How to connect laminate between rooms with thresholds and without thresholds. How to join laminate flooring between rooms without spoiling the aesthetics of the appearance Joints between laminate flooring

In an ordinary apartment you need to join the laminate 5-7 times. These are transitions from laminate to laminate between rooms. As well as connecting tiles with laminate in the bathroom, toilet and hallway.

All these joints at the door need to be decorated beautifully and uniformly. The thickness and color of the floor coverings are taken into account. The easiest way to close a connection is with sills.

Today there are more than 10 types of them. There are even different levels. This allows you to make beautiful transitions from laminate to thin linoleum and carpet.

How to join laminate flooring between rooms without a threshold? Experienced finishers use sealants and cork expansion joints for this. Let's look at all the design options for laminate transitions. Let's figure out which one is more beautiful, simpler and cheaper.

Methods for joining laminate flooring

There will be seams in any case. After all, according to the instructions, it can be laid in one piece over an area of ​​no more than 10 meters. That is why the best option is to make joints between rooms.

How to cover seams:

1. Profiles and thresholds. For joining 2 laminates. Matched to the color of the floor covering. Attached with self-tapping screws or glued;
2. Sealants - as an option for filling joints between tiles and laminate;
3. Cork compensator. A thin strip of cork with a painted or varnished top. Inserted or glued between laminate and tiles.

It is advisable to think over the method of designing joints at the installation stage. This will allow the technician to leave the correct gap between the floor coverings. Each option has its own installation features.

Types of thresholds (profiles) for joining laminate

The connecting threshold does more than just cover the seam. It is important to beautifully design the transition between floor coverings. If materials of different colors are joined, the threshold is selected to match the tone of one of them.

1. Metal. There are steel and brass thresholds on the market. However, most often they are made of aluminum, decorated in various ways:

— Laminated aluminum. A thin PVC film with a wood-like texture is tightly glued to the surface of the threshold. It does not tear when sawing, and practically does not scratch. A wide selection of colors allows you to choose a threshold for any laminate;

- Painted. Special powder paints are used that are resistant to abrasion and scratches. Decors are used that resemble the colors of the laminate. The appearance of the threshold is preserved after repeated washing of the floors;

— Anodized aluminum. These are thresholds with shades of gold, silver, copper, bronze and so on. The aluminum profile is placed in a sulfuric acid solution, after which an electric current is connected. As a result, a thin layer of a particularly strong oxide film is formed on the metal surface.

Mounting Features: Aluminum products can be easily sawed with a regular metal file. In practice, you can file it and break it neatly. There are 2 mounting methods:

• Open – there are 4-5 through holes in the sill. It is enough to drill the required number of holes in the floor and insert dowels into them. After which the threshold is attached to self-tapping screws. The disadvantage of this method is that the screw heads are visible on the surface.
• Closed - on the back side of the profile there is a groove into which screw heads are inserted. Holes are drilled in the floor, then we put screws and dowels on the threshold. Then we carefully hammer in the threshold. An option for a closed fastening method is gluing the profile to the base of the floor or to the surface of the laminate.

According to the form they are distinguished:

• Straight - to join single-level coverings without differences in height. As an option, laminate and laminate are the same thickness;
• Multi-level – for connecting floor coverings of different thicknesses. For example, laminate with linoleum, carpet or high tiles;
• Corner – used when covering stairs with laminate;
• Final (edging) - used instead of plinth.

Price– aluminum thresholds are the cheapest option to close the laminate joints between rooms. A standard profile 90 cm long costs about $2. If we talk about steel or brass, such a threshold will be 3-4 times more expensive than aluminum.

1. Wooden. They are usually made from pine and spruce, less often hardwood is used. Most often they are varnished, impregnated with various oils or simply sanded. Wooden thresholds are expensive. They are mainly used for joining parquet.

By shape There are straight, angular and finishing.

