To understand how parquet differs from laminate - two seemingly similar materials, you need to study the properties, characteristics and installation features of each of them. With a visual similarity, laminate and parquet are fundamentally different materials with their own advantages and disadvantages.
Laminate and parquet are not only different materials, they also have different properties, characteristics and installation features
To distinguish parquet from laminate, it will be enough to know that parquet is a separate panel of completely natural wood for flooring. Parquet is divided according to several criteria:
- by type of cut;
- the presence of defects;
- color;
- texture.
According to the type of cut, parquet is radial and tangential. The first option is obtained by sawing through the middle of the trunk. Such parquet demonstrates excellent resistance to temperature extremes and moisture. Tangential is obtained by sawing at some distance from the middle of the trunk. The parquet in this case has a rectilinear pattern with a clearly marked structure.
It is noteworthy that the difference between parquet and laminate is not only in characteristics and performance, but also in “age”. Parquet as a material has been known for more than three thousand years, while laminate has appeared relatively recently. It was parquet that people of the past millennia covered the earthen floor, highly appreciating the quality of the board.
Each plank in the parquet has its own unique pattern, which cannot be said about the laminate
In the manifestation in which the material is known and widely used today, it was also actively used in the era of Tsar Peter I, with whose light hand a new direction in the field of laying panels appeared - Russian Baroque.
Varieties of parquet - according to what criteria are they classified?
There are several main types of material:
- piece;
- art;
- shield;
- massive;
- palace.
Block parquet is obtained from precious woods such as maple, oak or beech. Rarely from more exotic woods such as teak or redwood. Such material is environmentally friendly, relatively affordable.
But the differences between artistic parquet and piece parquet are, first of all, in the use of geometric shapes, natural materials and stones. This approach opens up more opportunities for the implementation of an individual pattern. In terms of external characteristics, artistic parquet surpasses all other types.
Panel parquet has an interesting approach to creating a base. For it, waste from the production of more expensive types of materials is used, followed by the overlay of planks from a variety of wood.
Palace parquet is a complex geometry and expensive materials
In terms of heat and sound insulation, massive parquet is the leader. With proper care, it can last up to a hundred years. It is obtained from boards, in turn made from natural solid wood. On average, each such board has a length of 0.5 to 2 meters.
Palace parquet has always been considered a sign of luxury and prosperity. It was he who was used to decorate palaces and noble chambers. Modern designers have found wider application of the material due to significantly cheaper styling. Palace parquet not only costs, but also looks more expensive than others due to individual particles of different geometric shapes and decor made of jade, amber and marble.
By the number of planks, parquet is classified into:
- single-lane;
- two-way;
- three-lane;
- four-lane.
Single-strip material is suitable for decorating rooms with a large area. Such parquet is quite practical, as it is made from wide strips of precious wood. Options are available with the purchase of boards with chamfers, which allows you to achieve the effect of a covering of wood.
A two-strip parquet is a pair of planks with solid or modular strips. This option is appropriate for decorating rooms with festive or solemn interiors.
One-strip parquet - the most expensive and practical
Three-way is used more often than other types. The material imitates the "deck" pattern, suitable for laying in rooms for any purpose. The width of the board can be from 109 to 208 cm.
Four-strip parquet is the most budget option. Made from wood waste, it is ideal for finishing draft rooms, cottages, loggias, covered verandas.
The main advantages of parquet
It is enough to simply compare laminate and parquet board, and in this case, parquet, if you can highlight the advantages and disadvantages of both materials. The advantages of parquet, for example, include the following points:
- durability;
- safety and environmental friendliness;
- the possibility of artistic masonry;
- the possibility of restoration;
- soundproofing;
- lack of static;
- aesthetic and stylish appearance.
As for the minuses, there are so few of them, and they are so insignificant that they practically do not play a role when choosing a material. The disadvantages of parquet include instability to moisture, as well as the ability to absorb odors, loss of color and gloss under the influence of UV rays.
