The most durable laminate. How to choose a laminate, selection criteria - pros and cons of different types

Laminate – has become a universal floor covering, so it is used absolutely different conditions. It is well suited for both domestic and commercial use. And all due to the fact that its varieties, although not a great many, but they have different characteristics. Therefore, this flooring has become universal.

It differs not only in the manufacturer, color and size of the board, but also in the classes that contain abrasion characteristics, moisture resistance, impact resistance and others. Now let's find out how to chooselaminate wear resistance class and which one is better to use in which rooms.

Knowing the main features of these characteristics, you can easily select a floor covering that will meet your requirements and significantly save on unnecessary properties that are not essential for use in this type premises. If all the conditions are chosen correctly, the flooring will delight you with its chic appearance for many years.

Why are they divided into classes?

Since laminate has firmly entered into sexual life, companies producing it and people buying it have begun to grow exponentially. Therefore, a control organization was created that prevented the market from flooding with products not of proper quality. And with the introduction of certain standards and norms, it has become much easier for the consumer to navigate when choosing these products. In the distant 1999 Western manufacturers of laminated floor coverings created an association (EPLF). In turn, this membership in this association is an indicator of the quality of this company. In our homeland, of course, the quality control is not the same as in the West, and for this reason the products produced domestic producers classified according to abrasion tests.

Why choose laminate?

Very easy to install. The planks are simply connected to each other using locking connections: Click ( which snap into place), this type of connection is considered more reliable and Lock ( which are driven in).

Does not require special attention when cleaning. Basically, going through a vacuum cleaner once a week is enough.

Very durable (depends on class). Stilettos from ladies' heels, claws of pets, burns from cigarettes, furniture wheels - all this is nothing to sneeze on laminate!

Wide selection of styles and colors. You can easily choose exactly the pattern and size that suits your design solution.

Environmentally friendly (only quality models). Will never cause allergies or other skin and asthmatic diseases.

Not flammable. Easy to carry high temperatures and does not support combustion.

Starts at a low price. Thanks to the low pricing policy(again depending on the class and manufacturer) is in good demand.

Therefore, having weighed all the advantages of laminate, some people use it not only as a floor covering, but also for finishing walls and sometimes ceilings.

Testing

European classification laminate standard EN 13329 includes 18 different tasks. The laminate is marked at the output depending on the result of this testing.

Research results different types of the same class may vary, since each manufacturer itself tests its products.

We list the tests that are carried out:

• Abrasion resistance.
• Resistance to
• Impact resistance.
• High temperature tolerance.
• Delamination test.
• Fade resistant.
• Testing resistance to household chemicals.
• Slip resistance.
• Water swelling test.
• Test n emitted substances.

In fact, there are a lot of tests, this is only a part of the most basic ones.

To test manufactured products, the following actions are carried out in the laboratory: a special device is attached to the front side(Taber abrasimeter) with a grinding wheel, in the end, how many revolutions will take to erase the protective coating will be the determining factorlaminate wear resistance class.

I would like to note that according to the new methodology, the measurement standards have changed. By old tradition measurements, the abrasive paper of a special wheel was changed every 500 laps, and according to new technology it needs to be changed every 200 laps, this leads to more intense abrasion with each new laminate die. And due to these innovations, manufacturers often indicate both parameters at once, both old scheme, and again.

table of correspondence

Classification

An important criterion when choosing any finishing floor covering is to understand what functions it will perform. After this, it will become clear which laminate is better for a particular room. It would seem so? - take the strongest one and sculpt it everywhere. But no, prices for different types of laminate vary significantly. And sometimes it makes no sense to overpay for the most wear-resistant laminate, laying it, for example, in the bedroom, where in fact there is not much load.

All laminate is divided into 6 wear resistance classes. Half is for residential use and half for commercial use.

Surely you are not going to live your whole life without repairs. If we take an average calculation, floor coverings are replaced every five years, for one reason or another. Some people get tired of the color, while others wear it out due to careless use. Yes, lots of options. If If you do not plan to use this coating for many years, then the models will probably suit you 21, 22 or 23 classes. They are endowed with average technical characteristics and are ideal for flooring in both the hallway and bedrooms. On the other hand, if the design project plans to use laminate in the kitchen or bathroom, then you should pay attention to a laminate of at least class 31. Which will last longer in such conditions.

If you purchase a coating for use, for example, in an office or small store, the laminate must also have improved characteristics. In this case, choosing which laminate is better directly depends on the wear resistance class. The best solution there will be a laminate with the number 33.

