home · Appliances · Chinese laminate 12 mm thick, moisture resistant. Chinese laminate: how to distinguish a good product from a fake? How to recognize that laminate is Chinese

Chinese laminate 12 mm thick, moisture resistant. Chinese laminate: how to distinguish a good product from a fake? How to recognize that laminate is Chinese

To choose the right Chinese laminate of class 33, you need to distinguish between classes and their features. There is a conditional division of laminate coatings into six wear resistance classes:

  • 22 – expected home use, but the load on it turns out to be average. The guaranteed period is also about four years (living room).
  • 23 – intended for home use about four years, but with increased load (corridor, kitchen).
  • 31 – designed for use in commercial premises with low traffic volume (small office) for up to three years, and at home – twelve.
  • 32 - intended for medium-load commercial premises (boutique, reception area, office) for up to five years, and at home - fifteen years.
  • 33 - designed for commercial premises with high load on floor coverings (gym, restaurant) for a period of about six years, and in residential premises up to twenty years.

Characteristics of class 33

This class is the most wear-resistant among its peers. To comply with class 33, it is necessary to perform 18 tests to verify strength characteristics. Because of this, class 33 is the most expensive. On domestic market you can find an alternative to expensive European ones - this is Chinese laminate. It is in no way inferior to its counterpart from Europe in terms of strength, but due to savings on advertising, branding and cheaper labor, the cost drops significantly. The photo shows samples of 8 mm and 12 mm products of this class.

Advantages of class 33:

  • resistance to mechanical and chemical influences;
  • it contains no harmful components;
  • top non-slip coating;
  • fortified castles;

Laminate coatings have different thicknesses depending on the scope of their application. The thicker the thickness, the thicker protective layer boards. It follows: the thicker the board, the higher the strength characteristics and the longer the service life of the surface. There are five types of laminate based on thickness:

  • 6 mm;
  • 7 mm;
  • 8 mm;
  • 10 mm;
  • 12 mm.

Chinese laminate 33 classes are presented on the market in two main standard sizes: 8 mm and 12 mm thickness and 1210 mm board length. These sizes are cheaper to produce due to minimal equipment setup, hence the price reduction.

Thanks to the reliable interlocking of locks located along the entire perimeter of the board, Chinese laminate tightly covers the surface of any floor without gaps or cracks. And due to the impregnation of the locks and the entire protective layer with a paraffin-based composition, wooden surface holds up well high humidity. Even in conditions of severe flooding, the laminate can not swell for about eight hours.

Scope of application

It is most advisable to use Chinese class 33 laminate in shops, restaurants, bars, large offices and other premises with a high load on floor coverings. It can easily withstand more than 6,000 passes of people on the floor in one day, and also has high moisture resistance parameters.

The material has high resistance to long-term dynamic and static loads of mechanical or chemical influence.

Laminate from China is no worse than European laminate, it is scratch-resistant, so a large flow of visitors to popular establishments will not harm it. The product used here is 12mm thick.

At home, Chinese laminate class 33 is best used in the kitchen, where it will last for more than 20 years. Moreover, for the home it is enough to use a product with a thickness of 8 mm.

The main condition for use is that when installing a coating of 8 mm or 12 mm, the difference in height should not exceed 1 mm within one linear meter. And under the laminate it is necessary to lay a special layer-substrate. The service life can also be increased by using special means for laminate care.

Features of choice

From the review it is clear that products from China are in no way inferior to competitors from Europe.

Samples of products with a thickness of 8 mm are used at home or in offices, and 12 mm - in production premises, rooms with high traffic and humidity.

Why overpay if laminate from China, just like European laminate, can last 10-20 years? Moreover, many European manufacturers often produce their products in China.

Among the shortcomings, one can note only the less bright color scheme products, but this situation is constantly changing for the better.

Laminate has a durable, high-quality base and excellent texture of natural wood. The thickness of the plate is 10 mm. This makes it possible to lay it on a surface that has slight unevenness. By releasing class 33 products, manufacturers have significantly increased the strength and wear resistance of the material. Quick installation is carried out thanks to the presence lock connection Click systems.

Floor Step

At a low cost, laminate has excellent wear resistance and minimal noise. It has a unique semi-glossy structure that perfectly imitates massive board varnished. The appearance of the floor resembles a surface made of natural wood boards. To protect the surface from moisture and dust, the locking mount is paraffin-impregnated.

Ecoflooring

At quite affordable price laminate is reliable, practical and excellent appearance. It has a wide range of colors and varied textures. Due to its excellent wear resistance and good load resistance, it can be used as flooring in restaurants, cafes, offices and medical institutions.

