Laminate in the bathroom: Features of laying

The range of flooring suitable for the bathroom includes a wide variety of materials with various characteristics. Among them are tiles, mosaics, bulk floors and other options. But even with such a huge choice, other materials appear. One of them is a laminate. It is about the laminate for the bathroom that will be discussed in the article.

Content:

Despite the fact that in other rooms it is used quite often and is considered popular and popular material, its use as a floor covering for bathrooms looks somewhat unusual at first glance. Indeed, in conditions that differ in a high level of humidity, you need to use a special moisture and waterproof coating to which the laminate does not apply at all. Everyone knows that the water and laminate covering are incompatible. But this is true only partly, the laminate for the bathroom still exists, but not ordinary, but with the necessary characteristics.

Waterproof laminate for the bathroom

In the bathroom, as in any wet room, moisture is always present to one degree or another. More than for other rooms, bathrooms are also characterized by a sharp temperature difference when using hot water. All this negatively affects the decoration of the room, including the flooring. Therefore, that it remains reliable and durable for many years, you should choose a material that has the following characteristics:

resistance to deformation;
the ability to maintain the initial volume;
high -class wear resistance;
impact resistance;
low thermal conductivity;
moisture resistance;
resistance to moisture penetration between the seams;
resistance to chemical reagents;
if there is a warm floor, compatibility with this system.

Laminate in the bathroom photo

Therefore, if in the bathroom preference is given to the laminate as a finishing material for the floor, it remains only to determine which of the species correspond to this definition, which means that they are suitable for use in the bathrooms.

Types of waterproof laminate for the bathroom

From the whole variety of types of laminate for bathrooms, not all are suitable. For these special premises, special options are produced, which are marked by manufacturers as moisture and waterproof. They differ among themselves by the material from which the base is made, the option of the implementation of moisture protection, and, accordingly, the degree of moisture absorption.

The first option is moisture -resistant laminate. It is based on the fiberboard plate, processed by special water -repellent impregnations. Additional isolation is ensured by the processing of the groove-grown castle mechanism with silicone and wax at the base. This protects the joints between the tiles of the finished floor from the penetrating liquid or moisture vapor.

This material can be recommended for bathrooms, in cases where ventilation works well, a constant temperature level, that is, fluctuations in humidity and temperature do not reach a critical level. Yes, and the residents themselves behave carefully, so the direct ingestion of water on the floor is rather an exception than a constant phenomenon.
The second option waterproof laminate. This material in its qualities is more consistent with the proposed purpose (floors in the bathroom), because it is endowed with the best water -repellent abilities. This is ensured by a completely different structure, which is based on a polymer plate. Plastic does not absorb moisture, and, therefore, swelling and deformation of the tiles are excluded even with prolonged contact with the liquid. The decorative layer is covered with a polymer on top, guaranteeing additional waterproofing and increased performance. This type of coating can be used in bathrooms without any restrictions. This is the most reliable option that you can give preference.

Conventional classic types of laminated coating are unsuitable for use where constant stable humidity is noted. Such objects in apartments and private houses are kitchens and bathrooms. No matter how high-quality the usual laminate placed in the bathroom is, over time, it inevitably deforms due to absorbed moisture, loses its appearance and it will have to be replaced with a more suitable coating. The service life of such floors is minimal, up to the first serious test of water, so it makes no sense to lay this view in the bathroom.

Buy a bathroom laminate. Manufacturers

Floorous flooring for rooms with extreme operating conditions, which can also be attributed to the bathrooms, must be made in compliance with very strict standards and requirements for such objects. If we talk about the best samples, then European world -class companies are produced by the highest quality products, based on the latest developments and technologies.

The Belgians are considered to be the leaders in the ranking. Their products are represented by brands Quick Step and Aqua Step Which has long established itself with good reviews of the bathroom laminate. A huge assortment of tiles of various design for natural wood breeds can satisfy the expectations of even the most demanding customers.

