The best cover for gender - comfortable for bare feet, aesthetic in appearance, durable in terms of service life. When it comes to a bathroom, resistance to a humid environment, temperature extremes, and water resistance must be added to the list. Let's find out if there is laminate for a bathroom that meets the listed parameters.
Content:
Read also: The best substrates for laminate: for all types of coatings. Review and rating of the best products on the market (Photo & Video) + Reviews
Introduction
Water and moisture are the main enemies of such flooring.
Such a coating will be an excellent alternative to boring tiles, slippery and cold to the touch. It gives the room comfort and elegance. Although laminate does not seem like the right type of bathroom floor, modern building materials developers, thanks to new board processing technologies, have managed to improve its moisture resistance.
So, if you choose a suitable type of product, perform installation in accordance with all the rules, carry out careful care, proper operation - the floor will delight its owners for decades. Consider the types of the corresponding floor board, we will review the most popular brands on the market. And also, consider the recommendations for laying the coating with your own hands.
Read also: We choose the best mineral wool from varieties and analogues. TOP-8: Rating of manufacturers in the Russian market Varieties of laminate
A room with a wooden floor looks very cozy.
A typical high-quality laminate consists of at least four layers:
- Stabilizing substrate - a layer of thick paper (kraft cardboard) impregnated with paraffin or resin. It is laid under the base to provide moisture resistance and protection against distortion.
- The base is the thickest layer, which is responsible for the strength, resistance to deformation, and durability of the board. In this part, the connection locks are machined
- Decorative element - a picture on paper that imitates a natural coating. The most requested images are wood, marble, granite, mat, leather, metal, ceramics.
- Protective resin coating that protects the design from abrasion, gives it a glossy sheen, emphasizes the relief texture
A product that is suitable for laying in the bathroom room differs from ordinary board in its higher moisture resistance characteristics. It does not swell, does not get wet, and with high-quality installation, water does not penetrate inside through the seams of the key joint. There are two options laminatesuitable for laying in bathrooms.
Moisture resistant coating
Moisture resistant board is afraid of prolonged contact with liquid
The base material here is HDF (High Density Board) compressed wood fibers. There is a thick substrate treated with paraffin, locks and grooves of structural elements are also impregnated with it. All layers are connected with a special waterproof epoxy adhesive, and the top coating is made of a polymer film - it protects against abrasion, repels liquid, and keeps it on the surface.
Such a floor is quite capable of withstanding short-term contact with water, but if an accident occurs and the room is flooded for a long time, the liquid will soak in through the joints and penetrate into the wood layer. As a result, the floor covering swells, swells, deforms. And yet, the board gets wet over time due to frequent changes in humidity - therefore, a moisture-resistant laminate is more suitable for a hallway, kitchen, toilet that is not combined with a bathroom.
Waterproof coating
Here the base is made of durable, safe PVC plastic, which is absolutely not susceptible to water. Even if the room is flooded in the event of a water pipe break, and the liquid will stand for many hours, the board will not suffer.
The weak point here is the seams, so all the ends and locks of the boards, in addition to the wax coating, are treated with a special silicone sealant
Most often, the plastic base consists of two levels, which are connected by vertical plates - as a result, a cellular air layer is formed inside, which provides reliable thermal insulation. Lamellas are more durable, resistant to damage, durable. The plastic base is pasted over with decorative paper with a textured pattern, and the front layer is made of acrylate resin with the addition of corundum.
The ends of the laminate are treated with silicone, the back side of the base is waxed. The top polymer film does not conduct static electricity. All levels are glued with special waterproof glue.
Read also: Ceiling paint | TOP 8 Best: reliability and durability priority | Overview of the most popular manufacturers
Benefits of plastic laminate flooring
It is nice to walk on such a floor with bare feet.
So, we came to the conclusion that a product that is characterized as waterproof is more suitable for the bathroom. It is also called vinyl. What advantages does it have?
- It absolutely does not absorb moisture, does not let it inside
- The coating is durable, wear-resistant, does not swell, does not exfoliate
- It is not afraid of intense loads, increased use
- It tolerates room temperature extremes. It can be laid on non-insulated loggias and balconies, where the degree can vary from -20°С to +50°С
- Mold does not start in plastic, fungus does not spread
- Easy to care for, easy to wash
- The material is considered environmentally friendly, safe for health. It does not emit harmful fumes, toxic compounds into the air
- PVC lamellas are poorly flammable products, they melt under the influence of fire - which means they do not contribute to the rapid spread of flames
Read also: The best heated towel rails for the bathroom water and electric: 15 popular models with different types of connection | 2019 Classiness of the board
Learn more about excellence
Laminate is usually distinguished by categories of class. It should be noted that at present this concept is considered relative, because each manufacturer independently assigns a position to its products. The indicator is calculated based on the impact resistance, wear resistance, moisture resistance, sound insulation of the product.