Due to reorientation potential buyers For laminated coatings of increased strength, in the production of laminate they began to increasingly use coatings of the 31st class or 33rd class. Today, in the production of wood panels, protective coatings of class 31 or more are increasingly used. Therefore, the most common type of laminate wear resistance has become class 32. With him correct operation service life reaches about 20 years.

Both commercial and household laminates should always have a pictogram on the box that depicts a drawing that defines the class of this laminate. (see picture below). Once you remember these pictures, you will be able to understand them easily.

Household laminate

Laminate with wear resistance classes 21, 22, 23 falls into this category. The price category is average. TOIt’s up to you to decide which class of laminate is the best from this category, just don’t forget thatdurability at proper care from two years.

21st grade

Term wear resistance, subject to operating rules, fluctuates around 2 years. The main reason this was due to the lack of quality protective layer. Recommended for use in utility rooms or storage rooms.

22nd grade

It has a slightly more reliable protective layer. Recommended for use in rooms with low traffic (bedroom, toilet). The service life, subject to operating rules, does not exceed 2-3 years.

Cunning!

To extend the life of this class of laminate, you can use a trick! Laying a carpet on top of it or an original carpet in the middle of the room.

23rd grade

It is a modernized version of the previous class. Wear resistance is slightly increased. Focused on average cross-country ability. Service life does not exceed 4 years. So it turns out that there are differentIt’s up to you to decide the classes of laminate and which one is better to choose.

Commercial laminate

31st grade

Is the cheapest in this category. Mainly applicable in commercial premises with low traffic. For commercial use, it will last no more than 3-4 years, and if for domestic use, sometimes the service life reaches 10 years. The starting price per square meter of class 31 laminate flooring is 200 rubles.

32nd grade

The most popular class of laminate in Russia. It will go like optimal solution in the price-quality ratio. In the office, this coating will last in its original condition, subject to operating rules, for no more than 5 years, and when used in domestic conditions, the service life reaches 12-15 years. ON this type laminate prices start at 700 rubles per square meter.

33rd grade

Proven for excellent durability. Unless, of course, you take into account class 34, which does not exist officially. This coating is suitable for hotels, dance floors, or restaurants where the traffic load is very high.

It owes its durability to the thickened lamella (10-12mm), despite the fact that it is designed for commercial use; the service life of this coating will be more than 6 years. And if you decide to install such a covering at home, it will serve you for more than 20 years, and some manufacturers even give a lifetime guarantee. Accordingly, if you take care of it properly. The cost per square meter of such laminate is around 1,500 rubles.

Cunning!

Class 33 laminate with a parquet-like texture in appearance is sometimes confused with real parquet.

Class 34

Recognized in the world as the most durable and wear-resistant type of laminate. Capable of taking on the loads of a gym, car showroom or airport waiting room. Rarely does anyone buy this type of home, due to its high cost, which starts at 1,800 rubles. The most wear-resistant class. Withstands the loads typical of gyms, car showrooms, and airport halls. Few people decide to buy class 34 laminate for their home, since its price starts at 1,800 rubles per sq. m. m. But when using it at home, the manufacturers Alloc and Pergo give a lifetime guarantee. By the way, they are manopolists in the market for the production of this class of laminated flooring.

In laboratory tests, this laminate with the number 34 shows results that are even better than those provided by the EPLF association, therefore it is considered a top-class laminate.

So the answer to the question isWhich laminate is better to lay in an apartment? Class 33, again depending on how long you plan not to do another renovation and what the current budget is.

Conclusion

It is not always necessary to purchase top-class laminate. An important criterion To make such a decision, the trafficability of the covered area will be taken into account. In an apartment, it is better to lay laminate flooring numbered 31 and 32; due to the moderate load and low traffic, this will be sufficient. In this case, it is worth taking into account the moisture resistance parameters (if you plan to cover the bathroom or kitchen). Laminated dies class 33 Perfect for both home and commercial use. And if the planned loads on the floor are very high, a laminate with the number 34 is recommended.

Moisture-resistant laminate 33 classes

Video instruction

Laminate is a modern floor covering. It is widely believed that this artificial substitute natural parquet very expensive and unreliable. In addition, many believe that it is afraid of moisture and will require replacement within six years after installation. Until recently, everything was exactly like this. However, today leading manufacturers of building materials offer their consumers laminate High Quality. Its service life is within twenty years or more. How can a buyer determine the most quality laminate? To do this, you will need to clarify its wear resistance class. This flooring parameter is set only after the so-called Taber test. Belonging to one class or another will indicate the quality of the coating.

