The difference between laminate and parquet. What is the difference between a parquet board and a laminate? Temperature and humidity changes

Before equipping the interior of a room in which it is preferable to make a wooden floor as a floor covering, you should familiarize yourself with the options for this type of flooring. What is better - a parquet board or a parquet laminate - the characteristics of each of them will help to decide. By comparing the qualities of each material, it will be easy to make a choice. Knowing the requirements for flooring, extending the service life is quite simple.

Laminate and its structure

When choosing which coating is best suited to a particular room - a parquet board or a parquet laminate - one should evaluate their characteristics comprehensively.

Laminate is a layered system consisting of 4 types of material. The total thickness rarely exceeds 1.5 cm. The main layer consists of chipboard or fiberboard. It gives rigidity to the product. The bottom of the laminate is made of paper impregnated with a water-repellent substance. Sometimes plastic is used for these purposes. The bottom layer reliably protects the plate from moisture. The decorative layer has a color that imitates the color of the main tree species. There are also other types of invoices. The top layer of the product is a thin, transparent film that protects it from moisture penetration and mechanical damage.

When choosing which is better - a parquet board or a parquet laminate - it is necessary to take into account that the laminate is a resistant, durable material. Corundum grains are added to expensive building materials for strength.

Benefits of laminate

Laminate has a number of positive qualities. Thanks to them, according to consumer reviews, this type of coating will last about 10 years. This should be taken into account when choosing between it and a parquet board.

The main advantages of the laminate should include environmental friendliness. It can be laid even in the nursery. What distinguishes a laminate from a parquet board is the ability to mount it in rooms with elevated temperatures. It is able to repel dirt, does not slip. The coating is resistant to abrasion, mechanical damage and stress. Laminate is heat resistant. Withstands overheating.

One of the positive qualities that distinguishes a laminate from a parquet board is the absence of the need to maintain the coating with special methods. It is enough to regularly carry out wet cleaning of the surface.

Parquet or laminate - which is better? Consumer reviews also make it clear that laminate is a little easier to install. Its cost is less than that of parquet boards.

Disadvantages of laminate

When considering whether to choose a parquet board or a laminate, you need to familiarize yourself with the shortcomings of the latter.

This material does not withstand high humidity. Therefore, it is better not to use it in the bathroom or kitchen. Of the disadvantages of the laminate, it should also be noted the impossibility of restoration by polishing. Serious scratches will be very difficult to clean. By choosing a high strength class, it will be possible to avoid negative manifestations.

Laminate or What to choose, of course, you decide. The main thing is that good quality is present in each type of material. Low quality laminate will only last 2-3 years. And a good, high-quality coating of the presented type is comparable in cost to parquet.

parquet board

It is also a layered structure. However, its overall thickness is somewhat greater than that of a laminate. Usually it reaches 2 cm. The top layer is made of various precious woods. That is why such coverage is quite expensive.

The difference between parquet and laminate is that its structure consists of 3 layers. The wood and plywood included in the composition are perpendicular to each other. Such a system allows you to increase the strength of the product, as well as avoid deformation. The upper decorative layer, which is a durable wood, additionally protects the product.

The texture of the parquet board

Studying how a laminate differs from a parquet board, one can come to the conclusion that both types of material are quite rich in the spectrum of a variety of textures. The surface of the parquet board is sometimes additionally painted. However, even without this, it will not be difficult to create a real work of art on the surface of the material.

By means of brushing technology, it is allowed to artificially age the type of wood. The material is dyed with toner. This helps to give the desired shade to the wood.

The surface of the parquet board can be bleached, steamed and other manipulations can be performed. If desired, the invoice is not used at all. The surface will be just smooth and shiny. But thanks to the peculiarities inherent in each type of wood, it is very easy to choose an interesting, unique style of flooring. The texture can add luxury to the interior. The main thing is to correlate the design style of the room with the choice of pattern on the surface of the wood.

parquet board

Parquet or laminate - which is better? User reviews highlight such positive features of a wooden floor as environmental friendliness and hygiene. Thanks to the properties of wood, dirt is simply pushed out of the material. The durability of such a coating with proper use exceeds 30 years. This is also facilitated by the possibility of sanding parquet boards. It is restored in order to remove scratches and traces of mechanical damage.

