Click locking system. Uniclic multifit: innovative interlocking connection

Modern views Laminate locks are a structural part of the laminated board, which is responsible for connecting the lamellas to each other. The service life depends on how well the lock is made and how well the coating laying technology is followed. flooring.

Most famous brands and brands offer their own locking system designed for specific type laminate or a specific collection. In general, almost all locks are a derivative or a modernized version of two classical types– “Click” or “Lock”.

“Lock” type fastening systems

Lock type connections require more thorough preparation of the subfloor

The “Lock” type of connection is a standard “tenon-groove” principle. The laminate panel has a recess with a comb on one side, and a protrusion that follows the shape of the comb on the other.

Installation of the laminate occurs by hammering the board to be laid into the already laid panel at an angle of 90 degrees using a mallet and a tamping block. As a result, the panels are brought together, forming an invisible joint.

Among significant shortcomings This type of castle can be distinguished:

• weakening of the connection - over time, especially with low-quality laminate, the panels may diverge at the joint. This problem partially solved by applying a sealing compound, which also protects the connection from the penetration of moisture and water;
• installation technology - if you have no experience in installing laminate, it is quite easy to damage the “tenon” of the panel when driving in the lamella. It is better to entrust the work to a professional or practice on the scraps that will remain after adjusting the panels.

The occurrence of problems with loosening of the locking connection can be minimized by carefully leveling the subfloor and using a high-quality damping underlay.
“Lock” locks are gradually losing popularity to their higher-quality counterparts, but some manufacturers still use them, especially when producing cheap collections.

“Click” fastening systems

The “Click” type locking connection is made in the form of a groove with a protruding element on one side of the panel and a tongue shaped like a hook on the other side of the panel.

Installation of a laminate with such a lock is carried out by placing the laid sheet into the groove of the laid panel at an angle of 45 degrees. The angle may have different values ​​depending on the manufacturer.

Next, the panel is lowered to the floor surface, an improvised hook clings to the comb in the groove and closes. If the connection is tight, a characteristic sound resembling a “click” or faint click may occur.

Click systems create a stronger and more durable connection

Among the advantages of such a lock are the following:

1. Durability – the percentage of defects during installation and operation of laminate flooring with the “Click” system is quite small. During operation, the lock does not come apart, does not creak, or become loose.
2. Service life - even after 7-10 years of use of the coating, the locks do not diverge at the joints, which provides a tight connection that partially prevents the ingress of dust, dirt and moisture.
3. Possibility of dismantling - if necessary, laminate with a “Click” lock can be dismantled and re-laid without significant risk to the coating.

It is worth noting that these benefits apply only to branded panels. Chinese counterfeits or coatings that do not meet international standards rarely last the stated service life and become unusable when you try to dismantle them.

The “Click” locking system served as the basis for the development of proprietary connections from many manufacturers. Often the locks are supplemented with a locking system that allows you to install the covering by simply pressing the edge of the panel.

For example, there is a 5G laminate locking system that has a similar shunt and groove design. In the recess of the shunt (from the end) there is a closing “tongue”, which is pressed under pressure, and after the elements fit tightly, it closes.

Which lock is better - expert opinion

If we carry out a detailed comparison, the “Click” type lock is significantly superior to the “Lock” type connection. This is a modern fastening system that allows you to fix laminate boards more efficiently and more firmly.

The flooring after laying the laminate with the “Click” lock forms almost monolithic slab without a joint visible to the naked eye. The strength of the joint, in turn, guarantees trouble-free operation of the laminated cladding during the stated period.

If we consider the question from the point of view of which laminate lock is better or which system to choose from existing options, it all depends on the budget and allocated funds. Manufacturers such as Tarkett, Kronospan, Classen offer their solutions, which are based on click or 5G systems.

General comparison of two popular connection types

Tarkett has a T-Lock connection that combines classic version“tenon and groove” and “Click”. When laying, the panel is set at a slight angle, pressed slightly and at the same time lowered to the floor. Laminate flooring with such a lock is easy to install even without extraneous tools. To dismantle the panel, simply perform the reverse steps.

