Which laminate is better 32 or 33. What does the laminate class mean? Which class is better? What are the classes of laminate

Laminate coatings are very much in demand today and are very popular among ordinary buyers and experienced builders. They can be produced in various modifications. Recently, class 33 laminate is most often used.

Let us consider in more detail the features of this flooring and the rules for choosing a material.

What it is?

Often, an uninformed consumer who does not understand the nuances of flooring does not know what classiness of a laminate means. As a result, many mistakes are made when choosing building materials.

Class 33 laminate is a panel designed for use in shops, offices and other high traffic areas. That is, where it accumulates a large number of of people. But thanks to their technical specifications, it is often used in private premises (apartment, house).

Consider the manufacturing technology of class 33 laminate.

• The wood-fiber cloth is pressed.
• A layer of paper impregnated with melamine resin is applied to the canvas.
• The canvas is decorated, drawings and patterns are created on the surface of the material. Basically, a coating is made that imitates a wooden surface.
• Next, a laminating layer is applied, which gives the planks smoothness or relief, it all depends on the type of panel and stamping.

The surface of the laminate can be flat or patterned with small protrusions. To increase the strength of the material, its lower layer is also impregnated with melamine.

The range of panels of 33 classes can be divided into 2 groups:

• floor covering that imitates various breeds wood, precious stone, parquet;
• brushed laminate, that is, artificially aged.

Laminate flooring can be glossy or matte. Glossy surface will display all interior objects. Matte planks look more strict and solid. Class 33 laminate can be single-strip, two-strip, three-strip. Also this coating can be with or without a chamfer.

Beveled laminate is a material characterized by the presence of beveled edges, the depth of which is about 1 millimeter. Once installed, beveled laminate tiles form a single coating that is highly durable and long lasting.

Also, such recesses are able to perform the function of visual leveling of the subfloor, thanks to them it is possible to mask defects and irregularities.

Specifications

Laminate flooring has a number of characteristics due to which it is in great demand among users:

• This flooring has a collapsible design of locks.
• An excellent indicator of moisture resistance of the material, which allows it to be used in rooms with high humidity.
• Additional noise and thermal insulation for the floor.
• The laminate is made of environmentally friendly materials. Thanks to this product this class used in children's rooms, schools, hospitals.
• Resistant to UV rays, high temperature conditions and the formation of mold, fungus.
• High wear resistance. The floor covering is steady against mechanical damages (shocks, scratches).

• The floor covering possesses high antistatic rates.
• When properly installed, the laminate coating does not dry out, and cracks do not form between the planks. Also, there are no squeaks when walking.
• Laminate class 33 does not require special maintenance costs. At the same time, aesthetic appearance persists for a long time.
• The service life of the coating depends on the thickness of the material. For panels with a thickness of 8-10 mm - 12 years, 11-13 mm - 15-17 years, laminate with a thickness of 14 mm or more - 20 years. The term of high-quality operation of the coating also depends on the correct installation.
• The weight of a package of laminate panels is determined by the length, width and thickness of the planks. If the length of the planks is 1.4 m, the thickness is 12 mm, and the width is 16 cm, then the pack weighs about 17 kg.

• High performance frost resistance.
• When interacting with chemical and fat-containing substances, stains do not form on the laminate flooring.
• fire resistance of the product. Upon contact with a smoking cigarette, the laminate coating does not change.
• Easy installation requiring no special tools. Thanks to the available locks on the material, the laying procedure becomes quick and easy.
• Fixation when walking, in other words, the surface of the coating does not slip.

Dimensions

The thickness of the laminate coating of class 33 can be 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 mm. The thinnest panels are designed for domestic use, while thicker materials are for commercial use. Quite rarely, models with a thickness of 8, 9, 14 mm are produced, such products are made according to the individual order of the buyer.

Materials having a thickness of 10-13 mm are very popular. Such material is considered multifunctional, which allows it to be used in any premises.