This material is easy to combine with other varieties of flooring. For example, in the kitchen, near the work surface, you can lay ceramic tiles, and cover the rest of the space with wood flooring.

When deciding what is better - a parquet board or a parquet laminate - it should be taken into account that natural wood is considered a warm material. Therefore, in a room with a laminate or parquet board, the temperature difference will be noticeable.

When using a locking connection, the parquet board is easily and quickly assembled.

Disadvantages of parquet board

Natural wood, which is part of the product, does not like temperature extremes and high humidity.
This material also reacts poorly to the influence of ultraviolet rays.
Wood has the ability to absorb odors, which can be irritating in a residential environment.
Dents and scratches easily appear on the top layer.
The cost of purchase and installation is quite high.

Laminate or parquet board, the pros and cons of which were discussed above, are chosen at the discretion of the consumer. The disadvantages inherent in the latter also include a change in the size of the floor elements in summer and winter due to the ability to absorb and release water.

What is common between parquet board and laminate?

In or parquet boards, it is necessary to be guided not only by their pros and cons. Attention should also be paid to the general qualities of the materials. The similarity of coatings is in a wide range of their colors and textures. This will allow you to create a variety of interiors.

The parquet board is produced by the deck method. The ease of installation of both systems is ensured by the technology of their connection. When laying a laminate or parquet board, you do not need to use glue, mastic. This assembly method also makes it easy to replace a damaged coating element.

What to choose?

The difference between laminate and parquet boards should be taken into account when choosing the necessary building material by the consumer. In different situations, any of the following will work better:

If the room is walk-through, or the flooring will be subjected to heavy loads, it is more correct to give preference to the laminate. It is more resistant to abrasion.
If there are animals in the house, it is better to prefer a laminate.
For a luxurious interior design, a parquet board is definitely better suited.
The difference between laminate and parquet is the thermal conductivity. If you want to create additional floor insulation, you need to give preference to the parquet board.
When there is no good ventilation in the room, it is better to cover the floor with laminate.
Laminate and parquet boards differ in noise transmission. When using a laminate, for example, a small child running around the apartment will create discomfort for the neighbors below.
Many consumers pay initial attention to the price of coverage. Laminate is cheaper, but you will have to change it more often.

How to choose a laminate?

To correctly choose a laminate, you need to pay attention to the wear resistance class. Even for residential premises, it is better to choose the 31-33rd strength class. This will significantly extend the life of the flooring.

The thickness of the laminate, like the parquet board, has a different meaning. It should be from 8 to 12 mm. For this type of coverage, this is quite enough.

The thickness of the laminate and parquet board is different. The first option is much thinner. It does not raise the level of the floor noticeably. This is true for people doing repairs in the same room. With laminate, there will be no step between the rooms.

When making self-laying wooden flooring, it is better to choose a lock-type connection.

How to choose the color of the parquet board?

When making a purchase, you should also pay attention to the quality, cost and color of the wooden flooring.

As for the coloring of the parquet board, it is selected under the front door. They don't have to match in color. The main thing is that their tandem should be harmonious.

The contrasting combination of parquet with a door looks very interesting. It is best to choose the color immediately in the store. In the photo, the shades may be distorted.

When choosing the color of the floor covering, it should be noted that the difference between the laminate and the parquet board is to preserve the color of the artificial version. Natural wood will lighten over time. This must be taken into account when choosing the color of the floor covering and the door.

The shade of the tree depends even on the type of sawing and the location of the production, as well as the processing technology. Lighting plays an important role in the process of choosing the color of the parquet board.

It is better not to choose the texture of the door and the wooden covering to be identical. Otherwise, there will be little harmony in such a combination.

How to choose a parquet board?

A good parquet board usually has a thickness of up to 2 cm. You should also pay attention to the hardness of the material. Moreover, this indicator should be correlated with the moisture resistance index of the tree.

When choosing a parquet board as a floor covering, it is necessary to ensure that the humidity in the room is not lower than 45 and not higher than 60%. During the heating season, with a lack of moisture, natural wood flooring may crack. Therefore, asking the question: "Laminate or parquet board - what to choose?" - it is necessary to measure the humidity in the apartment. With an insufficient level of this indicator, it is necessary to give preference to the laminate.

parquet board price

Parquet board is an expensive coating. The cost depends directly on its thickness, processing method, as well as the brand of production. The better the flooring, the more expensive its price. A solid laminate stands like a parquet board.

