Laminate which company is better to choose for an apartment: reviews and prices
Laminate which company is better to choose for an apartment: consumer reviews and prices
Starting the renovation in the apartment, I want to show my individuality. To do this, we think over and design every corner of the home in harmony with our habits and character. The choice of floor finishing is one of the most important points in the renovation. Many people want to feel noble parquet or wood under their feet, but these materials are expensive and demanding in care. Laminate flooring is an excellent alternative. Today, in the market of building materials, you can find laminate from various manufacturers, for any design taste and with different technical characteristics. Before buying, you should study the information about which company’s laminate is better to choose for an apartment: customer reviews, product prices and other information will also be useful.
Laminate is a modern decorative floor covering
What is laminate
Laminate flooring, which is commonly called “laminate”, was invented about 30 years ago in Sweden by Perstorp Flooring AB. A few years later, this coating began to be used in the decoration of floors. Laminate flooring is very popular today. A variety of types and classes of laminate flooring, various design solutions of colors and styles allow it to be used as a floor covering for various types of premises (residential, office, retail, etc.).
Technical characteristics of the most popular type of laminate
For a general idea of the structure of laminate, let’s briefly analyze its structure:
- the lower hard layer consists of waterproof melamine, which serves as a protection against deformation;
- next comes the base – a panel made of fiberboard or chipboard, which performs the main mechanical load;
- the next layer is decorative. This is a paper on which drawings are applied, imitating various types of wood, leather or other material;
- the laminate is covered with a laminated film on top. Melamine or acrylic resin is used for its manufacture. The thickness of this layer and the amount of melamine in it affects the resistance of the plate to wear and mechanical damage.
The structure of the laminate
Laminate which company is better to choose for an apartment: customer reviews. TOP 10 best manufacturers
The whole laminate is almost the same in structure, but its quality depends on many indicators. First of all, it is a manufacturing company. Despite the appearance of domestic laminate on the construction market, the leadership still remains with foreign companies. Using the example of the TOP 10 popular manufacturers, let’s consider which company’s laminate is better to choose for an apartment. Customer reviews will help you make the right choice.
Leading manufacturers offer a wide range of sizes, textures and colors of laminated coating
Quick-Step (Belgium)
This company is one of the leaders in the global laminate market. Its products are in demand not only in Russia and Europe, but also in the USA. Only this company has a patented Uniklic lock, which makes it easier to lay laminate. The Quick-Step team is constantly working on improving the material and design, so the products of this brand always keep up with the times. Collections are constantly replenished with new models and colors, all products are of first-class quality and environmentally friendly.
The popularity of the company allows it to set a fairly high cost for its products. In the reviews of the Quick-Step laminate, you can see different opinions, positive ones relate to the quality and long service life of the coating. Negative reviews indicate instability to damage and poor quality of products manufactured at Russian factories, while buyers complain about the high cost.
Laminate with chamfer “Sawn oak natur” from the Eligna Wide collection from Quick-Step, class 32, board size 1380x190x8 mm
Balterio (Belgium)
Balterio laminate is in demand all over the world. This is a relatively young company, but the quality of its products has ensured its place among the world leaders in the production of laminate flooring. Balterio also has its own patented Click Xpres locking system, fastening the lamellas with such a lock ensures a strong seamless connection.
The laminate is made of high-strength HDF plates that guarantee durability and wear resistance. A special decorative layer created by ultra-precise pressing maximally conveys the structure of natural materials.
Laminate with chamfer “Montana Oak” from the Quattro Vintage collection from Balterio, board size 1257×190.5×8 mm
The opinion of buyers about the laminate of this company is also ambiguous, but these products have a lot of positive reviews:
“A year has passed, the laminate is fine, nothing creaks, no cracks and crevices. In one corner I had to shift partially — I coped myself, everything fits perfectly, but not immediately — it’s necessary to adjust. There are 2 cats living in the house, their claws are not scary to him. The laminate trim has been lying in the garden for a year, i.e. snow, rain, frost, heat, the ends are like new / just sawn – not swollen!”
Sergey Novikov, Kaluga
Other consumers note creaking during the first time of operation and the appearance of scratches.
