This question can often be heard in hardware stores, where people try to consult with consultants. In fact, the situation is ambiguous, from some side it may seem that a laminate for a summer residence is not a serious and not worthwhile business, after all, nature is around, it is better to use natural materials.

But what happens on the other side?

Floor covering as the basis of the interior

What is the peculiarity of laminate flooring, why did it become so popular?

There are several factors that have a positive effect on the demand for the material:

• Wear resistance - a very practical property that is just necessary for suburban area, where you often have to go into the house in shoes, and dirt and sand remain on the sole.

Note!
The most stable of all classes is considered 33 (the price for it is slightly higher than for others, but it is worth it), it even withstands direct contact with rough material.
However, you should choose a quality manufacturer so as not to pay in the future for floor repairs.

• Sustainability - this, of course, is not natural wood, which is "fragrant" in its own way, but there are no obvious chemicals in the laminate that would evaporate over time.
  All studies have been carried out to confirm that the floor covering is considered safe for the entire life span.
• Durability - the operational period of the laminate is equal to 10-15 years.

For your information!
Laminate panels can last for such a long period of time, unless they are constantly exposed to moisture and cold temperatures.
It is best to choose frost-resistant laminate for the country house, with a thickness of 10 to 12 mm.
In addition, most of these products have a moisture-resistant impregnation, which is considered the most ideal option for unheated houses in winter.

• Dozens of different shades will allow you to find the best option for your house: identical natural materials, under the tiles, under the decorative stone.

Advice!
Before purchasing laminate flooring, do a little analysis of the market and leading manufacturers, compare in several categories: price range, warranty, thickness and appearance.

However, this list of qualities does not answer the question of whether it is possible to lay a laminate in a country house, where the temperature is below zero for about 5 months, there is no heat, while “cool wind” blows from all sides (even if the room is thoroughly insulated, the air freezes anyway).

Not every material can withstand such conditions, especially one that does not differ in increased protection from moisture.

There are only two answers: it is possible and necessary, they differ in how resistance to water will be implemented.

The first way is to purchase a moisture resistant laminate

Most of the products offered on the construction market will not withstand even a few drops with a direct hit. But a specialized material that has undergone hydrophobic impregnation perfectly prevents joints from swelling.

And higher quality products, in particular class 33, assume overall water resistance when the panel is "dipped" into a moisture-proof mixture.

The second way is to lay the laminate with glue.

Surely everyone knows that floor material It is attached to each other with two locking systems: click and lock, but there is another option, which, in principle, can be used in the country - to join the panels with glue: the quickly solidifying mixture perfectly insulates the ends of the parts from moisture and will not allow even an abundant puddle to harm the structure.

Note!
However, with temperature changes, the glue may not be reliable, at first it will harden, and then it will crack when the house shrinks, and the laminate will begin its free movement along the floor.

Which of the above options is suitable for your summer cottage is up to you: either you ignore the costs associated with the moisture-resistant high cost, or decide on the fragility of the glue, but the most important thing is the prepared surface.

Very important!
Remember one thing - laminate flooring in an unheated house is placed only on a substrate and a flat surface, otherwise the durability of such a floor will be calculated in months.

Preparing the subfloor in the country

In conditions of temperatures that are unsuitable for life (from -15 to -30), special attention should be paid to the floor, because it can bend and deform in a way that no floor in the apartment will behave.

• The start of work is considered to be the dismantling of the old flooring: it is better to replace the floorboards, which at least a little rotted and collapsed, in this state they will last a couple of years, and then you will have to sort out the laminate.
• Better on top of the floorboards to level the surface: in case of profuse curvature, the material can be laid in several layers.

Advice!
It is best to mount on stainless self-tapping screws, since the screw thread will not allow them to loosen, unlike nails, which not only loosen, but also begin to rust, thereby damaging the plywood.

• Laminate for a summer residence requires a high-quality substrate that will protect it from various microorganisms and infections that may appear on the wooden floor.

If you have suburban area the floor is concrete in the house, then it is necessary to fill cement-sand screed... This option will exclude unnecessary freezing, thereby preserving the laminate in relative dryness.

Substrate selection

Let's consider in more detail all kinds of options with, there are several types of them in the construction market:

Cork products

They are considered the highest quality and environmentally friendly, as they are made from natural materials.