Luxury

Laminate Luxury 32 and 33 classes are characterized by low cost and good quality. The pattern of the material resembles texture valuable species wood such as walnut, elm, oak, plum. It is practical and durable, and is an excellent coating for floors in apartments, houses and offices with average load.

Vega

Beautiful modern flooring at a very affordable price. A wide range of colors that imitate the texture of wood allows you to choose laminate flooring for any room interior. The coating is available in several collections of classes 32 and 33, suitable for installation in apartments, houses and commercial premises.

We want to buy laminate flooring. Which one is better to choose?

For city apartments and country houses Our store specialists do not highlight special collections. You can choose laminate of 32, 33 and 34 classes of the most different brands. It is best to purchase laminate of class 33 and 34, in a narrow board and 10-12 mm thick.

For commercial facilities - shops, cafes, offices - it is better to buy laminate of classes 33 and 34, 12 mm thick and with a smoothed texture.

Chamfer on laminate. What is this?

A bevel on laminate is a cut/bevel on four or two sides. The chamfer comes in V and U shapes. The chamfer emphasizes the grain of the wood or tile. But, in addition to the aesthetic function, it also has a practical one - the chamfer protects the edge of the board from damage.

Laminate safety.

All modern laminate safe for health. The safety class is determined by the E marking. 99% modern species boards safety class E1. The German plant Kaindl also offers a stove with virtually no emissions - class E0.

The bitter truth of life: outwardly stylish and quality laminate during the installation process it turns out to be not only whimsical, but also fragile, with ugly joints and various defects. Did you just think that we are probably talking about Chinese products? Maybe. After all, in our country the expression “cheap and cheerful” rather means unpretentiousness in quality and the relative durability of the acquisition, but in no way corresponds in all respects to something expensive. But abroad, such a concept as “cheap and high quality” exists. And even laminate made in China It really can be no worse than German. But you need to know how to choose and how not to stumble upon a flimsy fake. Revealing secrets!

What are the risks of buying Chinese laminate?

So, what can seriously upset Chinese laminate:

  • non-joining locks;
  • noticeable surface defects;
  • inaccurate plank geometry;
  • environmental unsafety;
  • absolutely not waterproof;
  • seams that scratch your feet;
  • instead of a glossy, attractive sample, dull and different-colored boards are sealed in the boxes;
  • boards even within the same pack may differ in shade;
  • noticeable sagging of some slats while walking;
  • The locking system is made using the most common technology: a semicircle, which is equipped with a longitudinal chamfer. And it is precisely this system that wears out the fastest.
  • You can also often hear complaints about HDF board in Chinese laminate, which in its density is more like MDF.

Moreover, due to the low cost of raw materials, such a laminate is annoyingly fragile when installed. Therefore, if you purchased just such a floor covering, do not risk laying it yourself: it would be better to let the representatives of the selling company do it. They already have the necessary experience working with such boards and are responsible for the final quality of the floor.

In addition, be careful: if suddenly there are different shades of boards in a pack, it will be difficult to return them, because unpacked.

How to recognize that laminate is Chinese?

Due to the fact that the myth “Chinese = cheap and impractical” is already firmly entrenched in the minds of our contemporaries, the manufacturer himself is forced to make a knight’s move: to present his products as European.

Of course, no service will allow direct deception, and therefore who the real creator of such a laminate is is indicated in small print somewhere at the end of the attached instructions, and on the boxes themselves the enterprising manufacturer makes huge stamps like “GERMAN TEHNOLOGY”, which means everything only “According to German technology.” And this is not even a guarantee of quality, but rather evidence that this laminate was made with the same type of locks as in Europe. But not necessarily the same strength.

We measure with a tape measure

Thus, you can recognize a “yellow Chinese fake” by the size of the board: from 1200 mm, they are produced there in 99% of cases. Those. the first obvious sign of Chinese laminate is short boards. To be more precise, the board thickness of Chinese laminate is almost always 12.3 mm, and the length is 1215 mm. These are the parameters that are configured in the production of this country, because This is the most waste-free and profitable option.

Looking at the wrong side

You can also recognize such a laminate by the color of the back of the boards. So, beige is evidence of high-quality production, but in most cases Chinese manufacturers have a brown reverse side. Manufacturers explain the color using special impregnations for moisture resistance. Which, by the way, do not always give the desired result.

Lack of labeling on products is also a sign of poor quality. And more often than not, nothing is written on Chinese laminate.

