How laminate is joined. How to make a technologically advanced joint between tiles and laminate. Nuances of installing connecting profiles

Laminate is a modern floor covering that has a number of advantages. First of all, these are high aesthetic qualities, affordable cost and ease of installation.

Thanks to this, laminate has firmly become one of the most popular floor coverings, but its installation has a number of its own nuances. One such stumbling block is the joint between laminate and laminate.

The appearance of the floors in the apartment will depend on how well the laminate is connected between rooms. Let's look at how to connect laminate flooring to each other correctly in our article.

Docking options

It is quite simple to join individual laminate floorboards together - they have special locks on the side designed to connect them. However, the problem is usually not how to join the floorboards together, but the connection of two types of laminated floors - say, at the border of the living room and the hallway.

Inside an apartment, laminate flooring is usually joined only in two cases:

1. If adjacent rooms have laminate flooring that differs from each other in color, texture or size of the boards.
2. If you need to make an aesthetic transition in one room between two types of laminated boards.

The latter option is becoming more and more common, as floor compositions made from several types of laminated coverings are a hit in interior design today.

Preparation of joining surfaces

Only a flat base will allow the laminate to last a long time.

Before joining the laminate, you should take into account several nuances, the observance of which will significantly simplify the work and increase the subsequent service life of the floor coverings.

1. The base of the floors in adjacent rooms must be perfectly level and without differences in the horizontal level in the place where two floor coverings will be connected. Otherwise, a noticeable joining seam with a height difference may form in this place.
2. If the floors at the junction are fairly level, the problem may be caused by the decorative coating itself. The fact is that a laminated floor can vary significantly in thickness - the thickness of the floorboards can vary from 0.6 to 1.2 cm. Therefore, when purchasing two flooring options that you plan to connect, pay attention to their thickness. However, this problem can be solved with the help of special multi-level connecting profiles.
3. The technology for constructing the floor “pie” (waterproofing - substrate - finishing coating) should be the same for both coatings.
4. If you plan to make a joint between laminate and laminate, then both coatings must belong to the same resistance class. This will avoid a situation where one surface has already become unusable, while the other will still be quite suitable for further use.

The lamellas should be joined with a gap of at least 0.5 - 1 cm. This is an expansion joint that prevents warping of the coating when humidity increases and temperature changes.

Types of thresholds for docking

The thresholds neatly cover the joints of the laminate with other floor coverings

In addition to baseboards and a special underlay, the standard kit for laying laminated boards also includes connecting strips, more often referred to as thresholds. The modern market for finishing materials offers a large selection of joining profiles.

Thresholds for laminate flooring can cover uneven joints between lamellas (floorboards) and hide small differences in height along the seam. Their size can be from 0.3 to 2 cm, which makes it possible to connect almost any type of laminate.

A variety of materials can be used to make a connecting profile: steel, aluminum, plastic, cork, composite materials. Thresholds can be made in a wide variety of colors and textures. For more information about the interface between laminate and tile, watch this video:

The profile is attached to the floor surface using dowel-nails or self-tapping screws. It is also possible to install connecting elements using liquid nails and other adhesives.

From the point of view of design features, thresholds can be divided into several types:

It is best to install elements made of unpainted metal as corner profiles. The fact is that corner profiles are especially susceptible to abrasion, so thresholds made of plastic or painted metal will quickly lose their appearance.

Installation of joining profiles

Laminate thresholds are installed in three ways - open, closed and combined.

Open way

In the open way, decorative thresholds for laminate flooring are attached using self-tapping screws or dowel nails. For this purpose, the connecting profile has special holes for fasteners.

To do this, using a hacksaw or grinder, cut the threshold to the required length and lay it in place. We mark the points where the screws will go into the floor and drill these places. We insert special plastic plugs into the holes, reinstall the profile on the laminate and fasten it with self-tapping screws.