The most expensive materials for natural coatings are exotic woods such as cherry and walnut. This is due to the thinness of the stems of plants. Good processing, high-quality grinding also make the final product more expensive.

Products manufactured by popular manufacturers have a higher cost. Although not always a big name and a high price are a guarantee of quality. The appearance of the product, its locks, thickness and quality of processing should play a decisive role in the selection of flooring.

Having familiarized yourself with the main characteristics, types and their features, it will be easy to decide which is better - a parquet board or a parquet laminate. Depending on the requirements for flooring, everyone chooses the best option for themselves.

Knowing the main parameters that you should pay attention to when choosing an artificial or natural wooden floor, it will not be difficult to determine the best quality product at an affordable price.

Now several types of hard floor coverings are being produced, similar in appearance, but having a different structure, therefore, performance. The opportunity to choose pleases, however, it introduces some uncertainty. For example, many consumers are interested in how parquet differs from laminate, engineered board from massive. Therefore, the purpose of this article will be to understand the variety offered by flooring manufacturers. At the same time, we will compare the main types of parquets and parquet-like materials, analyze their prices, pluses and minuses in terms of performance.

Classification of modern parquet-like flooring materials

In addition to the classic parquet, which is commercially referred to as “piece”, there are now several more types of floor materials that imitate a cut of wood in terms of surface texture. Some of them are completely natural, others are composite, others are artificial. So, today in free sale, the consumer can choose one of the following materials for laying on the floor:

natural parquet;
laminate;
parquet (engineering) board;
massive board.

All these materials have a difference in structure, degree of naturalness, installation method, price and other characteristics. Before making comparisons and finding out which is better, it is worth considering the features of each type of these flooring, their pros and cons.

Parquet

Classic parquet is an absolutely natural floor covering, as it has a solid structure and is made from various types of wood. For its production, wood raw materials that grow in our latitudes, as well as exotic wood species from Africa and Latin America are used. The characteristics of parquet directly depend on the wood raw material that is used in its manufacture. For the production of wear-resistant coatings, varieties of oak are used. To please yourself and surprise your guests, it is worth laying parquet from exotic species.

Whatever the raw material for the production of parquet, it is wood with all the consequences that form a list of undiscussed advantages of this floor covering, such as:

warm surface, giving a pleasant tactile sensation;
natural material, not containing toxic products;
"expensive" appearance;
durability (subject to the microclimate in the room within certain limits);
the possibility of several cycles of surface renewal (sanding).

However, parquet is not without drawbacks, especially in terms of modern consumer needs, and in comparison with other similar materials. Here's what parquet may not please the discerning consumer:

demanding on the microclimate;
you can’t make a “warm floor” under it;
the surface is easily damaged;
complex, expensive laying, and preparation for it (the floating method is not suitable here, since the parquets are not equipped with locks, they only need to be glued to the base);
work is not limited to laying, it still needs to be sanded and covered with several layers of varnish, and these procedures are also not cheap.

As for the cost of the floor material itself, it is relatively inexpensive. A coating made from domestic wood will retail for about $20. Exotics will be more expensive - $25-32. Prices hereinafter are per m2 of material.

Important! Composite material is often sold under the guise of parquet, especially for exotics. Only the top layer is natural there, plywood or cellulose is below, and glue between them is not the most healthy for health. Although the price tag will indicate "piece parquet".

Laminate

These are multilayer plates, where the upper decorative layer is laminated, that is, covered with a transparent protective film. There are many varieties of laminate in terms of the structure and quality of the material used to form each layer. Each manufacturer includes some of its own features in the structure of the plates, endowing them with certain characteristics. Natural wood is not used in the manufacture.