Looking for information about the manufacturer

Note that in China laminate is produced by both serious companies and small ones using artisanal methods. And, in order to produce laminate that meets world standards, the plant must be of impressive capacity, and Special attention In this case, the focus is on the equipment. That’s why it’s not superfluous to find out at least some information about the manufacturer itself when choosing a particular brand.

We read the inscriptions “correctly”

Sometimes you can also hear complaints that the laminate was purchased from Belgium or Germany, but they “ran into” a Chinese counterfeit: the floors swelled, began to chip at the seams and generally showed themselves disgustingly. It's not actually a fake: just look closely at the name. So, the most popular quality brand today Quick Step, and in in this example your friends have purchased Qween step.

Yes, the names are indeed very similar, but there is nothing to blame the cunning Chinese manufacturer: since the beautiful and high-quality laminate of a country in which people have confidence was called “Quick Step, or Foxtrot,” then no one will forbid a Chinese businessman from calling his product “Royal” step", which also sounds good (this is how both names are translated).

And the fact that the average Russian will not notice the difference and will fall for it is his personal problem. Problems with school English. And the law has not been broken, and sales are ongoing.

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There are also foreign companies (especially German ones) that themselves place orders for the production of their products in China. But they will also have the appropriate documents: using German technology, with German control and under a German brand. And the final quality is quite good.

Why to China? Sometimes it is cheaper to produce products there than at home. And factories in that country may well show remarkable performance, depending on where the order comes from and how the process itself is controlled. For example, Millennium Strong laminate is produced in the same way, and only laudatory reviews are heard about it, while the price is also pleasing to the eye.

Moreover, what is interesting is that the same brand can be produced in Europe and for European countries, but at the same time, with the permission of the manufacturer, in China, already for third world countries. And the final quality may be completely different. By the way, even the cheapest and low-quality Chinese laminate is still in sufficient demand - for example, among those who are preparing an apartment or office for sale, or doing simple renovations in rented housing.

But there is one more point. China itself produces quite decent products for its domestic market, and to order - whatever they order. And, if some countries want to get quality output, but save on labor, this is one thing, and quite another when low-quality laminate is specially ordered.

For example, entrepreneur Mr. X decided to make money: he picked beautiful name for laminate (like the same Qween step) and visually similar to a more expensive and popular brand, I ordered the cheapest raw materials and began producing flooring through a Chinese factory.

The advertising samples are nice and strong, the packaging is not bad, the name is vaguely familiar from some advertisement and the large inscription “GERMAN TEHNOLOGY” (“here the locks also snap, real German technology!”) and all this is wide Russian market. And the price will already do its job... This is how things stand, for example, with Winnpol laminate (familiar name?): Belle, KexinFloor, Euroflooring, OmniFloor, EkoFloor, M-floor, E-floor, Tatami, Magnifik, Lamiterra, Premium, Practic, Holzmeister, EuroFloor, Basep, Vohringer, Parador, Deutchgriff, Millenium, Lamett, Eveco, Eco-Flooring, Kaiser, Vohringer, FloorStep, UniStep, Hessen Floor, Platinum, RichFloor, eFloor, Praktik, Vega, Imperial Floor, Starker, Endless, ArtHolz, Lamitech, LieberHolz, Lignum, Tesoro, WoodHouse, Prestige Life, Luxury, ParaFloor, Siberia Original, WoodRiver, NordWood, MaxWood, Proteco, Titan, Westerhof, GrunWald, Alpendorf, Palladium, Versale, Alstenn, Evig, NikWood, SherWood, Woodstyle.

This laminate is made in China, although many people mistake them for European ones because of the same inscriptions about technology and quality. Moreover, among the listed, there are actually quite a few brands of quite decent quality. But we simply have to protect you from buying a completely bad laminate.

Studying user experience

Thanks to the development of the World Wide Web, it is now not difficult to find a review about a particular floor covering (for example, see the website remvizor.ru). And here are some other brands, for example, that have disappointed their customers a lot.

At first glance, the laminate looks quite high quality. But during operation it turns out that dust is drawn to it like a magnet, and due to moisture it quickly delaminates.

Queen-step. This laminate appeared on the market relatively recently. It is produced using German technology; the locking system is quite simple and easy to use. But it is completely short-lived.

This is very beautiful laminate noble colors, textured, with waxed edges. Disadvantages: weak locks, the top decorative film is extremely fragile, every board is visible on the floor.

This is a 34 class laminate with modern design. Easy to install thanks to waxed locks. Among the shortcomings: some boards have a curved geometry, the pattern is difficult to select.