Kronospan laminate has a lock with a brand name - 1clic2go. During installation, it is enough to align the locking cutouts and light effort click on the panel. This allows you to finish the flooring in a room in record time. It is almost impossible to somehow damage the laminate during work.

Classen products are equipped with a connection called Megalock. This is a proprietary variation of the 5G lock. At the end of the panel there is a shaped power layer, which opens when the panels fit tightly. Installation, as in other cases, takes place without special tools.

When choosing a laminate, always consider lock connection in terms of simplicity and reliability of design. Laminate with 5G lock and its variants is most preferable for rooms where dismantling or re-installation of the flooring will not be carried out in the next 10-12 years.

For re-installation, it is better to use laminate with a simple “Click” lock. Especially if the relaying of the coating will be done once or in case of urgent need to eliminate any problem.

Laminate is a modern floor covering that has received Lately widespread in our country. Its popularity is explained by its high aesthetic and quality characteristics at optimal price, affordable for a buyer with an average level of income.

In many respects, laminate flooring is superior to natural floors.

The basis of the laminate design is a high-density HDF board, in the thickness of which a lock is cut, thanks to which installation of the floor is simple and can be done by a person who does not have the skills of a builder-finisher. There are a large number of castle structures, differing both in design and assembly technique. Many manufacturers develop their own locking systems, and some manufacturers use previously developed ones.

	ProLoc locking connection The ProLoc system is developed and patented by Pergo. The system has a triple locking system, installation of the laminate is simple, the joints are processed wax impregnation. The lock perfectly holds the panels in tight contact and can withstand heavy loads. This is one of the most reliable locks.
	SmartLock connection The SmartLock system is a simpler version of ProLoc. Connecting elements laminates are also impregnated with water-repellent impregnation. The locking system is reliable and can withstand heavy loads. Provides easy installation with an excellent final result.
	ProClick locking connection PROClic- innovative development Egger company. It features a special geometry that allows you to lay one element at a time. It has high resistance to point loads and pressure strength.
	Click Xpress locking connection ClickXpress is developed by the Balterio concern. The system is truly revolutionary. Allows you to assemble laminate very quickly, while panel joints are difficult to find. The lock allows you to repeatedly install and dismantle the floor if necessary.
	Uniclic locking connection The unique Uniclic system is developed by Quick Step. Is different original design elements. Assembly of the panels is simple and convenient. The panel is inserted into another panel along the long side at an angle of 20-30°, then the assembled row is inserted into the previously assembled one and snaps into place. Assembly requires 2 people.
	Megaloc locking connection Megaloc is a development of the German manufacturer Classen. This is an innovative invention that allows you to speed up the laminate assembly process by 3 times. On end side The panel has an additional movable plastic lock. Assembly is carried out along the long side, as usual, and on the short side, just press on the board and it will snap into place without effort. Installation can be done by 1 person. The edges are impregnated with wax protection.
	Connect System ConnectSystem is another development from Classen. The system has gained great popularity due to its unique streamlined shape. It smooths out unevenness in the base thanks to movable joints at the joints, compensating for the tension between the laminated panels. IsoWaxx wax edge protection protects joints from moisture penetration.
	LocTec locking connection The LocTec system is Witex's own development. Possesses high strength indicators. This is one of the strongest locks. All edges are treated with wax impregnation, which protects the joints from moisture.
	T-Lock connection The T-Lock system is a development by Tarkett, which is widely used in the flooring market. Many manufacturers have adopted this lock. The system very reliably fixes the panels in tight contact. The assembly is carried out along the long sides, then the assembled row is inserted at an angle into the previous row and snaps into place with a light pressure until it clicks.

Currently, adhesive laminate has practically disappeared from construction stores and markets. , laid in a floating manner, is represented by a huge number of options. When you are trying to navigate this abundance, do not forget that you need to pay close attention to the quality of the locking system. After all, it determines how your floor will withstand constant loads, how long it will retain the appearance it had the first time after installation. Let's list the most outstanding locking systems - developments of leading manufacturers of laminate flooring.