The knowledge of the layered structure of the laminate is useless to the consumer, meanwhile, the classiness of the material in terms of wear resistance will come in handy in order to choose the right floor covering. Laminate has the following markings, indicating its ability to withstand loads:

21 - the most “gentle” material, which is designed for a minimum load (can be laid in the bedroom and covered with a rug on top);
22 - average household load, suitable for a living room, for example;
23 - this coating is suitable for a corridor, a hallway, as it is designed for a high load in a residential area;
31-33 - the same, only for public, commercial, office premises.
34 - designed for very intensive passage, which happens at train stations or airports.

Important! With an increase in class, the price of a laminate also increases, so it makes sense to choose a material that is best suited for the existing conditions. You can, of course, choose a laminate of 31 wear resistance class for the bedroom, but you will have to pay more.

What are the positive and negative properties of laminate flooring? First, about the pros, they are as follows:

a huge selection of colors and textures that are not limited to the “pattern” of a saw cut of natural wood;
can be laid over a warm floor (the coefficient of temperature deformation is insignificant);
very easy to fit, as the plates are equipped with functional docking locks;
forms a floating structure on the floor that does not have hard contact with the base and walls (no need to glue);
many laying options can be realized (straight, herringbone, angled).

There were also some cons:

afraid of moisture;
the service life is short (when compared with natural wood materials), cheap - up to 4 years, high-quality - 20-25 years;
it is impossible to restore the plate, you only need to disassemble everything and replace the damaged element;
conducts sound well, so you should take care of sound insulation (substrate between the laminate and the base of the floor).

Now about the cost. The price of laminate flooring varies widely. The cheapest copies can be found within $ 4 (the quality is appropriate). More or less decent performance laminate has a price of $ 8-12. From $ 15 and above, there is a decent material that has a high-quality coating, an interesting texture and convenient and reliable docking locks. The price limit is $ 50, although you can find individual copies and more expensive.

parquet board

This flooring material is sometimes called "engineering" board, some even try to find the difference between these "parquet-like" representatives. Essentially, they are one and the same. The parquet board is a kind of symbiosis of parquet and laminate. From the parquet, the engineering board got the top layer of natural wood, from the laminate - a layered structure, the presence of docking locks and, accordingly, the laying method.

Under the upper wooden layer, the parquet board has two more layers. They can be plywood (better) or cheap wood (worse). The lower layers are mutually perpendicular (the direction of the fibers), which gives the material strength and prevents the tendency to deformation. The top layer has a finished surface, which does not need to be “finished” after laying by grinding and varnishing. This feature makes the parquet board better than parquet in this component. In addition, the described floor material has the following advantages:

the possibility of repair and renewal of the surface (sanding);
much less than parquet, it is subject to deformations from temperature and humidity changes;
the quality and "high cost" of the surface is not inferior to parquet;
assembles almost as easily into a floating floor structure as laminate;
much less laminate is afraid of moisture.

The minus of a parquet board can only be in toxic glue, which can be used by an unscrupulous manufacturer when forming the structure. Therefore, it is better to choose a certified floor covering.

The cost of a parquet board depends mainly on what kind of wood the top layer is made of. Here the pattern is the same as for the parquet. Domestic wood is cheaper, exotic wood is more expensive. Prices range from $20-50.

massive board

A flooring material made of solid wood that is laid like a laminate. Something like this can describe a massive board. Although the laying technologies are different. Often, the array is not only joined with locks, but also additionally glued to the existing base. In addition to the laying method, solid board differs from parquet in thickness. The array is thicker (18-25mm vs. 15mm) allowing for more scraping updates. In addition, there are several other advantages of the array:

the surface is ready immediately after laying;
durability (up to 100 years);
"rich" texture;
good heat and sound insulation qualities.

The disadvantages of massive boards are the same as those of other wood materials. It requires a constant microclimate, careful care and the same use of the floor surface. The array is the most expensive floor covering, so not every consumer can afford to choose it. Prices start at $45 and finish below $100.

The popularity of creating a wooden floor texture in a living space is explained by the undeniable external attractiveness, environmental friendliness and the uniqueness of the natural pattern, which is appropriate in almost any interior. Parquet board, parquet and laminate, which differ in some criteria, are the most popular materials. Their features will be discussed in this article.

Laminate is a multi-layer floor covering consisting of several base layers. Additional layers improve the performance of products.