Mounted to the floor using glue or inserted into plastic fastening strips. The tree is afraid of moisture and temperature changes. Over time, it requires updating - sanding, varnishing.

1. MDF. This is compressed wood chips, the binder is synthetic resin. Decorative paper coated with melamine resin is glued on top of it. Such thresholds are produced by laminate manufacturers - Berryalloc, Quick-step and others. That is why the profile can be matched exactly to the color of the floor.

Attached to the floor, as well as wooden thresholds for glue or fastening strips. The price is cheaper than natural wood, but more expensive than aluminum.

1. PVC – plastic. The main advantage of plastic is its flexibility. Such thresholds are most often used for rounded joints of tiles and laminate in the kitchen. However, it is also possible to close the seams between rooms. Despite the flexibility, plastic profiles are quite strong. They withstand significant mechanical loads.

Mount them on a strip pre-installed in the joint, or less often simply on self-tapping screws. The cost is comparable to the price of aluminum thresholds - $2.

Sealant - as an option to join laminate and tiles without thresholds

Typically, laminate flooring extends onto tiles from the hallway to the toilet, bathroom and hallway. It is in these places that it is advisable to use sealants. You don't have to drill into the floor as you would for thresholds. However, there are other features when sealing joints with sealant.

Before using sealant on joints, it is important:

• Fit the tiles and laminate to each other at the same level. That is, both floor coverings must be the same thickness. In this case, an even gap of 5-6 millimeters is left between them;
• Glue the edge of the laminate (5-10 centimeters at the joint) to the floor. A part is pre-cut. This is necessary for the strength of the future seam. Then we press the glued area and wait for the glue to dry.

From the above it is clear that the use of sealants must be decided in advance. In the store we will have tiles of thickness. You will also need elastic glue to glue the outermost row of slats.

What sealant should I use? Many people recommend pouring regular silicone into the joint. However, it is not durable and you will have to renew the seams after a couple of years. For joints it is better to use polyurethane sealants for external use. This one will definitely last longer.

Operating procedure:

1. The edges of both materials are covered with molar tape;
2. The sealant is carefully squeezed into the gap between the laminate and the tile. You can even remove excess with your finger. But it is better to use a special rubber spatula;
3. After treating the entire seam, remove the tape from the floor and wait for the sealant to dry.

Flexible cork expansion joint for connecting laminate to tiles

It is a long thin strip of cork tree bark. The thickness of the compensator is 7-10 mm, the length is selected according to the doorway. The upper part of this strip is varnished or painted. You can easily choose the desired color. The cost of cork strips is $2-3 per piece.

Installation method:

1. First, as in the case of sealant, the edge of the laminate is glued to the base of the floor;
2. When the laminate has set, we glue the cork expansion joint. To do this, glue is applied both to the base of the floor and to the cut of the laminate. After which the strip is pressed tightly against the boards;
3. Now you need to lay the tile close to the cork strip. As a result, we have a beautiful junction of 2 floor coverings without a threshold.

Some people simply insert a piece of cork into the seam. Don't repeat other people's mistakes. It will keep popping up.

However, it is not easy for a beginner to carefully install a cork expansion joint. Did you like this docking option? Show it to experienced finishers.

Remember about the uniform design of floor covering seams. Laminate flooring can be joined with identical thresholds throughout the apartment. And in places where the tiles transition, use a sealant or compensator.

When connecting two materials that are different in texture and texture, it is necessary to somehow design the place where they are connected. In this article we will discuss how to beautifully join laminate and tiles. The methods are different, as are the results.

Where could there be a joint and how best to design it?

In a modern house or apartment, different floor coverings are used. At the points of their connection, height differences often form due to different thicknesses of the coating. You can make such a transition beautifully and reliably only by knowing what and how to do. Most often you have to join tiles and laminate. These are the two most popular types of flooring for various purposes. The joint between tiles and laminate occurs in two places:

As you already understand, there are two ways to make a joint between laminate and tiles - with and without a threshold. The first requires high quality cutting of the tiles, an equal gap between the two materials throughout the entire seam. Only in this case you get a decent result. The second one is simpler to perform and does not require special precision when cutting material or special skills when performing it. But it looks a little rough.

