Tips for choosing a laminate with a tile pattern

Tiles made of natural stone - the coating is stylish, but expensive. Therefore, laminate is becoming increasingly popular, repeating its color and texture. Consider the features of this material and see if it will be a worthy replacement for stone and tile.

Two types of laminate with a tile pattern are available:

• Moisture resistant - multilayer coating made by traditional technology. Lock joints and end parts of panels processed hydrophobic composition.
• Water resistant - material based on PVC. Does not absorb water and does not deform when in contact with it.

Moistureproof panels consist of several layers. Below is a stabilizing base.It protects the laminate from deformation caused by moisture.

The main part is high-strength fibreboard (HDF) with resin impregnation. This composition makes it greenish. Unscrupulous manufacturers tint plates, so do not buy too cheap material. It is unlikely to be moisture resistant.

Above is a decorative film. It imitates the pattern and texture of the tile.

The top layer of the coating neutralizes the action of ultraviolet, water and mechanical stress. Castle compounds are treated with wax or silicone.

Moisture resistant laminate is not deformed by temporary contact with water. But high air humidity and often occurring puddles reduce its service life. Therefore, for the bathroom floor experts recommend choosing PVC plates.

Elements of the stylized cover have the form:

• square or rectangular panels, made in the form of individual tiles. A chamfer with four sides increases the similarity;
• rectangular wide boards on which several tiles are depicted at once. They are separated by decorative seams. A composition may consist of not only identical, but also fragments of different texture and pattern.

Sizes of square elements vary from 250x250 to 650x650 mm, rectangular - from 600x300 to 1200x400 mm. The thickness of the panels is 6-12 mm.

Most of the materials are made in a restrained natural range: shades of white, gray and brown prevail. But there are also samples of bright coatings: burgundy, dark blue, glossy black.

Laminate with a tile pattern is often used in non-residential areas of an apartment or a private house: in the kitchen or balcony, in the hallway, dressing room, corridors. If desired, they can diversify the design of the bedroom, nursery and living room: to touch such a coating is more pleasant than ceramics or stone. Elements of this coating are easy to combine with ordinary lamellae, which allows you to come up with interesting combinations or zone the space.

Choosing a laminate, you should pay attention to its labeling. It shows the load the coating is designed for. Manufacturers offer four groups of material.

They have different indicators of impact resistance, wear resistance and moisture resistance.

• 31 class - a budget option.Will be suitable for rooms with small passability: bedroom, office, office for several employees. Change this coverage will have in 5-6 years.
• 32 class - it is recommended to use for finishing of apartments or houses. They can cover the floor of the nursery, living room, hallway or office of average attendance. You can choose it as a kitchen laminate. This material will last 12-15 years.
• 33 class - the optimal solution for commercial or public premises: shop, restaurant, hotel. Long serve in the kitchen. To the same group of strength can be attributed waterproof plates based on PVC.
• 34 class - coating designed for very large loads. Differs in especially strong protective layer. He is advised to use in shopping centers, waiting rooms, corridors of large institutions.

The panels are fastened together by locking joints, which are based on the thorn-groove system. Conventionally, they are divided into groups of Lock and Click - on the principle of coupling.

The design of the fastening profiles of the Lock system is simple. A spike of complex shape is pressed into the groove until it clicks. So that the panels do not diverge from the load, the locks are additionally treated with glue or sealant.This increases their moisture resistance, but makes it impossible to dismantle and reassemble the coating.

The mounting profiles of the Click group are more reliable and durable. The spike has additional locking protrusions, and the groove completely repeats their shape. Panels are inserted into each other at an angle and smoothly lowered into a horizontal position. If necessary, the coating with this type of connection can be disassembled and assembled up to four times.

The most reliable are aluminum locks. Metal fasteners allow you to make the clutch plates more reliable, reduce the weight of the coating and speed up the assembly. It is advisable to use such locks for laminate 33 and 34 classes.

In the collections of HDF slabs, the variants that repeat the color and texture of natural stone: marble, onyx, travertine, and granite are widely presented. They are equally well suited for paint, wallpaper and unevenly plastered wall. There are imitations of monotonous tiles and metal.

Some manufacturers are not afraid of experiments. Classen has released a line of Loft Cerama Light. Large panels are covered with a pattern repeating patterned ceramic tiles. There are also boards with an ornament of squares of different colors and size.

The coating “under the tile” will decorate the interior of any stylistic direction.In order not to be mistaken with the choice, it is important to take into account the nature and purpose of the space, its size and degree of illumination.

Walls and floors should not be the same color. Much more interesting is the combination of contrasting surfaces. For small rooms, it is better to choose a light finish with small elements of decor. With insufficient light, you should not pick up a dark coating. It will create a depressing impression.

