The most durable laminate. How to choose a laminate, selection criteria - pros and cons of different types. Interview with the master Which Russian laminate is considered the best

The most durable laminate.  How to choose a laminate, selection criteria - pros and cons of different types.  Interview with the master Which Russian laminate is considered the best
The most durable laminate. How to choose a laminate, selection criteria - pros and cons of different types. Interview with the master Which Russian laminate is considered the best

Laminate Berry Alloc (Belgium-Norway)

0 (from 950 RUR/m2)

The huge transnational corporation Beaulieu International Group includes a group that is rightfully considered one of the most important areas. This is a production complex engaged in the production of laminated finishing materials under the brand Berry Alloch.

The association of the Belgian Berry Floor plant and the Norwegian company Alloc has combined huge production capacities, a serious research base and accumulated experience. As a result, the production of parquet using the unique HPL (High Pressure laminate) technology has been launched. The principle is that it is pressed first upper layer:

  • Protective overlay;
  • Decorative paper;
  • Several layers of kraft paper.

The result is a layer whose characteristics significantly exceed those of conventional DPL (Direct Pressure Laminate). Accordingly, HPL coatings are of high quality and excellent inertness to various types impacts on the surface.

Main advantages:

1) Huge selection of designs - one of the largest sets of collections.

BerryAllok produce more than 18 lines of laminate of 32-34 wear resistance classes, each with up to 20 different decors: classic, modern, art nouveau, eclectic, chamfered and smooth, concrete, slate, standard parquet or marble.

The cross-section of the laminate is from 8 to 11 mm. The range includes interesting solutions, such as:

  • Narrow herringbone parquet with Best Loc® X-Treme locking system;
  • Planks with integrated sound-diffusing PVC gasket;
  • Long boards with infinity effect Extra-long Planks;
  • Extra-wide slats for large rooms 2410x236 mm;

2) The best laminate performance in terms of wear resistance.

BerryAlloc guarantees:

  • 10 years for commercial coatings. Applies to such indicators as resistance to abrasion and moisture, staining, fading;
  • 30 years for floors used in residential areas.

3) Reliable lock.

  • Aluminum Lock System - the famous aluminum Alloc lock used in the High-Tech series;
  • Best Loc® X-Treme - three-way connection for other products.

4) Easy to operate.

Laminate flooring is easy to keep clean using a vacuum cleaner or a damp soft cloth. Special cleaners and products household chemicals not required.

5) Security for users.

Laminate Berry Allok is certified in accordance with:

  • PEFC;
  • DOP 170 DL3113 1 (Declaration of Performance).

Please note that according to the latest document, laminated parquet is assigned highest classes according to such parameters as fire safety, antistatic, anti-slip. There are certificates confirming the low level of emission of toxic substances (formaldehyde, pentachlorophenol).

  • High price;
  • You can often purchase a fake of unknown manufacture (without certificates and other documents).

Laminate flooring, which has become popular due to its unique consumer qualities, is ideal for flooring. High strength and wear resistance, successful resistance to moisture and an affordable price were the main factors that influenced the widespread use of laminate.

Numerous reviews indicate that it is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of which laminate is of the highest quality. But having chosen this type of coating, you need to have an idea of ​​what you need to pay attention to when purchasing, about the characteristic features quality material, capable long time serve without losing its original qualities.

What is a good laminate?

What kind of laminate should be so as not to get complete disappointment after laying a beautiful coating in a store window, so that the coating really for a long time performed the functions assigned to it?

What is laminate made of?

Laminate flooring, or laminate as they say, consists of several layers of material that perform specific functions:

  • The lowest layer of melamine film, which prevents the penetration of moisture penetrating through the subfloor in the form of steam or condensation;
  • The main coating layer is made of chipboard or fiberboard high density With big amount adhesive composition;
  • Moisture-resistant film that prevents moisture from penetrating the base layer material;
  • A layer of decorative textured paper that forms the appearance of the coating;
  • A protective coating made of acrylic or melamine resin, which is responsible for the wear resistance of the coating and the ability to resist impact and abrasion loads.