Laminate with chamfer “Caramel Elm” from the Xperience collection from Balterio, board size 1257×190.5×8 mm
Egger (Germany)
The flooring of this company in the design is focused on fashion trends. High–quality material, attractive appearance, hypoallergenic laminate from Egger is an incomplete list of its advantages. Special attention should be paid to the aqua+ marking on the products, which means the high moisture resistance of the laminate and the ability to use it as a floor covering even in the bathroom and kitchen. It is positioned with high wear resistance and environmental safety.
Laminate with chamfer “Oak Zeus” from Egger, board size 1292x245x10 mm
The following claims are made against this brand in customer reviews:
“We put a white Oak Loft laminate, ordered it over the Internet, disappointed. It is very poorly cleaned, dust is collected, it does not look very nice, you need to wash it often. It is laid in the bedroom, it has been sold under the bed for a year and joints are visible, and this is the main disadvantage. We will lay another laminate, I have already suffered with this.”
Evgenia Ishchenko, Orel
However, there are also a lot of positive reviews about high resistance to damage, ease of installation, etc. For example, masters of laminate laying write on forums that the products of this company’s 8 mm collection have almost no defects and are the best in price–quality ratio.
Laminate with chamfer “Nut Mansonia” from Egger, 33 class, board size 1292x245x10 mm
Tarkett Company (Europe)
The concern’s products are manufactured in Sweden, Germany and Serbia. Tarkett produces coatings of class 32 and 33, which are used both in residential and public spaces. The high-quality laminate of this company has a layer of kraft paper, a T-lock locking system, high wear resistance. Various surface structures, a rich selection of colors and thematic scales allows you to choose a model for any interior.
Tarkett company is the only manufacturer of laminate flooring in Russia, which has an environmental label “Leaf of Life”. Opinions about this laminate are very diverse. At the same time, there are reviews from the same buyer about different Tarkett collections bought at the same time and laid out in the kitchen and in the corridor. In the kitchen, the laminate did not wear out, and in the corridor it rose at the seams.
Laminate “Golden Oak” from the WOODSTOCK collection from Tarkett, class 32, board size 1292x194x8 mm
Pergo (Sweden)
The products of this company are characterized by innovative design, exquisite decor and a variety of textures. At the same time, all collections are available in three classes of wear resistance. But the main advantage is the patented TitanX™ surface treatment technology, which provides the highest degree of wear resistance. Pergo has its own lock system PerfectFold 3.0, which facilitates the process of laying laminate. The laminate flooring of this company is environmentally friendly.
Laminate “Oak Midnight” from the Long Plank collection from Pergo, class 34, size 2050x205x10 mm
BerryAlloc (Belgium – Norway)
The Norwegian company Alloc, with a long history and rich experience in the production of high-quality flooring and wood panels, in 2012 combined its resources with a company from Belgium. The result is a manufacturer that manufactures laminate using HPL and DPL technologies, which is characterized by excellent quality.
The company has an exclusive aluminum locking connection of lamellas and produces environmentally friendly laminate. A rich assortment of models with a variety of colors and textures will satisfy the preferences of any buyer. The products have high wear resistance and moisture resistance, so they can be used as a floor covering in the kitchen. The high price of this laminate is fully justified by its quality.
Basalt Oak laminate from the Elegance collection from BerryAlloc, board size 2033x241x9 mm
Parador (Germany)
The products of this company have excellent technical characteristics and a unique design. It has high quality, original textures that repeat the pattern of natural materials: wood, stone, etc. Parador has patented two lock connection technologies – Automatic-Click and Safe-lock, which guarantee reliable fastening of panels under any load.
For the manufacture of laminate, the company uses HDF plates and a special water-repellent impregnation, which increases the moisture resistance of the laminate flooring. The products collected positive feedback thanks to the ProAir system, which is designed to reduce the concentration of harmful substances in the premises. With high quality, you should not expect low prices, but they are quite affordable at Parador.
Laminate without chamfer “Versailles natur” from the TrendTime collection from Parador, class 32, board size 1285x330x8 mm
Kronotex (Germany)
A well-known German manufacturer of laminate flooring. The collections of this company are diverse and will satisfy the taste of the most demanding customers. The laminate has a high resistance to abrasion and burnout, a simple installation system with Click-locks and a guarantee of environmental safety.
For the production of laminate, HDF plates made of natural wood are used. Kronotex products manufactured at Russian factories have a lower cost, however, reviews about it are deteriorating. The original German-made products have won only positive reviews.