Methods of docking without a threshold

When joining tiles and laminate flooring without a threshold, you first need to solve the problem of height difference: due to the adhesive layer, the tile can be higher. Only after this can you start working. Also, the joint will look good if it is carefully processed, the gap will be even.

If two different materials are joined - ceramics and laminate - they cannot be placed close to each other without a gap. When temperature or humidity changes, they can increase in size (laminate suffers more from this). The presence of a gap prevents the problem - it allows it to change in size without compromising the integrity of the coating. When joining laminate and tiles without a threshold, this gap is filled with a suitable elastic material.

Whatever material is used for sealing, the edge of the laminate adjacent to it must be treated with a protective compound that prevents moisture absorption. Most often, a sealant is used for this. Better is silicone, which, after drying, does not lose elasticity and does not turn yellow over time.

Cork compensator

A cork expansion joint can be placed between the tiles and the laminate. This is a thin strip of cork, which is painted on one side and covered with a layer of protective varnish or finished with a layer of veneer. The second option has a larger wood surface; you can choose a color that is very similar to your floor covering. But it is used more often for joining parquet floors - it costs a lot.

Dimensions

In addition to the fact that the “face” of the cork expansion joint is finished with different materials, it can be of different shapes: with or without chamfers of different types. In addition, sizes may vary:

A standard length cork expansion joint is only good if the joint is under the door. Then its length is sufficient. In other situations, you either have to splice or order.

Installation

Install a cork expansion joint at the junction of tiles and laminate when laying the flooring. When one type has already been laid, and the second will only be laid. First of all, if it is necessary to trim the height of the cork, it is not always possible to choose the ideal option. Therefore, we carefully cut off the excess with a sharp knife.

More preparatory work - finishing the laid edge. We remind you once again that it must be smooth and well processed. Most often, the edge is sanded with sandpaper, smoothing out the cutting marks.

The cork expansion joint is mounted using glue, preferably for wood. The installation site is thoroughly cleaned and degreased beforehand. The following is the process:

If everything is done correctly, you get a neat, unobtrusive seam. What’s good is that you can design both straight and curved joints this way.

Grout for joints

If the materials have already been laid, the joint between the laminate and tiles can either be formed with a threshold or filled with tile grout. We'll talk about thresholds later, but now let's discuss how to use grout.

The edges of the laminate must be coated with silicone. It can also fill the joint by about 2/3. When the silicone dries, fill the remaining space with diluted joint grout, level it and wait until it dries.

A simple and effective way. But only if the edges are processed with high quality. For greater color stability and easier maintenance, it is better to coat the seam with colorless varnish.

Cork sealant

You can also seal the joint between laminate and tile using cork sealant. It itself is a sealant, so this is the only option in which the cut of the laminate does not need to be protected from moisture. Another plus is that the dried composition has the color of cork wood - light brown. If it suits you, you won't have to worry about painting it.

Cork sealant is a mixture of crushed cork tree bark and a water-based binder. Without dyes, after drying it has a cork color - light brown. There are palettes painted in primary colors. Available in polyethylene tubes, it can be applied using a closed gun (with a container) or a spatula. Can be used to fill joints in floor coverings.

When using this composition, you will most likely have to use a spatula. Therefore, we stick masking tape on both sides of the seam. We clean the seam itself and remove dust. You can work at temperatures above +5°C.

It’s easy to seal the joint between tile and laminate with cork sealant:

After drying, we have a ready-to-use joint between tile and laminate. The only drawback is that the base color does not suit everyone. And one more thing - you need to carefully and evenly distribute it immediately after application. Then it will not be possible to align or correct it.

