"Pros and cons" of parquet boards. Parquet board: pros and cons, comparative characteristics with laminate Parquet board pros and cons

A real breakthrough in the production of natural floor coverings has become a universal layered construction from various types of wood, which is called a parquet board. Having made a worthy competition to piece parquet and solid wood, this material over time significantly pressed these "titans" of floor finishing. Combining naturalness and practicality, the parquet board still has certain disadvantages. Let's try to deal with the main "pros and cons" of multi-layer parquet.

The structure of the parquet board

All advantages and disadvantages parquet board are based on its structure, which is represented by three layers of wood, each of which is located perpendicular to the other two.

Upper layer(decorative) - made of wood of different species (oak, beech, maple, bamboo, etc.), thickness up to 1 to 6 mm.

The middle layer is made of coniferous wood and determines the performance characteristics of the coating.

The bottom layer (stabilizing) is represented by softwood veneer, about 1.5 mm thick.

Based on the features of the structure, consider the advantages and disadvantages of parquet boards.

Advantages of a parquet board:

Laying flooring is much faster and easier than installation block parquet. This is primarily explained large sizes individual elements of the material. At the same time, laying can be done independently even without special skills and installation experience.

The parquet board is an eco-friendly and natural floor finishing material, as it is made only from wood.

The design features of the parquet board protect the finished floor from deformation and damage. The multilayer structure makes the coating more resistant to moisture, temperature extremes and other atmospheric factors.

Separate elements of such parquet are not able to accumulate static electricity, which makes the material very pleasant to the touch and improves tactile sensations.

The parquet board has enough high level sound absorption, which eliminates the need for additional acoustic barriers.

Species assortment this material so large and diverse that it allows you to choose the option suitable for any interior solution.

Disadvantages of parquet board:

The instability of the material to mechanical, power and impact loads. This is due to the insignificant thickness of the top layer of wood, which takes on the main “blow”. In this regard, scratches and shallow dents from furniture on the parquet board appear quite often.

Relatively short maximum service life, which ranges from 12 to 20 years, while solid and classic parquet proper care can last up to 50-70 years.

The complexity of the restoration. Renewal of natural wood coatings involves scraping the floor, which is the removal of a small thickness of wood using a special machine. The parquet board has insufficient thickness of the decorative layer for repeated sanding. Moreover, the board can be scraped if it is glued.

The individual elements of the parquet board are of impressive size, which does not allow for figured laying and the formation of artistic patterns and drawings.

In the event of significant deformation or damage to separate zones floor, the replacement of the element involves the removal of enough large area, since the average length of a parquet board is about two meters. In this regard, small pieces of strip parquet are much easier to replace. In addition, it is quite difficult to choose a suitable color and texture pattern of wood, therefore, when calculating the amount of material needed for installation, it is necessary to take into account several additional boards that may be required for the restoration of the coating.

Despite the fact that, like any other natural flooring, the parquet board has a number of disadvantages, its use in the interior is justified by numerous advantages. So, for example, the modern way of life of a person often does not require such durability of the floor, which a massive board and piece parquet have, since the interior can change after numerous repairs. When moving, the laid parquet board can be dismantled and laid again in another room. Based on all of the above, we can make an unambiguous conclusion that the parquet board has a significantly more significant virtues than disadvantages.

The popularity of parquet boards is fully justified - this elegant and practical flooring is able to fit perfectly into the interior of the living room and bedroom, and sometimes even play the first violin in the design of the room.

Speaking about the merits of such a floor finish, do not forget about environmental friendliness and durability - subject to proper care.

Growing demand encourages manufacturers to constantly expand the range. What parquet board to choose among this variety? This question can only be answered by armed basic knowledge about the composition and types of material, their strengths and weaknesses.

The composition of the parquet board

Before choosing such a parquet board for an apartment, you should make sure that the interior is not overloaded. decorative elements. Otherwise, a catchy floor will only add unnecessary details.

How to choose parquet board sizes

First of all, you should pay attention to the thickness - the quality and durability directly depend on it. This parameter lies in the range from 7 to 26 mm. General recommendation- give preference to a parquet board with a thickness of at least 13 mm.

For a thin coating, the upper decorative layer will be no more than 2.5 mm. The scraping of such a parquet board will become obviously impossible, the floor will also not be able to boast of rigidity and durability.