Starting from top to bottom, the composition of the laminated board includes the following layers:

Protective polymer layer (overlay) based on high strength polymer resins. The duration of the service life, the resistance of the material to mechanical loads, and the resistance to wear depend on the thickness and hardness of this coating. The strength of this layer determines the abrasion class of the board - for residential premises it varies from class 31 to class 34.
Under the protective layer there is a decorative one based on thick paper with a pattern applied using high-precision printing. It is this layer that is responsible for the appearance of the product. More often, the image imitates the texture of a floor board made of various types of wood, including valuable ones. It is possible to imitate classic deck parquet, stone, textile and abstract surfaces.
The bearing base and the thickest layer responsible for the strength of the product is HDF - board. It is based on fine-grained wood chips and synthetic resin, which, as a result of pressing, create a rigid canvas. It is on the end sides of the HDF-plate that the groove and the comb are located, providing a tight fixation of the boards with each other.
To protect the structure of the board from moisture and subsequent deformation, it is equipped with a bottom stabilization layer based on melamine-impregnated paper.

There are several locking systems, but the Click type is more common. With its help, the lamellas are firmly fastened to each other, while the canvas turns out to be floating, since it does not reach the walls of the room along the perimeter by 1 cm. The presence of a compensation gap guarantees the integrity of the coating during its natural expansion.

Important! Laminate can be used in the bathroom, but it is necessary to take into account the marking when choosing and choose waterproof products based on polymers. For such boards, it is not scary if liquid gets even into the seam between the lamellas. Moisture resistance of some varieties of laminate is provided by additional processing of the front layer with wax or polymer compounds.

Benefits of laminate flooring

The benefits of laminate flooring include:

Quick and easy installation that you can do yourself without involving professional workers.
The ability to re-assemble and disassemble some types of laminate (depending on the type of locking). Such material is more expensive, but if necessary, it can be reused or replaced with damaged fragments.
The abrasion-resistant front layer allows the use of such a floor covering in rooms with special operational loads - in hallways and kitchens.
The material is environmentally friendly and safe, so it can be safely used in bedrooms and children's rooms.
Resistant to mechanical stress, the laminate with dignity withstands the load from furniture, sharp objects, pet claws, abrasive particles, falling heavy objects.
The surface of the laminate can imitate valuable and very expensive types of natural wood, while the cost of the material is many times lower and affordable for the average consumer.
The front decorative layer of products does not fade and does not lose its operational properties under the influence of ultraviolet rays.
Properly selected laminate can be used when organizing a warm water floor.

Of the shortcomings of the material, the echoing material when walking is noted. Therefore, it is recommended to carefully consider the soundproofing of the floor. Another caveat: a single lamella cannot be repaired - if damaged, it will need to be replaced. Therefore, it is desirable to have in reserve a certain number of spare slats.

Features of the parquet board

This is a multilayer material, which is dominated by natural wood. It consists of the following layers:

The top layer of the board, coated with varnish, wax or oil, protects it from moisture and dirt.
The decorative layer is an array of valuable natural wood species (ash, oak, etc.). To obtain a decorative effect, different methods of influencing the surface of this layer are used. Despite the fact that the layer thickness is from 2 to 6 mm, it can be re-sanded and scraped up to 4 times.
The thickness of the bearing base made of finger-jointed wood is up to 9 mm. To exclude possible deformation manifestations, the fibers in this layer are located across relative to the previous layer.
The lower compensation layer stabilizes the board and allows it to maintain the correct geometric parameters.

Laying boards, like laminate, is carried out by a floating method. Fixing of slats by means of Click fasteners. In some cases, the boards are fixed with glue or hardware to the base of the black floor.

Positive qualities of a parquet board

Among the advantages of parquet boards, the following can be noted:

A long service life of the flooring (over 25 years) is guaranteed if the laying and maintenance technology is observed.
Ecological cleanliness and safety of the coating.
The locking type of fastening of the boards to each other allows you to quickly install on your own.
Boards can be laid in various ways to form a particular pattern on the floor surface.
Unlike parquet, the board of the same name has a lower and more affordable cost.
Unlike laminate, the front layer of a parquet board can be updated with paints and varnishes.
The coating of such a floor is cycled and polished if repairs are necessary.
The coating is antistatic.
The parquet board is organically combined with other finishing materials.
Laying parquet boards is possible on top of the previously laid flooring without dismantling it.

