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Laminate flooring with its ownmerits and demerits. To ensure that it lasts as long as possible, you need to be able to choose it correctly. There are several types of laminate, the quality and properties of which are determined by the materials from which it is made.

What does laminate consist of?

The base of the laminate is a wood-fiber board(DWP). This material is manufactured by pressing, so it can withstand significant loads. On one side of the plate, paper with a pattern is pasted. Most often the laminate imitates more expensive floor coverings: parquet, granite, natural wood, marble, etc. The paper is protected with a layer of acrylate or melamine resin, in which mineral components that increase the strength of the coating are added. Next, laminate the film. It determines the stability of the laminate to mechanical damage, protects it from exposure to ultraviolet radiation. From the back side of the fibreboard can be paraffin-impregnated cardboard, plastic or a layer of melamine resin. The layers of materials, of which the laminate consists, are joined in two ways: by means of glue pressing and by gluing under high temperature and pressure. The second method allows to obtain a product with a higher wear resistance. Such a laminate can be used in places with high traffic. The floor covering made by a pressing method is cheaper and it is often laid in residential apartments and houses.

Which laminate is most popular?

The strength of the laminate is measured in taibers (Taber). The webs are checked for abrasion resistance (abrasion) by means of a grinder with a rotating disc. The number of revolutions that the laminate can withstand is determined by the strength index - tiber. Currently, the sales network mainly has a laminate produced in Germany, the wear resistance of which ranges from 1500 to 2500 tiber. These are the products of the firms "Eicher", "Parador", "Kronospan", "Klazen". The products of these companies are environmentally safe, resistant to moisture and chemicals. Laminate "Elesgio" of the German company "HDM" differs in the way of manufacturing its products. Lamination of the webs is made with the help of electron beams, making them more durable. The same company produces components for laying and means for repairing this floor covering: substrate, trowels for chips and joints, maintenance fluids. Laminate French (Alsapan) and Swedish (Pergo) are of lower quality. The products of all firms have almost identical patterns, but the color palette is very diverse: from unpretentious gray to poisonous-green.