Creating a comfortable living room microclimate depends on the quality of the finishing materials. Laminate flooring, which is gaining popularity due to its reliability and a large selection of colors, is distinguished not only by the linear parameters of the panels, but also by thickness. The use of one or another standard size is due to the purpose of the coating, as well as the operating conditions.
Laminate size specifications
Panel manufacturers produce decorative materials of various lengths and widths. This contributes to ease of installation and aesthetics of perception of the finished coating. There are three standard length options:
- 126 cm;
- 138 cm;
- 185 cm.
When mounting in a small area, it is inconvenient to use long slats, so use short workpieces.
Laminate is also distinguished by width:
- 9-16 cm;
- 18-20 cm;
- up to 33 cm;
- up to 40 cm.
The use of panels up to 20 cm wide has been widely used. Installation and trimming of such blanks is less time consuming than laying larger lamellas. Laminate of large width is used to create a specific pattern for a tile or art parquet.
An important material parameter is thickness (height). The panels consist of four layers, each of which performs a separate functional purpose.
The size of the panels in thickness varies from 4 to 15 mm, has a different class of resistance to loads:
- 4-5 mm, attributed to the easy level, which corresponds to 21-23 class;
- 6-8 mm, for medium loads, which is typical for grade 31;
- 10-12 mm are made for medium and difficult operating conditions, belong to 32-33 class;
- 12 mm and more (34 class) for use at high loads.
REFERENCE! The specified classification may differ from the products sold, because manufacturers, using wear-resistant films, increase classiness without changing the height of the panel!
Depending on the belonging to one or another category of lamellas, the cost of the material increases in direct proportion to the size and wear resistance. The loads that have to withstand the flooring are fundamental when choosing a thickness.
REFERENCE! Practical consider lamels, 10-12 mm high. This standard size is used in rooms for various purposes, including public places.
What affects the thickness of the laminate
How thick the coating material will be - so much longer, relatively thin, it will fulfill its purpose. This size is the most important when choosing panels. The laying height affects:
- the rigidity of the hitch locks;
- an indicator of the stability of adjacent lamellas;
- soundproofing;
- thermal conductivity, it is important to consider when laying on a warm floor;
- resistance to loads;
- improves the evenness of the floor surface.
Installation is more convenient to perform from a thicker material, when laying thin plates, there is a chance of damage to the locks. The inconvenience when working with thick lamellas is the increased demand for cutting tools that cut workpieces of the desired length.
What thickness of the laminate to choose for the house and apartment
When installing panels in a living room, professionals strongly recommend using a material of at least 7 mm. The most common laminate flooring is 8 mm panels, which are used for laying in the bedroom, living room or hallway. Such material is considered average in terms of price and durability, which allows you to maintain the quality of the coating for 15-20 years.
In the absence of a sufficient amount of funds, lay the 31st class coating (6-7 mm), take into account the need for more accurate installation and a possible reduction in service life.
IMPORTANT! If there are small children in the house, then it is better to purchase lamellas with a thickness of at least 8 mm, with an indicator of wear resistance of the 32nd class. This will save the laminate from damage to the child.
To increase the service life of the panels, the floor is covered with 9-10 mm material. There is no need for laying a coating with a thickness of more than 10 mm in a residential building, since the floor load in the apartment is less than in public places. When calculating the thickness, take into account the need for installation on a special substrate and the same height at transitions with other types of coatings. These transitions are covered with a decorative strip, but the height of the difference should not differ by more than 2 mm.
IMPORTANT! To preserve the laminate, during operation, it is forbidden to drag heavy furniture over the surface, and when installing massive headsets, it is recommended to place supports from fiberboards under the supports to reduce the load!
After deciding on the thickness of the lamellas, it is determined which length and width to choose so that the amount of waste is minimal. Then acquire the desired coating.
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