Compound

What is laminate? This is a panel consisting of several layers. Let's take a closer look at them. Most upper layer artificial parquet panels are a frozen mass of acrylic or melamine resin. Which laminate is the highest quality and least wearable? The one in which this layer has the greatest thickness.

During production, this coating is made of acrylic with corundum. Such a surface not only shines, but also wears out little. This ability gives the laminate corundum, which in its hardness is not inferior to diamond.

The second layer of artificial parquet is considered decorative. It is made from paper with a specific design. Thanks to this layer, the floor panel acquires its appearance. Here the possibilities of manufacturers are not limited. Laminate can have a wood structure, look like sand, stone, marble, etc. That is why the second, decorative layer of laminate is important when developing the design of a room. And this is fifty percent of the success of repair work.

As for the third, next layer, this is nothing more than waterproofing of the stabilizer. It is a moisture-proof film. Thanks to this layer, artificial parquet does not swell when water gets on it. Some types of laminate are capable of holding the resulting puddle on their surface even for three days without harm to the panel.

The next, fourth layer is the thickest. This is a stabilizing board made of high-strength fiberboard. This layer determines the dimensions of the laminate itself, which comes in thicknesses of 6, 8, 10 and 12 millimeters. The larger these dimensions are, the better quality the lock that is embedded around the perimeter will be.

And the last, bottom layer is craft paper. This protects the stabilizing plate from moisture. In some brands of laminate, an additional backing is glued to the bottom layer. This increases the price of artificial parquet.

Classification

Laminate, like all types of building materials, is divided into certain types. According to this classification, artificial parquet can be:

• moisture resistant (for rooms with high humidity);
• ordinary.

Each of the listed types is divided into classes, which indicate the density of the panel, its wear resistance and reliability. Choosing a quality laminate should begin by considering these characteristics. If the class of the panel you are considering is in the range from 21 to 23, then this coating is suitable for home use. At the same time, it is worth remembering that larger number indicates greater wear resistance of artificial parquet. Thus, the highest quality laminate for an apartment corresponds to class 23. You should not look for a coating with greater value for residential buildings.

And for offices, shops and other premises with high traffic, what is the best quality laminate? Reviews from specialists and users give a clear answer to this question. attributed to class 31-33. Production and office rooms need a more durable floor that can be walked on by thousands of feet. If lower class panels are used in such cases, the coating will quickly fail.

But some manufacturers have gone further. Today they offer 34 classes of laminate. This type of artificial parquet is available from Aloc. However, if you compare this laminate with class 33 panels produced by Tarkett, you will notice that the accompanying documentation in both cases guarantees up to twenty-five years of operation under the same conditions.

Method for determining class

How does a manufacturer determine a high-quality, good laminate? For this purpose, the panels undergo a Taber test for wear resistance. It involves checking the laminate using a rotating abrasive wheel. This or that number of revolutions will indicate the class of the material and the degree of its wear resistance. The disk is rotated until the top transparent layer of the panel is completely erased. For a commercial line, which laminate is the best quality? Reviews from experts indicate that these are panels that have undergone a number of revolutions from 6 to 20 thousand (depending on their class).

The parameters of such testing are indicated in the accompanying documents of each batch. Their designation is as follows:

• IP - gives an indication of the number of revolutions that the abrasive wheel disk made before any visible damage appeared on the panel.
• FP - denotes the phase in which ninety-five percent of the abrasion of the top layer occurs;
• AT is an average value.

Each class of artificial parquet has its own minimum value wear resistance (IP) and maximum (FP). Based on these parameters, which laminate is of the highest quality? Feedback from experts indicates that these values ​​should be close to optimal. However, this does not mean that each buyer should strive to buy laminate of 33 or even 34 classes. It is necessary to purchase those panels that are designed for the load on the floor covering in a room for a specific purpose.

Selecting a panel according to the class and purpose of the premises

How to choose high-quality laminate for an apartment? To do this, first of all, you need to pay attention to the class of panels. The purpose of a particular room will also be an important factor. As mentioned above, for apartments it is recommended to purchase laminate of classes 21, 22 and 23. At the same time, the least wear-resistant one is suitable for the bedroom and office. Panels classified as class 22 will be a good flooring for the living room and children's room. More high category material is recommended for hallways, loggias and kitchens. It is worth keeping in mind that for apartments and private houses, panels from class 21 to 23 are inexpensive but high-quality laminate. After all, it is used in rooms with low traffic.