Using thresholds

Making a joint between laminate and tile using thresholds makes sense in three cases. The first is when the joint is made under the door. In this case, the presence of a threshold is logical and “does not hurt the eyes.” The second option is if there is a difference in height between the two materials being joined. There is simply no other way out.

And the third case. When the hallway has tiles next to it, and then there is laminate. Even if their levels coincide, it is better to put a threshold here. It rises slightly above the finish and will trap sand and debris that inevitably gets carried in by shoes. This is the option when you can close your eyes to some aesthetic imperfection.

Types of thresholds for joining materials

There are the following thresholds that can be used to close the joint between laminate and tiles:

It just seems like there are few options. There are all these thresholds in different sizes and colors, with different fixation systems. There are a lot of them in big stores.

Installation of flexible PVC profile

As already mentioned, a flexible PVC joining profile consists of a base and a decorative lining, which is held on it due to elastic force. It must be installed after the tiles have been laid, but before installing the laminate.

First, a base is installed along the cut of the laid tile. It is attached to dowels or self-tapping screws. Choose fasteners with flat heads so that when screwed in, they hardly protrude and do not interfere with installing the trim.

The installation process is as follows:

Using a flexible PVC profile, the joint between laminate and tiles is easy to seal. Outwardly, of course, not everyone likes it, but the installation is simple.

Video on installing thresholds at the junction of laminate and tiles/porcelain tiles

When laying laminate flooring, it is often necessary to join it with another floor covering at the border of rooms or zones. Sometimes, in places where it is laid, heating or water supply pipes come out of the floor. Finally, joints between the floor and walls are inevitable.

Since laminate is subject to thermal expansion, its connection to other materials should not be rigid. In the same time, the joint must be sealed or covered from above so that it looks neat, and so that there is no gap left into which debris will get clogged.

Sealing joints between laminate flooring and other floor coverings

The need to join two types of laminate or laminate with other floor coverings usually arises in doorways, as well as in a room divided into zones. The width of the compensation gap at the joint of coatings is calculated according to the principle: 0.5-1.5 mm for each meter of joint length.

Joint of different types of laminate

The need to design a joint arises if:

• Laminate flooring with different locking systems is used
• A difference in the height of the coatings is formed
• Design joint, curved
• The podium or steps are covered with laminate
• The area of ​​the room exceeds 64 m² and the covering cannot be made continuous; an additional expansion joint is required

In these cases, they are used to decorate the joints. special connecting strips (sills, moldings). This is the optimal solution for laminate joints:

• There remains a gap for temperature fluctuations
• The threshold protects the ends of the laminate and closes the gap at the top, preventing debris from getting into it

Threshold strips vary in configuration and allow you to solve different problems:

• Direct– for sealing joints between coatings located on the same level
• Leveling- for connecting coatings with a small (up to 4 mm) height difference
• Multi-level- for joints with a significant difference in height (up to 2 cm), can be charcoal, round or more complex in shape
• Corner– for joints of mutually perpendicular coverings (steps, podiums)

They are made from different materials:

• Laminated, from pressed shavings, covered with a protective and decorative film. Usually matched to the laminate and allow you to make the joint as invisible as possible
• Solid wood- expensive, elite
• Metal, made of aluminum, steel, brass with anodized coating. These are the most durable overlays that can be used in high traffic areas, some of these products can also be curved to form curved joints
• Plastic(PVC) - flexible thresholds, ideal for decorating curved joints, are distinguished by a variety of colors. Affordable, but not durable
• Rubber are usually angular

The junction of laminate and tiles

For the joints of the laminate and tiles, you can use the same thresholds as for decorating the joints between two types of laminate, selecting them in accordance with the configuration of the joint. If the surfaces of the tile and laminate are at the same level, there is no height difference, you can create a joint without a threshold:

• If the length of the joint does not exceed 2 m and the width of the seam is 3 mm, it can be filled
• Longer and wider seams are filled elastic composition(silicone sealant, polyurethane foam, liquid plug)
• A long, even seam without changes in thickness is filled cork compensator, it is also permissible to use it with a slight difference in the height of the coatings

The technique of joining laminate and tiles is described in detail.