Buying boards with a thickness of 7-13 mm, of course, is not prohibited. However, you need to understand that this is rather temporary, a budget option, to replace such a parquet board in the foreseeable future, a more thorough finish will be required.

Among the advantages of a thicker board are:

• resistance to mechanical damage;
• the best heat and sound insulation characteristics;
• the possibility of laying directly on the logs, without concrete screed- relevant for old houses.

The planned mode of operation of the premises also imposes its own requirements on the thickness:

• board from 14 mm - optimal choice for an apartment. 4 mm, updating the surface of the floor with varnish;
• board from 20 mm - suitable for creating a floor in in public places involving a large load.

The standard board length is 2–2.5 meters. The covering from long boards dampens the vibrations arising when walking better. In addition, such a floor begins to creak less often - provided proper styling and adequate operating conditions, of course.

Separately, it should be said about products with a length of less than 1.8 meters. This special "variety" can be purchased only from a number of domestic manufacturers - in the assortment large companies no such coverage exists.

You can come across a meter-long "parquet", which is more correctly called a secondary product of production or simply a marriage. This material is only suitable for budget interior- in the country, for example.

If the beauty of the flooring is of paramount importance, it is better to refuse parquet boards less than 1.8 meters long, especially three-strip. Firstly, the seams between the slats may diverge during operation. Secondly, such a floor will not provide the effect of piece parquet.

As you can see, the dimensions and thickness of the parquet board affect not only appearance. Everything is simpler with the width - it is from 10 to 20 cm, and the choice depends only on personal taste.

Plank selection - what is it and how does it affect the choice?

Even within the same species, wood can look different. The selection of planks helps to achieve some uniformity. It is produced based on a number of criteria:

• cutting method;
• angle of inclination of wood fibers;
• color tone;
• the size of knots or other defects (if any).

Cutting methods include:

• Radial. As the name implies, the planes of sawn dice are located along the radius, from the circumference of the tree trunk to the center. In this case, annual rings will look like straight lines evenly spaced along the bar. Uniform texture and color, excellent operational properties- these are the main trump cards of such veneer. The reverse side is a large percentage of rejected material and, accordingly, a high cost;
• Tangential. The dies are sawn tangentially to the circumference of the trunk, at different distances from the axis, obtaining a characteristic pattern of annual rings. This veneer will cost less. In addition, many find this wood pattern more interesting and attractive;
• rustic. The cut is made in an arbitrary direction, so the pattern and color may be unpredictable and ... extremely appropriate in some interiors.

Selection is carried out among the slats different type cut, shade and pattern of wood. As a result, the following types of veneer are obtained:

• Radial select. The texture of the wood is as even as possible natural material free of knots and other defects. However, such planks are rarely used for parquet boards - the surface may seem “excessively” homogeneous, boring. But for parquet boards, radial-select is very good;
• Select. It features a more visible wood pattern and very slight color variations. Only wood is used radial cut, without knots and defects. The parquet board is good for arranging a “calm” floor in a classic interior;
• Natur. The veneer is characterized by the expressiveness of the wood pattern, color variations can be several tones, which gives the coating a certain charm. Planks of tangential and radial cut are selected, small knots up to 2 mm, core beams and veins are acceptable;
• rustic. Such boards are easily recognizable by their brightness and peculiar texture. Large knots, veins and rays create a unique picturesque coating. To some, its beauty may seem overly colorful, but within the framework of a country interior, such a floor is more than appropriate. Sometimes such parquet is called so - country;
• Economy. The color and pattern are heterogeneous, there are knots, veins and other defects, up to cracks. The type of cut, of course, is not taken into account.

What type of wood to choose?

As already noted, the top layer is called decorative only conditionally - its properties affect the performance of the parquet board as a whole. The market offers Decoration Materials, created using local wood species, as well as rarer exotic varieties.

