How To Mount A Square Laminate On A Flat Surface

2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-24 22:24

• Characteristics
• Pros and cons
• Styling types
• Subtleties of installation
• Surface preparation
• Substrate flooring
• Laying laminate
• Laminate care principles

You don't always want to arrange something standard and familiar to everyone in your own home. In addition to the classic long laminate, manufacturers have come up with a square version, which appeared relatively recently. It was also created with the aim to fit into the desired interior and complement it at the same time. It is worth noting that a square laminate placed on the floor can imitate ceramic tiles, expensive parquet or natural stone. But it is very important to make the correct installation of all elements.

Characteristics

The dimensions of the square panels are 60 * 60 cm. The popularity is due to the ability of the material to create a kind of design in the room. You can also implement all possible interiors, including original ones. The laminate contains at least four layers. Each of them performs a specific function during operation.

1. Decorative layer. Most often it is decorative paper that creates the appearance of the floor covering.

   

   Additionally, there can be inlay in the form of a single-color or complex pattern.

2. Stabilizing layer. Available in square laminate to distribute the load evenly across the surface. In addition, this layer is intended to preserve the original form of the material, resists deformation during operation. The main component of this layer is waterproof paper, which is pre-impregnated with various resins, capable of protecting the main layer of the laminate from a large amount of moisture.
3. Protective melamine. It is on this layer that a person steps during walking. It is transparent so that the drawing can be viewed in depth of the product. In addition, the layer simultaneously protects the image from premature wear, damage, from external mechanical and chemical influences. The melamine layer prevents the sun's ultraviolet rays from penetrating deeper and spoiling the drawing.

4. The basis is chipboard, which is responsible for the parameters of the laminate, its shape and dimensions. The characteristics of the material during operation will also depend on it. For this reason, their classifications of laminate are also distinguished, which have a certain set of strength characteristics (for example, HDF).

   

Pros and cons

The positive qualities of a square laminate, arranged on the floor in the room, are much more than negative manifestations. The most important of them is good protection from external mechanical and chemical influences, which is due to the presence of numerous layers in the structure of the floor covering.

In addition, he is almost not afraid of the sun's rays, which allows him to maintain its original appearance even with constant exposure to ultraviolet rays.

Artistic imitation of square laminate allows you to create the most premium interiors, which you can hardly find anywhere else. Even famous designers can envy this. You can choose a material for leather, stone, wood or even metal. It all depends on the fantasy. In addition, the patterns on the laminate are very diverse and may even differ from each other.

The popularity of square laminate is also due to the insignificant cost of production. It can even be classified as one of the most common and affordable floor coverings, along with conventional laminate.

Since the composition of the square laminate, which is laid on the floor in the room, includes chipboard, it maintains the shape of the material for a long time. Due to this, the strength only increases.

There are several more very important qualities that are characteristic of a square laminate:

• Increased fire safety.

  

• Ease of installation due to the presence of special lock connections.
• Antistatic properties.
• Resists high humidity and temperature fluctuations.
• You don't have to get specialized care. On the contrary, it is easy to operate.

Among the main disadvantages, it is worth noting the use of synthetic materials in the production process. The most vulnerable places of the laminate in relation to moisture are the joints of the panels. But you can do wet cleaning without consequences. True, an arranged flood in an apartment can negatively affect the quality of the floor covering.

Styling types

There are two main ways in which a square laminate is installed on the floor - straight and diagonal. The simplest is naturally the first one. It can be called not only economical, but also in demand among novice performers. Fragments of the floor covering are fitted only in the doorway and near the heating pipes, if any.

The diagonal arrangement of a square laminate takes a little more effort and time during installation. But in this way, a really attractive coating is created in the room, which will delight the eye of everyone who happens to be on it. Immediately it is worth preparing for the fact that there will be a large amount of scraps, waste, which will cause unnecessary costs for the purchase of material.

Which option to choose from the presented is everyone's business. It all depends not only on the time spent, but also on the financial component.

Subtleties of installation

Compared to the classic laminate, the square version has its own characteristics, which are manifested when installing the floor covering. The most important thing is that the drawing is completely symmetrical. The gaps between the panels on the floor must be 2 mm. They must also be adhered to without fail. As a result, we should have a complete picture per square meter, which will be repeated in the future.

Laying the laminate in squares is done exclusively "for yourself". The gap between the laid laminate and the walls inside the room must be maintained, which is 10 mm. This will avoid deformational changes in a single panel.

Surface preparation

The base for the square laminate must be level. Over the entire surface in the room, a height difference is allowed, but not more than 3 mm.

You can carry out calculations using a measuring ruler and a level. In any case, it is best to use leveling solutions to bring the surface to level.

If you skip this step, the laying of the laminate on the floor will not be even, and over time it will begin to squint, bend and creak as you move along it. Moisture coming from below from holes will swell the laminate, damaging it. This, in turn, will allow the development of numerous microorganisms. Before the next stage, the laid screed must be completely dry and gain the required level of strength.

Substrate flooring

After leveling the base, on the concrete surface, the substrate is laid on the laid polyethylene film. The substrate will serve as a shock absorber for external mechanical influences. In addition, the functions of the substrate are noise and moisture protection. The best choice is polymer materials sold in rolls.

If the means and possibilities allow, then natural ingredients, such as wood chips, can be chosen as a substrate. The choice here will mainly depend on the financial component.

Laying laminate

Laying a square laminate starts from the left opposite corner from the front door, that is, from left to right. This is the basic principle of self-installation of the floor covering.

The first piece of square laminate must be separated from the wall using a special wedge 10 mm wide. Wedges should be located around the perimeter of the entire room along the walls in order to protect the laminate from damage and deformation during operation as a result of increased humidity and temperature exposure.

Due to the locking joints, the principles of laying the flooring are also different. When choosing the "Lock" lock, bring the next panel only horizontally. It is possible to hammer in with a hammer, but at the same time a wooden block is substituted so as not to damage the panel. Instead of a wooden block, a rubber mallet is often used.

The “Click” lock connection to the previous panel is brought up at a slight angle of 30 degrees. After inserting into the groove, the square laminate is lowered until it clicks.

If there are areas where the entire panel will not fit, you can cut it to the desired length and width. For this, a grinder or a jigsaw is most often used.

Laminate care principles

There are peculiarities in the care of a square laminate. There are several basic rules and requirements:

• Felt-tip pen, lipstick can be removed with methyl alcohol.

  

  If wax or gum comes in, it is best to wait until it is completely hard. All that remains is to remove it from the surface, and then process it with a special paste for the laminate.

• It is best to avoid using steam cleaners.
• When choosing products for cleaning square laminate, you need to pay attention to those that have a neutral Ph level.
• You can choose not only dry, but also a wet option for cleaning the surface. Instead of special products, ordinary soap solution is perfect.

Paying attention to the sequence of actions for installing a square laminate, you can complete the process itself without unnecessary difficulties on your own. It will not be superfluous to watch a video where you can get acquainted with the practical implementation. The article was written specifically for

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