Selection and installation of laminate in the hallway

The laminate in the corridor fits well into the modern design of an apartment or house, and reviews of this coating allow you to appreciate all the pros and cons of this material. Modern decorative strips are easy to install, look presentable, but they must be protected from such influences as mechanical damage or contact with water. A detailed review will help you choose a moisture-resistant laminate in the hallway for a residential building or apartment, will help you understand the installation technique and other features of working with this material.

The flooring in the lobby must meet many requirements. The decision to lay a laminate in the corridor most often turns out to be due to the combination of this space with the living room. In this case, the use of the same materials in the flooring helps to avoid abrupt transitions. The advantages of choosing a laminate for the hallway include the following points:

• the optimal ratio of price and aesthetics - the laminate looks like natural wood, but is much cheaper;
• service life - more than 10 years, but with proper installation and operation of the coating, these indicators can be increased;
• ease of installation - locking joints allow you to quickly assemble the coating even in a long corridor;
• environmental friendliness and safety - this finish is suitable for commercial and residential buildings;
• ease of care - the material does not accumulate dust, it is easy to clean, it does not need polishing, scraping;
• heat resistance - even when installed in combination with warm floors, you can not be afraid of changing the geometry of the coating;
• strength - a high-quality coating will be quite wear-resistant.

Cons, too, can not be avoided. Most types of laminate are not resistant to moisture, which turns into serious problems in the hallway. Also, for this type of decor, it is required to carefully prepare the base, level it, eliminating the slightest differences.

Laminate is an artificially created multilayer material with a backing made of tar paper, a base made of MDF or fiberboard, a decorative coating with a printed pattern that imitates the texture of wood, stone, and other surfaces. On the outside, there is also a layer of melamine or acrylic, which ensures the decor is resistant to abrasion.

Choosing a laminate for a hallway is a process that requires attention to detail. It is worth considering the following points.

1. Material class. It defines the durability and purpose of the laminate and consists of 2 numbers. For the hallway, 31 and 32 classes of coverage are suitable, for the hall of a public building - 33, which can withstand the most intense loads.
2. Installation method. For the hallway, it is better to use material with latches. They preserve the maintainability of the coating and make it easier to transfer deformation loads. The glue method of fastening is not very suitable for the hallway. Lock-type options may be considered for use.
3. Lamella thickness. The larger it is, the more intense the operational loads can be. For the hallway, you can select a laminate with indicators from 0.7 to 1.2 cm.
4. The type of outer cover. It determines the aesthetics of the floor in the interior. For the hallway, only matte finishes with a smooth or textured surface should be considered. The more realistic the relief is, the better.
5. The degree of protection against moisture. Hallway - a room in which it is difficult to exclude contact of the material with water, snow, dirt. It is better to purchase a moisture-resistant laminate with wax lock protection from the very beginning. It resists external factors longer than usual.
6. The shape and size of the hallway. In a long or narrow hallway, planks of medium or small sizes, light colors are usually chosen. There are wide slats in the spacious hall. In the L-shaped corridor, it is allowed to use modules of different sizes on a short and long section.

Laminate flooring is considered one of the most stylish and affordable floor coverings. It is increasingly seen as a substitute for parquet or planks. With proper installation, it is almost impossible to recognize the artificial origin of the coating. Laminate flooring looks good in a single plane with a transition to the hall, kitchen, it is mounted without a threshold, visually emphasizing the free layout.

The combination of laminate with other materials in the design of the hallway looks no less interesting. For example, a Scandinavian style with a white background complements well a simple gray or dark laminate in a wenge shade. The lamellas themselves are also quite diverse in their design. In addition to imitating various types of wood, it can have a texture for the following materials.

• Leather. Most often, the appearance of the skin of a snake, alligator, and other exotic representatives of the animal world is imitated.

• Metal. Such "cold" coatings with a patina or rust effect on the surface are especially popular when decorating premises in an industrial style, in the spirit of minimalism or in a loft style.

• Stone. Laminate panels in marble, granite, travertine or less noble wood look impressive. Unlike porcelain stoneware, such a floor covering remains warm enough and comfortable to move around.