Popular among the first are:

• Oak. The hardest, most durable and wear-resistant wood. The surface of such a board is not prone to dry out and crack, it is stable with changes in the level of humidity in the room.
• Beech. Is different rich color and elegant texture. Among the minuses are the low hardness of the coating (and, consequently, resistance to damage), as well as some fluctuations in the linear dimensions of the parquet board;
• Nut. The noble background and expressive pattern of wood are combined with density and high hardness. Resistant to changes in humidity, undemanding in care;
• Ash. In operation, it is similar to oak, differing from it in appearance - the tone of the board is noticeably lighter;
• Maple. Recognizable by an unobtrusive pattern and a pleasant yellowish-beige tint. Throughout the entire service life, the owner will be pleased with the strength and invariance of geometric dimensions.
• Cherry. It attracts attention with an unusual tone, with light pinkish hues.

If you have the funds, you can choose a parquet board with a top layer of exotic woods, such as:

• wenge. Very dark, close to black, wood with an expressive pattern. Performance characteristics beyond praise - the floor works great under high loads, is resistant to mechanical damage and bending forces, and is very durable. The disadvantage is the high cost, which is not surprising for a rare breed;
• Merbau. A brown wood with a reddish tinge and picturesque golden veins. Does not require protection from molds and insects. In operation, it will delight with unsurpassed hardness;
• Jatoba. The strength and hardness of wood is so great that they create difficulties in processing. But as a result, you can get a mirror-like smoothness of the surface. Cutting experience revealed interesting feature- sections of trunks up to 23 meters long may not contain knots at all.
• Kempas. Noble golden-orange color combined with high density structures. The hardness is such that the likelihood of scratches is practically zero. There are many pluses, but there are also some minuses - the parquet board is sensitive to humidity fluctuations.

The material for the lower layers is traditionally cheaper softwood- spruce or pine. However, even here there is a place for exotics - bearing plates can be made from hevea. A feature of such a parquet board is increased moisture resistance and the absence of a tendency to deformation.

Is special wood treatment required?

On sale you can find products with a heat-treated top layer. As a rule, processing consists in exposure to high temperatures (up to 195 degrees), which gives the material the following properties:

• Greater resistance to "jumps" in humidity and temperature;
• Moisture resistance. Such wood will not swell and dry out so noticeably;
• High hardness.

However, not everything is so rosy. side effect heat treatment for some types of wood - beech, ash or birch - there is a tendency to fade under the influence of direct sunlight.

One of the types additional processing parquet board is brushed. The technique is based on the fact that the hardness of the spring annual tree rings is lower compared to autumn or winter ones. During the procedure, soft fibers are removed with a stiff brush, exposing a more durable relief layer.

Which protective coating to choose?

The presence of a factory protective coating can be safely attributed to the advantages of a parquet board, since home processing will definitely cost time and money. A layer of oil or varnish acts as a protection. As a rule, varnish is intended for light woods, and dark wood is covered with oil, although it happens differently.

Among the main advantages of lacquer coating:

• Increased abrasion resistance. With a standard volume of operation of a varnished parquet board, restoration will be required after 6-10 years, and an oil coating in similar conditions needs to be updated every 4-5 years;
• The ability to remove varnish and apply instead of oil - this is usually done for aesthetic reasons. The reverse procedure cannot be performed;
• Ease of obtaining a glossy surface - it is enough to use the required type of varnish;
• More affordable (compared to oil) cost.

The oil protective layer also has its advantages:

• More natural-looking coating, the surface is more pleasant to the touch;
• Resistance to temperature changes and changes in humidity in the room;
• Ease of repairing minor damage. Restoration and polishing of parquet boards can be carried out locally, in the presence of varnish this is unacceptable;
• Extended service life;
• Breathability. The oil layer allows the board to breathe.

From the last advantage follows another, not so obvious - the oil is ideal for those who plan to equip a warm floor under the parquet board.

What type of lock do you prefer?

The connection mechanism plays an important role in the construction of a parquet board. Products famous brands often supplied with branded locks patented by the manufacturer. However, all of them are an improved version of one of the two main types - Lock and Click.

Strictly speaking, there is much in common base types- in both cases, the boards are interconnected using grooves and spikes. The difference is only in their form and additional elements.

A feature of the Lock type is the location of the tongue and groove on the same level parallel to the parquet board. special form the groove provides a tight fixation - this is reflected in the illustration. The assembly of such a floor resembles a puzzle, with the only difference being that the spike is driven into the groove with a small mallet.

As with anything where force is required, there is a risk of damage to the lock when laying such parquet boards. Therefore, it is preferable to entrust the installation of the coating to a master with sufficient qualifications.

