Laminate has established itself as a beautiful, moderately reliable and practical material. You can use it in almost any room: residential, office and industrial. Laminate is used for interior decoration: ceilings, floors and walls.
The latter option is still not the most common. But the laminate is slowly replacing the materials of the past generation - MDF panels, lining and classic wall panels. In addition, its cost is lower, and the installation is much easier.
We will try to find out which laminate on the wall is better than others and why, taking on the advice of experienced builders and other specialists in this field. Consider the advantages, disadvantages, types and characteristics of the material, as well as the main methods and technologies of laying.
Laminate Benefits
If we are talking about a quality laminate for walls from European and domestic manufacturers, then these will be environmentally friendly products - completely safe for health. Also on sale you can find panels made of special hypoallergenic materials. Naturally, they will cost more.
If you observe the technology of wall decoration with a laminate with your own hands, then the material will last a very long time. According to manufacturers, the figure fluctuates around 10-20 years. In some cases, experts even allow the installation of laminate flooring on the walls. Here, the service life can be safely increased at least one and a half times.
It is also worth noting that the wall laminate has a variety of textures. Today's construction market offers a chic range of colors. So designers have a place to roam when decorating.
Well, the last is ease of installation. It is much easier to lay a laminate on a wall with your own hands than to mount the same lining or MDF panels. Therefore, the services of specialists can be saved.
Laminate disadvantages
One of the most serious drawbacks of such a material is its susceptibility to moisture. The latter can cause the swelling of the laminate and cause cracking of the external decor. Another weak point of the material is its sensitivity to temperature extremes. Which also affects the decorative part.
Therefore, experts do not recommend laying the laminate on the walls in the bathroom, on the balcony or in the basement. The local microclimate will quickly destroy the decorative structure of the material, and it will lose its attractiveness. In this case, it is better to use more classic solutions such as lining or MDF panels.
On the market you can also find reinforced options with a high strength class, which have increased protection against the above problems, but the cost of such a material will be noticeably higher. We will talk about such classes below. Here you can already safely put the laminate on the wall in any room.
How to choose panels
All materials of this kind are distinguished by locking systems, that is, methods of fastening to each other and to the wall. The choice depends on the type of premises and your personal preferences. Each system has both advantages and disadvantages.
Glue type
This type of material does not have special locks, so fixing takes place using a special adhesive for the laminate. As the latter, liquid nails and other silicone sealants are used, as a rule.
Fixation is as follows. Glue is applied to the end and back of the panel, after which the material is pressed against the wall. The next panel is processed in the same way and fixed to the first.
After the laminate for the walls is laid, excess glue from the joints is removed with a rag soaked in acetic solution. This type is rarely used, especially when laying on the crate due to the small area of contact with the surface.
Sheet pile type
Here we already have a full sheet pile lock. This system allows you to lay the laminate on the wall without processing the joints with glue. For installation, you will need wooden beams or a special metal crate, where the panels will be attached, as well as a stapler with brackets for attaching the material to the surface.
This option proved to be excellent in facing not only walls, but also floors with ceilings. The technology of laying the tongue and groove panels is simple, and one person can cover the walls with a laminate without assistance.
Click type
This is an improved version of the previous system. Here, a convenient lock acts as a lock, where the panels simply snap into one another. In this case, laying the laminate on the wall becomes even easier.
No staplers are needed here. Occasionally, you have to hit lightly with a hammer for a more secure fit. For mounting on the wall you will need glue. It is also worth noting that the click type of the laminate is characterized by increased strength and resistance to deformation.
Methods for laying laminate flooring
There are two ways to install materials of such a plan - crate and glue. The latter method does not require any serious financial costs. In this case, it is necessary to carefully prepare the wall: align it and, if necessary, plaster.
If you sheathe the walls with laminate without prior preparation, the material will be poorly fixed and extremely unaesthetic to look. This is especially true for rooms with uneven walls.
The organization of the crate noticeably facilitates the process of laying the laminate. There is no need to prepare the wall and mess with plaster or drywall. In addition, the crate allows you to insulate the walls and conduct sound insulation.
On the market you can find special systems for quick installation of the crate. This will greatly facilitate the entire process and minimize the time spent laying the laminate. A good half of specialists in this field recommend a crate to beginners. It allows you to redo the work if something goes wrong. While tearing off a panel glued to a wall is noticeably more difficult.