Here are the benefits:

• Perfect for slightly uneven floors, filling the entire space, so to speak.
• When walking, they reduce the resonance and cushion the surface - creating the effect of a "soft" floor. Exactly this feature and is appreciated in.
• Do not rot.

The only drawback is the overpriced cost, so this type of laminate flooring is rarely used in country houses.

Polyethylene foam materials

• Some of the most affordable in the domestic market, they are purchased when it is necessary to lay laminate flooring in the country.

Note!
But this does not mean that this option is the most optimal to use.

• Easy to install on the floor: just unfold the roll and cut to the required size.
• Keeps the room warm and prevents cold air from under the laminate from entering the house.

Advice!
It is best to fix such a film to each other on masking tape so that it turns out as a single solid canvas: fewer open parts of the subfloor - less likely that moisture will penetrate into the room.
It is better to put plastic wrap under plywood and chipboard - the effect of thermal insulation of the room will double. Such features will have a positive effect on the laminate, which will lie in a country house without heating.

Stele floor covering

Any work begins with the preparation of a tool, which is simply necessary in some situations, in this case, laying the laminate does not require a special "ammunition", but, nevertheless, it is better to know what and how:

• Jigsaw or hacksaw - you must agree that a power tool works faster, so even if you do not have one, rent it.
  Working with your own hands is not an easy job, so it is worth using any case that can facilitate the workflow.

• The hammer is the most important tool in laminate flooring.
• Roulette.

Expert advice on what to buy before starting work:
Wall wedges, which will serve as a support for the laminate - they are necessary so that there is a gap between the panel and the wall. Especially in the country at low temperatures, when the laminate expands.
Wax to match the color of the material - it will be required when something accidentally happens to the surface: a scratch or chip, small elements are easily smeared and practically do not stand out.

We proceed directly to the process of laying the laminate in the country, this will help the instructions below or video tutorials on finishing the premises:

• Work starts from any corner, just not near the interior door. It is better to lay in the direction of the sun's rays so that the joints are less noticeable.
• Place the first panel against the corner on the backing.
• The second laminated board is applied: at an angle of 20 degrees with light pressure - using the click system; at a right angle, with a hammer and a bar (as shown in the photo) - according to the lock system.

• First, one row is laid out completely, where last panel usually trimmed.

Note!
The remaining piece is the beginning of the next row.

• The rest of the laminate is laid in the same order as the original row.

Difficulties can arise when laying laminate near the wall, when almost the entire floor is laid: you will need to saw off the material along the length.

Completion of work

Remember that it is better to take a laminate for a summer residence with a maximum thickness and only 33 class, if, of course, you want it to serve you for a long time. All other options will be a waste of money, which you will regret later. We hope you took into account our comments!

The idea of \u200b\u200bbeautifully decorating balconies, loggias, summer cottages, summer garden is not new. Only one question arises: is it possible to lay a laminate in an unheated room? Many inhabitants are trying to answer this question. country houses... They give not only practical advice, but also share their experience and observations, who got such a number, and who got bumps from a stupid idea. So who, after all, to believe and how to proceed, so as not to make mistakes and not to redo the next season.

First, let's figure out what kind of living conditions we put our laminate into. An unheated room is a loggia, a balcony, a summer cottage, where you want to create comfortable conditions for relaxation. Laminate, of course, is a way out in this situation, but how not to make a mistake and make the right choice.

First of all, what is laminate flooring? This is a board, the basis of which is an HDF board, the functionality of the laminate depends on its composition and quality. An important role is played by the method of manufacturing the plate itself. Some manufacturers use pulverized wood for the production of lamellas and glue it together, then subject it to strong squeezing. Other manufacturers independently grind wood fibers into a larger fraction for their production, and then glue and also squeeze. It should be noted that the second method makes the plate more resistant to temperature fluctuations and changes in humidity.

Another point that plays an important role in the stability of the coating in an unheated room is the resistance of the tree species to changes in temperature and humidity. But, unfortunately, such information is very rarely indicated in the description, especially if it is. In this case, you can only focus on the price. The cheaper the material costs, the cheaper the raw materials will be used for its manufacture.

But it is not a fact that by purchasing an expensive coating, you will get the desired result.

Each manufacturer develops its own technology for the production of products, and for the buyer only gives recommendations on its installation and use.