And that's not all - even full compliance with the technology does not guarantee the stability of the connection during operation. The groove comb can wear out, allowing the joint to "walk" and leading to the formation of cracks. It is not forbidden to use glue when laying, but this approach will require increased attention and accuracy when working.

The Click type is considered more modern. With such a lock, installation is easier and faster, and the connection is more durable.

The docking of the board occurs as follows: with a spike is applied to the groove at an angle of 45 degrees, then pressed to the floor until it clicks (hence the name of the lock). The probability of damage to the lock part is extremely small, in addition, repeated assembly and disassembly of the coating is allowed.

What are the nuances to consider when choosing?

Now that the main pros and cons different types parquet boards are generally clear, it's time for a few useful recommendations:

• It is preferable to buy a board in a store (rather than via the Internet), seeing the material "live". So you can not only verify the quality and authenticity of products, but also adequately evaluate the color. No matter how strange it may sound, it would be more correct to choose a parquet board during the day - electric lighting sometimes greatly distorts the shade;
• When purchasing parquet with a top layer of 2 or more planks, you should pay attention to the surface relief - the lamellas (slats) should not protrude upwards. This is permissible only for products made of cherry, maple, beech or birch - these types of wood absorb moisture well;
• You should be wary if light stripes clearly appear on a dark surface. This may indicate a violation of the varnish application technology, which can lead to cracking of the protective coating;
• Should not be taken as the norm and the presence foreign smell. Quality coating should smell like wood - fresh or burnt (if heat treatment is declared).

In the factory, all three layers of parquet boards are connected with glue that is safe for human health. Unscrupulous firms ignore the rules: in best case they simply save on glue, and at worst, they use toxic compounds. The latter also applies to varnishes and oils.

It is impossible to control such nuances of production on your own. Therefore, it is desirable to choose a parquet board among the product range of enterprises that position themselves as leaders in this industry. They built up a reputation over the years and put in too much work to throw low quality products on the market.

It is not always easy to choose flooring for your home or office. There are a lot of offers and options, from floor tiles and linoleum, to parquet and laminate. More often for living rooms, still choose from two latest options, So parquet or laminate, which is better?

To determine this issue, you need to separately analyze the characteristics laminate pros and cons its composition and features of use.

Laminate floor board in its composition is a four-layer compressed “sandwich” of the following components:

• the outer layer is a high-strength film made of special resins that protects the product from external influences;
• the second layer is decorative, contains a drawing;
• the third layer is a fibreboard of high mechanical strength;
• the fourth layer is the stabilizing layer.

Based on the characteristics of the composition of the laminate, we can note its undeniable advantages:

• the ability to withstand severe mechanical stress;
• UV resistant;
• has heat resistance;
• abrasive resistance;
• does not react with household chemicals;
• suitable for flooring on the “warm floor” system;
• ease of installation;
• a wide range of colors and structures;
• easy to maintain and clean;
• affordable price.

It turned out to be quite an extensive list of pros of laminate, but also cons also don't forget:

• low sound insulation (for additional “silencing” it is necessary to use a “substrate”);
• the cover is quite cool;
• service life no more than ten years;
• restoration work is not possible.

In comparison, they are more obvious, but they also need to be listed in order for the comparison to be complete.

The composition of parquet is less multi-layered than laminate. The parquet is solid wooden plank coated with several layers of special varnish for protection.

Pros and cons of parquet.

• "warm" coating, retains heat;
• high sound insulation;
• hypoallergenic;
• parquet flooring can be used for more than twenty-five years, it all depends on the quality of the material and installation;
• wood does not attract dust.

Of the minuses, it is worth noting:

• subject to external mechanical influences(scratches, dents);
• responds to changes in temperature and high humidity(bloating, cracks);
• special care is important for long-term operation;
• high price.

Asking a question, you need to more accurately define the question for yourself. What exactly is it planned to use the coating for, in what room, for how long, what funds you are willing to invest. Choosing laminate pros and cons, which are now more understandable, you definitely save money, get the opportunity to change the coating without regret after a short time, during the next repair.

Pros and cons of parquet imply a long period use, so it’s worth choosing parquet when, firstly, you have such an opportunity, and secondly, you plan to use the premises for many years.