Help: A good laminate is made from high quality wood material at a temperature of 180-200 o C and a pressure of 3.5-4.5 MPa, which ensures high homogeneity of the material and uniformity of coating thickness within no more than 0.2 mm. A slight decrease in pressure when pressing the base material, which reduces production costs, reduces the strength characteristics of the coating and its moisture resistance.

Laminate classes

Depending on its purpose, laminate is divided into two main groups, which include several subgroups called classes. Each class has its own specifications and is intended for various conditions operation:

  • Household grade laminate. It is divided into coatings of classes 21, 22 and 23, used in rooms with light loads and having a service life limited to five years. It can be used in the living room and bedroom small apartment. It is precisely because of its short service life that it is not widely used and is rarely used in devices flooring even in everyday life. Low demand also determines the lack of coverage in retail chains that clearly monitor customer requirements;
  • Commercial laminate. It is divided into four classes, from 31 to 34. This is the highest quality laminate, which provides high stability of the coating, and some models have excellent waterproof properties, which allows the use of such material in rooms with fairly high traffic. In domestic conditions, for example, class 33 laminate can provide a coating service life of up to 20 years without losing its original appearance, and waterproof models are successfully used even when laying floors in the hallway, kitchen or bathroom. The high strength of the main slab is able to withstand significant temperature fluctuations that occur when installing floor heating, both electric and water.

Quality indicators

When buying laminate flooring in a store, you need to choose from a wide variety of laminated floor coverings quality product, and it is better to solve this problem yourself, without completely trusting sellers interested in selling a particular product. So, what should you pay attention to when choosing:

Appearance of the coating

In addition to texture and color, you should pay attention to the uniformity of the top layer by viewing the surface “in the light” from different angles. If the coating does not contain a large number of irregularities and the surface of the protective film is homogeneous, further attention can be paid to such model samples.

Having turned the laminate over, you need to pay attention to the quality of the waterproof backing and especially its adherence to the base layer along the edge of the laminated board. It is these areas that are most susceptible to moisture and their high quality workmanship The service life of the laid floor depends on it.

Important! One of the important features of laminated coatings is the presence of a small, from 1 to 2 mm, chamfer along the edges of the laminated board, which plays a significant role in preserving the appearance of the coating.

Temperature change linear dimensions laminate flooring is quite significant; it is not for nothing that when laying, a gap of at least 10 mm between the wall and the coating is required.

Such a change in size inevitably leads to the appearance of small, up to 0.5 mm, gaps in the locking joints finished coating, which greatly spoil its appearance and are very successfully hidden by the presence of this small chamfer, which at the same time protects the surface from possible damage.

Technical characteristics of the plate

The first thing you should immediately find out is what material the main covering slab is made of. It's good if it's MDF board, but the ideal laminate is HDF material, which means it's high-density fiberboard. A large number of resins impregnating the base, and polymerization during high blood pressure and temperature make it possible to obtain a slab that is almost as hard as tiles. The only drawback of such a slab is the difficulty of processing.

The second thing you need to pay attention to when choosing is the thickness of the board. A good laminate flooring in an apartment rarely has a board thickness of less than 8 mm. These dimensions allow the coating to firmly resist deforming influences and retain its original shape. If the laminated board is thinner, then, depending on the thickness of the substrate and the condition of the main floor, deflections and delamination of the interlocking areas are possible, which over time leads to a violation of the integrity of the coating and the need for repairs.

The third important characteristic of laminated coatings is the thickness of the protective film and the material from which it is made. Melamine coating, having sufficient strength, is used in the manufacture of smooth surfaces without a pronounced relief. The main disadvantage of melamine is its limited resistance to various chemicals and when various concentrated solvents come into contact with the floor surface, you can get an indelible stain that spoils the appearance of the coating.

