people, that is, in an office, shop or other similar place, it is better not to use such laminate. The last three with the first number 3, on the contrary, have good strength indicators and can be used in crowded places.
2. is also worth paying attention to the third main layer of the board itself. As mentioned above, it can be fiberboard, MDF, particleboard or HDF.The latter material has the highest strength and can withstand high bending and deformation loads. Other types of less durable, so here is selected based on the needs of the user who decides to buy laminate.
3. The next point is the lock, which connects the laminated panels to each other. Eminent manufacturers use their own designed designs of such locks that can withstand stretching well and will not succumb to deformation. There are two types of locks - this is Click and Lock. In simple terms, the first option is a snap-fit ​​design, and the second is a tamping design. Both options are very reliable and should be chosen based on your own convenience.
4. When choosing laminate, first of all, you should pay your attention to products from well-known and well-established manufacturers.

How to determine the quality of linoleum?

Characteristics of linoleum

Linoleum is the most affordable and simple floor covering, therefore it is in wide demand. It is most often used at home and in the office for its practicality and fairly good physical properties of durability and abrasion resistance. Linoleum has a different configuration and also has characteristics that determine its quality. Basically, linoleum consists of two parts, which we consider in more detail below.

• The front side of is the decorative side of linoleum, which is made of polyurethane base. The better the layer, the more stable the floor covering of linoleum. Linoleum can be divided into commercial and household, in the first case, the pattern passes through the entire thickness of the layer, in the second only from the top. Therefore, commercial linoleum is the strongest and can withstand significant daily loads of 5 tons per square meter and will last for quite a long time without losing the pattern of the upper facial layer.
• The substrate is the bottommost layer, which is the base and has the property of insulation. But it can be just a polyurethane durable coating without insulation. The thickness of the lower layer of linoleum does not indicate its strength. If the substrate is soft, as a rule, such linoleum is well insulated and retains heat. It is well suited for home, but also for the office will be very useful.

Criteria for selecting quality linoleum

1. You can determine the quality of linoleum by such signs - it is relief texture , which has a good thickness, as a rule, a very high-quality, bright design decision, that is, a high-quality pattern, also speaks of the good quality of linoleum.
2. The stability of linoleum is better with commercial type , as it is designed for heavy loads of human legs and other factors. The PVC coating of the first layer should have a pattern that runs through the entire thickness of the layer. This is the main indicator of quality and durable linoleum flooring.
3. Another important factor is the manufacturer, which produces linoleum. Famous brands care about their reputation and hold the brand, producing a high-quality and durable product.

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