How to join laminate and linoleum correctly. How to decorate so that it is practical and beautiful

Today it is difficult to imagine a modern studio apartment, a spacious living room, a workshop or a fitness center at home without curved design joints. After all, it is important not only to visually separate the necessary zones, but also to protect the more fragile coating from high traffic. For example, the same parquet from the bar counter, or the same massive board from entrance doors. And straight lines are also always appropriate and look beautiful (not to mention the fact that there is an order of magnitude less hassle with them), but not everywhere and not always can you get by with just them.

This fashionable phenomenon in interior design is called “flowing space”. This is when there are no walls and no partitions, and the whole room seems huge and incredibly stylish.

Moreover, many new fashionable areas take up very little space to be somehow separated by shelves or plasterboard: galleries, mini-gardens, workshops, home cinema, bars and SPA corners. Such open and semi-open spaces with professionally designed curved joints floor coverings– the real future, which has already arrived.

Hyper-creative designers or chic fashion?

However, the fashion for curved joints of different floor coverings at one time brought a whole whirlwind of new ideas for the creativity of designers, and a lot of quarrels between those and their contractors. What is quite clear: simply joining tiles with linoleum in a straight line is one thing, and not at all difficult, but bringing to life a crazy fantasy in the form of almost a pattern on the floor from flexible profiles is another. Here you need to sit for hours and cut out the desired curve on the tile (everything is easier with laminate, you’ll agree). And only those who have ever tried to do this know what we are talking about. That’s why even famous renovation gurus talk with irritation about similar designers’ ideas:

“The designer went into a 3D interior program, drew a kitchen with a hallway, installed ceramic tiles as a floor covering, drew a large oval in it and “filled” it with laminate. One click of the mouse. Then the enthusiastic customer brought this “creation” to the foreman, and he asked the designer: how to do it? The designer answered: well, you draw an oval and fill it with laminate. The foreman gets dressed and leaves.”

Perhaps now we have amused you a lot. And really, who would want to sit in someone else’s apartment and cut out the same tiles for days and hours, when the fee will be paid for completed tasks according to the estimate, and not for the time spent. It is much easier to tell an uninformed customer that the designer is an eccentric with a letter M, and this curved joint of floor coverings looks beautiful only on a monitor screen, but in life it is like a torn brick in the decor of the house. And then with such a joint there will be no problems, it looks stupid and an honest, straight-line connection is much better. And that bending drywall too is the last thing and is generally ridiculous. And in general, such designers should go to the clinic. And even on construction sites, all this creativity should be displayed only with a large red crossing out cross - they say, this is exactly what you shouldn’t do.

But while skilled gurus are trying with all their might to stop the rapid development of interior design, simpler contractors make all these design joints and bends easily and beautifully - you just need to spend time on it. Moreover, the result is paid - and everything else depends on skill. And in fact, such joints look neat and beautiful - if they were made by a professional. And if they were really thought out in advance - the viewing angle, for example, changes a lot. And today, even in Europe, the joint between the hallway and the room is made not linearly in the form of a simple threshold, but in a semicircle, and it looks amazing.

And such joints do not create any problems later: when correct installation They require the same care as the rest of the floor.

How can you combine two different coatings?

For linear joints of different floor coverings, thresholds are used today: metal, wood and flexible. These are not exactly the thresholds that we sometimes attach to doors - these are much more complex and functional. Moreover, the simplest thing is to join the ceramic tiles of the kitchen and the laminate flooring of the corridor, inserting just one aluminum threshold and securing it with self-tapping screws. But beautiful design joints are more difficult to organize. After all, aesthetics is one thing, but it is necessary that such a bend does not break later, does not become dirty, and no one trips over it.

A high-quality profile for joints should have the following advantages:

• Waterproof. This is an important parameter, because the profile covers unprotected joints of coatings.
• Color fastness. The profile should not fade in the sun.
• Invisible and fast installation system.
• Pliable for cutting into smaller pieces.
• Possibility of laying on uneven floors.
• Possibility of adaptation to coatings that differ in height by only a couple of millimeters.
• Bending radius up to 30 cm when heated and up to 60 cm when cold.
• Wear resistance. The profile must have a high-quality appearance for as long as the coating itself.