The width of the panel is divided into 4 groups:

• 15 centimeters- these are planks imitating parquet. Belong to the category of narrow panels.
• 16-20 cm- the most demanded width of the material.
• 21-32 cm– laminate flooring imitating valuable wood species or natural stone. Has an attractive appearance.
• Laminate flooring width over 33 centimeters used and produced in rare cases. This option is suitable for large areas.

Panels can be standard in the form of a rectangle or consist of squares (square). In the latter case, the floor covering has the same length and width.

Laminate length:

• 40-60 cm- panels of this length are mostly square in shape, they are considered the smallest;
• 61-100 cm- medium sized laminate flooring;
• 120-145 cm- a floor covering of this length is the most popular among buyers;
• 200-245 cm- elongated panels that fit in rooms with a large area.

Class 33 laminate flooring is sold in packs. One package contains from 6 to 20 panels.

Care

In order for the floor covering to retain its aesthetic appearance for a long time, and also to please you with its performance, you need to properly care for it.

• To clean the laminate from various contaminants, use a clean warm water or add to it detergents.
• Fabrics for washing should be soft.
• If necessary, you can use a damp broom or a washing vacuum cleaner to remove debris.
• Class 33 laminate does not require polishing. On the contrary, such a process can spoil the aesthetic appearance of the coating.
• After doing wet cleaning the floor must be wiped with a dry cloth.

If cracks or depressions form on the coating during operation, they can be masked with a special paste. Experts recommend purchasing such a composition from the same manufacturer as the laminate flooring.

Compliance simple terms will allow for a long time to maintain an attractive appearance of the flooring in any room.

Manufacturers

Today, many Russian and foreign manufacturers are engaged in the production and sale of class 33 laminate of all varieties. It can be difficult for the consumer to distinguish quality material from fake yourself. To facilitate this task, experts recommend that you familiarize yourself with the rating of the best producing countries, the products of which you should pay special attention to when buying.

• The first place is given to a foreign laminate, which is manufactured by Germany. Greatly accepted by consumers goods from brands such as Ecoflooring, Egger. In Russia, Egger brand products are especially in great demand for their impeccable quality and wide selection. German manufacturers offer flooring in the form square tiles and long boards.

• 2nd place was shared between two countries: Belgium and Switzerland. Laminate coating of their production is of high quality and affordable cost. The range of products offered by countries is almost the same. Belgian and Swiss laminate is produced only on modern equipment and only from high quality raw materials. Professionals recommend buying flooring companies such as Unilin flooring, Spanolux NV, Berry Floor, Beaulieu.

• 3rd place was taken by a Chinese-made laminate. The most famous manufacturers from China: trade marks Premium, Zigart, Biene, Parafloor.
• Laminate coatings of Russian production famous brands Tarkett, Ritter and Aberhof are considered the best not only in Russia, but also in foreign countries. They have a lower cost, but are not inferior in quality to foreign counterparts.
• Belarusian and French laminate flooring brands Gomeldrev, EPI Group got 5th place in the ranking. The laminate of these manufacturers has positive reviews from buyers, thanks to the high technical qualities of the proposed material.

Difference between 33rd and 32nd grade

In addition to class 33 laminate flooring, class 32 laminate flooring is very popular. Usually buyers believe that the technical characteristics of both classes of laminate are similar, but this is not true.

To see the difference between these materials, as well as to understand the better class 33 laminate, you need to compare the basic indicators:

• Unlike class 33 laminate, class 32 laminate does not have increased moisture protection. The locking system of this cover is weaker.
• The materials also differ in terms of wear resistance. Class 33 laminate has increased protection not only against mechanical damage but also against fading and abrasion of the surface. Class 32 panels practically do not possess such qualities.
• The maximum thickness of class 32 planks is 10 mm, and class 33 panels have a thickness of 14 mm or more.