Some consumers turn to the Internet as a source of information and read reviews about a certain brand, how it behaves in different conditions, and then draw conclusions for themselves and make a decision.

Now let's look at some of the nuances to avoid in an unheated room

• The first golden Rule , guaranteeing success in our business - an absolutely flat floor. Because the room is not heated, as a basis it is better to organize a concrete screed than a wooden floor. Concrete is less susceptible to structural changes when exposed to moisture.
• Second rule , protection of the laminate from moisture. For these purposes, you can use a regular backing, or plastic wrap. But this is the minimum that must be ensured. The best thing to do. To create more comfortable conditions, in addition, you need to provide good thermal insulation and treat the seams with a special sealant. For example, laying a plywood board under a laminate will solve several problems at once: it will provide floor leveling, thermal insulation and vapor barrier. In addition, using a thicker laminate will reduce the likelihood of deformation of the boards in the fall-winter period.
• One more tip for laying laminate in damp, unheated rooms: laying the laminate should only be done in a floating way, and the gaps between the wall and the laminate should be made larger than usual, to compensate for changes in dimensions when the temperature changes.

The main condition for the operation of the laminate is to prevent sudden changes in temperature, because he is not afraid of critical points of cold or heat, but of their abrupt changes.

It is impossible, for example, in a cold frosty winter to come and immediately heat the house up to 20 o C. Not a single material can withstand such a drop.

What conclusions can be drawn:

1. It is better to choose more expensive material from well-known manufacturers who have proven themselves well on the market.
2. Choose moisture resistant varieties, they are less vulnerable to temperature fluctuations.
3. To find out more specific information for one or another type of laminate, you can contact consultants in retail outlets.

So, to sum up: you can lay laminate flooring in an unheated room, but before choosing it, you should take into account the advice of specialists.

Can laminate flooring be reused?

The castle laminate has one nice feature: it can be dismantled and reassembled. High-quality coatings from European manufacturers can withstand up to four assembly-disassembly cycles, while budget options can only stand two.

Why is it necessary to re-lay the laminate?

The most common reason for dismantling and subsequent re-laying of laminate flooring is mistakes made during the first installation:

• no gap of 10 mm between planks and walls;
• construction waste under the planks.

If the floor height difference exceeds 2-3 mm by square meter, then a few weeks after laying the coating, a creak appears, gaps form between the panels, the material begins to "walk". In this case, the laminate must be removed from the floor as quickly as possible, before its elements are deformed. Then the base should be leveled and all construction debris removed from it. Can the old laminate flooring be redecorated then instead of buying a new one? Yes, you can.

If there is no gap between the covering and the wall, then the floor begins to "hump": the planks rise at an angle, a creak occurs. In this case, the removal of the laminate is also required. When re-laying, you need to make a 10 mm indent from each wall, and the unpleasant "symptoms" will disappear.

How do I lay the laminate flooring correctly?

Removing the laminate and its subsequent installation does not require special skills, so a home craftsman will cope with them. The main thing is to know the sequence of actions.

• Remove furniture from the room.
• Remove the skirting boards.
• To remove the old laminate without damaging it, find the outermost plank and pry it as gently as possible.
• Raise the planks at an angle of at least 45 degrees and carefully remove them, being careful not to damage the lock.
• Number the planks to facilitate subsequent installation.
• Clean the floor surface, level it if necessary with a self-leveling compound.
• Place a polystyrene or natural backing on the substrate before repositioning the laminate.
• Start laying the laminate again, making a 10 mm distance from the walls.
• Replace damaged planks with new ones. If you can't get the same shade, hide the new panels under the furniture.
• Install the skirting boards.

Done! You can arrange furniture and enjoy the renewed floor.

When installing a "warm floor" system, laminate quite often acts as a decorative coating. It is very important to think over this combination and choose the right laminate for a warm floor. The intensity of the heating is also worth considering, as extreme heating of the floor can negatively affect the important functions of the floor covering. Before laying, you must familiarize yourself with all the subtleties. of this material, his technical characteristics and the nuances of editing.

Laminate and underfloor heating

Laminate is a very popular flooring. Customers like its visual appeal, ease of installation, and similarity to a wooden floor. Some experts do not recommend laying it on a warm floor, be it electric, film or water, precisely because of the similarities with wood. But now you can find material that is designed for such a styling. It should have an icon indicating this feature. Therefore, when buying a laminate for underfloor heating, you need to be very careful.

