Laminate flooring: what is it?

Flooring appeared around the year 1980, the floating parquet is a parquet intended to be laid, unlike the solid parquet, on a material that already exists.

The installation of floating floors

the parquet floating is in fact not fixed to the ground, because the slats of drink are integral with each other thanks to a clever interlocking system. Most often, laminate flooring is made of treated wood slats, but other types of wood can be used depending on the effect and the desired benefits. In order to lay a floating floor, it is essential to have a clean and smooth floor; it is therefore sometimes necessary to cast a screed of mortar to regularize the surface. One or more sub-layers are also necessary to protect the laminate flooring from humidity, and to give it a good soundproofing. The blades are simply clicked on.

Laminate parquet is one of the different types of parquet, along with solid parquet (or traditional parquet) and laminate parquet (which is an imitation of parquet).

Easy installation and maintenance

Laminate floors are easy to install, which is a big advantage. Its clipping system does not require nails, which facilitates installation. Installation is very simple and laminate parquet is much more stable compared to solid parquet. Maintenance is also easy and requires less effort compared to the carpet which retains more dirt, dust and mites.

Before laying the parquet, it is important to check that the floor is level and clean. A coating of patching is necessary when the ground is not level to level the ground. It can be installed on various coatings: floor tile, carpet, old parquet floors, concrete slabs …

The price

Laminate parquet has the advantage of having a more attractive cost compared to solid parquet. In terms of price, this solution is rather advantageous, the starting price is 15 € per m² while for solid oak wood we can count € 39 per m². The price will depend on the type of parquet chosen but for people who have a small budget the floating parquet is perfectly suited.

The aesthetics of floating floors

Aesthetics is an important criterion to take into account, when the floating parquet is properly installed, you cannot tell the difference with a solid parquet! For the decoration interior, the look of the floating floors is particularly interesting.

Laminate floors combine both comfort and aesthetics. There are several types of floating floors:

• Parquet whose boards are clipped together
• The boards are glued together

In the market you can find the most economical laminate floors (they imitate wood), the laminates are composed of a visible layer of noble wood, the thickness of which can vary and the solid wood laminate parquet which has a duration of life similar to traditional parquet floors.

Advantages

Laminate floors are quick to install and have many advantages. This is a floor covering made of wood or composed of wood at least 2.5 mm thick. In 1990, we see floating floors appear in our interiors. This material is appreciated by many people and has established itself as an effective solution in construction projects. renovation or interior design. It was the Swedish manufacturer Perstorp who offered these very first laminate floors in 1977. Its initial name was changed to Pergo and this manufacturer has remained the world leader in this sector of activity.

The disadvantages of floating floors

However, installing a laminate floor has some drawbacks including the fact that it does not isolate sound well and resonates a lot. In an apartment building, the noise of neighbors’ footsteps can become annoying because of the laminate flooring which is much less insulating than carpet for example. To limit the problem, there is a solution, it is possible to add a good insulating underlay before laying the parquet!

This type of parquet is not resistant to humidity, it is preferable to avoid installing it in damp rooms in the home, especially the bathroom, to preserve your floor.

If you choose a laminate floor, you will only be able to sand it once. To respect the environment, consider the choice of the type of wood and the colors, this material participates in the problems of deforestation.