Closed method

The closed technology is more aesthetically pleasing, since in this case the screw caps are not visible on the surface of the profile. In this case, the threshold between the laminate and other coatings is attached using strong adhesives - liquid nails, concentrated PVA glue, etc. For information on installing thresholds without self-tapping screws, watch this video:

In this case, glue is applied to the inside of the profile, after which the threshold is installed in place and pressed firmly for a while.

Another method of closed fixation is to use a special snap profile.

In this case, the lower part of the structure - the mounting strip - is attached directly to the floor using self-tapping screws.

The upper decorative part is attached to it by simply snapping the clips.

Combined method

In this option, both glue and screws or dowels are used to install the connecting element.

A combined installation method is used when fastening thresholds of great length or with a large radius of curvature for their better fixation.

If you follow all the technologies for installing thresholds, you can get a beautiful joint between two floor coverings. The correct choice of material and its installation are one of the conditions for the longevity of laminated floors.

In an ordinary apartment you need to join the laminate 5-7 times. These are transitions from laminate to laminate between rooms. As well as connecting tiles with laminate in the bathroom, toilet and hallway.

All these joints at the door need to be decorated beautifully and uniformly. The thickness and color of the floor coverings are taken into account. The easiest way to close a connection is with sills.

Today there are more than 10 types of them. There are even different levels. This allows you to make beautiful transitions from laminate to thin linoleum and carpet.

How to join laminate flooring between rooms without a threshold? Experienced finishers use sealants and cork expansion joints for this. Let's look at all the design options for laminate transitions. Let's figure out which one is more beautiful, simpler and cheaper.

Methods for joining laminate flooring

There will be seams in any case. After all, according to the instructions, it can be laid in one piece over an area of ​​no more than 10 meters. That is why the best option is to make joints between rooms.

How to cover seams:

1. Profiles and thresholds. For joining 2 laminates. Matched to the color of the floor covering. Attached with self-tapping screws or glued;
2. Sealants - as an option for filling joints between tiles and laminate;
3. Cork compensator. A thin strip of cork with a painted or varnished top. Inserted or glued between laminate and tiles.

It is advisable to think over the method of designing joints at the installation stage. This will allow the technician to leave the correct gap between the floor coverings. Each option has its own installation features.

Types of thresholds (profiles) for joining laminate

The connecting threshold does more than just cover the seam. It is important to beautifully design the transition between floor coverings. If materials of different colors are joined, the threshold is selected to match the tone of one of them.

1. Metal. There are steel and brass thresholds on the market. However, most often they are made of aluminum, decorated in various ways:

— Laminated aluminum. A thin PVC film with a wood-like texture is tightly glued to the surface of the threshold. It does not tear when sawing, and practically does not scratch. A wide selection of colors allows you to choose a threshold for any laminate;

- Painted. Special powder paints are used that are resistant to abrasion and scratches. Decors are used that resemble the colors of the laminate. The appearance of the threshold is preserved after repeated washing of the floors;

— Anodized aluminum. These are thresholds with shades of gold, silver, copper, bronze and so on. The aluminum profile is placed in a sulfuric acid solution, after which an electric current is connected. As a result, a thin layer of a particularly strong oxide film is formed on the metal surface.

Mounting Features: Aluminum products can be easily sawed with a regular metal file. In practice, you can file it and break it neatly. There are 2 mounting methods:

• Open – there are 4-5 through holes in the sill. It is enough to drill the required number of holes in the floor and insert dowels into them. After which the threshold is attached to self-tapping screws. The disadvantage of this method is that the screw heads are visible on the surface.
• Closed - on the back side of the profile there is a groove into which screw heads are inserted. Holes are drilled in the floor, then we put screws and dowels on the threshold. Then we carefully hammer in the threshold. An option for a closed fastening method is gluing the profile to the base of the floor or to the surface of the laminate.

According to the form they are distinguished:

• Straight - to join single-level coverings without differences in height. As an option, laminate and laminate are the same thickness;
• Multi-level – for connecting floor coverings of different thicknesses. For example, laminate with linoleum, carpet or high tiles;
• Corner – used when covering stairs with laminate;
• Final (edging) - used instead of plinth.