If the coverings are of the same height, they are joined in this way:

If they are of different levels, then like this:

Types of modern profiles and thresholds

Such profiles on modern market are also presented in a wide variety: cheap and expensive, moisture-resistant, durable, multifunctional and for different tasks:

Aesthetics, i.e. performing the most important tasks to the maximum:

1. Make the transition between coatings soft and invisible.
2. Suitable for finishing complex elements such as columns.
3. Possibility of installation on already laid floor coverings.

Thresholds are also divided into types:

• Direct. These are used to close the linear joint between different types floor coverings. But they can only be used when both coatings are the same in height.
• Leveling. These profiles are used to join coverings of different levels. Their main task is to make the transition softer and more accurate.
• Final ones. This type of profile is needed in cases where some kind of floor covering runs out and its border needs to be covered.

Here is an example of installing a straight profile:

Metal profiles are made to look like silver, bronze or gold so that they harmonize with decorative door handles and other interior details. These are especially good for offices.

For high wear resistance on metallic profile Powder coating is also applied at the factory. And to Each profile usually comes with a mounting strip, which is screwed directly to the floor. There’s already a profile on it.

Aluminum profiles coated with a laminated film in the color of wood are also produced. These are more resistant to mechanical stress.

But the T-shaped solid wood profile is the most expensive for design joints. Usually it is taken for a straight transition of parquet to tiles, and installed with glue.

But treat the connecting profiles from natural wood with extreme caution: in winter, when humidity due to heating season in the air it decreases noticeably, wooden planks dry out and noticeably decrease in size. But by spring, they again gain moisture and increase in size. Such fluctuations significantly reduce the service life of wood profiles, but if you hang a hygrometer on the wall and monitor air humidity using various clever and simple devices, then such problems will not arise. In addition, a normal level of air humidity will have a beneficial effect on your health.

Flexible PVC profile must be softened before installation. To do this, heat the water to 50-70 degrees and leave the profile there for 20 minutes. After this, it will be easy to bend and install in the right place. Thus, the flexible PVC profile is already factory-applied with notches along which it is convenient to bend it by hand to almost any radius. But with a straight profile, notches are no longer used.

The most functional are considered to be cork profiles, which consist of a layer of cork between thin strips. For example, the same parquet often “plays”, and a cork profile will cushion like a spring. But such a profile cannot be mounted at the junction with carpet or linoleum - it will not cover the raw edge.

It cannot be said that any type of profile is worse than another - each has its own purpose. And now everything will be clear to us using examples.

How the profile is installed

Fastening profiles can also be closed or open:

1. Open way: holes for fasteners are already made in the threshold, and the screws are also painted in the same color. We drill holes at the installation site, hammer in dowels and fasten the metal strip. Those. the fastenings, if you carefully examine them, are visible.
2. Closed way: in this method, screws hold the lower profile - the fastening strip, and the front strip is snapped or glued onto it. Those. the fastening system itself will not be visible.

Both methods are good in their own way: one is maintainable, the other is more aesthetically pleasing.

Different profiles and shapes:

The threshold with holes should be installed as follows:

1. Cut the profile as needed.
2. Make a mark where you will drill later.
3. Drill holes and secure the threshold with self-tapping screws. It will be convenient for you to do this with a screwdriver or a special screwdriver. Just be careful not to bend the sill.

And this is how thresholds with hidden fastenings are attached:

1. Make markings on the base.
2. On the wrong side, insert a self-tapping screw with a dowel into the groove of the threshold.
3. Drill holes in the floor.
4. Insert the sill with dowels into the holes and hammer in completely. Just drive through the block to avoid damage.

And finally, the simplest installation at the threshold on a self-adhesive base:

1. Mark the future contour and glue the threshold exactly in the center of the joint.
2. Remove protective film from the base and press the profile well - it will stick on its own.

The best way to decorate the junction of different floor coverings is a profile with a zigzag leg. You need to plant it on a special glue, and after laying all the materials, forcefully compress it to the desired level.

Each profile has its own device for fastening to the floor. If the profile has two legs for fastening, then install it simultaneously with the same tile. It will press one of the legs with its weight and glue, and the other will fall under the laminate backing. The installation of the profile itself is extremely simple - you just need to arm yourself with a screwdriver and electric drill. But, if you are using an aluminum profile and do not want to insert a cork compensator, then take a threshold that comes with a special rubber insert, like here:

Tiles and wood: contact made!