In addition to these signs, there are other important designations... The instructions or documents for the goods must contain information that this coating can be laid on a heating floor.

In addition, a specific type of laminate is suitable for each type of underfloor heating (water, electric, film). A water floor has its own characteristics, and therefore it needs a covering of a certain category, and a completely different one is suitable for an electric floor. This is indicated by the marking. Failure to comply with this rule will create additional problems: deformation of the coating or a failure in the heating system.

Laminate for underfloor heating must be of high quality, durable, with a density of at least 900 kg / m3. This is usually a material with a thickness of 7 mm. It is important that the board is not loose and that the locks hold tight. Usually, low-quality material comes across when the planks are thicker than 12 mm, since the thickness compensates for the low density.

Laminate for electric and water heated floors

When choosing a laminate for a warm floor, it is better to weigh the pros and cons and decide what problems the installation of such a coating will solve. Indeed, the material contains substances that emit free radicals when heated, and the protective impregnation, which gives high strength to the material, when heated, releases harmful impurities. Here you need to remember exactly at what temperatures such a floor begins to become harmful.

Only compliance with the temperature set by the manufacturer of the coating makes the laminate absolutely safe.

In addition, you can now buy a product with a minimum formaldehyde content.

It is considered that water system heating is not quite suitable for laminate flooring. And it is better to install it in country houses, and not in apartments, since its structure is cumbersome, heavy, and besides, installation is impossible with centralized heating.

Floor cake when using infrared floor heating

The installation process should be taken seriously. It is very important not to make the warm floor the only source of heat if laminate will serve as the floor covering. The backing and laminate flooring does not conduct heat well, and it is not recommended to increase the temperature for many reasons. In addition to the release of harmful substances, an overconsumption of electricity is possible, and it turns out that not the floor is heated, but the neighbor's ceiling. Alternatively, a material for thermal insulation can be placed on the base.

Substrate selection

If you are planning to install an underfloor heating system, an important task to be solved is how to avoid heat loss. If you plan to use a laminate as a topcoat, you need to choose the right substrate. When buying, you need to pay attention to its thickness and thermal resistance. To determine which substrate is best, the thickness must be divided by the thermal resistance. The material for which the obtained value is lower will transfer heat better.

Underfloor heating must have the following properties:

• Resistance to temperature extremes;
• High level of heat, sound and waterproofing;
• Resistant to deformation;
• Be environmentally friendly;
• Good vapor barrier properties;
• Easy installation.

Types of substrates and recommendations for their selection for the underfloor heating system under the laminate

Since all the positive and negative properties of wood are inherent in the laminate, it must be laid on a substrate. At the same time, a different substrate is required for electric and water floors.

If the electric underfloor heating system is installed on a thin-layer screed or self-leveling floor, then the maximum substrate thickness is 3 mm. Under the pressure of other layers, its thickness will decrease to 2-2.5 mm, this is quite enough for good heat and sound insulation.

When installing the water floor, the pipes are laid directly into the screed. The underlay serves to protect the floor from overheating and acts as an additional waterproofing in the event of a leak or an accident.

Installation technology

Before you start laying your laminate flooring, you need to decide in which direction to do it. It is considered correct to lay the coating along the rays of light, that is, perpendicular to the wall on which the window is located. With this installation, the joints will not be noticeable, and the decorative effect of the coating will not be lost.

Laying scheme for laminate

The laminate should lie in the room where the installation will take place for two days. Indoor humidity should not exceed 70%.

If a new screed has been made, it is necessary to check if it is completely dry. If the screed is dry, you can to proceed to work. As a rule, the packaging of the laminate has instructions for its installation. So it's not difficult to do it yourself. For this you will need:

• Mallet;
• Ruler and pencil;
• Block (to knock out the laminate);
• Jigsaw or hacksaw for wood;
• Substrate;
• Clamp;
• Spacer wedges.

The first step is to spread the substrate. The material spreads with an overlap of at least 20 mm. The substrate is fixed on mounting tape or using special fasteners.

For clarity, you can draw a scaled laying plan, it will help you better understand what and how to do. Please note that the very last board should not be narrower than 100 mm. If this does not work, you can reduce the width of the first row.

