Waterproof laminate

Laminate flooring is a modern floor covering that has replaced expensive parquet and wooden floors. Initially, he was afraid of moisture, an untimely wiped puddle from spilled water could forever ruin the coating. The solution to this problem was a waterproof laminate of 12 mm class 33, Germany and manufacturers of other European countries offer coatings that can be laid even in pools. This universal finishing material, despite its rather high price, has become popular among consumers, because German quality has always been in price.

The waterproof laminate is not afraid of high humidity and sudden changes in temperature

Laminate made in German: quality and reliability

With the growing popularity of waterproof laminate, many manufacturers of laminate flooring began to produce it: in Belgium, France, China and Russia. The leading market leader is products made in Germany.

Water-resistant collections with all kinds of prints and a wide selection of textures are offered by German companies such as Egger, Zigart, Krono Original, Westerhof, Aberhof, Hessen Floor, Floorwood, Classen, Ecoflooring, Maxwood, Proteco, Vega, Kronotex and others. Their products have the best customer reviews because the marking “Made in Germany” has already become synonymous with the quality mark.

Kitchen floor with 33 class laminate

The difference between moisture-resistant and water-resistant laminate 33 class 12 mm, Germany

In the characteristics of a laminate of 31-34 classes, you can find indicators such as moisture resistance and water resistance. Both of these concepts mean that this flooring is not afraid of contact with water and can be used in rooms with high humidity, such as a bathroom, kitchen, swimming pools, etc. In the production of such a laminate, all layers are impregnated with a water-repellent material and an antiseptic (to prevent the appearance of fungus), and the joints between the lamellas and the connection locks are treated with special wax.

Moisture-resistant coating is ideal for finishing the floor in the bathroom

The difference between these concepts in the material from which the lamella is made:

• the basis of moisture-resistant laminate is a high-strength HDF plate. It is made of wood fiber impregnated with resin, and is able to withstand prolonged contact with water and non-critical temperature changes. However, she, as a natural material, is characterized by deformations under severe temperature changes and intense humidity (for example, when flooding by neighbors from above);
• for waterproof class 33 laminate (12 mm thick), a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plate is used as the base. It does not respond to changes in temperature, humidity and other atmospheric and natural phenomena, and can stay in water for several weeks without harm to physical properties. Inside this PVC plate there are heat and sound insulating air chambers.

There are air chambers inside the waterproof laminate panel

Both of these options are suitable for finishing floors in residential buildings. A waterproof laminate, according to many experts, is more appropriate in bathrooms, on cold balconies and underfloor heating, as well as in seasonal country houses, pools and saunas. Moisture-resistant coating is recommended to be laid in the kitchen, children’s room, living room, corridor.

Advice! For the bathroom and kitchen, it is better to choose a laminate without a bevel. The lamellas will fit more tightly, which will reduce the likelihood of water and dirt getting into the joints.

When choosing a coating for the kitchen, it is better to give preference to waterproof laminate

Moisture-resistant laminate 12 mm 33 class, Germany: characteristics and properties

According to standards approved by the European Association of Laminate Floor Manufacturers (EPLF), there are six classes of laminate flooring. The class determines the degree of wear resistance. The higher the grade, the less laminate is susceptible to damage and wear. Today, the most popular is a laminate of 31-34 classes.

Laminate class 33 and 34 has the highest abrasion resistance and is recommended for flooring in public places with intensive use: shops, gyms, restaurants. Nowadays, it is increasingly being bought for apartments and houses. The service life of such a laminate significantly exceeds the performance for residential premises. With proper care, manufacturers give a 25-year warranty.

A 12 mm thick laminate was used in the decoration of the bathroom.

It should be said that the durability of a class 33 laminate will depend on the quality and thickness of the panel. When choosing, the intensity and degree of load in the room is taken into account. The maximum thickness, and accordingly the strength, has a lamella of 12 mm. The average service life of a laminated coating of class 33 with a panel thickness of 8 mm in residential premises is 20-25 years, and a thickness of 12 mm is 30 years. On these floors there is no trace of furniture or scratches. In addition, lamellas with such a thickness have strong connection locks.

Important! When finishing the floor with a laminated floor, it is necessary to calculate how much the floor height will increase (based on the thickness of the lamellas and the substrate) and make sure that this will not interfere with opening / closing doors. The height at the junction with the coating of the adjacent room should be the same.

It is very easy to take care of the smooth surface of the laminate without chamfer

The average price of a laminate per 1 sq. m.

Waterproof laminate is quite expensive, but it will serve for many years. Each company has collections in various price categories. This makes coverage affordable for families of all incomes.

Manufacturers from Germany offer waterproof laminate 33 class 8 mm thick at these prices (in ascending order):

Average prices for waterproof laminate (Germany) 33 grade 12 mm thick (in ascending order):

The most expensive is a coating thickness of 12 mm 34 class. Waterproof laminate (Germany) with these characteristics is in the following price range (in ascending order):

As you can see, it is quite possible to get a decent laminated coating at an affordable price. Remember that flooring is a long-term investment. Moisture-resistant laminate will relieve you of worries about spilled liquid on the floor, as well as the need to rebuild it every 5-6 years of service.