Appearing relatively recently Berry Floor It produces products that differ in an increased level of protection from moisture. Even straight and prolonged contact with water is not able to break the structure of the tiles.
Good quality products are produced by German companies Witex, Tarkett and Kronoflooring. The laminate of these companies is distinguished by a variety of models and colors. Manufacturers guarantee the compliance of the goods with the declared characteristics and the service life of no less than specified in the passport. A great combination of quality and acceptable prices differ in the collections of German Egger and Kronotex.
Scandinavian countries are not behind the leaders. The location of consumers and their trust has long been used by the Swiss coating Pergo and Norwegian Alloc. The Norwegian manufacturer boasts a special technology for processing the boards with a layer of hot wax and the only system of locks, which gives an unlimited guarantee. In addition, this laminate is one of the few that can be combined with a warm floor system.

It was a list of well -known and perfectly proven foreign manufacturers. But you can take a closer look at the products of domestic firms. After all, here, too, you can find worthy options.

Criteria for choosing a laminate into a bathroom

When the question of which material is put on the floor in the bathroom is resolved in favor of the laminate, it remains only to choose it. How to do this right? Here are a few recommendations.

In the description of the waterproof laminate, you can often find the word Aqua, and on the packaging, such a coating is marked with the image of a crane with a drop, an umbrella with a drop of water, which indicate the belonging of the material to the waterproof type.
Stability to abrasion is another important selection criterion. It is determined by the degree of load that can withstand the coating without prejudice to itself. You need to choose a laminate not lower than 3233 of the strength grade.
When choosing a moisture -resistant option, the swelling coefficient matters. Normally, it is 18%.
The price of a bathroom laminate is always noticeably higher than prices for a regular laminate.

It is worth choosing products of reliable manufacturers who have been working on the market for many years. A well -known pattern, the more expensive, the better here justifies itself.
It is necessary to pay attention to the warranty period. The guarantee from the best manufacturers should apply to goods by more than 20 years.
The quality of the connecting locks also matters. Ideally, there should not be the slightest gap between the joints. Then moisture will not have a chance to get into the formations.
And finally, you can choose the texture, the pattern and color of the tile based on personal preferences. Here everything is individual and limited only by imagination and financial capabilities.
Using these recommendations, you can be sure that exactly the building material that is necessary will be chosen.

Laminate laminate in the bathroom

Installation of the laminate is simple, but still requires the implementation of a number of sequential actions necessary in themselves and affecting the final result. Laying operations include:

preparation of the base, that is, sex;
installation of the board itself;
installation of a decorative baseboard.

The following tool will be needed to perform work:

electric jigsaw or any other tool for trimming the planks;
punch or drill;
roulette with a pencil for marking;
level;
rubber hammer and wooden bar for fitting structural elements;
brus-border guards.

In addition to the laminate, you will need a substrate and adhesive tape for gluing, a decorative skirting board and elements for its fastening, a door sheet.

Surface preparation

The first stage of work is to dismantle the old cladding (if it was), skirting boards, checking the screed for integrity and fortress, removing the destroyed fragments, applying the waterproofing layer over the entire surface of the floor.
A perfectly flat surface is important for high -quality laying of the material. The dies of the laminate are thin and can break when loading, deform, creak. Which is undesirable. Although completely even surfaces do not exist, it should nevertheless strive to ensure that the floor is leveled along one plane. It is also worth checking that the screed is in the level.

You can align the base with mixtures based on cement, bitumen, latex, epoxy resins and other components. The best result can be achieved by applying a self -leveling screed. Due to the thin layer that she forms, it will not work to align to align with its help. Therefore, it is recommended to be considered only as a final finish coating. Large flaws will first have to be eliminated by other compositions. After applying the mixture, you need to wait for complete drying (and not just setting the composition). For each solution, the hardening time can be different and depends on the thickness of the layer, temperature in the room and components that make up the screed. When the base is finally dried, they begin to lay the laminate.

Laminate laying

The laminate is always mounted on the substrate. It performs the functions of a soft bed, does not allow the floor to creak, vibrate and sag at a load. The substrate can be made of foamed PVC, polystyrene, traffic jams, etc. Each laminate manufacturer recommends using a certain look with his products. You should listen to the recommendations of specialists. Often they are its own manufacturers.

