Parquet or laminate. Features and subtleties of coverings

What will be better? Parquet or laminate?

When carrying out repairs and replacing the flooring in many cases, the problem of choice arises: "What will be better? Parquet or laminate?" Of course, piece parquet is a natural wood, its natural origin speaks for itself. But in order to make a choice between parquet and laminate, you need to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each of the coverings and know their characteristic properties.

Laminate

Laminate - a synthetic floor covering consisting of several layers. The surface of the floor is a high resolution photo laminated to the floor and covered with a transparent protective layer. Technologically, this is a panel consisting of several layers with a laminated (plastic) coating on top. The colouring is set by a layer of decorative paper under the laminated coating. Paper has an appearance similar to ceramics, wood, stone. The size of a laminate panel is typically 1 meter long and approximately 20 cm wide. The bottom layer consists of pressed paper of high moisture resistance with resin impregnation or plastic. This layer sets the required stiffness of the entire panel. The middle layer is formed of chipboard or fiberboard plates. In addition to strength, this plate provides elasticity and protection from moisture.

The advantages of laminate:

• A budget solution for both the material itself and the installation work.
• Large selection of colours and patterns
• Easy installation, does not require high qualifications during the work
• Easy care
• Resistant to chemical liquids used during cleaning.
• Not afraid of sunlight and high temperatures.

The disadvantages of laminate:

• Weak noise and heat insulating properties
• Unable to restore or upgrade, only full replacement is possible.
• In case of violation of the technology of manufacturing or laying the edges of the panel can be deformed
• Appearance shows artificiality of materials.
• Poor resistance to point loads (from furniture, etс., especially on locks) 

PARQUET

Parquet consists of wooden planks (for example, oak) with special spikes and tongues, necessary for fastening the planks between themselves. The planks are made entirely of oak or other wood, without gluing and additional layers. The main dimensions of each strip: 15–22 mm in thickness, 300–1500 mm in length and in width — 70–180 mm.
One of the forms of parquet manufacturing is a massive board. The massive board has a larger size and is more expensive, because for its manufacture we need large pieces of solid wood.

To lay the parquet, it is necessary to thoroughly prepare the floor surface and lay a high-quality cement screed. The parquet is laid on special sheets of moisture resistant plywood. After laying the parquet floor is recommended to cover the high-quality varnish.

Parquet advantages:

• Natural charm of natural wood
• Limitless design decisions when choosing a styling method, beautiful visual structure 
• Great durability
  
• Perfect comfort and environmental friendliness
• Good heat and noise insulation
• Long service life with the possibility of further restoration

Parquet disadvantages:

• Requires high quality surface preparation when laying
• Laying is possible only by qualified specialists.
• Demanding to care
• Time costs when ordering (it is not uncommon to manufacture under the order) and finding a qualified master
  
• Not suitable for high humidity environments.
• Not a budget solution compared to laminate, both for the material itself and the way it is laid.

CONCLUSION
Thus, we can distinguish the main differences between the two floor coverings:

• Parquet creates the natural feeling of the floor thanks to its structure. Laminate is more diverse in colour and texture, but it also shows the artificiality of materials.
• Parquet retains heat and protects against noise, but more demanding care. Laminate flooring is easier to clean, but noisy and retains heat poorly.
• Parquet should not be exposed to moisture. Laminate flooring is less susceptible to its impact, but it is not recommended to drench the laminate floor too much.
• Parquet is more durable, the service life can reach 35 years. Laminate will service less than parquet - up to 20 years.

SUMMARY
If you do not feel visually and tactile discomfort, being on the surface of the laminate (do not notice the difference with the parquet), or limited by the budget - choose laminate.
If you and your loved ones are much nicer and comfortable on a natural natural surface (and you really understand it) and are ready to afford a parquet or massive board, then the choice is definitely behind the parquet (massive board).    

BEREST PARQUET is a company with many years of successful experience in the field of woodworking and the manufacture of environmentally friendly parquet products of the highest quality. Our company has a full production cycle. We receive high-quality selected Ukrainian raw materials, which we process and from which we produce parquet products.

Cooperating with us and using the potential of our production, you can solve a number of basic tasks, and most importantly, ensure the natural comfort of the floor covering of your home.