Price– aluminum thresholds are the cheapest option to close the laminate joints between rooms. A standard profile 90 cm long costs about $2. If we talk about steel or brass, such a threshold will be 3-4 times more expensive than aluminum.

1. Wooden. They are usually made from pine and spruce, less often hardwood is used. Most often they are varnished, impregnated with various oils or simply sanded. Wooden thresholds are expensive. They are mainly used for joining parquet.

By shape There are straight, angular and finishing.

Mounted to the floor using glue or inserted into plastic fastening strips. The tree is afraid of moisture and temperature changes. Over time, it requires updating - sanding, varnishing.

1. MDF. This is compressed wood chips, the binder is synthetic resin. Decorative paper coated with melamine resin is glued on top of it. Such thresholds are produced by laminate manufacturers - Berryalloc, Quick-step and others. That is why the profile can be matched exactly to the color of the floor.

Attached to the floor, as well as wooden thresholds for glue or fastening strips. The price is cheaper than natural wood, but more expensive than aluminum.

1. PVC – plastic. The main advantage of plastic is its flexibility. Such thresholds are most often used for rounded joints of tiles and laminate in the kitchen. However, it is also possible to close the seams between rooms. Despite the flexibility, plastic profiles are quite strong. They withstand significant mechanical loads.

Mount them on a strip pre-installed in the joint, or less often simply on self-tapping screws. The cost is comparable to the price of aluminum thresholds – $2.

Sealant - as an option to join laminate and tiles without thresholds

Typically, laminate flooring extends onto tiles from the hallway to the toilet, bathroom and hallway. It is in these places that it is advisable to use sealants. You don't have to drill into the floor as you would for thresholds. However, there are other features when sealing joints with sealant.

Before using sealant on joints, it is important:

• Fit the tiles and laminate to each other at the same level. That is, both floor coverings must be the same thickness. In this case, an even gap of 5-6 millimeters is left between them;
• Glue the edge of the laminate (5-10 centimeters at the joint) to the floor. A part is pre-cut. This is necessary for the strength of the future seam. Then we press the glued area and wait for the glue to dry.

From the above it is clear that the use of sealants must be decided in advance. In the store we will have tiles of thickness. You will also need elastic glue for gluing the outermost row of slats.

What sealant should I use? Many people recommend pouring regular silicone into the joint. However, it is not durable and you will have to renew the seams after a couple of years. For joints, it is better to use polyurethane sealants for exterior use. This one will definitely last longer.

Operating procedure:

1. The edges of both materials are covered with molar tape;
2. The sealant is carefully squeezed into the gap between the laminate and the tile. You can even remove excess with your finger. But it is better to use a special rubber spatula;
3. After treating the entire seam, remove the tape from the floor and wait for the sealant to dry.

Flexible cork expansion joint for connecting laminate to tiles

It is a long thin strip of cork tree bark. The thickness of the compensator is 7-10 mm, the length is selected according to the doorway. The upper part of this strip is varnished or painted. You can easily choose the desired color. The cost of cork strips is $2-3 per piece.

Installation method:

1. First, as in the case of sealant, the edge of the laminate is glued to the base of the floor;
2. When the laminate has set, we glue the cork expansion joint. To do this, glue is applied both to the base of the floor and to the cut of the laminate. After which the strip is pressed tightly against the boards;
3. Now you need to lay the tile close to the cork strip. As a result, we have a beautiful junction of 2 floor coverings without a threshold.

Some people simply insert a piece of cork into the seam. Don't repeat other people's mistakes. It will keep popping up.

However, it is not easy for a beginner to carefully install a cork expansion joint. Did you like this docking option? Show it to experienced finishers.

Remember about the uniform design of floor covering seams. Laminate flooring can be joined to laminate throughout the entire apartment using the same thresholds. And in places where there are transitions to the tiles, use a sealant or compensator.

