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Fiber board or chipboard, linoleum, wooden floor etc. can be used as a base for laminated covering. Note that the surface must be absolutely smooth and firm. All popouts (more than 2mm in 2 mm) to be eliminated beforehand. Use self-leveling mixtures and special leveling slabs for uneven surfaces. Lay sound-attenuating base (for putting up steps sound) under laminated covering. The base has absorbing functions and allows hiding small popouts. The base can be made of various materials: cellular polyethylene, cork and some special bases (so-called professional bases). Steam and moisture resistant layer to be laid before laminate installation into cement or tile floor. And then goes sound-attenuating base itself. If floor covering is installed into heated floor observe the following Leave a gap not less than 30mm between heating system and floor; turn on heating system three weeks before installation and turn it off right before beginning of work; check moisture level in a room and, make sure that it is not too high; turn off heating system in 48 hours before installation; floor temperature not to exceed 25-28°С ( depending on laminate covering). At so-called floating way of laminate installation boards edges are connected with each other (no glue is used to connect boards to the base). For tongue-and-groove connection use special types of glue (PVAC) or no glue at all. If you want joints between panels to be less visible, lay the panels in the direction of sunlight. When installing panels near walls, leave gaps. When working with large squares (with length more than 10-12 m) arrange deforming seams. These seams can be easily closed by special widening profiles of a color similar to covering. This should be done due to natural change of wood size ( fiber board or chipboard) under the influence of temperature and moisture levels change. Generally glued laminate floor installation is similar to installation of parquet floors. However there are some peculiarities in work with laminate coverings. Fiber board of high solidity (HDF) is used as a floor base. A panel with the above mentioned base is load and moisture resistant (as a result of a treatment). It’s rather difficult to install panels by hands. That’s why special underlayments are used for it, which make installation easier by attaching several rows of panels at once during installation. Pay attention to connecting seams. Mobility of “floating” floor can lead to unsealing of panels. For elimination of such problems and fast panel installation glueless system can be applied. There are two types of locks – metal lock and locks cut out in a panel body. The second type is widely used nowadays. Laminate panels base is made out of fiber board of high solidity (HDF), and their ridges are treated by hydrophobization. Nowadays glueless method of installation is prior to glued one. This is due to new technologies of manufacture, which make the cost of glueless and glued panels almost equal. There are such panels, which can be attached to each other horizontally. This can be of a great help when a bend is too complicated or not possible ( for instance, under door frames or radiators). Glueless method has some advantages:
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Laminate ratings
Laminate flooring is still a young industry tied to its European roots. Although major manufacturers are now producing laminate flooring in North America, the industry still looks to Europe for design trends and product innovations.
That explains why the booming North American market doesn’t have its own set of industry standards designed to help consumers understand what they’re buying. Read more »
Considering the question of house repair, first of all we pay attention to condition of floor. Old parquet or wooded floor, installed 30-40 years ago, has a sleazy appearance. If you have no possibility or willingness to restore or change the floor, just use it as a base for a new modern covering (for laminate, for instance). This decision is cheaper than complete replacement of an old floor covering and not worse than widely advertised filled floors or other trendy technologies.
To fulfill this idea you should remove the old floor anyway, strengthen and re-install it. This is to eliminate creaks, cavities and other defects. Read more »
Read the instruction before installation! Guarantee for material is valid if technology of installation is properly observed.
Laminate Alloc is installed into living spaces of business premises at the final stage of finishing works.
Relative air humidity in a room should be 40-60%, temperature – 18-23 C. Before installation keep Alloc unpacked at room temperature for not less than 48 hours. For a proper air circulation, place packages in a shape of a well.
- Do not install Alloc Chateau without hydrofilm!
- Do not install Alloc Chateau in bath- and shower rooms.
- Do not use Alloc Chateau covering as a beating structure. It is to be installed into previously laid base. (e.g. wooden floor, concrete blinding coat, linoleum)
- Alloc is installed using a floating technique.
- Boards are attached to each other by a fibro lock.
- Boards are not glued or nailed to a bearing layer.
- Thermal gap to be installed along the perimeter of a room and around heating pipes for natural draft of floor at temperature and humidity level change. Read more »
Earlier laminate panels were attached to each other according to “tongue-and-groove” principle with the help of special glue. The result – a solid floor covering. However this type has disadvantages: eventually gaps between panels appear as glue looses its quality. Replacement of one separate panel is near to impossible, as panels are firmly attached to each other, and having removed one, you can damage the whole construction.
Some years ago one of the leaders in laminate floor production, Belgian company Unilin Decor, issued the collection QUICK-STEP UNICLICK, based on a glueless installation of laminate. The collection acquired its name due to the original and unique system UNICLICK, based on a special tongue and groove connection. The system allows attaching panels by a single click without glue. The advantage of UNICLICK system over the other systems is evident. Laminate installation has become more quick and neat. Read more »
Installation of laminate to be done in accordance with a manufacturer`s instruction, provided together with the material. There are two types of laminate installation – glued and glueless locking.
Laminate to be stored in a heated premise, where there are no drafts, at not less than 1-meter distance from the nearest wall. Before the installation process packed panels are laid in a row in the middle of a room, where laminate will be installed, for about 2-3 days. Suitable temperature for this period of time to be not less than 18°С and average humidity – to 75 %. Each package is unpacked directly before installation. Laminate can be installed along windows, crosswise or cornerwise, which is the most difficult way of installation. Read more »
Installation of laminate to be done in accordance with manufacturer`s instruction, provided together with the material. There are two types of laminate installation – glued and glueless locking.
Laminate to be stored in a heated premise, where there are no drafts, at not less than 1-meter distance from the nearest wall. Before the installation process packed panels are laid in a row in the middle of a room, where laminate will be installed, for about 2-3 days. Suitable temperature for this period of time to be not less than 18°С and average humidity – to 75 %. Each package is unpacked directly before installation. Laminate can be installed along windows, crosswise or cornerwise, which is the most difficult way of installation. Read more »
For the first time laminate appeared in Europe and gained a great popularity in many houses of a private and state sector. As laminate imitates wood, stone, cork and other patterns, it became a real alternative for parquet. It was discovered to be highly resistant and impact-proof. Today laminate cost turns out to be much cheaper than floor made out of natural materials. Note that its appearance reproduces pattern, colour and structure of natural materials. Read more »