Westerhof laminate: advantages and disadvantages

Laminated floors combine reliability, quality and practicality. Everyone who comes into the house, will pay attention to a beautiful floor. It is necessary to approach the choice of a covering on a floor responsibly. A good option is Westerhof laminate, the advantages and disadvantages of which are described in this article.

Laminate is made of three or more layers of different materials that are combined under high pressure. High performance is achieved through modern production technology. The basis of the coating is fibreboarddecorated with a special layer.

High-quality laminate can replace such material as parquet. It has many advantages and disadvantages in comparison with other floor coverings.

Laminate brand Westerhof possesses impeccable quality and different "multinational" production. It is produced by German technology on Japanese equipment, which is located in China. The product passes European quality control. In China, not only Westerhof laminate is produced, but also other products of famous brands. Production of products is cheaper, due to the fact that China has cheap labor and low-cost electricity.

The equipment on which the Westerhof laminate is manufactured is constantly being improved, and the technological process is fully automated. This fact makes it possible to save on staff. Properties and product characteristics are improved.

Specialists of the company constantly monitor the demand for their products. Evaluate the quality, appearance, overall dimensions and thickness of the coating.

Due to the high technological properties and the structure of the floor laminated flooring is practical, aesthetic and durable, subject to the operational rules.

The product has such qualities as:

• Increased resistance to abrasion.Laminate, which has a 33rd or 34th class has a durable protective top layer.
• Resistance to applied loads, constant or periodic pressure and other household damage. The product resists scratching, furniture shifting, deformation and strong shocks.
• Resistance to fading under the influence of ultraviolet rays.
• Good moisture resistance and dirt resistance.
• Increased antistatic and hypoallergenic.
• Good thermal conductivity.
• High sound insulation.
• Surface, imitating the texture of natural wood.

• The composition of environmentally friendly materials allows the use of laminate in any room.
• High temperature resistant coating.
• The top layer of the product is resistant to chemical solutions, oils, acids and alkaline household chemicals.
• The material is not sensitive to the appearance of stains, including varnish, ballpoint pen and felt-tip pen, easy to clean.
• Quick install.

In the production of laminate Westerhof use only high-quality materials and modern technological processes. All operations and final products undergo a thorough quality control. Products occupy a leading position in the construction market.Due to the high strength at the connection of each element, high quality is also achieved.

Products are made in a modern design and a large color palette. Modern collections combine natural wood materials in all designs in color and texture. Products have high wear resistance.

The main lines of the brand are:

• Maestro series. Board thickness 12 millimeters. Products are made in a variety of exotic colors. The collection has good characteristics and properties: wear resistance, is not subjected to domestic loads, the original appearance.

• Aristokrat series. The outer surface of the floor covering is similar to the floorboard. This is the most accessible and original collection, with the help of it creates a beautiful and unique interior.

• Celebrity collection. The polovitsy from this series are considered trend. With their help, they create a stylish and modern interior with an imitation of natural floor covering. The surface of the product is smooth, semi-matte and non-slip. A chamfer located on the edge of the product protects it from dust and dirt.

• Vintage collection (Vintage) is suitable for a rustic style.The natural coating, aged by time or artificially, has a brightly bonded surface. The product is suitable for residential and office space.

Laminate, as a coating, is divided into classes, according to the strength characteristics, resistance to damage and fading, as well as purpose. The higher the product class, the longer the service life. The Westerhof product is manufactured in three classes: 32, 33 and 34.

The products of medium durability has the 32nd class. Fitted in residential or industrial premises, where the average level of flow. In a residential building, most often 32 grade laminate is mounted in the kitchen, hallway or dining room, where it will last for about 15 years. Public premises include schools and offices, the life of the product in them up to 5 years.

The class 32 includes collections such as:

• Style classic - imitating wood.
• Style smart - is similar to products from a natural tree.
• Style novelty - made in popular shades.

The products of class 33 are made from high density fibreboard. The surface is equipped with a glueless, wax-treated locking compound that prevents the ingress of water.

Collection with 33 coverage class:

• Maestro Innovation - wood shades.
• Maestro Aristocrat - wide panels, similar to the floorboard, made of expensive wood and decorated with stone.
• Maestro vintega - woody relief pattern.
• Maestro shine is a light coating suitable for modern styles.
• Mario loretto - made in warm colors with the original embossed structure.

Laminate with 34 class has high strength characteristics and durability. It is operated in all rooms. The boards are joined with a V-Click lock, the panels are waxed.

Collections made with the 34th class of quality:

• Maestro lounge is a wide format laminate similar to natural stone.
• Maestro grånd styl - textured woody design.
• Maestro wоód line - panels in a variety of warm colors.
• Maestro super step - made by deep embossing technology, with a natural wood structure.

Layers of laminated product:

• The top layer is designed for decoration and protection from damage. It is durable and resistant to environmental influences. The outer surface is covered with melamine resin with stabilizing additives.
• The outer decorative layer consists of a paper base with a printed pattern. The base is made of fibreboard, which gives the main technical characteristics of the product. A stabilizing layer of paraffin paper is needed to protect against moisture.

Laminate mounted "floating" method. This technology involves the connection of two panels without touching the base of the floor. Locks at the ends of the panels snap into place with each other.

Due to the high quality of the locks the floor looks solid. Laying laminate is simple, which is one of its advantages. Many reviews confirm that even an inexperienced worker can handle the installation.

To successfully complete the work, you must comply with the technical requirements

• Prepare the surface where the laminate will be laid.A smooth, dried and clean base is a guarantee of a quality floor covering that will last for a long time. It is necessary to eliminate all the shortcomings.
• Most often the floors in the room are cement, on top of which a waterproofing film is placed to protect it from moisture. After the film, a special substrate is used, which smoothes out all the irregularities on the floor, as well as eliminates extraneous sounds when walking.
• Classic or widescreen panels are laid with preserving the necessary clearance along the entire length. This allows the coating to increase with changes in humidity and ambient temperature in the room.

There are many ways of laying laminate: you can mount the slats diagonally or in a straight line, herringbone or half the board.

During operation, the laminated tile is deformed to prevent this from happening, Do not use textile materials for the base. The surface must be firm and level. Each small irregularity is hidden under the substrate, which will also be an additional sound insulation. The most suitable material for it is cork.

Installation of laminate flooring on a wet floor is not possible. The newly poured cement floor must be dried for about 80 days. Humidity in the room should be approximately 30-60%. Under the substrate is laid vapor-proof and moisture-proof material.

If you lay a laminated coating on the system of underfloor heating, then you need to adhere to some rules:

• Draft floor and heating system must be at a distance of 30 millimeters from each other.
• Expansion joints should be 12 millimeters behind the wall.
• Before laying the laminate on the floor, the heating system must work for at least three weeks. All work is carried out in a well-ventilated area with low humidity.

For more information about laying laminate, see the following video.