Laying laminate flooring is a complex and labor-intensive process that requires a competent approach. But if you can figure out the installation of panels yourself, then connecting floor coverings of different materials or colors can cause difficulties and many questions. Indeed, there are several nuances in how to join laminate flooring that must be taken into account before starting installation.

INTRODUCTION

A joint between laminate and laminate is required in two cases: when laying the material in different rooms, the connection is necessary to eliminate a sharp transition; and when decorating a room. Often, creating a unique room design requires the use of different materials to divide the room into several zones. Also, the combination of two types of laminate is a modern design feature that significantly improves the appearance of the room.

§ 1. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU START WORK

When planning to combine two types of laminate, you need to adhere to several rules:

• Laying and joining of laminate can only be carried out on. If the base is not prepared for finishing, it will appear and the material will soon deteriorate.
• You cannot install newly purchased laminate flooring. The material must lie for two days in the room where installation work is planned. This is necessary so that the slats accept the temperature and humidity of the room.
• It is recommended to join the laminate perpendicular to the window - the incident light will make the seam less noticeable.
• You need to start laying from the area of ​​the room where furniture will not be installed.

§ 2. LOCK CONNECTION

The easiest way to install a new laminate is with a structure that matches the structure of the already installed floor covering. However, it is very difficult to find a laminate with a similar system, so this joining method is effective in rare cases and is only suitable when laying the material in one room.

The laminate joint between rooms will have to be done in a different way, since there must be a gap between the materials. Of course, you can ignore this rule and combine two types of floor coverings without transition, but this will lead to the laminate and its damage at the first temperature changes.

§ 3. THRESHOLDS FOR LAMINATE

Thresholds are most often used to connect materials. This joining profile for laminate allows you to make transitions smoother and almost invisible. A gap remains between the panels, which allows the material to expand freely with temperature changes.

There are many types of thresholds: steel, plastic, wood and others. Many manufacturers produce laminate together with connecting profiles, which greatly simplifies the selection process. The thresholds in this case are combined in color and texture with the panels, making the transitions invisible. If you need to add a touch of creativity, profiles are purchased separately.

§ 4. CORK COMPENSATOR

The cork expansion joint allows you to connect two different types of laminate. The main advantage of this joining method is the absence of gaps. The compensator completely fills the gaps, but at the same time tends to narrow, adapting to the size of the panels. This connecting profile for laminate is laid after installing the lamellas. To do this, the compensator is cut to fit the gap and secured inside the gap using a spatula.

As a rule, cork has a color similar to the shade of the laminate. If the transition is visible to the naked eye, then the compensator is painted with a marker or special paint to achieve a similar shade.

The compensator can only be laid on a perfectly flat floor and surface. Therefore, before installation, it is important to thoroughly clean the base and panels.

§ 5. CONSTRUCTION FOAM, SEALANTS

On the construction market you can now buy all kinds of sealants and foams that can eliminate the joint between lamellas of any shape and width. To do this, the joints are filled with the compound up to the top edge of the boards. If excess forms on the surface, it must be removed immediately - hardened sealant is very difficult to wipe off from the surface, and if rubbed, unsightly stains will remain.

Despite the ease of working with sealants, this method of joining laminate has two drawbacks: the first is the impossibility of further dismantling the structure, that is, the panels will have to be broken. And the second drawback is that the lamellas will not be able to expand under the action of the sealant, which will lead to rapid deterioration of the floor covering.

§ 6. JOINING WITHOUT CONNECTING PROFILES

And the last type of laminate joining is used if you need to create a certain pattern in the room from two types of panels. This method is also suitable for combining laminate and tiles. Doing the joining is quite difficult, but if you follow the technological process, you can achieve excellent results. Let's look at how to join laminate flooring to tiles.

• The tiles are laid on the floor using special glue.
• After the glue has dried, the laminate is laid on top of the tiles.
• A drawing template is applied to the surface of the panels, according to which markings are made with a pencil.
• The laminate is disassembled and the unnecessary parts are marked according to the mark.
• The template is applied to the tile and markings are made. Excess parts are sawed off along the line.
• The laminate is installed in place.
• The joints are sealed with a repair compound or rubbed until smooth transitions are achieved.