Joint between laminate and other floor coverings

Joints of laminate with parquet, linoleum usually closed with thresholds, often leveling or multi-level. Less commonly, the seam between the laminate and linoleum is filled with transparent silicone glue; this option is used if the coatings are on the same level and the cuts at the junction are perfectly even. It is necessary to stick masking tape along the edges so that the adhesive does not get on the surface of the coating.

If laminate and carpet are combined, a fairly rigid underlay is usually laid under the carpet, the thickness of which corresponds to the thickness of the laminate, and the carpet itself is laid overlapping the laminate. If they are joined, it is necessary to use a transitional multi-level threshold.

Installation of thresholds

Here are some types of thresholds according to installation methods:

• Two-piece T-shaped for hidden installation, fastened with screws (self-tapping screws)
• One-piece with herringbone dowels, the heads of which are inserted into the groove on the underside of the sill
• One-piece for open screw mounting, supplied with pre-drilled mounting holes and screws with decorative heads
• Z-shaped multi-level, with a zigzag leg, the foot of which is attached to the base with screws or glue
• Flexible brass or aluminum, with one-sided tab divided into many sections
• Flexible polymer two-piece, groove and tab
• Self-adhesive

Self-adhesive thresholds are usually used if the base is loose and screwing fasteners into it is problematic, as well as on top. Before installing them, the surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned and degreased, the protective coating must be removed from the bottom, the threshold must be applied in accordance with the markings and pressed well.

Two-piece planks with 2 legs are mounted in the following sequence:

1. The junction is marked
2. Holes with a diameter of 6 mm are drilled at the base on both sides of the seam in increments of 20-30 cm
3. Plastic dowels are driven into the holes
4. The mounting rail is installed in place and secured to the concrete base with self-tapping screws 60 mm long, to a wooden base - 45 mm
5. Floor coverings are laid on top of the legs, the seam between them should be wider than the mounting groove
6. The leg of the decorative strip is inserted into the mounting groove, and with light blows of a mallet it is driven into place. First, the bar is partially recessed along its entire length, with gradual advancement from one end to the other, then you need to repeat the operation, and only on the third pass hammer it in to its full depth

If open fastening thresholds are used, the floor coverings must be installed first., then a threshold is applied on top and markings are made, holes are drilled in the designated areas of the base, and dowels are installed in them. The threshold is put back in place and fixed with screws.

In a similar way, markings are carried out for one-piece thresholds with hidden dowels. The threshold is installed so that the dowels fit into the holes, and is nailed with a mallet.

It is best to use thresholds of the same brand as the laminate. Quick Step produces laminated and aluminum multifunctional thresholds, with which you can create joints between different coatings, including multi-level ones. Their decorative strip consists of several segments; by removing individual segments, you can change its configuration.

If a threshold with a zigzag leg (one leg) is installed, a coating of greater thickness is laid first. Then, next to it, a strip is attached with self-tapping screws or glue with a paw in the direction opposite to the laid covering. A thinner coating is laid on top of the foot. The upper part of the plank, with careful blows of a hammer in 3 steps, is brought down to the required height so that its edges press both mating coatings.

To seal a curved joint, you must first make a marking on the floor, according to which the profile of the flexible threshold is bent. The metal threshold can be bent using a special tool, as well as manually, resting on the knee.

The polymer groove, which is installed in the mounting seam, is bent during installation and fixed to the base with screws (dowels are first inserted into the holes). The upper, decorative part of the plastic threshold acquires plasticity when heated and retains its given shape after cooling. You can soften the insert with a hair dryer or by placing it in water heated to 50-70° for 15-20 minutes. The insert is gradually pressed into the groove and pressed carefully.