Laminate “Blues” from the Amazone collection from Kronotex, board size 1380x157x10 mm
Haro (Germany)
A family business founded in the nineteenth century. Until today, it occupies a worthy place among the leaders in the production of parquet and laminate flooring. The multilayer construction of HARO laminate floors always maintains resistance to loads and wear.
The special aquaTec system (the combination of the HDF carrier plate with the aquaResist® moisture-repellent treatment and a specially impregnated protective layer of the surface) provides high wear resistance and a moisture-repellent effect. This allows the coating to be used in rooms with high humidity.
Laminate with chamfer “Eiche Altholz” from the collection of the company from Haro, board size 1282x135x10 mm
Wineo (Germany)
The laminate flooring of this company combines such criteria as ease of installation and quality. The plates are made of compressed wood fibers. The products are positioned as wear-resistant, not afraid of moisture and ultraviolet rays. The convenient system of patented LocTec® connection locks makes it easy to fasten the panels together. Laminate from Wineo has a different surface structure (glossy, matte, pressed), as well as a variety of colors.
Laminate with chamfer “Virginia Oak” from the Wineo 500 medium V2 collection from Wineo, class 32, board size 1288×195 mm
It can be quite difficult to determine with the help of forums which laminate is better to choose for an apartment, since there are absolutely opposite opinions and each of the above companies has both positive and negative reviews.
Types of laminate: what you need to know for the right purchase
Due to its presentable appearance, basic characteristics and affordable cost, laminate is an excellent alternative to expensive parquet flooring and is most often used for finishing floors in apartments and private homes.
When choosing a laminate, it is necessary to focus on such characteristics:
- laminate class;
- shape and dimensions;
- types of connection locks;
- environmental safety;
- design solution;
- the texture of the surface.
Creative laminate design in retro style
Laminate class: which one is better to choose for an apartment
In order for the laminate flooring to last a long time, it is necessary to choose it correctly in accordance with the wear resistance class. These technical characteristics determine the possibility of resistance to mechanical and chemical damage, moisture resistance, sound insulation, reaction to light, etc.
Which class of laminate is best suited for a particular room is determined depending on the intensity of its use.
If there are pets in the apartment, it is necessary to choose a laminate with the highest class of wear resistance
The European Association of Laminate Flooring Manufacturers (EPLF) has approved standards for laminate flooring. According to these standards , six classes of laminate are defined:
Table of compliance with the wear resistance class, room type and service life of the laminate
Today, laminate of 31, 32 and 33 classes is in the greatest demand and is widely used for floor finishing in apartments and residential buildings. Modern manufacturers, taking into account the preferences of consumers, are increasingly limited to the production of laminate flooring for these classes. It is more expensive than household laminate, but its quality and service life are many times higher.
There is another class of laminate – 34, which has super abrasion resistance. It is rarely used in apartments because of the high cost. Laminate of this class is recommended to be laid in rooms with a very intense load.
Size and shape
Laminated coating is produced mainly in the form of rectangular panels imitating wooden surfaces. There are no standard laminate sizes, so we will focus only on the limit values, as well as on the most popular sizes. Minimum parameters of laminate board: length 300-400 mm, width – 90 mm, thickness – 6 mm. The maximum parameters, respectively: 1845x330x12 mm. Laminate with average parameters is considered the most popular: length from 1260 to 1380 mm, width 185-195 mm and thickness 8 mm.
Dimensions of laminate panels manufactured by Haro (Germany)
It is worth noting that shorter boards fit more easily. When using long panels, it is important to maintain the geometry of each bar so that the laminate does not deform during operation. The width is selected based on the geometry of the room, as well as the desired appearance (imitation of a wooden floor, parquet, tiles, leather). It should be noted that a thick coating is more resilient in terms of loads and has low thermal conductivity, but such a coating is more expensive. These criteria will help you decide which laminate thickness is better to choose.
There is a laminate and a square shape. Most often, his drawing imitates ceramic tiles. The width of such a panel is 330 mm. The square coating is easier to fit and does not require a substrate, unlike the rectangular version. But its cost is more expensive, and it is more difficult to repair a damaged tile than a classic laminate.