Professionals advise to start laying the coating from the far left corner of the room, row by row. The groove of the boards of the first row, which are adjacent to the wall, should be outward. The spike is trimmed to create a flat end. If you want to cut the plank lengthwise, this can be done with a circular saw.

Laminate has many remarkable properties: wear resistance, strength, durability. However, it is known that this coating can change its parameters under the influence of moisture or elevated temperature.

Warm floors have become a familiar attribute of our everyday life; this system is widely used in apartments and country houses as additional and even main heating. So is it possible to combine the popular flooring with a floor heating system?

Compatibility

Manufacturers and specialists give a positive answer to this question. And they immediately add that not every type of laminate and not every system can be used.

Very important! Intense heating can have a negative effect on the performance of the coating. Therefore, it is necessary to find out in advance whether the selected model is suitable for the system that will be installed in the room.

Laminate flooring cannot be compared to flooring made of natural wood, which swell from excess moisture and begin to "lead" them, and shrink and dry out from high temperatures. However, as you know, it is also not “friendly” with water, and an elevated base temperature above 30 ° C is fraught with the beginning of the process of release of formaldehyde resins. At normal room temperature, there is no threat to health, in your room, in addition to flooring, furniture may also contain formaldehyde resins as a binding agent for manufacturing composite materials using wood.

The compatibility of the coating with the warm floor is indicated on the packaging by pictograms:

In addition to the pictogram, the packaging may have the inscription "Underflоorheating" or "Warm Wasser", which corresponds to the permissive meaning of the pictogram.

Important! The H2O water formula pictogram shows that this model is designed specifically for the water floor system and should be installed as intended.

The floor covering with this pictogram on the packaging can be installed on a warm floor.

It should only be noted that the panel thickness should not be less than 8 mm. Thinner panels will not take a constant change in temperature conditions. Experience shows that 31 or 32 class laminates with a panel thickness of 8-10 mm are optimal.

The state-of-the-art Click locking system is perfect for use with warm floors, so do not worry that the panels may come apart and gaps will appear. In addition, there are models on the market with aluminum locks, and some manufacturers offer locks with metallized reinforcement.

When choosing a laminate, you should pay attention to the maximum heating value of the panel surface allowed by the manufacturer. As a rule, the permitted temperature does not exceed 27 ° C.

Another very important indicator is the resistance of the material. An underfloor heating system is considered to be profitable if the total value of all layers of the "pie" of the floor covering does not exceed 0.15 m²K / W. Taking into account the resistance of the substrate, the laminate should have a value within 0.10 m²K / W.

There are electric, film (infrared) and water systems for underfloor heating.

Electric

As the most common type, electric underfloor heating using heating cable in a screed is less suitable for laminate. Unlike ceramic tiles... The fact is that the substrate and the laminate itself have low heat transfer (touch the panels - the upper one, protective layer will usually be cool). The cable must first warm up the tie, in which it is laid, and then through the backing, the tie will heat the panels. This will take time, which means that the cost of heating the room will increase.

In any case, the floor screed must be of high quality and even (height differences are allowed within 2 mm over the length of a 2-meter measuring rod), and the monitoring and control system is very reliable to ensure the required level of heating.

Film (infrared)

The film floor system is ideal for laminate flooring. The system is a thin film on which a conductive material is fixed in the form of strips. The film is laid under the substrate and no heating of the screed is required, which ensures economical operation. The required surface temperature of the panels is reached quickly and can be precisely set within the permitted values.

Currently, leading manufacturers have launched a laminate with an integrated infrared underfloor heating system, but the cost of such models is still inaccessible.

Water

To begin with, it will not work to lay the laminate on a water-heated floor in a city apartment - a water floor is prohibited. An attempt to lay it down will end, at best, with an order to dismantle and restore the original heating.

It is possible to lay the laminate on a water-heated floor in a country house, especially since autonomous system Hot water heating with medium temperature control is ideal for this flooring.

Conclusion

For the correct laying of the laminate on a warm floor, you need to know whether the chosen model is suitable for this purpose. The pictograms on the packaging will provide you with the information you need.

Laminate perfectly "is friends" with a film (infrared) warm floor, "gets along" with an electric one (the questions of the efficiency of the system come to the fore), and in city apartments "has no relationship" with a water one.