The Uniclic lock is the most advanced patented locking system created by the developers of the world-famous Quick-Step concern. The lock is latched. When laying laminate flooring there is no need to use any tools. The tongue and groove design located on the sides of the panel allows for two installation methods. Two adjacent panels can be connected at a slight angle - even less than the standard 45 degrees. Or with its almost complete absence - that is, one panel seems to slide into another. This ensures the simplicity of assembling the laminated covering - you choose how it is more convenient for you to connect the panels in this particular case. Laying can start from any place and be carried out in any convenient direction. The Uniclic lock is located on all four sides of the panel, so that the joining force of the panels will be the same both along their longitudinal sides and at the end. The connection appears virtually seamless. There is no gap between the panels, since there is simply no room for them to move. Only for this locking system the manufacturer gives a lifetime warranty (during initial installation, the quality of the connection of the lamellas is guaranteed to be intact and there are no cracks or discrepancies between the panels). T-Lock (Tarkett Lock) is an exclusive development of the TARKETT company, for which a patent has been received. This type of lock belongs to the Click-connection category, which is the most progressive today. In general, it has a well-deserved reputation for not too expensive, but exceptionally high-quality products. In Europe this is the most popular laminate - in average price category. This popularity is largely due to the quality of the locking system. Wide locking elements are connected when approaching at a slight angle, without deformation or distortion. When the panels are connected, a characteristic click is heard. Reliable fixation occurs. In this case, if desired, the connection can be disassembled - without deforming the lock, and reassembled (up to 3-4 times). The small connection angle is convenient because the laminate is very easy to fit into hard to reach places(under radiators, doors, etc.) Once latched, a constant voltage level is created, preventing the panels from moving apart even under significant and irregular load. The quality of the lock is ensured by ultra-precise milling. The tensile strength of the T-Lock (Tarkett Lock) is normatively determined in European standards ISO/DIS 24334 and is 800 kg/meter.

The LOC-TEC lock is a proprietary “accessory”. The required force to cause rupture of the assembled Loc-Tec locking system must be greater than 1100 N/m. Thus, Vitex laminate will be good in rooms with the most intense traffic. The lock ensures maximum stability of the laid laminate for decades, the absence of distortions and deformations of the seams.

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The topic of this article is clearly stated in its title. Renovation in a city apartment or country house, and the purchase of building materials as one of the stages of the process is an extremely troublesome matter. We offer you the opportunity to ease these worries. And also minimize your costs. Isn't this an attractive opportunity?

Before purchasing plumbing equipment for a new or renovated apartment, it is worth taking a closer look at the topic. Of course, to study the range of plumbing fixtures from A to Z, you need to spend a lot of time. But you can glean some useful information from our article.

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The laminate lock is the most important indicator quality depends largely on its execution general form coverings. Having a good lock will allow you to get closer to the answer to the question: “which laminate is better.”

Patented by the Quick-Step concern. Lock system very convenient when laying laminate flooring doorways, corners and confined spaces. The board can be snapped using the standard method, at an angle of 25-30 degrees, or by laying the board completely on the floor, using the tamping method.

Another undeniable advantage is the ability to lay and snap boards both on the left and on the right, which is important in complex room configurations. The boards click into place very easily, with a characteristic clear click. Treatment against moisture penetration is present.

According to the manufacturer, the system allows you to repeatedly disassemble the boards without damaging them. In my fifteen years of practice, the only time I encountered a customer’s desire to remove old laminate and move it to the dacha. In any case, the laminate is deformed during use and takes on unevenness in the floor; assembly in a new place is possible, but it will no longer be of such high quality, even if the boards are numbered. The declared function is useful primarily during normal installation by a novice master, when repeated separation of the boards during the fitting process is inevitable.

After assembly, the surface is perfectly smooth without the slightest difference in height or gaps. Small minus of this type lock - the ability to diverge along the short side of the boards. Connected with a very small protrusion of the latch at the bottom, visible in the photo.