Acrylic resins are more chemically stable and allow the formation of a textured surface of the board, which in some cases is necessary when simulating certain types of wood. The thickness of the protective film directly affects the abrasion of the coating and, ultimately, the total term his service. Most best laminate, offered in retail chains, has a protective layer thickness of 1 mm and a service life in domestic conditions of about 25 years.

And the fourth thing that should be checked visually when choosing a laminate is the quality of the locking elements and the presence of additional impregnation of the lock in case of purchasing waterproof laminate models. Laminate good quality has a glossy surface of the plate in the area of ​​the connecting elements, a smooth profile of the lock with a smooth smooth surface, and a drop of water falling on the surface of the lock should roll off unhindered, without wetting the material of the main covering plate.

Number of laminate floors available in trading network, has more than 100 titles from various foreign and domestic producers, and which laminate is more suitable, consumers determine by creating a certain quality rating with their purchases. And the highest quality real laminate flooring will not always be in demand by the consumer due to its disproportionately high cost.

  1. Headed by Tarkett, Quick Step, Pergo, Balterio, Egger.
  2. Next come no less famous manufacturers producing quality products, but sold slightly more expensive than the leaders. These are the companies Witex, Classen, Maestro, Ritter, Alloc.
  3. In the lower price category there are domestic and joint ventures well known to consumers under the names Kronostar, Kronotex, Kronospan, which, despite the similarity of the names, are independent enterprises that produce very high-quality products.

For your information: Kronostar class 32 laminate has been successfully used in the hallway of a private home along with the much more expensive German Witex laminate for more than 10 years, so which laminate is better cannot be clearly answered based only on the price of the coating in the retail chain. Very often, expensive, well-promoted brands do not differ in quality from cheaper products from lesser-known manufacturers.


Laminate parquet has been known since 1977. Its popularity is explained by its ability to withstand significant loads, practicality, and an incredible variety of decors, formats and surface designs. A huge number of companies around the world produce this product. In this article you will find complete, reliable information about which laminate is better and how to check its quality.

It is known that the technology of laminating floor coverings was first introduced by Perstorp AB (in the future Pergo) in 1979. To this day, the standard of quality is considered to be a product produced in the EU.

To ensure full control of production processes, the association of manufacturers of laminated coatings EPLF was created. Its members can be those companies that offer customers only the best laminate. Such as:

Pergo (Sweden)

Since 2000, Perstop Floorings has transformed into the now widely known Pergo concern. Full-cycle factories were opened in Sweden, Belgium (based on UNILIN bvba), and the USA. It is not surprising that until recently almost all laminate manufacturers focused on this leader in the flooring market. The range includes laminated, vinyl and parquet products under the same brand. Manufacturing process includes all stages, starting with the procurement of raw materials and ending with the dispatch of the finished product to the final buyer.

Advantages of Pergo laminate:


  • PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes);
  • EPD (Emission Dans l’air interieur) – products are assigned emission class A+;
  • to standard 3029.0001 Nordic Ecolabel Floors.

Berry Alloc (Belgium-Norway)

Within the Beaulieu International Group corporation, the Berry Alloc laminate flooring division has a special status. The company was formed as a result of the merger of the Belgian company Berry Floor and the Norwegian plant Alloc. The result of combining huge production capacities, a research base and decades of experience is the production of laminate using the unique HPL (High Pressure laminate) technology of 32-34 wear resistance classes. Coatings produced using this method belong to the category of semi-commercial and commercial, as they are distinguished by the highest quality and surface resistance to all kinds of loads.

Advantages of Berry Alloc laminate:

Balterio (Belgium)

In 2001, one of the largest concerns Spanolux SA founded a division for the production of laminated floor coverings, Balterio Laminate Floors, producing products under the Balterio brand. High quality products, our own unique developments, full cycle manufacturing provided the company with rapid growth and popularity.