Exclusive author's design is also found. More exotic textures can be found here. But the most popular option is wood-like laminate. In the hallway, its textured matte varieties with an antique effect look especially impressive. When laid horizontally, they resemble a salted deck board; when laid transversely, they choose light varieties of material that resemble parquet.

For the front hall at the entrance to the house, varieties of laminate with a pattern are produced. Outwardly, they resemble parquet, they are presented in the form of a set of planks that form a certain ornament. Such coatings are realized in a glossy version, they are very decorative, but they are easier to abrade.

Among the design solutions that allow you to give originality to the laminate on the floor in the hallway, the following options can be distinguished.

• Combination of a dark finish with white skirting boards. It looks fresh and original.

• Combination of different colors and textures. It is better to take laminate from one manufacturer or from one collection, but in several shades. So you can get a stylish mosaic panel.

• Supplementing the floor with wall sheathing. Laminate in this case is placed immediately in 2 planes - horizontal and vertical.

• Combining laminate with other materials. You can add tiles or porcelain stoneware, embossed decking to create an unusual interior design.

The choice of the direction in which the laminate is to be laid in an apartment or house directly depends on which lamellas are used in the work. The direction of their pattern, width and color are of great importance for creating a harmonious, one-piece decorative finish. Laminate can be laid along or across the room, as well as diagonally. Each styling option has its own characteristics.

1. Installation in the transverse direction. In this case, the material is located so that its joining points are in the same plane. On the sides, the coating is fixed with plinths and dowels, through pre-made mounting holes. This is the most difficult installation method, requiring precise adherence to the specified geometry.
2. Longitudinal laying. In this case, the slats are usually located in the direction from the front door. Layout options are varied - from checkerboard to parquet. Laminate in this case can be both wide and narrow, helps to hide small differences in height or architectural features.
3. Diagonal mounting. The choice of a non-standard laying direction requires cutting individual lamellas to length. This option is well suited for open-plan interiors or mixed finishes where several types of flooring have to be joined.

Having chosen the optimal direction and method of laying, you can also decide on the type of fastening. If the interlocking area is protected from moisture by wax, it does not require additional sizing. Nevertheless, in the area of ​​intense stress, auxiliary seams will not interfere. Here, the laying is performed with double gluing of the joints.

It is important to protect the laminate in the hallway from moisture. The easiest way to achieve this is to cover the floor over the original top coat with special compounds. Here, natural wax-based impregnations are used to form a waterproof film. They can be applied to the laminate floor with a brush or roller, in an even thin layer.

The rest of the maintenance of the coating is reduced to daily cleaning. When wet, it is best to use special wipes containing mild cleaning agents. Dry cleaning is carried out using a vacuum cleaner.

Choosing laminate flooring in the hallway is not a good idea for most homeowners. The positive aspects of using this coating include its low cost, a wide range of design options, and the relative ease of installation. Laminate flooring in a hallway can last a long time with moisture-absorbing rubber or rubber-backed rugs. If you do not skimp on the quality of the coating, it is fully justified.

Laminate, especially not moisture resistant, according to customer reviews, is not very suitable for use in regions with high rainfall. Constant contact with a humid environment will inevitably lead to a change in the geometry of the planks. The floor covering will simply swell, go bumps. This option is not suitable for hallways with high traffic. Contact with animal claws, sledges, skates, sharp heels is also contraindicated for him.

Stylish laminate flooring is a good solution for decorating the floor in the hallway. In order to be convinced of this, it is enough just to carefully consider beautiful examples of its use in the interior.

• The horizontally laid dark laminate flooring in a modern hallway, combined with the rest of the house, looks respectable. Its colors are supported in the design of doors, framing mirrors and openings.

• The classic design solution is a light wide laminate in the hallway with cream-colored walls in the shade of baked milk and white furniture. The flooring looks harmonious, visually makes the room brighter and larger.

• Red-brown laminate with pronounced bevels along the edges is practically indistinguishable from solid wood floors.Against this background, the walls and furniture in the shade of green apple, diluted with white moldings, look very fresh.