LockT-Lock and 2-Lock

It was produced and is still on sale by the Tarkett concern (it is being replaced by a new lock). Feature— a large angle of elevation of the board during installation is not required; an angle of 20-25 degrees is sufficient. T-Lock is well-known, but at the same time quite old, requiring assembly of the entire series. For one person, this is a time-consuming task, and sometimes impossible. With the length of an ordinary room being six meters, the slightest shift of any panel at the end joint, left or right, will require dismantling the entire row. Also, transverse joints are often visible,

Moreover, this feature is observed in different collections. This defect is most noticeable in collections of dark tones. During installation, you can feel the moment when the board has settled into place, although not as clearly as with Quick-Step. In our work, in the vast majority of cases, we use a laminate with a thickness of 8 millimeters for longitudinal locks, the protrusion is rather weak - often, when snapping it again, it breaks off. Moisture protection is proprietary - Tech3s.

The 2-Lock lock has a plastic insert, provides high assembly performance, plus the ability to work alone.

Lock - TC'Lock

Lock from TARKETT, which replaced the T-Lock. As sales progress, all laminate collections are transferred to the new lock, and without any increase in price. The old and new lock are not compatible; there will be a difference in height of about 0.4 mm.

The manufacturer claims a tighter connection of the boards, which significantly increases protection from moisture. The tensile test showed a result eight times higher than the specified parameters, according to the EN13329 standard, which can significantly reduce the number of chips and divergence of boards. Boxes with a new lock are marked accordingly. From personal experience, laminate with such locks assembles perfectly. Fixation - without any effort, the installation speed significantly increases. Assembly can be done by one person.

Lock -

From the manufacturer Classen. A plastic insert is installed at the end of the board, which allows you to snap the board into place by simply pressing on the board from above. Provides a very strong mechanical connection. Work with a vacuum cleaner! The main advantage is the speed of installation, unlike standard methods, there is no need to assemble one long strip, which allows one person to work comfortably, without outside help. Very high quality factory moisture protection.

Pergo PerfectFold 3.0 locking system

A variety of locks with plastic insert. Very easy assembly process. Assembly can be done without a partner. No additional tool required. Convenience and speed of installation, has reverse side— repeated disassembly leads to breakage of the lock ridges. It must be collected immediately, without errors. You should be wary of “confident masters.” The lock is similar in appearance to the Uniclik system, which entails the temptation to knock something, knock on it, and so on. The result is inevitably damaged locks.

A characteristic, soft click will notify you of correct installation. Assembly can be done with different sides boards from both tongue and groove. Relevant when assembling floors without thresholds.

No complaints were identified during operation.

Lock -Proclick andJustclic

From the manufacturer Egger, good locks, Pro does not require assembling the entire row; the board is pushed down from above with a fist blow. High assembly speed.

Just-clic replaced it. Unlike the old one, it requires complete assembly of the row during installation. The profile of the lock is in the form of an oval, with minimal gaps following the contours of the tenon and groove. Very precise fitting of the lock elements, requires perfect cleanliness inside.

Purely subjectively, I liked the first option more, the fixation, without a pronounced click, although in both cases there are no complaints. The surface is perfectly flat.

Lock -Twinclick

Russian manufacturer Kronospan. Almost indistinguishable from Tarkett T-lock. Allows you to assemble laminate flooring only in a standard way, in whole rows, it’s better to work together. The quality is at the level of the average price category, without differences in height and gaps. When assembling, there is no feeling of a clear fixation of the lamella. Quite complex work in doorways, a method for adjusting to door frame, by cutting off the lock ridge, is relevant in inconspicuous places. This type of lock is difficult to achieve high-quality styling The now widespread method is “the whole apartment without thresholds.” On well-lit surfaces, all the tricks, in the form of a cut lock, will be noticeable, which can lead to rapid wear of the protruding part.

Locks in inexpensive collections do not hold moisture at all; they must be treated with Click Guard sealant. Today, this is already nonsense, given the cost of the sealant and the labor intensity - it is better to choose an option with a waterproof lock.

Lock -Alloc

From a Norwegian manufacturer, very high quality, lock with aluminum insert, for ordinary apartments does not have any advantages, its main advantage is a strong mechanical connection that can manifest itself on large areas, where for a conventional laminate, the installation of dividing thresholds is required. Ease of installation and clear fixation are a plus. Price is a minus. Compared to the same Classen, given the huge selection of colors, for small apartment, the purchase can hardly be called advisable.

