The modern construction market offers a wide rangerange of floor coverings. From them you can choose a material for any requirements and wallet. One of these options is laminate. It perfectly combines these two qualities. It is easy and simple to work with, in addition, the methods, regardless of the chosen one, are quite elementary.
Laminate panel layout diagrams.This material is characterized by good strength, reliability, resistance to mechanical damage and at the same time the floor with such a covering looks very fashionable. By the way, the last criterion is largely influenced by the chosen method of laying the laminate.
Laminate lamella varieties for self-assembly
Before working with the material, it should be chosen correctly. First, let's look at the appearance variations.
Laminate structure diagram.
These are all the main types, but there are also subtypes of lamellas: aged, relief, glossy (wood, stone, ceramic tiles), oil and waxed. Return to contents</a>
How to choose the right laminate for your room
Tools for laying laminate flooring.Before you go shopping, you should finally decide on the design concept of the room. Depending on the purpose of the room, one or another flooring is selected. If we talk about the bedroom, then the best option for it will be single-strip slats, as they help to create softness in the atmosphere. For small rooms with wide windows, it is better to choose a laminate of dull tones with a matte finish. Depending on the color of the furniture in the room, the color of the laminate should also be in harmony with it. Glossy slats of dark colors are well suited for living rooms. Imitation wood is suitable not only for high-tech and avant-garde styles, but in the classics it will also be a win-win option. But it is worth saying right away that such a coating has a luxurious look only if it was observed, and then provided with proper care. If you like the Provence style, then aged two-strip slats will suit in this case. Pastel colors in combination with the same furniture create a soft atmosphere. It is worth noting right away that some people want to create a contrast in the room, for which they put dark laminate under a light furniture set. And here a dissonance arises, since it does not always look beautiful. That is why working with dark colors requires careful selection. They are best used in rooms with a large area or in small bedrooms, provided that there is little natural light there. The most universal option is considered to be single-strip lamellas of a yellow shade. Such a warm shade fits well into the interior of any room, be it a bedroom, living room, hallway or even a kitchen. Its main advantage is the ability to replace parquet in cases where finances do not allow you to buy it.
Scheme of laying laminate using adhesive method.Living rooms and bedrooms will benefit from lamellas that imitate untreated wood, that is, with knots and bends. It is better to choose varnished or oiled boards. As for designer laminate, some difficulties may arise here. The fact is that in addition to a variety of textures and colors, such boards can also have a non-standard shape, for example, wavy. Therefore, in order to purchase such laminate, you should know how to properly lay it on the floor, which is not always easy to do yourself. Here it is better to resort to the services of a designer. Laminate made under tiles is more intended for kitchens. It is also used in cafes or canteens. There should be no questions regarding the selection of colors, since the palette in this case is quite wide. Return to the table of contents</a>
Ways of laying the material, basic nuances
Once the material has been selected, it's timethink about choosing a method for laying laminate flooring with your own hands. There are three types: straight, diagonal and herringbone. Each of these methods has its own complexity and technology. Straight. The simplest and most common method. In this case, the boards are laid in rows, while maintaining parallelism in relation to the surface of the walls. To make the floor look good, when laying the laminate, the direction of the boards in a row is parallel to natural light. This way, the sun's rays will not reveal the joints, which means the floor will look smooth. In this case, there are several more methods:
Laminate flooring installation options.
Diagonal method of laying laminateimplies laying rows at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the surface of the walls. "Herringbone". In this case, the lamellas are laid not at an angle to the walls, but relative to each other. Depending on the wishes for the appearance of the floor, one or another type of laminate laying is selected. Return to the table of contents</a>
Work on laying the laminate with your own hands
For a beginner in this business, it is better to start with the simplest of the styling methods - straight. There are several stages that must be followed.
Scheme of correct laminate joining.
Points with may require special attentionheating. In order to properly design them, the first row is cut, and holes are made in the necessary places for the riser. It is very important that the cut follows exactly the middle of the hole. Each subsequent row is connected in this way: the first plate is easily connected to the lamella of the previous row, and the next one is first fastened to the previous one along the edge, and then hammered into the groove of the first row.
Laminate panel layout diagrams.In this case, fixation occurs with the help of a rubber hammer and an attachment. To make it easier to connect the parts, each strip is inserted into the groove at an angle of about 30 degrees. To lay the last row, a crowbar is used, which "pushes" the plate into the required groove. But it is very important to be careful here. The last stage is the removal of the spacers. In order to carry out such work, you will need:
- laminate flooring;
- substrate;
- duct tape;
- a jigsaw, a rubber mallet, a headband and a crowbar.
And it doesn’t take that much time to style, especially if you know the basic rules.