The most difficult thing is to correctly connect the tiles and the floor made of wood or wood shavings.

So, to trim the winding joints of the coatings, use cardboard templates - it’s easy to make markings on them. It is also good to use a cork expansion joint for such coatings: a strip 10 mm wide will easily shrink to 5 mm. Be sure to use it if you are joining the floor in a room where changes in temperature and humidity are quite frequent. It's next to winter garden, swimming pool and sauna, for example.

In addition, when installing wooden profile be sure to leave expansion gaps. After all, it happens more than once that the plank tightly fastens the joint between the tile and the parquet, and in winter you can observe a terrible picture: the plank jumps out and becomes deformed, the parquet “gets” to the tile and, under the force of pressure, even chips off its edge! This is where stories come from about how bad and unreliable it is to make various designer floor joints. Just leave a gap - it won’t be visible under the profile, and all problems are solved!

And keep in mind that floors using “floating” technology move even faster than a coating that is firmly glued to the floor. Therefore, we leave the compensation gap for parquet at 10-15 mm, but for “floating” floors – all 20 mm. Remember, we leave the same gaps at the walls - we simply cover them with baseboards. Like in this example:

Example of work on joining laminate and tiles:

The junction of two types of carpet: not everything is so simple!

The design junction of two types of carpet is also in fashion. It’s only important to know exactly how to do it – it’s not complicated, believe me! Just remember a few rules:

1. If you connect two and more types carpet, then lay them so that the fibers are directed equally. This will make subsequent cleaning much easier for you.
2. If you are making a joint at a small width, up to 15 cm, then simply glue these two pieces side by side using regular PVA and place the weight on it for several hours.
3. When the carpet joint is more than 15 cm wide, there is no need to press down anything - just use skirting boards around the perimeter.
4. If after joining the carpet you will carry out some more work, then cover the entire floor with clean paper. But not with film - it will retain moisture and the glue will bubble.
5. If your carpet also has holes for pipes, then secure them with clear tape. Otherwise, over time, the carpet in those places will peel off.
6. After gluing the joints, try not to walk on the carpet for 24 hours.

If you have chosen the right profile for connecting the design joint of the floor, then no one will trip over it and cleaning will also not become difficult. In addition, a tastefully selected profile also often serves as a bright visual accent of interior design.

A joint without profiles is possible!

You can join two different floor coverings without a profile. For this, a cork compensator is used.

Experiment and boldly create the design of the future!

Today, for arranging flooring can be used various coatings and materials. One of the most common options is linoleum, which is easy to install and process. But there are options when you need to form a high-quality joint between linoleum and tiles. This problem can be solved in several ways, the main thing is to choose the most optimal one.

Docking methods

Linoleum can be joined with various materials, among which the most common are:

• laminate;
• ceramic tile;
• parquet board.

The joining of these coverings can be made between the kitchen floor and the hallway, for example, where different zones. Sometimes these materials are found in the same room as intended by the designers.

There are several main ways to combine linoleum on the floor with other surfaces:

1. Alignment of planes. This option allows you to get an even connection located at the same level. Often this approach is used if the difference between heights is more than 1.5 -3 cm.
2. Sealing the joint. This technology involves smoothing the transition to eliminate discomfort when moving.

It should be noted that all these methods are universal and are suitable for almost all types of floor coverings that need to be joined together. When choosing one, it's important to consider the specific heights of each layer and the end result you want to achieve.

Getting a high-quality joint is quite simple. This can be done using the following approaches and tools:

• Direct docking. To do this, linoleum is cut so that the material fits tightly to the other floor covering. To prevent the sheet from rising over time, it can be glued to the floor using special compounds.

The most complex process This is a quality pruning that needs to be done very carefully. The best option would be to apply linoleum to tiles or laminate. After which, at the joining point, an even cut is formed along the entire length of the sheet.

• Use of decorative thresholds. These designs are special strips or profiles that are equipped with grooves to hide the linoleum and smooth out the joints. They can be used both in the corridor under the door and on an open surface.