Based on the foregoing, asking does not make sense, these are two different coatings located in different price segments.

The pros and cons of which you should consider before purchasing, is a floor covering 2 m long. At the same time, the thickness and width may vary depending on the company and brand. In the middle of the last century, the parquet board successfully replaced the piece parquet.

Initially, this finish consisted of two layers and had design flaws. This was the reason for further improvement. today it has three layers at once, each located perpendicular to the previous one. This provides rigidity. The top layer is made of softwood. The inner layer is made of spruce plywood.

Main advantages

Parquet board, the pros and cons of which will be discussed in the article, is used today as a floor covering quite often. This is due to the naturalness of the material, which has all the advantages of wood.

The coating is quite easy to install thanks to the locking connection, in addition, it has a high sound absorption coefficient. After laying, you can not be afraid of the risk of deformation, this is due design features. The surface is quite pleasant to the touch, and an additional plus It is considered the absence of the ability to accumulate static electricity.

Main cons

The parquet board, the pros and cons of which must be taken into account before purchasing, is quite popular today. However, it requires careful treatment, the material must be protected from chemical and thermal effects, as well as moisture. The coating does not cope well with mechanical loads. This is due to the fact that the veneer used in the production is quite thin, so scratches and dents remain on it.

A parquet board, the pros and cons of which is useful to read before purchasing a product, is rather difficult to restore. The surface can look monotonous, with the help of planks it is rather difficult to create an original ornament. Concerning diagonal laying, it takes time and effort.

Pros and cons of parquet board and laminate

If we compare these materials in terms of their ability to endure impact loads, then the laminate comes first. However, in this case we are talking about a material more high class. It is difficult to scratch it with a chair leg or damage it with a heel. Laminate is able to endure more impressive weight than parquet.

As for the ability to withstand humidity and temperature fluctuations, the parquet does not like dry air, it shrinks from this, and swells from humidity. Laminate coating perfectly tolerates both. Therefore, in winter time when the rooms are very dry, gaps appear between adjacent parquet boards. The laminate will not react in this way. This is his advantage.

Looking through the pros and cons of laminate and parquet boards, you should also pay attention to the appearance. According to this parameter, parquet wins. When the room is arranged in classical style, then a parquet board asks for an interior of this type. If the apartment has modern style then it requires laminate. It has a variety of colors, patterns, patterns and textures that can be selected for a specific design.

Parquet board dimensions

Quite rarely fit in the kitchen. The pros and cons of this material answer the question of why this happens. This is due to the fact that parquet does not cope well with moisture, and in the kitchen it is often necessary to carry out wet cleaning in addition, sometimes it happens that drinks are spilled on the floor. However, this feature is not the only thing you need to know about the parquet board.

Often consumers are also interested in size. As for the length, it is usually 2 m. While the thickness of the parquet reaches 6 mm. The minimum setting is 0.5 mm. The most common option is the 4mm board. With these parameters, the panel can be subjected to:

• brushing;
• bleaching;
• planing;
• heat treatment.

Width is also important, it can reach 20 cm.

Varieties of parquet board

The parquet board for the floor, the pros and cons of which were discussed above, is classified into several varieties. This takes into account the texture, color, the presence of knots, sapwood, etc. In this regard, the following collections can be distinguished:

• select;
• natures;
• rustic.

The first variety involves planks that are the same in structure and color. There are no defects and knots in them, and the pattern is almost monophonic. The second variety may have color combinations. Such a board usually has knots. Very catchy are products that belong to the rustic collection. Here you can see not only cracks, but also knots. Perfect for this variety. fit style country.

Structure of the engineering board

The parquet board is laid without glue in a floating way, the engineered floor board is laid with glue. The parquet board consists of 3 layers and has a lock. High-quality parquet boards are based on high-quality wood-fiber board (HDF). The engineering board most often consists of 2 layers. Top enough thick layer lamellas from the massif, from below - plywood.

Oak engineered floor board is a stable construction, because at the base of it is plywood (70% of the thickness). Plywood is 7-8 layers of thin birch veneer glued perpendicularly to each other. Thanks to this, she does not change in width and length with changes in humidity and temperature. But this design does not save it from warping, so it must be fixed with glue.

Pros and cons of engineered floor board

Pros and cons of parquet flooring