Of the features, we can note the need to use special detergents for caring for parquet boards.

Parquet

This material is significantly and fundamentally different from the laminate in the first place in that it is not a multi-layer structure, unlike the board of the same name. Parquet is planks made of solid oak, beech, ash, cherry, maple and other types of wood. Single-layer wooden planks are equipped with tongue-and-groove edges, with the help of which the individual elements are securely fastened to each other using the tongue-and-groove method. In addition, when laying parquet, fixation is used with glue, hardware, clamps or special fastening cords.

The performance properties of the material depend on the following factors:

The size of the planks can be different: they can be 15-90 cm long, 3-12 cm wide, and 15-25 mm thick. The smaller the plank format, the more resistant it is to temperature changes and humidity.
The durability of natural wood flooring depends largely on proper drying. The optimal indicator for parquet is a humidity of 4-10%.
The type of wood affects the decorativeness of the parquet. If it is a "higher" or "extra" grade, then the coating is the most beautiful and noble. There are straight or wavy lines on the edges of the products, the surface texture has maximum uniformity, there are no defects. A more interesting pattern with different, non-uniform shades is typical for wood grades AB and C, but knots, weak and fragile areas may be present on its surface.

It is worth immediately drawing a line between parquet and solid board. The dimensions of the second one reach 2 m in length and 20 cm in width, while the parquet visually has more modest dimensions.

One of the features of parquet, which distinguishes it from laminate, is that after laying the planks, their front surface must be further processed - sanded and varnished or oil-waxed to protect against negative influences (abrasion and mechanical stress, varnish effects). Subsequently, this layer will need to be updated. While the laminate does not require any additional processing.

Positive qualities of parquet

Of the positive qualities of parquet, the following are noted:

The ability to renew and repair such a floor covering if necessary guarantees its long service life with proper care (20 - 25 years).
Natural, environmentally friendly and safe material.
Depending on the installation method, various visual decorative effects can be obtained. The palace parquet has the highest artistic level of external execution.
The coating has soundproofing properties.
The natural texture of natural material, its individuality and the uniqueness of the pattern allows you to get floor coverings that are unique in beauty.

Among the disadvantages of parquet, they note the need to protect the coating from moisture, complex installation, and susceptibility to fading under direct sunlight.

Differences between laminate and parquet

After evaluating the characteristics of the three materials listed above, it becomes clear that they all have significant differences from each other:

Durable, moisture-resistant, easy to install and maintain, laminate flooring is able to imitate parquet and parquet boards, but it lacks the main quality of natural wood - heat capacity. However, a wide range of colors and imitations of natural materials allows us to call this material universal. Another advantage is that the laminate can be laid not only on the floor, but also on walls and ceilings.
A parquet board can be considered the “golden mean” between a multi-layer laminate and an expensive array in the form of parquet single-layer planks. This material has an easy laying characteristic of a laminate, but it is more demanding in terms of maintenance and operating conditions, as it consists of natural wood.
Parquet flooring has long established itself as a durable, beautiful, environmentally friendly flooring material. It is reliable and functional, but has the highest cost.

The main differences between these materials can be traced when evaluating the main characteristics.

Table 1. Main differences

Parameter	Parquet	parquet board	Laminate
Illustration
Appearance	It is characterized by warm, natural shades, unique textures and patterns of each plate with a natural surface that is pleasant to the touch.	The front natural wood layer does not differ in a variety of textures. The surface is pleasant and warm to the touch.	The widest range of imitated materials - natural wood, parquet, tiles, stone and others.
Service life and wear resistance	These indicators depend not only on the type of wood, but also on the thickness of the protective lacquered layer, which can ensure the life of the parquet up to 50 years.	When the surface of the board is varnished, its service life is 30 years, and impregnation with oil-wax guarantees the service life of the coating no more than 10 years.	The service life of a laminate depends on its class, the higher it is, the more durable it is.
Possibility of application in the system	Water	water, infrared	water, infrared
maintainability	Can be restored (up to 12 times)	Can be restored (up to 4 times)	In case of breakage, the lamellas must be replaced.
moisture resistance		When treated with special impregnations and varnishes	Depending on the thickness of the front layer and the addition of polymers to the composition of the carrier base
care requirements	Surfaces treated with oil-wax require special care. A varnish coating is resistant to moisture and less whimsical.	The coating is whimsical in care, requires constant care with the help of special chemistry.	Easy care.