If you need to make a laminate-to-laminate transition, the installation procedure will be different. In this case, the docking will be smooth. In the case of tiles, it is possible to create various lines and geometric shapes. But doing this kind of work on your own is quite difficult.

CONCLUSION

Joining the laminate eliminates unsightly transitions between panels and gaps that spoil the look. With the right approach, installation will not take you much time, and the result will make you rejoice and enjoy the chic look of the floor covering. If difficulties arise, it is better to entrust this matter to professionals or get advice from a specialist.

Laying laminate flooring throughout the apartment can be complicated by correct design of the joints of this material. There are special requirements for connection points, which are determined by the desire to obtain neat and unobtrusive connection points.

Necessity of registration

Laying laminate flooring can be complicated by correct design of the joints of this material.

Urgent Need qualitatively and competently dock laminated boards arise in the following situations:

• design of connections in the interior space, joining laminate between rooms, in areas of doorways;
• finishing large areas with laminate, when the joints act as damper gaps;
• as a result of laying in the room material equipped with different types of locking connections, which obviously do not match in configuration and dimensions;
• if necessary, arrange steps or any differences in surface height.

Sometimes, due to the desire to bring design solutions to life, zoning of the floor space is done using a contrasting color scheme of the laminate. Such connections also require proper design of the joints.

Types of connecting elements

The best option is to select suitable connecting strips at the time of purchasing the floor covering. Please note due to the fact that there are currently several types of such planks on the finishing materials market:

• straight profile type

It is used to design joints between laminate flooring slabs and when connecting laminate flooring to other types of flooring.

It is in demand when designing joints of flooring materials in conditions of significant differences in height levels.

• corner profile type

It is used when it is necessary to design the joints of two perpendicularly located surfaces, which are typical for podiums and stairs.

• final profile type

These strips are used to frame any open edges of the laminate.

All of the above types of profiles are not only decorative, but also effectively hide expansion joints, which must be observed when installing laminate flooring.

Appearance of planks

Depending on the material used in the production process, several profile options are produced, the main ones being:

Laminated plank. They are made on the basis of pressed wood fiber coated with a decorating film. It is possible to select a pattern that matches the coating. Most often used for seam connections of coverings in areas of doorways.

Metal strip. Most often made of aluminum, brass or stainless steel. They are characterized by a high level of strength, which makes them very popular for designing areas with a high level of traffic.

Plastic strip. A category of fairly flexible and soft profiles for connecting material in curved areas. The main advantage is the low price and rich color variety. The disadvantage of such planks is their insufficient service life (you can read about the disadvantages of laminate).

Rubber strip. A highly specialized type of corner profiles that are used to equip stairs in order to ensure maximum safety when moving.

Main stages of installation

Any types of connecting elements are supplied for sale complete with a special mounting rail, which allows for high-quality hidden installation of laminate joints.

To fix the mounting rail can be used glue or screws. The strongest and most functional connection is obtained when fastening the connecting element with screws. In addition, if necessary, the strip installed in this way can be easily and without damage dismantled.

The lath is installed after installing the first part of the covering, and then the second section of the laminate is laid. After the flooring process is completed, a decorative strip should be installed, which is snapped into place by lightly hitting it with a hammer through a wooden or plastic block.

The laminate is connected to other categories of flooring in the same way. It should be noted, that all types of metal strips are equipped with holes for fasteners in the factory, and the type of fastening is open.

Before you begin laying laminate or any other floor covering yourself, you must decide in advance how the individual panels will be connected.

After all, the appearance of the future floor covering largely depends on how carefully the joints are made.

How to connect laminate

First of all, you need to understand in what cases it is necessary to connect the laminate.

Why do you need a connection?

Let's make a reservation right away that we are not talking about the usual assembly, when one panel is joined to another, but about situations when it is necessary to use a special connecting profile for the floor covering.