Today, Balterio laminate 32-34 wear resistance classes is known as one of the most durable floor coverings that are resistant to various loads. It's worth purchasing if you care about:

Designers recommend using large-format slats with a width of 22 cm and a length of more than 1.8 m for large rooms with an area of ​​80 m2 (shopping centers, conference rooms, hotel lobbies). For small rooms Standard or shortened planks are preferred.

Haro (Germany)

Hamberger Flooring GmbH & Co, a manufacturer with more than a century and a half history, offers laminated parquet under the Haro brand in classes 31-33. The main emphasis is on the perfect reproduction of natural texture and high quality coverings.

Haro laminate should be preferred because it:


The guaranteed service life of Haro flooring is 12-30 years, depending on the areas of use.

Quick-Step (Belgium-Russia)

The UNILIN group of companies has been supplying laminate flooring under the Kwik-Step brand to the finishing materials market since 1990. In 2011, molding production of some collections was launched in Dzerzhinsk (Nizhny Novgorod region).

Since the company’s motto is “Attention to detail,” the laminated parquet in this series is carefully designed in all respects and has the following advantages:


Kaindl

Almost 120 years of experience, many in-house developments, interesting know-how, a full production cycle without the involvement of third-party suppliers - all this is about the flooring production company Kaindl Flooring GmbH.

In the EU, the Kindle brand is associated exclusively with the term “quality”. Judge for yourself:


At the end of the review of foreign brands, I would like to note that this selection does not answer the question “which laminate manufacturer is better.” Each offers high-quality and durable products. The purpose of our research was to present you with finishing materials with the most interesting and useful consumer characteristics. Undoubtedly, there are many other worthy manufacturers, but it is simply impossible to describe them all in one article.

The best laminate manufacturer in Russia

Domestic factories are trying to keep up with European competitors and offer customers products of acceptable quality and interesting designs.

Tarkett

In 2010, the German concern Tarkett Sommer AG launched a plant in Mytishchi (Moscow region) for the production of laminated flooring under the Tarket and Sinteros brand. The Russian line produces laminate in 8 collections (more than 100 designs) of 32 and 33 wear resistance classes.

Advantages of laminated coatings from the Tarkett plant:

  1. A huge selection of designs with expressive, deep or standard structure. To enhance the similarity with natural wood special surface techniques are used, such as register embossing, chrome plating, relief, array effect, manual processing and much more. Some collections have a chamfer on 2 or 4 sides; you can choose the format of the planks:
    • Standard (1292x194 mm), thickness 8-14 mm;
    • Narrow (1292x159 mm), thickness 8 mm.
    • The TC'Lock and 5G 2-lock locking systems are successful in their simplicity and efficiency.
  2. Good technical performance: slab density from 750 kg/m3, moisture resistance up to 12%, fire safety B1, formaldehyde emission class E1, available additional protection Tech3S locks (wax), guaranteed service life - 15-25 years.
  3. Proven safety of Tarket products. At the moment, this is the only enterprise in the Russian Federation that has received the international eco-label “Leaf of Life”.

The disadvantage of the plant's products is that the price is several times higher. Despite the fact that production is actually located in Russia, the cost of collections imported from Germany and those manufactured here is the same. There are no complaints about the quality of the products, but the company’s pricing policy is, to put it mildly, surprising.

Kronostar

In 2002, the Swiss Krono Group concern launched a plant in the Kostroma region for the production of laminated products (floor, ceiling and wall coverings) under the Kronostar brand.

Today we produce competitive laminate of 31-33 wear resistance classes with 4 types of textures:

  • PR – typical tree structure;
  • WG – rustic embossing;
  • MX – deep structure (matte-glossy contrast);
  • ER – synchronous register embossing.

On the plus side we also note:


The disadvantages include:

  • Lack of chamfer, as well as rich rich shades in the collections;
  • Locks are not processed by special means to increase the moisture resistance of the connection;
  • A small number of decors exclusively for wood. There are no interesting, atypical designs.
  • One standard size for all lines.
  • Products do not undergo additional voluntary certification for compliance with safety standards and environmental requirements.