Having considered the technical indicators of both options, we can conclude that the 33 class laminate is ahead of the 32 type laminate coating in each indicator.

Design Options

Laminate 33 is available in various colors. If the first models of this coating were sold exclusively in brown and its shades, manufacturers currently offer a fairly wide range of colors.

Wenge color is in great demand among users, which blends perfectly with various interiors.

For office coverage, laminate of such shades is mainly used:

• chocolate;
• the black;
• ashen;
• shade of concrete;
• dark brown;
• imitation under natural breeds of minerals, a tile.

Data color solutions Laminates are popular due to the fact that deformed areas of the coating are not particularly visible on them.

For domestic use, the following options are most often chosen:

• Scandinavian oak;
• light walnut;
• bleached oak;
• honey oak;
• White;
• northern oak;
• Cherry.

Such light colors were not chosen by chance. They allow you to make the room more spacious and elegant. Light shades are used not only in apartments and private houses. Such a laminate can be used in commercial premises.

Such shades, made in a glossy version, look especially beautiful. Due to the mirror surface, the light colors of the flooring are in perfect harmony with all types of interiors, in some cases they can become a bright accent of the entire room.

It all depends on general design. Such products very accurately imitate the structure natural materials, while creating the feeling that the floor is not an artificial coating, but an expensive parquet.

Beautiful laminate flooring fits perfectly with the following styles:

• chalet;
• country;
• modern;
• provence;
• vintage.

Consider a few beautiful options use of laminate flooring in residential premises:

• Elegant, light-coloured laminate flooring that imitates different types of wood creates a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere in the bedroom. The interior of the room becomes more gentle and natural.

When choosing a laminate flooring, special attention should be paid to the wear resistance class of the laminate, which determines the reliability of the floor and its durability. On the modern market, you can find a laminate of 31-34 wear resistance classes. It is rather difficult to say that some class of laminate is better or worse than others, because each model has its own operational and technical characteristics, and is also designed for use in certain conditions.

Wear resistances are commercial, i.e. Designed for use in rooms with medium and high level floor load. That is why the laying of such coatings is carried out in a wide range of premises: service enterprises, trade pavilions, small shops and offices, country houses, cottages, play and children's areas.

At the same time, models of this type are widely used in the domestic sphere, because at a reasonable price they have quite suitable properties for use in residential premises, and for a sufficiently long period of time. Depending on the manufacturer, in the domestic sphere, such a laminate can be used for about 10-20 years.

Laying a laminate of this class can be carried out in any residential premises, including in the kitchen, in the hallway, hallway. Also, the advantages of this class include a huge selection of decors on the market with a variety of designs.

Advantages of laminate 33 class

Laminate floors of 33 wear resistance class are the most demanded among commercial and business structures. Such coatings are intended for use in many public, administrative, social premises: medical institutions, shopping centers, boutiques, schools, kindergartens, etc. The average life of such models under conditions of intense and constant load is from 7 to 15 years (also depends on the manufacturer).

These models are more reliable, resistant to various negative influences, and durable when compared with decors of lower classes. At the same time, such products will cost much more (even for one manufacturer, the difference in prices for laminate of different classes can reach 50-150%).

Laminate floors, which have such a high class of operation, of course, can be laid in residential premises, but often experts do not recommend doing this, because. simpler and more affordable models can cope with the same tasks.

What conclusion can be drawn?

Laminated coatings of 31 and 32 service classes are better suited for residential premises: they have quite acceptable working properties, long service life, attractive prices (in most cases). In addition, the laying of such decors can also be carried out in the commercial sector, if there are not many people in the room and there is low traffic.

For laminate 33 and 34 wear resistance classes, the optimal operating conditions are rooms with a high level of floor load and increased traffic. At the same time, no one forbids buying such models for use in the domestic sphere, however, as a rule, this makes no sense, because. hardly anyone wants to use the same flooring for 25-40 years.