Laminate, starting from 31 and ending with the rare 34 class (it is produced in small batches due to high cost), is used in in public places and offices. That is, where a large number of people pass every day. What class of artificial parquet is used in a particular room? So, it is recommended to use:

• 31 class - for offices and rest rooms;
• Grade 32 - in offices, classrooms and reception areas;
• Class 33 - for shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, gyms, medical institutions and reception areas.

It is also worth mentioning that some owners, when deciding how to choose a high-quality laminate for an apartment, buy commercial-type panels. Of course, if you have the necessary financial resources, this may be quite advisable. You can walk on this laminate in heels, and it will not be damaged if a heavy object falls on it, nor will it be crushed under the load of heavy furniture. And the service life of commercial artificial parquet of class 31-34 will be approximately two decades, while the period of use of cheaper coating will not exceed 5-10 years.

Selecting panel thickness

There is one more criterion that will help answer the question of which laminate is of the highest quality. Reviews from experts advise choosing artificial parquet according to its thickness. In this case, you will need to remember some basic rules directly related to this indicator. The thickness of the base layer made of fiberboard determines the tightness of the panels between each other. The larger these dimensions, the stronger the joint.

In addition, the requirements for the surface on which a thin laminate is applied are more stringent. It must be perfectly smooth and perfectly level, and this complicates construction work.

It also directly affects its sound-absorbing properties. The price of artificial parquet also depends on this parameter. How to choose a high-quality laminate according to this characteristic? Here again, you should take into account the room where it will be placed. Thus, panels from classes 21 to 23 are produced with a thickness of 6-8 mm, and the values ​​of this indicator for panels with greater wear resistance are within 10-12 millimeters.

Selection by moisture resistance

How to choose a high-quality laminate that will not deteriorate when washed with a damp cloth? To do this, you need to choose the right type of floor panel. As mentioned above, laminate can be moisture-resistant and ordinary. So, the second of these types of artificial parquet is afraid of water. It is not intended for use in areas with high humidity. In addition, such panels can swell during prolonged contact with water. That is why in rooms where conventional laminate is used, it is possible to produce wet cleaning with only minor contact of the floor surface with water.

Another thing is moisture-resistant panels. They are not afraid of wet daily cleaning. In addition, they will not deteriorate even if someone spills something on the floor. That is why this material You can safely lay it in the kitchen or hallway.

Visual assessment

How to choose a quality laminate? The panels offered in the store are worth a sniff. A strong smell will indicate a bad product. What is the quality laminate? One that has no smell.

Experts also recommend comparing the proposed panels by weight. What is the best quality of panels that professionals recommend purchasing? more weight. lightweight laminate is made from boards of low density and thickness. And this is confirmation of its worst quality.

Also, in order to determine which laminate is of the highest quality, it is necessary to examine it from the long end. The product must be perfectly straight. The presence of any bends on it is evidence of an incorrect or very long-term storage. It is especially harmful to keep ordinary panels in storage. But for moisture-resistant laminate, a long shelf life is not a reason for deterioration in quality.

If, as a result of being in a warehouse for a long time, a regular laminate has absorbed moisture, then after installation such boards dry out. Their surface swells and becomes covered with unsightly spots, and cracks appear at the joints.

Selection of country of origin

Which laminate is the best quality? When purchasing artificial parquet, it is recommended to inquire about the country where this building material was produced. And here it is worth keeping in mind that almost all brands of high-quality laminate are produced in Europe. Domestic materials, as a rule, please buyers only with prices. As for their quality, it disappoints most of our compatriots.

Unfortunately, the third part Russian market laminate flooring is occupied by cheap Chinese goods. Moreover, the problem here lies not in the producing country, but in the importers. There are a large number of factories in China that produce laminate flooring of the highest quality. However, in order to obtain maximum profits, our customers bring artificial parquet produced in factories engaged in handicraft production. Of course, the price of such panels is low, which allows sellers to earn large sums. But it is worth keeping in mind that such panels can be made of MDF, and not of high density. In addition, they do not correspond to the class stated in the accompanying documents. To attract buyers, such a product is placed in beautiful packaging, on which high indicators that do not correspond to these slabs are placed.

How to avoid being deceived?

How to buy the highest quality laminate? Manufacturer building material must be large and already established in the consumer market. The flooring can be produced by a little-known brand, but it must be produced at a factory with a good reputation. Only in this case you will definitely buy high-quality laminate.

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 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 high-density fiberboard with a large amount of adhesive;
• 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 designed for various operating conditions:

• Laminate of “household” class. 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 of a small apartment. It is precisely because of its short service life that it is not widely used and is rarely used for 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 a high-quality product from the entire variety of laminated floor coverings, and it is better to solve this problem yourself, without completely trusting sellers interested in selling this or that 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 “to the light” under different angles. If the coating does not contain a large number of irregularities, and the surface protective film homogeneous, further attention can be paid to such models.