As a rule, the need for this arises:

• In cases where it is necessary to arrange a transition from one room to another.

Note. It's no secret that the interlocking joint of the laminate is characterized by increased density, due to which the panels do not “walk” with changes in temperature and humidity.

It is for these purposes that it is necessary to leave special technical gaps around the perimeter of the room between the floor covering and the wall.

Otherwise, the laminate will have nowhere to expand and after a while it will bulge at the joints.

In order not to spoil the appearance of the room and not to focus attention on the laminate joints, they are most often made in doorways.

• When using laminate as a floor covering for large rooms;
• When using several types of floor coverings or laminate in one room, whose locks for one reason or another do not match (different thickness of the substrate);
• In cases where there are significant differences in floor levels. For example, if you need to decorate a podium or steps with laminate.

In the event that specialists are engaged in finishing the premises, homeowners most often do not even think about such trifles. Well, if you have to do the laying of the laminate yourself, then, as practice shows, performing even such a simple task as connecting the laminate causes serious difficulties.

How to make a connection

Fortunately for property owners, the modern construction market is replete with building materials that can solve almost any problem.

Almost every laminate manufacturer produces a wide variety of components for its own products.

In addition to the backing for laminate flooring and skirting boards, they also include special connecting strips, which are often called connecting profiles or thresholds.

Types of connecting strips for laminate

Experts recommend that when purchasing a laminate, check with the seller about the availability of special connecting elements for it in the store. Since they differ from each other in shape, type of connection and material from which they are made.

Profile form

All connecting profiles, depending on their purpose, are divided into the following types:

• Straight profiles are designed to decorate the joints of different types of laminate and other floor coverings located at the same level with each other;

• The transition profile is designed to connect floor coverings located at different heights.
• Corner profiles are used to decorate the joints of perpendicular surfaces of podiums and stairs, for the finishing of which laminate is used.

In addition to the connecting strips listed above, on the construction market you can also find a finishing profile designed to decorate the open edge of the laminate.

In addition to the aesthetic function, all these products also perform practical functions. According to the instructions for laying laminate, when performing work, it is necessary to install expansion joints and technological gaps, which can be hidden using connecting profiles.

Manufacturing materials

Depending on the purpose, connecting profiles can be made from a variety of materials.

• Laminated - made from pressed wood shavings covered with a special laminated film with a decorative pattern. If necessary, the sill pattern can be selected in accordance with the texture of the laminate. Most often, this type of connecting strips is used in cases where it is necessary to make the connection as inconspicuously as possible;
• Metal - made from high-strength aluminum, stainless steel or brass and covered with a protective, decorative film. They have the highest strength characteristics, which is why they are used in high-traffic areas;
• Plastic - flexible profiles, most often they are used to decorate curved joints. Among their main advantages are the low price and a fairly significant range of colors. Their disadvantage is their limited service life.

• The rubber strip is most often an angular profile designed for decorating stair steps. They make using stairwells safer and more comfortable.

Installation of connecting profiles

For hidden installation, all of the above connecting elements are equipped with a special mounting rail.

Advice. Metal profiles can also be installed openly using self-tapping screws and dowels. For these purposes, mounting holes are made in the metal strips at the factory, and fasteners are included in the product delivery package.

The fastening slats are attached to the base with screws or glue, while the first option is preferable, as it allows you to dismantle and reuse the product.

The installation sequence of the connecting threshold includes the following steps:

• The rail is installed next to the edge of the covering and secured with screws;
• The second coating is laid sequentially from the lath;
• The decorative strip is installed in the guide of the fastening strip and snapped into place using a hammer and a wooden block.

Conclusion

It's no secret that every little detail is important in the interior of a room. That is why, even at the renovation stage, it is necessary to pay as much attention as possible to such seemingly insignificant details as decorating transitions, corners and joints.

Using special elements, builders have the opportunity not only to achieve an excellent appearance of the floor covering, but also to increase its service life.