What grade of laminate is best? To choose suitable option for your apartment, you will have to figure out the characteristics of this coating yourself. In our article we will consider the most basic classes of this material.

The laminated coating is made from fibreboard, obtained by pressing under pressure under certain temperature conditions.

The bottom layer of the material is a moisture-resistant substrate, which also acts as sound insulation. If, it can act as thermal insulation. The second layer is the plate itself, which has a high density. A layer is applied on top of it, protecting the base of the laminate from aggressive influences. Next is applied decorative coating imitating wood, tiles and others Decoration Materials. And lastly the boards are covered protective film which protects them from mechanical damage.

Laminate on the floor in the room

What are the advantages of this flooring? First of all, immediately after installation, the floors are ready for use - no additional finishing works do not need to be carried out. An important advantage can be called ease of installation, because the laying of boards can be done independently, even without experience in carrying out such work.

However, the ideal material does not exist, so you should also remember about the minuses of the laminate. So, if you lay it without a soundproof coating, the floors will turn out to be echoing - your every step will be heard throughout the apartment. Another disadvantage is that low-grade materials are afraid of moisture - even a spilled cup of coffee can cause the coating to swell. Therefore, it is important to know how laminate differs in the classes that are assigned to it after passing special tests in production. The technical characteristics and service life of the material depend on the class.

Class 31 laminate flooring is most suitable for laying in the living room, bedroom, nursery or office. The only place where panels should not be used is in the bathroom, as this type of laminate is not waterproof. Also, this coating does not withstand heavy mechanical loads and damage from metal objects (furniture legs, chair wheels). At proper care Class 31 laminate can last about 10 years. However, when arranging conference rooms or reception rooms (premises with high traffic), the service life of the coating is reduced to 2-3 years.

An example of a class 31 laminate

The main advantage of the panels is their economy. However, when choosing, one should not forget about its features:

• the thickness of the boards is about 0.6–0.8 cm;
• thermal conductivity allows you to install laminate on underfloor heating without losing the quality of the coating;
• boards are smooth and without relief coating;
• the connection is carried out by the locking method without the use of glue.

When installing the floor on the base, you should first lay a layer of sound insulation, and on top of the substrate with a porous structure, which will reduce the boominess of the floor. On sale you can find such a variety of class 31 laminate as a vinyl floor (flexible). It differs from traditional products in that it does not bend under loads and consists of two layers: the main and decorative. Also, this type of laminate is moisture resistant, which expands the scope of its application.

The laminated covering of this class consists of 5 layers. The first layer is stabilizing, moisture-proof. Made from a mixture of resin and paper. The second layer is the most rigid, responsible for the strength of the panels. The third is a film that protects the bottom layer from moisture penetration. Next comes the decorative layer, which is responsible for the appearance of the material. An acrylic colorless coating completes the construction, giving the panels durability.

Quality laminate 32 class

Technical characteristics of laminate 32 class:

• resistance to UV rays, temperature fluctuations;
• antistatic;
• simple installation;
• excellent soundproofing properties;
• high level of wear resistance;
• durability and preservation of all the quality of the panels with proper care;
• the effect of "anti-slip" due to the relief surface of the material.

Also, panels of this class boast a large selection of colors and designs. You will find on sale material that imitates stone, parquet, ceramic tiles, various tree species. If we talk about the service life, then when installing panels in an apartment or residential building, it averages 15 years. When installing panels in public places, the service life is reduced to 5–7 years.

The laminate differs in size - the thickness of the panels ranges from 60 to 120 mm, and the thicker the board, the stronger it is. Also, the thickest laminate has excellent thermal insulation characteristics. The width ranges from 90 to 330 mm, but boards with a size of 180–190 mm are most often used. When choosing a laminate, you should take into account the strength of the material and pay attention to a number of indicators:

• absence of unpleasant odors;
• no chips on the panels;
• flexibility and strength of the material.

When buying products, it is better to choose products from the same batch so that they do not have differences in color and texture.