Wide laminate panels visually resemble a massive plank floor
Important! When calculating the required amount of laminate, be sure to take into account the cost of pruning. With direct laying, this is 7% of the room area, with diagonal – from 10 to 15%.
Before buying, make sure that the chosen shape and size of the laminate will be in harmony with the geometry of the room. For large rooms, longer and wider slats are suitable, and in small rooms it is more appropriate to use narrower panels.
Related article:
Step-by-step instructions for laying laminate with your own hands. Tips for laying a new floor in an apartment for a beginner. Materials, foundation preparation, laying rules: step-by-step photos of works, videos.
Connection Locks: Click or Lock
Fastening of laminate strips can be carried out in one of two ways: Click or Lock. Let’s try to find out which laminate lock is better.
The principle of a hammered lock type Lock is to connect laminate boards to each other by hammering a curly protrusion on one bar into the groove of the other. Accordingly, each bar has both a groove and a protrusion with combs that do not allow the boards to disperse.
The principle of locking the Click and Lock locks
The advantage of such a laminate is its low price. Locks of the Lock type are not suitable for rooms with heavy traffic, because a constant load leads to their abrasion and, as a result, breakage. Laminate with Lock locks must be laid on a perfectly flat base so that there are no “sagging”. Laying should be handled by a specialist, an inexperienced master can break the bar when tapping.
The Click type lock is easy to install. Even a beginner can lay a laminated coating with a click-lock. It is necessary to put one board to another at an angle of 45 ° and press until the click sound. Laminate with this type of lock is not afraid of loads and is quite easy to repair, it can be disassembled and laid elsewhere in case of relocation. Obviously, you will have to pay more for such comfort and reliability, but the result is worth it.
Laying laminate with lock connection Click
Environmental safety
Environmental safety is the main criterion for the quality of any finishing material for residential premises. According to the EPLF standards, laminate of class E1 is considered safe. It contains an acceptable amount of formaldehyde, which is not dangerous to human health. When choosing a laminate with the appropriate marking, it is worth remembering about existing fakes. In this case, it is worth paying attention to the price: laminate of a well-known brand cannot be unreasonably cheap.
You should also pay attention to information about the possibility of laminate sales only in certain regions (as a rule, these are non-European countries with low requirements for the composition of floor coverings). It is better not to purchase such a coating, since it can be manufactured by joint ventures for which there is no need to comply with European environmental safety requirements.
For a children’s room, it is better to choose a laminate with a safety class E1 marking
Useful advice! Buy laminate flooring in specialty stores with a good reputation. At the time of purchase, open one package: if there is a strong chemical smell, give up such a coating and look for a laminate that smells of sawdust.
Laminate design: photos of the interior in the apartment
Considering the collections of modern laminate flooring, we can say about the high professionalism and inexhaustible creative inspiration of its manufacturers. To add originality, all kinds of drawings are applied to it, create the effect of imitation of natural materials (wood, leather, stone, metal), experiment with the texture of the surface.
Caramel-colored laminate with imitation wooden board
What are the design options for laminate flooring offered by modern manufacturers?
Laminate under a tree is a classic version of the floor design, which successfully replaces an expensive parquet board. There are panels with imitation of the pattern of oak, maple, birch, etc. The maximum effect of naturalness is created with the help of a diverse texture of laminated slats, which will be discussed below.
For those who prefer luxury, an interior with a laminated coating “under the skin” is suitable. This is far from a budget option and it will cost a lot, but the result is worth it. A walk on the “crocodile skin” floor will give pleasure to everyone.
Laminate flooring in the living room
In such design trends as hi-tech, minimalism or loft, the laminate flooring for metal, imitating raw steel, zinc, chrome, etc., will look bright.
Laminate flooring “under the stone” will appeal more to supporters of classic design. Laminate flooring in the “stone” style will look good in the living room (especially with a fireplace), corridor, dining room, bathroom and kitchen. A variety of collections imitate such types of stone as agate, onyx, slate, volcanic stone, etc.
The interior of the room is designed in a monochrome light color scheme
The most original and multifaceted are the designer collections of laminate, offering exclusive patterns, unpredictable textures and absolute uniqueness. For example, the German manufacturer Parador in the Edition and TrendTime collections presented variations on the theme of Leonardo da Vinci’s canvases; an animalistic print imitating animal skins; abstractionism in the form of drawings in ultra bright colors.
