What is the difference between a parquet board (parquet) and a laminate
Before starting to compare the parquet board and the laminate, to determine what is best for the floor, you should understand, and how, in fact, the parquet differs from the laminate and, oddly enough, the parquet board.
So, piece parquet represents single integral dies, while a parquet board consists of layers.
This remark is necessary because many people call a parquet board a parquet, although, in essence, these are slightly different things. In this material, a comparison is made between a parquet board and a laminate, as between the most popular representatives of the market.
Parquet board consists of three layers:
- The top layer (3) - dies of precious wood.
- The middle layer (2) is the supporting base, made, as a rule, of birch.
- The lower layer (1) is the stabilizing part of coniferous wood.
The middle layer is equipped with a groove and a spike, with the help of which the individual boards are combined into a common floor covering.
The thickness of the products is 20 mm, the width is 230 mm, the length is from 1505 to 2425 mm.
Laminate flooring also consists of several layers. The top layer (1) is made of a transparent protective film, which is designed to protect decorative paper with a pattern that imitates wood or stone (2).
The base of the lamella is made of wood fibers (3). It is on it that a lock grip is equipped (5), with which individual lamellas are connected together. The stabilizing bottom layer (4) is a protection against deformation. In some cases, it is supplemented with a substrate, which is designed to improve sound insulation properties.
The standard laminate board has dimensions: thickness - 8 mm, width - 186 mm, length 1288 mm.
Pros and cons
We figured out what is the difference between laminate flooring and parquet in terms of design. Now we will study the advantages and disadvantages of each of the materials.
Parquet board
Positive traits:
- in the manufacture of boards only natural materials are used, which is especially important in a house where there are allergies;
- the service life of the parquet floor is at least 35 years;
- it’s easy to care for this flooring - just wipe it with a damp cloth;
- in order to externally renew the old parquet, the surface is ground with a parquet grinder, followed by impregnation with wax and varnish;
- laying parquet is easy. The owner himself can handle this work;
- wood is an excellent barrier to indoor noise. Sound waves emanating from the apartment below will be absorbed by the tree, protecting the peace of the residents;
- wood - “warm” material, which is pleasant to walk barefoot;
- The warranty period for parquet is 20-30 years;
- wood is neutral to static stress, so the dust is not attracted to the coating;
- parquet floors do not fade under the influence of ultraviolet radiation;
- the appearance of the board is almost indistinguishable from natural piece parquet, which creates the impression of an expensive and reliable coating.
According to experts, to disadvantages here include:
- before laying the parquet board, it is recommended to waterproofing, as the wood has low moisture resistance;
- standard forms of material do not allow experimenting with its layout;
- the number of restoration works (grinding of the top layer) is limited by the thickness of the dies;
- wood absorbs and retains odors;
- under adverse temperature and humidity conditions, an uneven change in the volumes of individual coating elements is possible, which leads to bloating and delamination. Such changes are especially noticeable when spruce boards are used for the compensating layer;
- when selecting material for one room, it is desirable to choose packs from one batch. Shades from different manufacturers and in different batches may vary;
- for the flooring of the board you need to prepare a quality foundation, in order to subsequently eliminate the creak of individual boards;
- according to the craftsmen, the factory varnish on the boards wears out quickly;
- so that the floor retains its original appearance, it is necessary to constantly maintain a normal temperature and humidity level in the apartment;
- the choice of colors and textures is small.
Laminate flooring
The advantages of laminate flooring:
- European products have high strength and wear resistance (according to reviews, Chinese products, as expected, are of lower quality);
- variety of colors and textures. It will not be difficult for the owners to choose the texture for their interior;
- lamellas can be stacked in different ways, which allows you to visually, due to the game of drawing, increase or decrease the size of the room;
- laying the laminate is easy, even a novice builder will cope;
- a special film on the surface of the lamella protects the product from burnout in the sun;
- to care for the laminate, you only need a damp cloth;
- the laminate surface copes with dynamic and static loads;
- packs with lamels are easy to put in the trunk of a car;
- the cost of laminate flooring is available to most citizens.