Panels of this class are intended for use in rooms with strong mechanical loads. When it is laid in an apartment, the panels will last about 15–20 years. In places with high traffic (restaurants, trading floors), the service life of products is at least 8 years.

The technical characteristics of such products include:

• impact resistance, resistance to cracking, scratching, chipping;
• moisture resistance, making the laminate suitable for laying in the kitchen and bathroom;
• preservation good looking panels even when laying in areas with high traffic;
• excellent sound and heat insulation;
• resistance to temperature fluctuations, exposure to UV rays;
• excellent antistatic performance.

Floor covering class 33

This coating is universal, which allows it to be laid both in offices and commercial premises, and in an apartment, including kitchens and winter gardens.The advantages of class 33 laminate include low operating costs, since ordinary detergents are used to care for the floor - there is no need to purchase expensive household chemicals and rub the panels with wax or mastic. Also, an important plus can be considered ease of installation and dismantling - the floor is easily assembled and disassembled in just a few hours.

So, which class of laminate is better, and which class of panels are more suitable for installation in residential areas? To answer this question, you must first determine what common "denominators" the products have. This may include:

• the color range of materials and the method of coating design;
• overall range of panel thicknesses;
• laying method.

Choose between 32 and 33 class

However, there are several differences that may affect the choice of laminate flooring.

At the same indicators wear resistance class 32 costs almost half as much, but some types of finishes (for example, for parquet) are available only for class 33 panels.

Which laminate is better to choose if most of the indicators and characteristics are almost identical?

The choice of material is made based on the scope of its application. For example, class 32 laminate can be used for installation in a children's room, hallway, hall. The laminated coating of class 33 will show itself better when laying in the kitchen, bathroom, since this material tolerates moisture more easily and is not afraid of temperature changes. If you decide to use planks for finishing the balcony, it all depends on the presence of insulation. If it is not there, it is better to choose class 33, which is characterized by good thermal insulation characteristics. If a heater is laid on the floor, a cheaper class 32 is also suitable.

Whatever type of coating you choose, when buying it, you should ask the seller to show the products in order to check the quality of the connection, the geometry of the panels. In some stores, salespeople even hold quick tests on the resistance of materials to mechanical damage.

I am doing renovations in the apartment, and now I have reached the floors. In almost the entire apartment, I decided to put laminate on the floors, except for the kitchen and bathrooms, where I will have tiles with a system warm floors. But when I got to the choice of laminate, another problem fell on me. There are several types of laminate, differing in wear resistance. Now the most popular laminate classes are 32 and 33 class. Moreover, class 33 laminate is decently more expensive. So which laminate to choose. Read more…

To begin with, let's define what a laminate class is?

Laminate class – an indicator that characterizes how long the laminate will retain its former appearance under various loads on it. It should be noted that such tests are carried out by the European Association for Standards (EN 13329), the laminate is tested for 18 - 20 different loads. After that, a conclusion is made about the strength of the laminate and one or another class is assigned to it..

It should be noted that laminate for personal use, in apartments or houses where there is not a very large load, is recommended by 21-23 classes. It is both cheap and performance characteristics at the level.

However, 21, 22 and 23 laminate grades have been discontinued. Why? Yes, because class 31 is not much more expensive, and its wear resistance is many times higher. Therefore, they began to buy 31 and above class, and lower classes were left without consumer demand.

If you use 21,22 and 23 class houses, then the period of its operation at low loads, up to 10 people per day, will be.

Grade 21 - 2 years

Grade 22 - 4 years

Grade 23 - 6 years.

Moreover, it is better to lay it where there is no heavy load on the floor, for example, bedrooms, pantries, children's rooms, wardrobe rooms. It is hardly suitable for the main hall, hallway and kitchen.