The substrate is laid out on the surface of the floor, fragments are fastened together with tape to form a whole canvas. Wooden border guards are installed around the walls of the bathroom. This is a compensation clearance that allows the floor to expand freely and narrow at the load and changes in temperature without visible deformation.
The first bar should be placed in the corner of the room in the direction of the rays of natural light, if there is a window in the bathroom. Or relative to sources of artificial lighting. This allows you to make imperceptible joints between the dies. The second bar is mounted depending on the castle mechanism. The planks with the Lock system are connected to each other in parallel, and with the Click system at a slight angle, followed by pressing downward. A stubborn plasch, which refuses to take its place, can be easily inserted by applying a wooden bar to the rib and lightly proceed with a rubber hammer. The bar is needed to distribute the force over the entire surface of the dick. If this is not done, you can break the castle mechanism.

The set of the following elements occurs similarly in the same sequence.
For the reliability of the connection and aesthetic perception, all elements are not distributed into one line, but with some displacement of one relative to the other. In addition to linear styling, the laminate allows you to perform figured styling in the form of a ladder, Christmas trees, squares and other elements. The diagonal location of the picture is possible. This installation method is more complex, requires preliminary marking, and therefore more time -consuming.

Features of installation of rocks and skirting boards

Installation of the laminate in the doorways has its own characteristics. In order to ensure the coating of the possibility of natural movement, a gap must be left between it and the threshold. To hide it, a special threshold is placed in the doorway. It protects the edges of the material, allows it to move freely and, hiding the joints, performs a decorative function. With it, you can close not only laminate tiles, but also combine it with other materials. The rapids can be both single -level or multi -level.

They are fixed to the floor in two ways. The external involves fixing the rock to the floor with self -tapping floor. In the event that the screed is concrete, before screwing the screws should be pre -packed in it in the places where the mounts will be located. Then insert dowels into them and then fix the threshold.
The neat hidden mount is more aesthetically pleasing. It consists of two parts. With self -tapping screws, only the lower part is held on the floor, and the upper bar is superimposed on top and connected to the lower using the latch.
With skirting boards, the situation is similar. After the installation of the dies, when the limiters are removed, the skirting boards can be installed. Between the wall and the strips adjacent to it, a distance equal to about a centimeter should also be left. The mounting site is selected, and the laminate remains free. The decorative panel only covers it. The mounting methods are similar to the previous ones (as well as in spikes).

Laminate and warm floor

The warm floor in the bathroom is not a luxury, but rather a necessity due to the desire for comfort and comfort. Not every floor covering coexists with a warm floor. What about the laminate? Can it be laid on top of heating systems?

It all depends on the properties of the coating. Traditional species intended for living rooms are characterized by high thermal insulation properties, that is, they retain and do not pass heat. And, that means, as a cladding for a warm floor, they are not suitable.
But this does not mean that brands suitable for use with electric systems do not exist. In almost all indicators, they are similar to the brands of ordinary waterproof laminate, except thermal conductivity. Reducing thermal conductivity is achieved by reducing the thickness of the tiles.

Therefore, the temperature of the heated floor, equal to 29C, is enough to achieve a comfortable heating level inside the bathroom. What should be guided to make the right choice of such a coating?
On the packaging there should be a special marking with an appropriate icon meaning that the goods can be used in combination with a warm floor.
Nearby, the temperature limit is also indicated. Above this indicator, the material cannot be heated. Usually it is the same 29C.
The type of system of the warm floor should be indicated. For a water and electric version, different types of products are recommended.
The abrasion class should be not lower than 32 or 33.
It should only be laid on top of the warm floor only when all start -up work with the system will be completed. The tile laying technology is the same as usual.

A waterproof laminate for the bathroom is a rather non -standard and even creative solution. Despite this, it can be considered as a worthy replacement of classic cladding options. It is not inferior in beauty to natural materials, realistically performed imitations of wood, stone, ceramic tiles create the illusion of naturalness. A large selection of colors and shades in modern collections makes it possible to use the material in different interior styles. Bathrooms are no exception. The correct choice of material and compliance with styling technologies and timely flooring gives a guarantee that the laminate here will last a long time.

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