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 the service life of the laid floor depends on their quality manufacturing.

Important! One of important features 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, cracks in locking connections finished coating, which greatly spoil its appearance and are very successfully hidden by the presence of this small chamfer, which simultaneously 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 in hardness almost equal to 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.

Third important characteristic laminated coatings - 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, its overall service life. The 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 connecting elements, 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 items from various foreign and domestic manufacturers, and consumers determine which laminate is more suitable 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 eminent manufacturers who produce high-quality products, but are sold at a slightly higher price than the leaders. These are the companies Witex, Classen, Maestro, Ritter, Alloc.
3. In a lower price category presented domestic and joint ventures well known to consumers by 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.

In Odessa, when they want to wish something bad, they can say: “I wish you spent your whole life building things,” and indeed, building and repairing your own home brings little pleasure. Therefore, the durability of laminate flooring for an apartment is of no small importance, because the better quality it is, the less often you will have to undertake another renovation.

Laminated panels

Laminated panels are packaged in packs, each of which contains instructions for installation and operation, which indicate the strength class and service life of the product. The top, transparent layer is responsible for the abrasion of the material, but the HDF layer is responsible for the overall strength.

Laminate device

The laminated panel consists of four main layers, each of which has its own purpose and the classification depends on the combination of their qualities. You can determine which laminate is the most durable thanks to this.

In addition, class indicates that the product belongs to a household or commercial group.

1. The bottom layer is waterproofing for the panel and is made from either tarred or unrefined paper.
   In some collections there is an additional layer in the form of a substrate for heat and sound insulation.
2. The second layer is made of high-strength fiberboard (HDF). It is, in fact, the main one, because the lock is embedded in it and it is the thickest of all parts of the panel.
   The thickness of this layer directly affects the quality of the assembly of laminated floors, because the thicker the fiberboard, the better the lock.
3. The third layer is made of paper on which the design is applied.. This does not affect the quality of the panels, but the decorative possibilities of the laminate are very great, because you can imitate any finishing material, moreover, giving it a variety of shades.
4. And finally, the fourth layer, on which abrasion depends, and therefore the strength classes of the laminate.
   This is acrylic or melamine resin, which is applied to the decorative third layer and its thickness allows the panel to serve for more or less years.

Recommendation.
The service life of the laminate in the table is determined by the degree of wear of the top layer, although after that it can serve for many more years.
As for the commercial group (classes: 32, 32, 33), for domestic use laminated panels can last 20-25 years, but the price commercial laminate, of course, differs significantly from everyday life.

• If you decide to lay laminated floors with your own hands, then you should remember that the strength, and therefore the service life of the laminate, will directly depend on the flat plane of the base.
  The panel cannot withstand fracture loads, so it must fit tightly to the subfloor.
• The base can be planked or covered chipboard panels, OSB (OSB), fiberboard. But most the best reason For the panels, a cement-sand screed is used.
  But in any case, any base must be dry and even (1 linear meter no more than 1-2 mm difference is allowed).

• can be made of polyethylene foam, as in the photo, from extruded polystyrene foam or from a cork.
  The thickness of this material ranges from 2 to 20 mm. It is noteworthy that penofol can be laid overlapping, but other types of insulation are laid joint to joint.

• Laying laminate floors should begin with the first row of panels, assembling them lengthwise, lock to lock.
  Then you need to make spacers between the panels and the wall to create a gap of 1-1.5 cm, but no more than 2 cm, so that the gap is covered by the baseboard.
  This measure is necessary so that the laminate can “move”, because when air humidity changes, it will change its shape and this gap compensates for swelling.

Advice. If the laminate does not fit well into the lock (the lock is clean), then it needs to be hammered, but under no circumstances hit the lock with any objects - you will break it.
To do this, you can use unnecessary pieces of panels, inserting them into the lock, or attach a rail to the lock, but to a shorter part of it, and hit them.
You can avoid clogging the panels if the laminate is of high quality (thicker) and dry.
Remember that hammering panels is not an installation method, but a last resort - when correct assembly For a good laminate, it is enough to tap the gap with a rubber hammer, and not at every connection.

Conclusion

Now we can sum it up and say that the most durable laminate is commercial grade laminate (31, 32, 33), but laid on a flat base. If the subfloor is uneven, even the best and most expensive panels will come apart, and in some cases may even crack.