Kronostar can easily be classified as “average”. This is a budget product for private, less often commercial, use.

Kastamonu

The Turkish holding HAYAT launched a project to build a new plant for the production of laminated coatings in Yelabuga (Tatarstan) in 2012. Since 2014, laminate flooring under the Kastamonu brand began to actively conquer the Russian finishing materials market.

The plant produces a whole series of Floorpan collections with a wood structure.

Ruler Dimensions, mm Class
Purple 1380x193x6 31
Green 1380x193x7 31
Yellow 1380x193x8 32
Orange 32
Red 32
Blue 33
Black 33

The advantages of coverage:

  1. Resistance to abrasive loads (abrasives, heels, animal claws).
  2. Light fastness.
  3. Hygiene.
  4. Easy to install thanks to the Uniclic locking system - an analogue of the connection kit from Kwik-Step.
  5. Warranty – up to 15 years.
  6. Reasonable price.

Let's talk about the cons. The first thing that catches your eye is the modest selection of pastel decors and types of structures. A matte, slightly textured surface without a hint of chamfer is suitable for simple, budget-friendly interior solutions.

The second point is that the durability of the coating raises doubts among experts. There are no publicly available test reports, and the product itself has only been on the market for two years.

Third fact: the plant’s statement about the complete safety and compliance with environmental standards of the Florpan laminate. However, any highly specialized certificates, with the exception of standard ones (sanitary and hygienic certificate, fire safety) are not available.

Ritter

For almost 7 years, one of the factories of the Russian concern RBC has been producing a unique series of laminated floors with exotic surfaces. main feature Ritter parquet – structural embossing for custom reptile skin, imitation craquelure and much more.

There are 9 extravagant collections in stock:

Series Embossing type Dimensions, mm Class
St. George the Victorious Snake skin 1295x192x8.4 33
Nefertiti/Hannibal Snake skin 1295x192x8.4 33
Peter 1 Rustic, deep embossing 1295x192x12.1 33
Harald the Harsh/Elizabeth Deep aging 1295x192x12.1 34
Justinian the Great Silkscreen printing 1295x192x8.4 33
Mayan Craquelure 1295x192x8.4 33
Charlemagne Plane 1295x192x12.1 33

Let us note the undoubted advantages of Ritter laminate:

  • A rich selection of decors, shades and unusual textured surfaces.
  • High wear resistance of the coating to various loads. Despite the fact that the floor is assigned the highest classes, Ritter laminate can be used at home.
  • Emission class – E1.
  • The wax-impregnated Master Lock locking system is easy to join and allows the coating to be re-disassembled and reassembled.
  • Manufacturer's warranty – up to 40 years.
  • Reasonable price.

When purchasing, keep in mind the fact that a textured floor is very demanding on the interior, since poor decisions will “kill” the effectiveness of the coating. For an accurate selection, use online 3D visualization programs.

Although Russian laminate does not shine with a variety of designs, according to some quality characteristics not inferior to European products. Its main advantage is its affordable price for many buyers.

Made in China: which company's laminate is better

No Chinese factories are members of the EPLF laminate flooring association. That is, it does not produce high-quality and durable products that meet European standards or Russian regulations.

This fact does not prevent many large enterprises from importing huge quantities of products under various brands to Russia. Note that among such diversity there are real “pearls”, such as Floorwood, Goodway, Brilliant and others. These coatings can be called acceptable in terms of consumer characteristics: dense slab, reliable locks, durable overlay. Technical parameters are also within acceptable standards.


The brands listed above can be called an exception to the rule. Most often there is a laminate, about which there is no information, not to mention certificates and test reports. In addition, as practice shows, Chinese laminated parquet does not correspond to the declared class. Most often, the operational resistance of the slab is checked. The wear resistance of the overlay is not tested at all.