Joint of laminate with vertical surfaces

At the junction of the laminate with the wall
baseboard is installed. It serves a dual function:

• Covers the expansion gap
• Decorates the joint, giving the atmosphere completeness

Also inside the hollow baseboard there may be a box for hidden wiring.

Under no circumstances should the plinth be attached to the laminate, only to the wall, and a small gap should remain between its lower edge and the surface of the laminate so that nothing interferes with the thermal expansion of the floating coating.

MDF plinths go well with laminate. If the walls are smooth, you can use a traditional wooden baseboard, securing it with self-tapping screws or using glue. If the walls have significant curvature, a flexible plastic plinth is suitable, which is attached with clips or “petals” to a base screwed to the wall with self-tapping screws.

The joints of the laminate with columns and other architectural elements are also decorated with plinths or special overlays of a suitable shape.
If a communication pipe comes out of the floor where the laminate is laid, you need to cut a hole in the panel according to the template, leaving a compensation gap of 10-15 mm.

After laying the laminate, this gap is closed with a special decorative split overlay of a suitable color and shape. If the shape or location of the pipe(s) does not allow the use of liners, the gap can be filled with silicone sealant.

Video

Installation of different types of aluminum thresholds

Sealing the joint between laminate and tiles with a flexible thermoplastic threshold

Making laminate joints with Quick-Step components. Installation of thresholds, pipe covers, plinths.

Bottom line

The joints of the laminate with other coatings must be sealed in such a way that there is still the possibility of its thermal expansion. Elastic joint fillers (sealants) and cork expansion joints are suitable for these purposes, but in most cases the seam is covered on top with a decorative threshold of a suitable configuration. There are thresholds that allow you to join coatings with height differences.

The junctions of the laminate with walls, columns and other architectural elements are decorated with a plinth, and it must be attached to a vertical surface. The joints of the laminate with communication pipes are usually covered with special decorative rosette covers.

There is an opinion that laying a laminate floor is quite simple. We will not dispute it, but in the process of work, depending on specific circumstances, certain difficulties may arise. The problem most often arises when it is necessary to connect one coating to another. A similar situation arises even when the entire apartment is covered with the same laminated material. You still have to face the question of how to join the laminate between rooms, use a threshold or do without it. Here everything depends not only on the design solution, but also on the technical preparedness and expertise of the installation specialist.

The joint between laminate and laminate is made under the following circumstances:

By combining laminate flooring you can create all sorts of design solutions. For example, it is possible to visually increase the size of the room. To do this, the same covering in the room is joined together without installing thresholds.

By combining different materials it is possible to create a unique interior. You can join laminated panels of different shades or textures in the space of one room. The connection of the boards is done in accordance with the overall design.

Note: nowadays, the combination of two floor materials when decorating a room is becoming an increasingly used artistic technique, as a result of which the interior design of a room acquires a special charm and originality.

Preparation for joining laminate flooring

Let us remind you that to lay laminated panels, the base must be well prepared, leveled and cleaned of all contaminants. For joining two floor materials, this condition is also mandatory.

To join laminate to laminate, you need to assume that the panels can have different thicknesses, it is 6 - 12 mm. The best way is to purchase laminated boards and a backing of the same thickness in order to avoid the slightest difference in the height of the surfaces. It is very good if materials from the same manufacturer are to be joined, so that they have the same type of locking connections, the same strength class, and therefore service life.

How to join laminate to laminate, with or without threshold, and what profile should be used to join the laminate?

There are several options for joining laminate to laminate. Let's look at the most common and less complex ones.

Most often, the connection of laminated surfaces occurs during the transition from one room to another, i.e. in a doorway. It is imperative to leave a technological gap here. In its absence, the formation of deformation and swelling of the floor surface is likely. The gap left must be filled in somehow. How to seal laminate joints?