TO cons laminate flooring include:
- in the production of low-quality lamellas, formaldehyde is used. In normal temperature conditions, this substance is harmless, but when the temperature rises above 28 degrees, the evaporation process begins. Vapors of formaldehyde are harmful to health, so when choosing a laminate, you should pay attention to its composition;
- most lamellas are poorly resistant to moisture. Saturation of the structure with moisture leads to swelling of the boards and, as a consequence, to the need to replace the coating elements, and therefore linoleum is usually laid in the kitchen or bathroom (if there is not enough money for the tile, of course);
- laying a laminate requires a perfectly even base. Permissible errors in height should not exceed 2 mm per square meter, because, in the opposite case, this will lead to rapid wear and breaking of the locks on the lamellas;
- lamels very dampen sound vibrations. If a thin substrate is laid under the laminate, the neighbors will hear all the movements of the owners of the apartment, especially the sound of heels;
- the protective film on the lamellas has the ability to accumulate static voltage from household electrical appliances, as a result of which dust accumulations may appear;
- it is difficult to remove paint and grease from the surface of the lamellas. Therefore, the use of a laminate in the kitchen and in the nursery is not recommended;
- wet laminate is very slippery. When carrying out wet cleaning, you need to wait until the floor dries, so as not to slip. Tip: after cleaning, wipe the floor with a dry rag;
- if the floor is not equipped with underfloor heating, it will be uncomfortable to walk on the laminate with bare feet in the winter;
- When installing dimensional furniture, you need to ensure that two legs do not fall on one laminate board at once. Otherwise, the lamella locks may be damaged.
Comparison of laminate and parquet board
To compare the two types of flooring, we will use standard criteria: the cost of material and work, service life, heat and sound insulation properties, ease of maintenance and compatibility with “warm floors”.
Cost of material and installation
The main issue when choosing flooring for an apartment, as a rule, is the cost of material and work. Find out what is cheaper - parquet or laminate? Laminate prices range from 260 to 3,000 rubles. per sq.m., and the cost of parquet starts from 1,140 rubles per sq.m. and can reach 14,000 rubles.
The same applies to the cost of installation. Finishers are ready to lay a laminate at a price of 250 rubles per square meter, and a parquet board - from 350 rubles.
It turns out that at a price it is cheaper to purchase and lay a laminate. But it should be remembered that cheap lamellas cannot be used in rooms with high traffic - they will quickly become worthless. In the corridor and hallway, it is better to choose those types of laminate, which are more expensive, because they have higher abrasion rates.
What is easier to stack on your own
By the complexity of laying, there are no differences between parquet and laminate. Both types of coating are easy to lay even for a beginner finisher.
Durability and Reliability
Laminate Coating Life & mdsah; from 10 to 20 years. Manufacturers usually designate a warranty period of 10 years. After the end of the service life, the coating will have to be changed.
Parquet board lasts longer - a warranty period of 20 years, but in reality, such a coating can last more than 50 years. During operation, the parquet board can be sanded up to four times, therefore, experienced finishers recommends grinding the floors every 10-12 years and re-coating them with varnish.
Heat and sound insulation
Thicker parquet boards retain heat better than lamellas. In addition, the wood is more “warm” in tactile sensations than the film coating of lamellas.
In terms of sound insulation, primacy is also at parquet. It perfectly restrains sounds and protects the apartment from noise from below. Laminate does not cope with this task. Any sounds will be transmitted to the neighbors from below even with the most effective sound insulation of the floor screed.
Underfloor compatibility
Both coatings are ideal for organizing a "warm floor". But when buying a laminate, you should pay attention to the marking on the bundle & mdsah; those products intended for use with heating elements are indicated by special pictograms.
When choosing parquet for a "warm floor" you need to look at its thickness & mdsah; using boards with a thickness of more than 20 mm is not recommended. Also for these purposes, one should refrain from acquiring bamboo flooring.
Unpretentiousness in operation and leaving
It’s easy to look after a laminate and a parquet. In both cases, wet cleaning is carried out with a well-wrung napkin or rag, but, in the case of a laminate, you should be careful - spilled water can cause damage to the lamellas.
What and for which room is better to choose
Which is better, laminate flooring or parquet in the apartment, depends on the purpose of the room and the features of the floor device. Experts recommend the following options:
- if you plan to use an electric or infrared warm floor, you need to lay a laminate, which is the best conductor of heat;
- if water heating is used for the underfloor heating, parquet is suitable. It can retain heat for a long time;
- both coatings will not work for a bathroom;
- in the nursery or bedroom the laminate looks better. For the hallway, it is also better to choose wear-resistant lamellas;
- To emphasize the status of an office or library, it is recommended to lay parquet.