The shape of the thresholds often does not have sharp corners, which prevents injuries to the legs during movement. This method is one of the most common, as it allows you to obtain a high-quality joint between almost any floor covering.

Material for planks

Decorative thresholds are a type of profile that differs in shape and design. They are made from several types of materials:

• Aluminum. The material perfectly withstands heavy loads and is easy to process. To give it different design, it is coated with special paints or other substances. This allows you to simulate various styles and surface colors (gold, wood, etc.).
• Brass. Planks made of this metal are the highest quality and most expensive. The material is practically not processed, since brass looks very good externally. But over time, the metal can tarnish, which requires periodic rubbing with felt or other similar substances.

• Plastic. The cheapest thresholds, which are used quite rarely. But they are indispensable when you need to get a joint of complex shape. Do it with metal structures almost impossible. To form such curves, the plastic is heated before installation and bent in the desired direction.
• Rubber. Thresholds of this type are relatively rare, but they bend very well and withstand heavy loads.
• Tree goes well with linoleum and laminate. Therefore, the thresholds from it will become optimal solution when forming joints.

Methods of fastening thresholds

Decorative strips are used very often to form joints between linoleum and parquet board. Fixation of such structures can be done in several main ways:

1. Gluing. This method involves installing the plank with a special glue to the floor. Very often it is used when working with ceramic surfaces. This is due to the fact that glue the threshold to tiles much easier than drilling a hole in it for fasteners.
2. Through-hole fastener. This technology involves the use of self-tapping screws that are screwed into special holes in the profile. Therefore, each manufacturer equips the slats with special holes through which all this happens.
3. Hidden fasteners. This method also involves the use of self-tapping screws. But at the same time, their installation is carried out at the base of the plank. After fixation, it is closed with a special decorative overlay. Externally, the fasteners are then completely invisible.

Algorithm of actions

The docking technology is relatively simple and can be done independently. The process of obtaining a high-quality seam can be divided into several successive stages:

• First of all analysis of the difference between linoleum and other floor coverings is carried out. If this value is quite large, then you need to take care of leveling the surfaces. Often a similar phenomenon occurs between linoleum and laminate. To form a single plane, under roll material lay plywood, which is best nailed to the floor.
• The next step is to form a joint with a minimum gap. To do this, the material must be cut along the entire length of the seam using a sharp knife. The better you do this, the better the transition will look.

• At this stage, choose the docking method. If the linoleum comes into contact with the threshold, then you should simply glue it to the floor and fill the gap with sealant to get a smooth surface. In another case, it is easier to connect materials using decorative strips. Therefore, you need to choose the shape and size of such a profile. Please note that there are thresholds that can level out differences of up to 1.5 cm.
• When all the materials have been selected and the linoleum is trimmed, you can join the coverings. To do this, the required piece of the sill is cut off and inserted into the seam between the layers. In this case, linoleum and laminate can be hidden in a special groove. As for tiles, the profile simply covers the top to hide the seam.

The most popular floor coverings of the last decade have been laminate and linoleum. Owners are finishing residential or commercial premises, completely trusting the reviews about these products. And rightly so, because they are beautiful, practical and durable. So why not use them when decorating an apartment or office. But which material should you choose if they are both so good?

Experienced designers will immediately answer that it is convenient to use both materials at the same time. This will solve your problem, but create a new one. How to properly connect laminate flooring to linoleum if you decide to delimit the room into zones using this method? It is worth considering that the junction of two materials on the floor is designed differently, the choice depends on you.

Joining two materials

What is the difficulty of docking?

As mentioned above, the most popular floor coverings are linoleum and laminate. And if you decide to use them together, you will have to study some of the nuances of docking.

The complexity of this activity lies in the fact that the thickness of these two materials is different. Linoleum is thinner than laminate. Therefore, the main task is to make their joint as invisible as possible on the floor.

Laminate laying diagram

This is not difficult to do if you become familiar with the ways to solve the problem.

Docking methods:

1. Leveling the height of the linoleum so that its surface is flush with the laminate.
2. Sealing a joint while maintaining the difference and using additional elements – aluminum profiles or thresholds.

In each specific case, it is worth approaching the issue from a practical point of view. After all, from correct connection linoleum and laminate depends on the aesthetic appearance of your room.