What to look for when choosing

When choosing a flooring material, several nuances are taken into account:

The purpose of the premises. In a room with high humidity, natural wood materials should be used with caution, and if you want to create a wooden floor in the bathroom, it is recommended to pay attention to a waterproof laminate that exactly repeats the natural wood pattern.
Operating loads on the coating. The impact and abrasion resistance of a laminate is several times higher than that of a parquet board.
Financial opportunities. If you choose between cheap parquet and expensive laminate, then it is better to choose the second option.
thermal conductivity requirements. If the apartment is located on the ground floor, then it is important that the floor is warm - natural wood is preferable in this case. When installing a warm floor, you can use a laminate.
soundproofing requirements. The wooden floor is much "quieter" than the laminate.
aesthetic requirements. Natural wood, its unique pattern and natural texture cannot be repeated by any other material. But if necessary, in imitation of other materials, a laminate is chosen.
microclimatic conditions. Parquet requires special conditions for the level of humidity in the room - with insufficient ventilation, the material will quickly become unusable. Laminate is more stable in this regard.

Features of the installation work

Laying laminate and parquet should take place on a perfectly flat base. Its material is irrelevant and proper preparation plays an important role.

Important! A subfloor with a humidity level above 20-25% will cause the laminate flooring to warp.

The method of preparation of the base depends on the material of its manufacture. The concrete base will need to be leveled, debris removed from its surface and primed. , arranged along the logs, are covered with two layers of plywood with an offset.

Laying of parquet and laminate is possible on top of the old coating, except for linoleum and carpet. The base must be rigid.

What do you need when installing laminate flooring? Look for the answer in There you will find everything: from tools to instructions for self-laying.

Both laminate and parquet must lie in the room where they will be installed for 48 hours to acclimatize.

As for the principle of fixing lamellas and planks, the laminate is laid in a floating way, and the parquet is put on glue or fixed to the base using fasteners.

Laying and parquet, and laminate suggest the use of waterproofing.

Waterproofing can not only protect the concrete coating from destruction, but also protect the property of neighbors in case of some unforeseen situations. Laying technology can be found in

Regardless of which material is ultimately preferred, it is important that it be of high quality, safe and organically combined with the style of the interior.

Prices for piece parquet

block parquet

Video - Pros and cons of laminate and parquet boards

A photo
Today, flooring is the most important part of finishing a room during a renovation. Indeed, not only the decorative appearance of the room, but also the warmth of the room and the level of comfort will depend on the correctness of his choice.

It should be remembered that the parquet board is used in a residential area, and the laminate is used in offices.

Parquet and laminate are the most common flooring materials. They look similar in appearance, but have a lot of differences in other characteristics. The only feature that unites them is their considerable thickness, which ensures strength and good thermal insulation. In order to better navigate during the selection, it is advisable to consider how a parquet board differs from a laminate.

The main characteristics of the laminate

It is customary to call a laminate a multilayer board based on wood fiber, the front part of which is painted like a tree and well laminated with a special film. This resinous film provides protection for the pattern and fibers from external influences.

Decorative and performance characteristics

characteristics of the laminate.

The pattern on the laminate can be anything. Most often, the appearance of natural wood is created, which makes buyers think that they really have a tree of a certain type in front of them. But often they also make a laminate for decorative tiles. It looks quite original, especially in kitchens and large halls.

Special attention should be paid to the performance characteristics of the laminate. This is a very high-quality material that is practically not afraid of any mechanical influences. For this reason, it is often used for flooring in offices and large houses where it is not customary to change shoes. After all, scratching a high-quality laminate is quite difficult, especially if the coating is matte.

Laminate is very resistant to fading, so you can lay this kind of floor even in sunny rooms. The surface will also not wear out if a laminate with the highest degree of lamination of the pattern with a resinous substance is selected.