How to distinguish Chinese low-quality laminate? Let's reveal some secrets:

  1. Pick up the plank and check the strength of the slab. Using your fingers, try to bend the lock tenon or scratch it with your fingernail. High-density HDF does not crumble or crack even under heavy loads.
  2. Compare the price of products manufactured in Russia, the EU and China. Imported goods are always much more expensive due to customs duties and payments. If the cost of laminate is too low, it is better not to buy a “pig in a poke”.
  3. Require a sanitary and hygienic certificate. Moreover, it must be a copy with the seller’s blue seal. You must provide it upon request. Read the document carefully, pay attention to trademark, date of issue and expiration date.
  4. Connect two planks. The lock should be tight, and the joint should be invisible and perfectly smooth. The snapping is done under force.
  5. There should be no markings on the box or plates: Designed in Germany, German Quality, German Technology, which mean absolutely nothing.
  6. If there is nothing on the packaging or in the accompanying document other than the phrase “The management quality control system is regulated by EN...”, it is better to refuse such a purchase. This means that only the document flow is controlled, but not the production process.
  7. Try to find the barcode on the box, namely the first three digits. German products correspond to indices of 400-440, Austrian - 90-91, Swedish - 73, Russian - 460-469, Chinese - 690-693. A worn-out or unknown code is a reason to be wary.

Advice! If you need repairmen, there is a very convenient service for selecting them. Just send a detailed description of the work that needs to be done in the form below and you will receive offers by email with prices starting from construction crews and companies. You can see reviews about each of them and photographs with examples of work. It's FREE and there's no obligation.

The best laminate manufacturers - a list of companies is provided. What makes up the laminate quality rating, read below.

If you have decided to replace your flooring with laminate, you may have a number of questions:

  • Which company's laminate is better?
  • What should the characteristics be?
  • What color and shape will look more impressive, etc.?

Laminate manufacturers

There are many companies that produce laminate. Making a choice is really not easy. The most famous manufacturers today are the following companies:

Germany

Germany is considered the undoubted leader among European countries. The factories are actively developing a line of laminated coatings, which are distinguished by durability, strength, reliability, thoughtful design and impeccable quality. To the list German manufacturers laminate belong to:

  • Tarkett

Belgium

Second place has been held by Belgium for a long time. Such products are associated with beautiful appearance, excellent quality and prestige:

  • Quick Step ; (production jointly with Russia)

Russia

most often represents an inexpensive laminate produced using moisture-resistant HDF boards. All models have 31 or 32 wear resistance classes:

  • Laminate Tarkett / Sinteros (Produced together with Germany)

Other countries

  • Pergo - Sweden
  • Kaindl from Austria
  • EPI; DumaFloor - France
  • Kastamonu - Türkiye

Of course, you need to choose a laminate not only by the name of the company, but also by studying the main characteristics of this product.

Basic requirements for laminate grades

When choosing a floor covering, you need to pay attention to the following indicators:

  • density;
  • moisture resistance;
  • wear resistance;
  • system of locking connections;
  • coating structure.

Based on the type of use, laminate flooring is divided into two categories:

  • for commercial (usually class 33 and class 34 laminate)
  • For home use. (32-33 grade)

They differ from each other in that the coating for commercial use is more durable, designed for longer wear, and accordingly the price is higher.

Choice

Choosing a laminate by color and pattern is even more difficult than choosing a manufacturer. The color range is huge: from white to red-brown. In addition, there is a laminate depicting carpet covering, marble, tiles, various patterns and images. At the same time, the manufacturer creates the surface of the laminate in such a way that it becomes similar in structure to natural wood(most often there is oak laminate) or stone.

The new Tarkett Holiday 832 laminate collection is a floor that will make you remember warm sunny days. These are memories that will warm your soul cold winter! Tarkett laminate is a floor that is pleasant to walk on barefoot and pleasant to touch. A floor that is easy to care for, that will withstand all the daily challenges, is strong and durable, a floor made to last.