To our joy, all these questions have been thought out for a long time, the answers to them have long existed, our task is to take ready-made solutions and apply them correctly. Coating manufacturers also produce a variety of components. These include: substrates, baseboards, connecting strips for laminate. The connection strips are also called thresholds, moldings, connection profiles. They vary in shape and are made from different materials.

Profile form

According to their shapes, the joining strips for laminate can be divided as follows:

The products considered are decorative, but not only. When installing a laminated floor, a technological gap is required, which the connecting profiles make hidden, protect from damage and at the same time allow for an aesthetic appearance.

Threshold materials

Connecting profiles are made from various materials.

1. Laminated - made from compressed wood fibers, with a laminated film with decoration applied on top. There is a wide variety of colors and textures, so it is not difficult to match the decor of the joining laminate. The connection looks aesthetically pleasing and, if selected correctly, is almost invisible. Often installed at the junction of a doorway.
2. Metal - aluminum, brass, steel; The top is covered with a decorative film. It is characterized by high strength, thanks to which it is installed in places with high traffic, for example: doorways.
3. PVC profile is a flexible joining profile for laminate flooring, excellent for making wavy joints. Available in a wide variety of colors, i.e. well matched to the color of the joining surface. It is relatively inexpensive.
4. Rubber - often an angular profile for decorating staircase steps. They are anti-slip and increase the safety of walking on steps.

There are several known ways to design a joint line:

• using thresholds, profiles;
• use of cork compensator;
• use of construction sealants.

With all its advantages:

• ease of installation;
• beautiful view of the joint;
• no threshold - not used too often.

The point is their serious shortcomings:

• after their use, it is impossible to dismantle panels in contact with the connecting compound without damage;
• When filling a joint with sealant or foam, the laminate loses the ability to expand, this can lead to damage to the coating.

Installation of connecting profiles

Aluminum moldings can be mounted using an open mounting method, using dowels and self-tapping screws. The aluminum strip has ready-made holes for self-tapping screws; the components are sold together with a metal threshold.

Decorative method of fastening - it looks more attractive, the fastening is not visible, it is hidden under a decorative nozzle.

The fastening profile is connected to the base with self-tapping screws. A decorative nozzle is placed on top and pressed until it clicks. It covers the attachment marks and the joint looks nice.

How to attach a universal profile:

Joining laminate and linoleum

This combination of materials occurs quite often. Both coatings are of high quality, but it is necessary to properly and aesthetically design their joint. The strength of the floor covering and the interior of the room depend on this.

Consider the case of a connection: the thickness of linoleum is much less than the thickness of laminated panels with a backing. There are two connection paths in this case:

• joint at one level;
• joint at different surface levels.

CONCLUSION

Now you know how to connect laminate with linoleum at the joint, how to connect the joints of laminate with laminate between rooms, all that remains is to turn it all into reality. Major problems when joining the coatings will not arise if everything is done according to the instructions. If the connection line has a complex shape or is too long, it is better to entrust the connection of surfaces to specialists.

The level of repair and the overall interior of the renovated room largely depend on such small but important points as the design of coating joints.

Laminate is a modern floor covering that has a number of advantages. First of all, these are high aesthetic qualities, affordable cost and ease of installation.

Thanks to this, laminate has firmly become one of the most popular floor coverings, but its installation has a number of its own nuances. One such stumbling block is the joint between the laminate and the laminate.

The appearance of the floors in the apartment will depend on how well the laminate is connected between rooms. Let's look at how to connect laminate flooring to each other correctly in our article.

Docking options

It is quite simple to join individual laminate floorboards together - they have special locks on the side designed to connect them. However, the problem is usually not how to join the floorboards together, but the connection of two types of laminated floors - say, at the border of the living room and the hallway.

Inside an apartment, laminate flooring is usually joined only in two cases:

1. If adjacent rooms have laminate flooring that differs from each other in color, texture or size of the boards.
2. If you need to make an aesthetic transition in one room between two types of laminated boards.