Designer laminate flooring can also be found at Kronotex, Classen and other companies. Especially popular among these manufacturers are children’s collections of laminated coatings.
Moisture-resistant laminate is laid on the floor of the kitchen-living room
Texture: touch effect
Important for the overall appearance and feeling of comfort in the room is the texture of the laminate flooring. It can be very diverse:
- the classic wooden surface imitates the relief of natural wood;
- the effect of aged wood is achieved by simulating noticeable irregularities inherent in “worn” wood. Perfect for a Provence-style interior;
- the glossy surface will give the impression of covering the floor with wooden lacquered boards;
- laminate with a natural surface looks like wood with a natural pattern characteristic of this breed;
- oil tree. Characteristic of a laminate with such a surface is the matte finish of the coating and the effect of a well-oiled wood;
- laminate with waxed surface creates the effect of waxed wood and gives the panels a massive look;
- the country coating has a large relief and imitates the appearance of fresh, slightly planed wooden boards.
Various surface textures offered by the manufacturer Wineo (Germany)
As you can see, the range is quite large and allows you to use laminate flooring in the most unexpected variations. Therefore, when deciding which laminate is better to choose for the house, proceed from the general interior of the dwelling and your own preferences.
Laminate flooring: which one to choose
Even a high-quality laminate flooring may not last long if it does not take care of the quality of the base on which it is laid. In order for the laminate not to bend, it is necessary to lay a substrate between the base and the laminate, which will act as a shock absorber and reduce noise. There are several types of substrate:
- cork backing for laminate. Pros and cons: natural material with a long service life, has good noise absorption and thermal insulation, perfectly aligns the base. The disadvantage is the high cost and risk of crumbling in high humidity conditions;
The cork substrate has high sound and thermal insulation performance
- extruded polystyrene foam. The substrate made of this material is moisture-resistant, does not succumb to rotting processes, has a noise-absorbing effect;
- “Tuplex” is a durable three-layer substrate. The bottom layer of polyethylene has a perforation that provides ventilation. The middle layer is expanded polystyrene granules, the upper layer is polyethylene;
- a foam polyethylene substrate is a budget option. It has a noise-absorbing effect and is not afraid of humidity, but it can crumple from high loads.
Laying laminate on a foam polyethylene substrate
Useful advice! Do not overlap the substrate sheets. To avoid the formation of blisters and irregularities, you can fasten the seams at the junction of the substrate sheets with adhesive tape.
Any of these substrates will extend the service life of your floor covering, so you should not save on it. What is the best thickness of the laminate substrate depends on the class of the chosen coating, the type of lock and the material of the rough floor.
Three-layer Tuplex substrate with expanded polystyrene granules
Laminate with or without chamfer: which is better
Depending on how the edges of the lamellas are processed, the laminate can be:
- without chamfer. The edges of the lamellae are cut at right angles;
- with a chamfer. The edge is cut at an acute angle. A groove with a depth of 2-3 mm is formed between the lamellae during laying;
- with a microfask. Differs from the previous version only by the depth of the groove, in this case it is 0.5 – 1 mm.
The chamfer can be two-sided (applied only along the long edges of the lamella) and four-sided. The bevels can have a V- or U-shaped cutout.
Different types of chamfering on laminate edges
The presence or absence of a chamfer will not affect the technical characteristics of the laminate in any way, but will only affect the appearance and price of the product. A coating without chamfering will be cheaper, and it will look like a smooth solid surface on the floor. Chamfered laminate is more expensive, it looks bulkier and visually resembles a natural wood floor.
Quality and price of laminate for 1 sq. meter
The cost of laminate flooring depends on the manufacturer, wear resistance class, relevance of the collection, surface structure, connection lock system, environmental safety, etc.
A square meter of premium laminate will cost 1300 rubles and above. The cost of laminate of the average price category starts from 600 rubles / m2. At a very reasonable price, you can buy laminate from Russian and Chinese manufacturers. The average price for an economy-class laminate is 250 rubles/m2, but you should not expect durability and high strength from it.
Laminate flooring in the bedroom
Remember that buying a floor covering, you make an investment for many years, so you need to remember the saying “a miser pays twice”. With a high-quality, durable and health-safe laminate flooring, your apartment will become more comfortable and cozy, and will acquire a presentable appearance.