But at the same time, laminate flooring is not so warm. Therefore, in houses with insufficient insulation, its use is not entirely practical. This largely explains the static effect of the laminate. After all, the use of a special protective resin to coat the material allows dust to freely adhere to the floor. And this is not very convenient, since you will often have to wet clean the room. But these are by and large solvable problems, since in the first case, you can simply maintain a normal temperature in the house with heaters, and in the second, you can use antistatic agents while restoring order.

Features of care and price

How to install laminate flooring.

But it is not recommended to use various household chemicals to maintain the cleanliness of a laminate floor, except for specially designed substances for this kind of material. After all, a laminated film with improper care can collapse, which will immediately affect the decorativeness and practicality of the floor.

The maximum life of the laminate depends on the correct care. Of course, all types of laminate are divided into certain classes, each of which has its own level of wear. Usually these figures range from 7 to 20 years. But with not quite correct or, conversely, good enough care, a laminate can serve either 3-5 years longer or less.

As for the price, the laminate is a relatively inexpensive coating, even if you give preference to the highest quality material. The cleaner the material is environmentally (more gentle substances are used to glue the layers and in smaller quantities), the more expensive it is, respectively.

Features of the parquet board

The design of the parquet board.

A parquet board is several layers of wood veneer, firmly connected to each other. At the same time, the front part is not painted to look like natural material, but is really finished with natural wood, ideally processed and prepared. Therefore, you will never meet two completely identical parquet boards. Which, in fact, explains the whole decorative effect of the coating.

A floor based on parquet boards is warm enough even when the whole house is quite cold. At the same time, it is quite antistatic, which does not allow a large amount of dust to stick to the coating. But the parquet board does not tolerate mechanical loads and various external influences. Therefore, it is not recommended to use it for offices where walking in street shoes is expected. After all, parquet boards are varnished, and varnish is a vulnerable substance for the floor.

There is nothing special about caring for a parquet board. It is only necessary to ensure that this type of floor comes into contact with water as little as possible. Indeed, due to the fact that natural wood fibers are used, the risk of floor deformation increases several times.

Despite all this, the service life of a parquet board is very long, it can even reach 40 years. In this case, the decorative appearance may be lost, and the tree remains quite suitable. And when using special mastics and light varnishes from time to time, even such a board will always look at a high level.

The price of a parquet board is very high, but it justifies itself. This is largely due to the environmental friendliness of the material. After all, even with strong temperature changes, the tree will not emit harmful substances. On the contrary, a good parquet board will emit a light, pleasant forest smell.

Overview of the main differences

So, the main differences between a laminate and a parquet board are briefly considered.

Floor construction from parquet boards.

But what exactly is the difference between laminate flooring and parquet boards? To do this, let's combine the main differences between the two materials, while highlighting more clearly the disadvantages and advantages of each of them:

Environmental friendliness. The parquet board has more advantages in this regard, since it is completely made of wood. The use of binder adhesive is minimal. Laminate is made from artificial material, although wood chips are added there. And with large temperature fluctuations, it can release harmful fumes into the air, especially lower quality varieties.
Heat and sound insulation. Here also the parquet board takes the first place. It does not make noise when walking on it, it is warm enough due to the “living tree” effect. The laminate floor is cold, and when walking on it, a characteristic noise appears.
static effect. The parquet board does not have its own static charge, so the dust hardly sticks to the floor. But this cannot be said about laminate, where dust appears on the surface almost immediately after cleaning. You can remove the charge with antistatic, but the effect will be short-lived.
Damage resistance. Laminate in this regard is more stable, its top layer may not be damaged for a very long time. The parquet board can quickly lose its decorative appearance, but at the same time its main part, which is under the top layer, is very durable.
Selecting a drawing. Here a large assortment of patterns can be found in laminate flooring. After all, due to the use of synthetics, you can imitate any surface. The parquet board does not differ in such a large selection, but at the same time it has a unique natural wood pattern.
Price. Laminate is an economical material for its price. Therefore, it is indispensable in conditions of limited finances. High quality parquet board is usually quite expensive. But at the same time, the cost is quite consistent with its main characteristics.

So, what is the difference from a laminate floor from a parquet board, you now understand. From all of the above, we can conclude that it is most acceptable to use a parquet board in a residential area, and a laminate in offices. Then the coatings will last a long time and will not bring trouble with repairs and restoration.