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Laminate is one of the most popular types of floor coverings. It is chosen as a budget alternative to traditional wooden floors. What is laminate made of and how to take care of it — in the material aif.ru .
What is laminate?
Laminate is a multilayer flooring made of pressed fiberboard (fiberboard). The laminate strips are embossed, for example, for wood, tile, stone, then they are covered with a wear-resistant layer.
“Laminate is a universal floor covering for any room. Its popularity is justified by its practicality and wide choice in the market. The main thing in this matter is to choose an option that is suitable for technical parameters and stylistic concept, as well as not to get lost in a large number of species. It is important for the consumer to understand that laminate is a chipboard with a laminated coating that protects it from abrasion. This distinguishes laminate from parquet. Natural wood does not tolerate moisture and impact,” interior designer Ksenia Kruglova told RIA Novosti.
What is laminate made of?
As a rule, a laminate panel consists of four layers. In production, they are pressed at high temperature and impregnated with resins, so that the plate becomes monolithic. Then it is cut into panels, which are profiled and packaged. Laminate consists of the following layers:
- Protective — the top layer made of acrylic or melamine resin. A durable transparent film protects the laminate from fading, minor scratches, bumps and dirt.
- Decorative is a visible layer that defines the design, color and texture of the laminate. The drawing can imitate wood, stone, tile or metal. It is made of decorative paper impregnated with paraffin or resin.
- The main one is the base, the thickest layer, which accounts for 80 percent of the total laminate volume. It determines the main properties of the coating, such as strength, moisture resistance and noise insulation. It consists of fiberboard treated with resin and wax.
- The stabilizing layer is the lowest layer that protects the laminate from deformation, moisture, vapors, fungus or mold. It is made of paraffin-impregnated cardboard, plastic or melamine film.
Sometimes an already glued substrate acts as another layer — the layer between the laminate and the floor. It serves for better thermal insulation, helps to level the surface. But most often the substrate is purchased separately.
How to take care of laminate?
Laminate is unpretentious in care, but it does not tolerate a large amount of moisture, so it cannot be laid in damp rooms, washed with plenty of water. It can be used in rooms with low humidity, in offices, hallways and kitchens, and it is also suitable for underfloor heating. It can be vacuumed, cleaned with a broom and do a wet cleaning.
“When wiping the floor, it is important to use a semi-dry cloth. The less moisture gets on the slats, the longer the film, which is the protective surface of the laminate, lasts. It is important to choose the right cleaning chemicals and completely eliminate direct exposure to water. If liquid is spilled, then it must be quickly collected and dried naturally,” Ivan Gladyrev, head of the Construction department of the Your House online store, told the agency.
Sources:
https://ria.ru
https://realty.rbc.ru
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