And another pretty good one:

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So who might be interested in Chinese laminate when there are so many negative reviews about it? Why take such a risk when the market is filled with excellent products from more developed countries, where manufacturers are most concerned about their reputation? But compare the prices: the difference between these floor coverings You can buy a whole sofa.

You may be surprised: how can Chinese laminate of some brands be cheap and, at the same time, of high quality? The fact is that the less the selling company spends on advertising, the cheaper it can sell its product. There is such a thing as “pricing,” and it is not easy to raise it more than is justified by the documents. And the advertising fee is already included in the price of the product itself. Yes, yes, we have long paid for those same annoying advertisements on the TV screen out of our own pockets! And those who were lucky enough to purchase a good Chinese laminate flooring will confirm another truth: “China is different from China.”

So, just follow these tips:

  • Tip #1. Do not buy laminate with too bright, light and polished decor - usually such a floor is not wear-resistant. And the shabby appearance will not improve your mood even in the second year of use.
  • Tip #2. When purchasing, pick up two or three boards and connect them. This will make it easy to check the quality of the laminate joint - whether there are any irregularities or cracks, how strong the lock is, and whether the parts crumble when you try to connect them a little with force. You can even try to lightly press the lock - it should not break.
  • Tip #3. Look carefully at all the boxes you purchase. It often happens that the buyer already at home notices that the side of one or another package has been completely torn off and the boards are damaged. And the floors will turn out to be torn at the seams, which does not look aesthetically pleasing. Why does this happen? This is a common manufacturing defect or the box falling during loading.
  • Tip #4. Pay attention to the color of the HDF board. If it's green, it's not a guarantee. High Quality and moisture resistance, as sellers like to position it. The fact is that in the Middle Kingdom they most often produce laminate with brown HDF board, just like in Europe. And here green color– this is the prerogative of the domestic Russian market.
  • Tip #5. Also pay attention to the smell: if it is too strong, this is a sign high content hazardous chemicals.
  • Tip #6. If you are interested in a certain brand, be sure to find reviews about it in advance. So, only within the framework of this article we examined in detail almost a dozen of the most popular brands of Chinese laminate! And it is better not to purchase a little-known product from such a manufacturer at all.
  • Tip #7. It is easy to check the resulting sample for moisture resistance: quality material this figure should be no lower than 18%. Just put the piece in warm water for 8 hours, then check: if the sample has increased by more than 20% during this time, the laminate is not moisture resistant.
  • Tip #8. Also, if you have the opportunity, open several packages. You must find six or more identical designs. The opposite indicates savings in production.
  • Tip #9. If you notice any obvious flaw, refuse to purchase such a laminate altogether. Because then there will be many hidden problems.

So, many users of such a product are sure that when making the right choice And taking care of Chinese laminate flooring can last quite a long time, and at the same time look no worse than its European counterpart. Here, for example, are very inexpensive and relatively high-quality brands of Chinese laminate.

Laminate Euroflooring Comfort Super. This laminate is especially valuable for its simplicity and ease of installation; the floors are perfectly flat. Among the shortcomings: during assembly, some locks chip.

This is a beautiful laminate with pronounced relief. Its structure imitates natural wood better than others. Easy to clean, wear-resistant.

This laminate is not always chosen because of it, because... Dust is always visible on such a floor. But in terms of quality, this product pleases: wear resistance, durability and structural integrity.

Cutting laminate flooring is not as easy as you might think. You can find out how to do this and what tools are suitable on our website: .

Eurosky. This is an innovative Chinese laminate. Beautiful decor, good quality and availability. Imitation natural wood is quite high, and noticeable roughness enhances the effect. This laminate is not slippery, and therefore in many ways is not inferior parquet board. But this laminate can be washed with anything. The color range is wide, the surface is wear-resistant. All the same German technologies.

And one more, no less popular:

The ideal situation, of course, is when you can personally sort out the necessary boards from a whole truck - then even from the cheapest Chinese board you can assemble a quite decent floor. But this requires certain connections and a lot of time.

For example, the Chinese brand " Tatami“It still pleases us with its quality, although the price is “Chinese”. Although, perhaps, this option will be interesting for you: if you cooperate with a good Chinese laminate company as a dealer, then the material itself will be much cheaper. Moreover, no contract is needed on an ongoing basis, nor are investments required. And the logistics of imports from China today are quite well established.

Those. By purchasing such a laminate, you take a risk, but the risk can be profitable. With the Chinese “pig in a poke” you can get wonderful and durable floors, or you can suffer with a wavy, rough likeness of a laminated floor, which is also more afraid of moisture than fire. Study the reviews, save this article for yourself - and good luck!