Rectangular panels in the form of individual tiles are laid in a checkerboard pattern, shifted by half the length. Square - in even rows, so that the joints are connected in solid horizontal and vertical lines. It looks interesting square laminate laid diagonally.

The marble floor will emphasize the solemn severity of the classics. The room will look festive and respectable. Warm shades are more suitable for living spaces. Onyx and anthracite bring calm and comfort, will be a good solution for a bedroom or a small living room.

The tile imitating laminate has several advantages in front of other floor coverings.

• Easy to assemble and repair. An unprepared person can lay a laminate with high-quality locking joints. But if the panels are large, it is more convenient to mount the coating together. If necessary, you can replace individual elements.
• Due to its flexibility, it suffers less when heavy objects fall, while tiles can break. Material 32-33 class of strength is not deformed under the weight of massive furniture, unlike linoleum.
• Temperature fluctuations do not affect the quality of the coating. A slight expansion of the material can be hidden by leaving a compensation gap.
• Laminate is warmer and more pleasant to the touch than tile, while it looks expensive and stylish.

At the same time, the material still has disadvantages:

• Even a waterproof laminate can deteriorate due to the large amount of water.
• A smaller variety of design decisions, in comparison with a tile or linoleum.

Not all materials on the market meet manufacturing standards.

Really high quality coverage meets the following criteria:

• 32 or 33 strength class;
• density not less than 900 kg / m;
• thickness over 8 mm;
• there are no chamfers on the edges of the panels. In this case, water does not accumulate in the recesses, which increases the service life of the material;
• the amount of formaldehyde in the composition tends to zero (emission class 0 or 1). This indicates non-toxic coating;
• panels are not slippery, with a pronounced texture;
• castle joints are treated with a water repellent compound. Its layer cannot be caught and wiped with a fingernail;
• The material is resistant to high temperatures, the action of chemical compounds.

Properly selected plates will last at least fifteen years.

Here are some tips for caring for them:

• for cleaning it is better to choose gel-based products and not to use hard brushes;
• wipe spilled liquid immediately;
• it is advisable to lay a rubber mat near the sink.

The popularity of laminated tiles is growing, new coating options are appearing on the market.

Experts recommend to pay attention to the material of the following brands:

• Alloc. It produces laminate with aluminum lock joints. The Stone (Commercial Stone) collection reproduces the surface of concrete, ceramics and natural stone: mica, slate, rustic, marble. It has 34 strength classes. In customer reviews, you can read that the floor is easily assembled and looks impressive.

• Balterio. The Belgian manufacturer has developed a collection of Pure Stone and Urban. The first is entirely devoted to stone, and in the second there are several types of tiles, stylized as quartz, concrete and basalt. Materials of both belong to class 32.

• Kronotex. The products of this company is known for its high quality and environmentally friendly composition. The company was one of the first in Germany and in the world to start the production of laminate without glue. Glamor and Mega collections are stylized for tile. The first one is interesting with a variety of solutions (natural stone, panels with lining under tile, mosaic), the second one - with dimensions. Panel 1302x326 mm is convenient to use when finishing spacious rooms.

• Falquon. The German company produces laminate 32 levels of strength. The Blue Line Stone collection includes marbled, slate, granite and steel.

• Quick-Step. The manufacturer offers different in size and shape of the panel. Among the textures are very unusual. Quick-Step Arte - square tiles that imitate the surface of stone, leather.Quick-Step Exquisa panels include travertine, slate, modular and regular tile, and even canvas. Many reviews say about the durability of this laminate.

Natural stone and its imitation look appropriate in the interior of the bedroom. Warm earth tones soften the sensation of cold. They are almost the same color with furniture, so there is no extra contrast. Stylized stone cover creates an interesting game of nuances.

In the design used laminate "under the concrete." It combines with the surface of the walls and at the same time makes the space well-groomed. In this vein, you can arrange the living room, workshop, and office of a creative company.

Dark coating imitating slate, a good solution for the kitchen and dining room. In this case, the shade of the floor will hide the cleaning shortcomings.

For this kitchen is chosen laminate in the form of a square tile with curly inserts. This is a less practical, but interesting option. He dilutes the monotonous setting and becomes the accent of this space.

A patchwork floor is a bold and unconventional solution. It is better to supplement it with non-eye-catching furniture and decor.And you can calm the raznotsvetie "grandmother's rug" frame of plain tiles.

PVC and HDF plates accurately copy the colors and textures of natural stone and tile, and the technical characteristics are almost as good as them. Lamels cherish heat, like a tree. This allows not to worry about additional heating of the room. High-quality laminate requires less investment, and durability is not inferior to tile.

How to choose a laminate and what to look for when buying, you can see in the next video