Single-level joints

From a practicality point of view, single-level laminate-linoleum joints are the most profitable. The work uses overlays and moldings, which make the joint on the floor between the two materials smooth and invisible. But it is recommended to take their choice responsibly and check how well they meet the requirements listed below.

Requirements for overlays:

• Waterproof, only in this case they will qualitatively connect two joints different materials. Otherwise, when moisture gets in, the linoleum or laminate will become deformed, which will lead to damage to the floor.
• Resistant to UV rays. The joints of linoleum or laminate are not always protected from this influence, so if sun rays The overlay must not fade or deform so that the joint does not deteriorate.
• Easy to install, otherwise you risk messing around with this event for a long time, pretty much ruining my mood.
• Durability and wear resistance. These qualities will help you use overlays to connect the joints of linoleum and laminate for many years.

The joining of laminate and linoleum at the same level occurs as follows:

• another dense material is laid under the linoleum to raise it to the same level as the laminate. Typically this material is multi-layer plywood;
• Using a special pad, the two materials are joined.

Multi-level joints of laminate with linoleum are suitable if you need to level a floor of two levels. For these purposes, thresholds of various heights are produced.

Types of products:

• straight thresholds for joints of single-level floors;
• transitional - to connect two floor levels;
• finishing - for decorating the edges of linoleum or laminate;
• corner or staircase - for connecting linoleum to the stairs.

In a hardware store you can easily find products for joining coatings. The only thing you have to decide on is the material of manufacture. The most popular thresholds:

• metal;
• plastic;
• cork;
• rubber;
• wooden;
• laminated.

products are selected according to external design. The width and color of such devices can also be any, so you have the opportunity to choose a product to suit your taste.

Advice! To make a multi-level floor joint aesthetically pleasing, it is recommended to use joining profiles or thresholds. They will protect the joints from moisture, and the floor will become smooth and neat.

Methods of fastening thresholds

The joints are connected using special strips and thresholds, which are secured in several ways:

• End-to-end connection. In this case, the connecting strip is placed on top of two materials - linoleum and laminate - and screwed to the floor with self-tapping screws.
• Concealed connection using fastening strips. The back side of such a strip has special grooves. Front part flat, which allows you to connect two materials without visible fasteners. Due to this, linoleum and laminate are on the same level.
• Instead of joining, gluing the covering to the floor. This method is less practical, but is still sometimes used. Use liquid nails or transparent silicone-based adhesives. This connection is suitable for areas with low traffic, otherwise the joints will sooner or later be damaged.

Planks and thresholds for joints

To connect the joints of laminate and linoleum on the floor, aluminum thresholds or strips are often used. This is due to the fact that aluminum is practical material, allowing you to decorate the floor covering depending on the color. Such strips are painted bronze or gold, so the possibilities designer fantasies unlimited.

Intended for joining two materials the following types planks:

• Anodized, which is recommended for use in high traffic areas. Their coating is very resistant to abrasion, so the bronze-colored plank will please the eyes of home owners for a long time.
• Laminated ones, which are recommended for installation in low-traffic areas. They are less resistant to loads, but do not lose their relevance.
• Plastic. The cost of this material attracts many consumers, but you need to be careful with them. They cannot be used in places with high traffic, and they are not recommended for joining laminate flooring with linoleum. But for lack of financial resources, you can consider this option.

It is important! Although plastic strips have several disadvantages, you cannot do without them when making curved joints between linoleum and laminate. They can even do a radius connection.

• There are also brass thresholds that differ high quality and durability. Accordingly, the cost of this pleasure is high, but if the price is not an obstacle, then you cannot think of another option. The only drawback of this material is darkening over time. This is because the brass used for these strips is not treated, causing it to darken. But it’s easy to solve this problem - just rub the bar with felt, and it will sparkle brighter than before.

Docking without strips

If you decide to connect linoleum to laminate without additional planks, you will have to be prepared for the fact that the costs of such work will be significant. To do this, you need to select materials so that they completely coincide with each other. This applies to the directions of the laminate planks and the pattern on the linoleum.

It is important! At correct selection material, your floors will always be smooth and beautiful.

But if you can do without thresholds when laying laminate on the floor, then in the case of the second material you will have to try to ensure good fastening edges so that they do not curl. This is especially true in places where there is a lot of people passing through.