The latter option is becoming more and more common, as floor compositions made from several types of laminated coverings are a hit in interior design today.

Preparation of joining surfaces

Only a flat base will allow the laminate to last a long time.

Before joining the laminate, you should take into account several nuances, the observance of which will significantly simplify the work and increase the subsequent service life of the floor coverings.

1. The base of the floors in adjacent rooms must be perfectly level and without differences in the horizontal level in the place where two floor coverings will be connected. Otherwise, a noticeable joining seam with a height difference may form in this place.
2. If the floors at the junction are fairly level, the problem may be caused by the decorative coating itself. The fact is that a laminated floor can vary significantly in thickness - the thickness of the floorboards can vary from 0.6 to 1.2 cm. Therefore, when purchasing two flooring options that you plan to connect, pay attention to their thickness. However, this problem can be solved with the help of special multi-level connecting profiles.
3. The technology for constructing the floor “pie” (waterproofing - substrate - finishing coating) should be the same for both coatings.
4. If you plan to make a joint between laminate and laminate, then both coatings must belong to the same resistance class. This will avoid a situation where one surface has already become unusable, while the other will still be quite suitable for further use.

The lamellas should be joined with a gap of at least 0.5 - 1 cm. This is an expansion joint that prevents warping of the coating when humidity increases and temperature changes.

Types of thresholds for docking

The thresholds neatly cover the joints of the laminate with other floor coverings

In addition to baseboards and a special underlay, the standard kit for laying laminated boards also includes connecting strips, more often referred to as thresholds. The modern market for finishing materials offers a large selection of joining profiles.

Thresholds for laminate flooring can cover uneven joints between lamellas (floorboards) and hide small differences in height along the seam. Their size can be from 0.3 to 2 cm, which makes it possible to connect almost any type of laminate.

A variety of materials can be used to make a connecting profile: steel, aluminum, plastic, cork, composite materials. Thresholds can be made in a wide variety of colors and textures. For more information about the interface between laminate and tile, watch this video:

The profile is attached to the floor surface using dowel-nails or self-tapping screws. It is also possible to install connecting elements using liquid nails and other adhesives.

From the point of view of design features, thresholds can be divided into several types:

It is best to install elements made of unpainted metal as corner profiles. The fact is that corner profiles are especially susceptible to abrasion, so thresholds made of plastic or painted metal will quickly lose their appearance.

Installation of joining profiles

Thresholds for laminate flooring are installed in three ways - open, closed and combined.

Open way

In the open way, decorative thresholds for laminate flooring are attached using self-tapping screws or dowel nails. For this purpose, the connecting profile has special holes for fasteners.

To do this, using a hacksaw or grinder, cut the threshold to the required length and lay it in place. We mark the points where the screws will go into the floor and drill these places. We insert special plastic plugs into the holes, reinstall the profile on the laminate and fasten it with self-tapping screws.

Closed method

The closed technology is more aesthetically pleasing, since in this case the screw caps are not visible on the surface of the profile. In this case, the threshold between the laminate and other coatings is attached using strong adhesives - liquid nails, concentrated PVA glue, etc. For information on installing thresholds without self-tapping screws, watch this video:

In this case, glue is applied to the inside of the profile, after which the threshold is installed in place and pressed firmly for a while.

Another method of closed fixation is to use a special snap profile.

In this case, the lower part of the structure - the mounting strip - is attached directly to the floor using self-tapping screws.

The upper decorative part is attached to it by simply snapping the clips.

Combined method

In this option, both glue and screws or dowels are used to install the connecting element.

A combined installation method is used when fastening thresholds of great length or with a large radius of curvature for their better fixation.

If all threshold installation technologies are followed, you can get a beautiful joint between two floor coverings. The correct choice of material and its installation are one of the conditions for the longevity of laminated floors.