The higher the marking, the more expensive the price will be, the stronger the physical characteristics. Depending on the place of installation, two groups of laminates are distinguished: for home (domestic needs) and for commercial needs (products suitable for installation in rooms with intensive use). The classiness of the first begins with the number "2", and the second with "3".
The second number is responsible for the wear resistance of the carrier layer and the strength of the lamella as a whole, respectively, when it comes to choosing a floor covering for the bathroom - the higher the number, the better. Currently, classes 21, 22 and 23 are gradually disappearing from stores, as developers prefer to produce only 31, 32, 33, 34 categories - they are better sold out, because the product lasts much longer.
Read also: Petrol lawn mower for your lawn care | TOP-11 Best: Rating + Reviews
How to choose
Hundreds of colors, brands, varieties are waiting for you in the store
We have determined that waterproof or plastic (vinyl) laminate with markings 33-34 and AC 5-6 is more suitable for the bathroom. What else you need to pay attention to when buying?
- Examine the packaging - products with good water-repellent properties always have the “aqua” designation
- Pay attention to the country of origin - European goods are usually of better quality than Chinese ones. Often 32 class Belgian laminate is more reliable than 34 Eastern issue
- Find out in advance the prices for the same laminated boards in different stores - waterproof products are expensive, so even a slight reduction in cost helps to save a lot
- Directly in the construction department, ask to see how the locks work - are there any gaps, is the mechanism easy to snap into place
- Avoid products with a smooth face layer to avoid falls due to wet feet and how much flooring. It is better to choose a corrugated texture
Read also: Jigsaw for home and professional work | TOP 10 Best: Rating by quality + Reviews Manufacturers overview
European manufacturers are the guarantee of reliability and quality
European-made products are considered more reliable, their performance is far ahead of products from China.
The best brands of plastic laminate
Aqua Step - waterproof board with perfect wood look
Consider the market-leading manufacturers of vinyl laminate:
| Name | Country of issue | Characteristic |
|---|---|---|
| Dumaplast | Belgium-France |
|
AquaStep | Belgium |
|
Manufacturers of moisture resistant laminate flooring
Choose a good coating so as not to worry about a brand new repair
Sometimes moisture resistant laminate is also used for laying in the bathroom. Consider the best brands.
| Name | Country of issue | Characteristic |
|---|---|---|
| Quick step | Belgium |
|
Classen | Germany |
|
Kindl | Austria |
|
Kronotex | Germany-Russia |
|
Product line from Quick Step
Read also: TOP 10 Best geysers for your apartment or private house | Overview of popular models + Reviews Tips for self-assembly
If you are afraid, entrust the installation to a professional
It is difficult to describe how to lay a laminate within one small section - separate articles with a large volume are devoted to this. Here we mention important subtleties, the knowledge of which will save you from wrong actions:
- The number of products is calculated based on the area of the room. Always buy 10% more to have a spare in case of damaged or damaged items
- The purchased laminate should lie in your room for at least 3 days (we open the package)
- It is important to prepare the floor surface: cover up cracks, level, treat with a primer for better adhesion
- The evenness of the floor is checked by the building level
- Consider additional floor waterproofing (not required but recommended)
- Laying is directly perpendicular to the walls and diagonal. The first one is much easier to do with your own hands.
- Before starting work, do not be too lazy to draw a laying scheme
- Do not forget to purchase a substrate for a laminate - layers of expanded polystyrene
- Check the distance between the bottom of the door and the floor so that after laying the laminate it does not appear that during the opening process it touches the coating. If necessary, the door is removed from the hinges and shortened
Coating helps to give the room a stylish look
Laminate, which is suitable for laying in the bathroom, must be resistant to moisture, must not let water through. These are the two main criteria for an ideal product that will last for many years without changing its appearance. To purchase a waterproof or moisture-resistant board is an individual choice for each customer.
Carefully study all the characteristics of potential applicants, consult with a repair specialist or, at worst, with a manager in a hardware store. We recommend choosing a laminate from a European developer, marked 33-34, preferably with a plastic base. If you are still leaning towards a board made of super-strong fiberboard, get a collection specifically designed for rooms with humidity changes.
Watch the video, where it is clearly explained how to properly lay the laminate in the bathroom:
Laminate waterproof in the bathroom. Laying rules
Which bathroom laminate is better: types, properties, tips for choosing and proper installation, 6 best manufacturers