Conclusions:

This article describes only those locks with which our masters work constantly, there are great amount various trade names, but the essence remains the same. Padded adhesive locks are a thing of the past. Modern locks allow you to work without glue and sealants, are quite well designed and reliable, provide high quality and strength. The only difference is the ease of installation.

Contrary to manufacturers' statements about the possibility of laying coatings without the use of additional tools, settling the boards using a block or a piece of lock from another lamella is always required! Easy sampling of gaps must be carried out. .

Taking into account the permissible micron gaps, installation work, for any type of lock, should be carried out only with the use of a vacuum cleaner. Dust removal of the groove under the next row is also mandatory!

Laminate flooring that requires laying in a row, it is advisable to lay it with a partner, alone, it is easy to break the lock, this manifests itself in the form of a gap and a characteristic rise in the transverse joint.

All famous manufacturers in Russia, they produce laminate in accordance with GOST or TU, often similar to European standards. As a rule, a difference of up to 100 microns is allowed - this is the thickness of a sheet of “Snow Maiden” paper. Tactilely, such a difference will be felt when held with a fingernail, and will be visually visible, although it is considered the norm.

You should not purchase laminate without moisture protection locks, this is no longer relevant, the difference in price is negligible, and the service life differs significantly.

The craftsmen working for us note successful design Uniclik locks from Quick-Step, which allow laying laminate flooring in “difficult places” with minimal damage to the lock, and experience in using coatings from the manufacturer of the same name allows us to give it an “excellent” rating. The preference is for Belgian-made laminate, compared to the Russian Quick-Step, with quality, however, not everything is so smooth yet. There is no such ease and clarity of assembly. The Uniclic lock is used by the Kastomonu concern, which produces laminate flooring in Elabuga. The new TC-Lock from TARKETT honestly deserves a “good” rating.

Laminate is one of the most popular floor coverings and it is not without reason that many people prefer it when renovating an apartment with their own hands, since this material can be laid independently, which minimizes the overall costs of renovation work. Today we will look at a process like with a Double clic lock, since such products are produced under the Kronostar brand and are quite popular when renovating a room.

Styling tool

To carry out the work you will need hand saw or a jigsaw, a drill or a hammer drill for installing plinths, a tape measure, a hammer and a pencil, so prepare the tool and put it in a visible place so that you don’t waste time looking for it during the work. To save money, you can choose a jigsaw household class, because it is not burdensome for the repair budget and will completely cope with the task of cutting the floor covering. Modern Double clic laminate lock greatly simplifies the work and does not require large quantity tool, however, this does not mean that the process can be approached “carelessly,” so do not lose concentration when working and mistakes will pass you by.

The floor, note, must be level. If there are significant unevenness, then we level the floor along the guide beacons, otherwise creaking of the coating and cracks are guaranteed.

Laying the covering

If the installation of the coating will be carried out on concrete base floor, then it is necessary first of all to provide further hydro- and vapor barrier and spread an insulating film. Do not confuse it with a standard underlay - it is rolled out on top of the insulation and ensures normal operation of the floor covering (prevents the laminate from squeaking, etc.).

Then the process itself begins self-installation laminate and the first row of coating is assembled, in which the elements are connected using end locks at an angle of 45 degrees, after which they snap into place. Do not forget that laying the laminate requires a technical distance from the wall of 10 - 20 mm, which will subsequently be covered with a floor plinth - see the video below.

Video

After this, you can begin assembling the second row in a similar way, taking into account the fact that the last sheet of the cut cover of the first row becomes the first in the second row and you must do the same in the future, starting a new row from the remainder of the previous one. After the second row is assembled entirely, it is inserted at an angle into the technical gap of the first and is also latched using the Double clic lock. This way, you get a solid surface that is well-balanced in color and reliable in use.

All that remains is to install the floor plinth and you can enjoy beautiful interiors in the room that he helped achieve, how modern material, as well as high-quality independent installation, which, in principle, did not require much time, but the interior design after the work became much more elegant.