Strength class
Classification of such materials is carried out by means of the European directive under the number EN13329. After testing the products for moisture resistance, physical activity, abrasion and noise insulation qualities, two groups were identified. One laminate is for commercial use and the other is for home use.
Strength class is usually denoted by two digits. The first indicates the scope: 2 - household, 3 - commercial. The second is strength. Class 3 products prevail on the domestic market: 31, 32, 33, and 34. A separate indicator of wear resistance of the upper protective layer can also be added to the package. It is designated as AC and varies from 3 to 6. For example, a product of class 33 (AC5).
Strength class greatly affects the technology of laying laminate flooring and its scope. So you need to pay special attention to this parameter.
Class 31 (AC3)
These products are suitable for home use, but they will not withstand a heavy load. If you carefully follow the instructions for use, the laminate with this class will last six years. The cost of such panels ranges around 200 rubles per square meter. meter.
Class 32 (AC4)
These are already panels for commercial use, but for home use they are quite suitable. Laminate of this class adequately withstands daily loads and, with proper care, can last up to 15 years (at home). Prices for such panels start at 700 rubles per square meter. meter.
Class 33 (AC5)
This material is able to withstand high and daily loads. Panels of this kind are usually laid in public places: restaurants, bars, dance floors and offices. With active use, the laminate will last about 10 years.
Some manufacturers provide a lifetime warranty on products of this class, provided that they are packaged in a residential building, rather than a commercial one. Externally, such a laminate is very similar to classic parquet. The cost of class 33 products ranges around 1,500 rubles per square meter. meter.
Class 34 (AC6)
This is the best this segment can offer. Panels are able to withstand the most severe daily stresses. Such a laminate can often be seen in gyms, car services, train stations and airports.
Only two brands are engaged in the production of such panels - Pergo and Alloc, using the most modern technologies. At maximum load in commercial areas, the laminate can serve more than 10 years. The manufacturer gives an unlimited guarantee for the installation of such products in residential premises. But few people decide to lay panels of such a plan at home, because prices for A34 class laminate start at 2,000 rubles per square meter. meter.
Instruments
If you decide to lay the laminate with your own hands, then you will have to take care of the related tool. There are no specific devices here, so it’s quite possible to get by with the classic kit, which should be in the pantry of every self-respecting owner.
Necessary tools for installation:
- The hammer is medium in size.
- Building level. Best meter and more.
- The square.
- Roulette.
- Pencil.
- Hacksaw for metal. For large volumes it is better to find an electric jigsaw.
- Wooden block (no longer than a meter) and a hammer for tamping panels.
- Stapler (on sheet pile laminate). For large volumes, the best option would be an electric model.
Stages of work
First of all, you need to correctly calculate the required amount of materials. This is done quite simply. The height of the room is multiplied by the width, 10% of the costs are added to the resulting area, because there is no way to do without fitting and cutting the material.
If the adhesive type of installation was chosen, then the wall surface must be well prepared. It should be clean, dry, but most importantly - even. In the case of the crate, everything is much simpler. You can buy ready-made systems or fix partitions manually.
For this we need slats with a width of not more than 40 mm. They need to be attached to the wall with screws at a distance of half a meter. Separately, it is worth noting that the rails are mounted perpendicular to the direction of the panels, and not along.
Next, you need to select the starting point. Best of all, if it is a flat angle (check the building level). You should not start laying from the middle of the wall. The whole process goes from left to right, especially if the panels have some kind of original design. If horizontal installation is necessary, then the installation goes from top to bottom, where the lower part is closed with large skirting boards.
Now you can proceed directly to the installation of panels. In the case of glue, it is best to use special liquid nails for the laminate. First one panel is mounted, and then the other after it. Laying the laminate from different angles, so that you can’t “meet in the middle”, because in the end you will get an ugly seam in the center of the wall.
In the case of crate and tongue-and-groove panels, a stapler is needed. After laying the first panel, it is fastened with brackets to the rails, and the next sheet is inserted into the grooves. And so on to the end of the wall.
After installing the laminate, it is necessary to lay the skirting boards at the corners and places of fastening of the panels with the ceiling and floor. There are lots of products of this kind on the market for every taste and color, so there are plenty to choose from. Experts recommend choosing plain skirting boards in one color with a laminate. It is best to choose sizes larger than average. Such products are easier to mount, they will definitely cover all sections of the laminate, as well as other flaws that could occur during installation.