To ensure reliable fixation of linoleum to the floor, transparent silicone glue is used. The material is cut as precisely as possible so that the joint is barely noticeable. After joining the two materials, the gap between them is filled with the same glue.

Advice! To prevent glue from getting onto the front surfaces when joining two materials, use masking tape.

The most commonly used flooring materials are laminate and linoleum. They are distinguished by their excellent appearance, durability, and resistance to many types of influences. In addition, the cost of such coatings is quite affordable for any budget. But the entire floor in an apartment or house is not always covered with one material. For example, linoleum is used for corridors or kitchens, and for living rooms– laminate.

The transition between different types of flooring can become not only a functional technique, but also designer highlight interior

To make the coating attractive and seem uniform, it is necessary to properly process all the joints. There are several options for performing such work. You can use special connecting strips or do without them. The selection of one option or another depends on decorative requirements and coating installation conditions.

Single-level and multi-level joints

A single-level joint is the most attractive; the floor looks uniform, and the joint itself is not noticeable unless you use planks for this. To perform this type of fastening, it is necessary to level the floor specifically for these coatings, since laminate usually has a higher surface than linoleum.

The joints can also be at different levels when the coverings differ in height. But in this case there is nothing complicated; you can use special thresholds that allow you to connect two floor coverings with a height difference of one and a half centimeters.

The planks completely cover the joint; the special design makes it almost invisible and very neat.

Planks and thresholds for joints between linoleum and laminate

The most common material for the production of connecting strips is aluminum. This option allows you to imitate the surface of the part in bronze, gold or wood, which significantly expands the possibilities of decorating the floor covering. Most often you can find 2 options on sale:

In some cases, simpler plastic strips are used, which are much cheaper. Their surface is laminated, their strength and resistance to loads is lower than that of aluminum. It is usually not recommended to join laminate and linoleum using such elements, especially in rooms where increased loads are observed. But they are indispensable when you need to make curved joints or radius connections. Brass thresholds are considered the highest quality and most durable among all, but their cost is also higher. Brass is not treated, it retains its natural color, but fades over time. This problem is easily solved; the strip is simply rubbed with felt to restore shine and color.

Methods for attaching connecting strips

All strips that can be used to form joints differ in the method of fastening. You can choose any convenient option, which is suitable for a particular situation. Upon delivery, manufacturers offer complete sets to make such fastenings. For example, for through ones, special screws come along with the strips.

Applicable today following types fastenings:

Laying without slats

The joints between linoleum and laminate can be formed without special strips. This option is more expensive due to the fact that there will be more waste during cutting. When laying the material, you must ensure that the direction of the pattern and the board coincide. In this case, the styling will be not only smooth, but also very attractive. You need to think about the direction in advance. For example, when laying in corridors or hallways, it is necessary to ensure that the laminate boards run lengthwise and not across.

Laminate without thresholds is easy to install, but linoleum is almost impossible, since it is necessary to ensure maximum fastening of the edges. For example, when docking around doorways you will have to not only make a careful and very even cut, but also ensure fixation to the floor. Typically, silicone transparent glue is used for this. After the linoleum at the junction with the laminate is glued to the surface, it is necessary to additionally fill the gap between them with this adhesive composition, but make sure that it does not get on the outer parts. For this purpose it is used masking tape, which is first glued to the joint area. After it is processed, the tape is cut with a knife along the joint. Attention will not hurt here; the coating should not be damaged. The entire joint is filled with silicone glue, and the tape is carefully removed.

IN 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 best option- 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 are joined different color– 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 different 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 resistant to abrasion and scratches. Decors are used that resemble the colors of the laminate. Appearance 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 it is connected electricity. As a result, a the thinnest layer especially strong oxide film.

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 – at the nut 4-5 through holes. Enough to drill required quantity 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 back side profile has 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. As an option closed method fastening - 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 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 most cheap option 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 shavings, 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 on 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 to glue 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 external 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's better to use a special one 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. Top part 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. I liked it this option docking? Show it to experienced finishers.

Remember about the uniform design of floor covering seams. Laminate flooring can be joined with identical thresholds throughout the apartment. And in places where the tiles transition, use a sealant or compensator.