Parquet always looks more aristocratic than ordinary linoleum or even laminate
The main thing about the laminate - structure, characteristics
Returning to the differences between the two most popular materials for flooring, let's determine the difference between laminate and parquet, this time analyzing the first one. So, laminate is also panels, but not from solid wood, but based on fiberboard or chipboard. Each panel includes several layers of paper impregnated with special solutions under the influence of temperature and high pressure.
For the impregnation of the top layer, melamine and acrylic resins are used, which can prevent damage to the material under the influence of moisture, and also act as a protective layer against dirt and rubbing. The next layer is decorative paper with a pattern imitating natural wood.
Under the paper layers are fiberboard or chipboard plywood, due to which the structures become more durable and wear-resistant. As well as for the impregnation of paper layers, melamine resin is used for the base. Due to it, the product retains its shape and does not lend itself to deformation even with a long service life. The average thickness of one board is from 6 to 12 mm.
The coating is able to imitate not only wooden surfaces, but also tiles, as well as wood, granite and marble.
Laminate isn't solid wood, but it looks just as good.
Laying laminate is so easy that you can do the work yourself. Panels are fastened to each other due to the spike and groove. It is also easy to disassemble the coating, if necessary, with repeated laying.
There are several classes of laminate coating, taking into account which it will be possible to choose a material with an optimal service life. There are 7 classes in total:
- 21 - suitable for apartments and houses with a minimum load;
- 22 - stacked in rooms with an average level of load;
- 23 - mounted in rooms with a high level of load;
- 31, 32, 33 - for industrial and public premises;
- 34 - for rooms with increased load, for example, airports, train stations, shopping centers, etc.
Contact of the laminate with water is extremely undesirable, although the material is more reliable in this respect compared to parquet and board. A significant difference between laminate flooring and parquet also lies in the low level of sound insulation of the first.
Advantages and disadvantages of laminate flooring: what do they affect?
Laminate, like any material, has its advantages and disadvantages. Its advantages include:
- simple and quick installation that does not require the help of specialists;
- wear resistance;
- environmental friendliness;
- durability;
- resistance to mechanical damage;
- resistance to UV rays;
- affordable price;
- relative resistance to moisture.
The downside is the low level of sound insulation, which implies the additional use of a soundproof gasket. In addition, laminate cannot be restored.
Laminate is not only faster and easier to install, its individual damaged parts can always be purchased and also easily replaced.
Comparative characteristics of materials - which one to choose?
What is the difference between laminate and parquet board and more expensive and durable parquet? It exists and is significant, which is noticeable from the description of the features of the materials above. But what material to choose - everyone decides for himself, depending on the possibilities, needs, expected load, purpose of the room, impact resistance, thermal conductivity, service life, and finally, ideas about the ideal field.
In terms of appearance, parquet and parquet boards are in the lead. Materials look the most natural, expensive, will allow you to design exclusive interiors. If the goal is to imitate stone, metal, marble and other materials, you need to look at the competing material. The answer to the question of which parquet board or laminate is better will clarify the situation. Only using laminate panels will it be possible to achieve the desired effect.
The purpose of the premises plays an important role. The higher the load on the coating, the more durable and wear-resistant the material must be. In this case, it would be more appropriate to opt for a laminate - artificial, but environmentally friendly.
Both parquet and laminate have their pros and cons, and in each case, a certain unique characteristic of these materials can be a key factor in choosing
The impact resistance index of a laminate is 1.5 times higher than that of a parquet board or parquet. But the answer to the question of which is warmer - parquet or laminate, may disappoint adherents of budget coverage options. Undoubtedly, parquet is superior to its artificial counterpart not only in terms of sound insulation, but also in such an important indicator as thermal insulation.
And in conclusion about the price. The most expensive option is natural parquet, followed by a parquet board and the laminate closes the rating as the most affordable material for finishing floors in rooms, regardless of purpose. Given all of the above, you can make a smart choice.