Now the main demand is for 32 and 33 classes. Even the 31st class leaves. For personal use, 32 and even more so 33 class laminate will be very enough. As the manufacturers assure class 32 laminate, it can spread both in rooms with low traffic, and in rooms and hallways with high traffic. Can withstand up to 200 - 300 people per day, for 10 years. If you lay such a laminate at home, then it will get bored faster than it will wear out.

Laminate class 33, this is a more advanced model, the load with which it can handle 500 people per day for 15 years. At home, such a laminate can lie for a very, very long time.

32 and 33 laminate class - differ in one top layer, which is additionally present in class 33.

If we take the design, then both grades 32 and 33 can have an equally complex design, sometimes very similar to the texture of a tree or a cut log, grades 21-23 could not have such a texture, so it was limited in design.

The thickness of the “board” for 32 and 33 laminate classes can be from 7 to 11 mm.

It is clear that class 33 is slightly superior to class 32, however, it is much more expensive in price. If "32" - you can buy for 200 - 400 rubles, square meter, then "33" - will cost 400 - 800 rubles.

But it doesn’t make much sense to take class 33 laminate for the home (although if you really want to, then you can). For the home, they will serve almost the same, here the whole difference is for office space.

If to sum up

Class 32 laminate should be used for commercial premises with low to medium traffic.

Class 33 laminate should be used in commercial areas with high traffic.

Take laminate 32 for your home, it is much cheaper (almost twice), and it will serve almost the same as class 33. Of course, if you are not limited in money, then take class 33, but there will not be much sense for an apartment. In terms of design complexity, they are the same, and therefore both 32 and 33 classes can be selected for any interior.

I hope my article helped you, especially for those who hesitate with the choice.

Today, there are no people left who have never been familiar with such flooring as laminate. But not everyone knows that they make it by pressing the plate and the decorative film into one whole under high temperature conditions, and in the vast majority of cases the outer side of the product is given the texture of wood. When the process ends and the panel cools down, it is cut into stylized boards and the ends are given a special shape that allows you to firmly connect the laminate to each other. Laminate flooring can be laid on almost any flat surface. The rigidity of the laminate is high and it is quite difficult to damage it, since it contains resins that, after processing, take on a high hardness.

Buying a certain type of laminate flooring in an apartment or some other room depends not only on certain preferences, but also on some factors. The laminate is divided into certain classes, and it is the class of the laminate that is decisive when buying it. There are four of them - from 31 to 34. The numbers indicate the level of wear resistance. There are quite serious problems with the definition of the laminate class. The fact is that there is no clearly defined wear resistance standard for manufacturers from different countries in different continents.
Information for thought. American manufacturers have their standards, European manufacturers have theirs. It is generally impossible to understand the standards of Asian manufacturers, it seems that they set them at random.

For information. Ukrainian legislators demanded that imported laminate be marked in advance according to the rules adopted in the country. This greatly facilitated his choice when buying in the online store Many Laminate.

Let's see how to choose this product

It is clear that this type of flooring, like any other, must fulfill certain requirements:

• be resistant to wear;
• have a high resistance to stress;
• not subject to changes when exposed to direct sunlight;
• have high strength;
• have the ability to resist the accumulation of static electricity;
• be resistant to moisture;
• have minimal slip.

It is clear that a laminate with these properties to a greater extent than other samples will cost more.

Let's see how class 32 of laminate differs from class 33?

Today, class 32 laminate is the most common on the market. floor coverings. Its parameters are as follows - the thickness of the board itself is up to 12 mm, the protective coating has a thickness of up to 0.4 mm. This class of laminate suggests that it can be used in offices as it is water resistant and has a lifespan of over ten years.

Laminate next, 33 class, has more serious characteristics. The board and its protective coating, respectively, 12 mm and 0.4 mm. It is impregnated with a water-repellent compound and is guaranteed to last for two decades. It can be used in washrooms and kitchens.
So, we can state that both types of laminate can be used for a long time, it has a slight difference in price. We recommend class 31-32 laminate for apartments and class 33-34 for offices.