Chamfered laminate: sculptural accuracy (23 photos)
Content
One of the reasons for the popularity of laminate flooring is the variety of product ranges. Leading manufacturers of laminate flooring offer not only the original color scheme of the flooring, but also the collection with a bevel. This type of product imitates a floorboard made of solid wood, creating a unique flavor in the room.
An ordinary board made of natural wood is a whimsical material. During operation, it loses moisture, dries out, and cracks form as a result. To hide them, it was proposed to make a board with beveled edges, so the cracks become less noticeable, and the flooring looks like new for a long time. Laminate manufacturers took into account the practical experience of using a massive board and appreciated its flavor. As a result, everyone with a facet can today buy it and create with it the unique design in their home.
Types of laminate bevels
The main task of the chamfer is to give the laminate maximum resemblance to natural wood. Tightly laid lamellas form a continuous surface that is artificial in nature. Even if a brushed laminate with a relief surface is used, the absence of joints between the boards will obviously not be enough to create a colorful interior. All this has led to the appearance of collections with a bevel, which can be of several types:
- V-shaped - a straight cut of the corner forms a V-shaped recess at the junction of two adjacent panels;
- U-shaped - a curly section of the angle forms a U-shaped recess between adjacent lamellas;
- Shallow - has a depth of not more than 2 mm;
- Deep - with a depth of more than 2 mm;
- Bilateral - the cut is located only along the length of the side of the panel;
- Quadrilateral - the cut is located on all sides of the panel.
The presence of a bevel in a laminate of standard width allows you to perfectly simulate a massive board. Narrow panels become as close to parquet as possible. But aesthetic perfection is not the only role of the chamfer, it also has important practical value.
Laminate practicality
Using collections with a bevel allows you to solve an important problem. Ordinary lamellas after a year and a half after laying begin to diverge. The resulting cracks give a touch of antiquity, which does not please the property owner. Laying a laminate with a chamfer avoids such an incident, since the discrepancies of the panels are almost imperceptible.
Another important advantage of this type of flooring is the ability to visually change the area of the room.
If you lay a laminate with a bilateral chamfer along the length of the side, the room will look longer. Panels with a four-sided chamfer with this installation will make the room visually wider.
Chamfer Laminate Disadvantages
There is an opinion that a light laminate with a chamfer quickly loses its attractiveness, as dirt accumulates in the recesses between the panels. Such a statement is not true, the floor will retain a beautiful appearance throughout the entire period of operation, even if it is bleached oak. All leading manufacturers impregnate bevels with dirt-repellent and water-repellent compositions, which avoids the accumulation of dirt.A similar treatment for brushed laminate having a complex structure of the entire surface of the panel.
The disadvantage of a laminate with a bevel can be considered reduced moisture resistance, since the contact area between the panels is larger and the accumulated water can penetrate inside. To prevent this from happening, do not lay laminate in the kitchen or in the bathroom. An exception can be made for a moisture-resistant laminate of a well-known manufacturer - they cover the chamfer with a laminating film or are additionally treated with wax.
A myth is the opinion of the low strength of the castle joints in this type of flooring. Even a simple single-lane laminate with a bevel has a thickness of 8 mm, but most often the cut is done on panels with a thickness of 10-12 mm. The recess rarely exceeds 2 mm, so there is enough space on the lamellas to form a strong and reliable lock.
Laying laminate with chamfer
The presence of an additional technological element becomes an occasion for a rhetorical question: how to lay a laminate with a bevel? Installation technology is no different from conventional panels. It can be placed diagonally, along or across the long side of the room. Laying options can be any - the chamfer will only add naturalness to the room with this floor covering.
Not only universal panels that simulate a single-lane massive board are not universal. They are not recommended for curly styling, the classic layout is quite enough, which fits perfectly into the interior of the pastoral style. When laying diagonally, do not forget about the increased consumption of material.
Choose a laminate with a chamfer
The popularity of this type of flooring has led manufacturers to offer collections for every taste. You can purchase a gray laminate with a chamfer or a traditional wenge laminate, vinyl and glossy laminate. A large number of collections with brushed surface, which harmoniously combines with the chamfer in the interiors of the castle style.
Before deciding which laminate with a chamfer to choose, you need to weigh all the pros and cons of the rooms in which it will be laid. If for bright rooms a wenge laminate is an ideal option, then in the premises of the shady side it will be better to look like a “bleached oak” laminate, which perfectly reflects light. A glossy laminated surface is not suitable for a hallway, as constant contact with sand and dirt will increase its wear rate. In the bathroom it is better to choose a waterproof laminate, and in the hallway it is better to do without a brushed surface.
Before purchasing, you need to decide how to lay the laminate. One-way collections are not suitable for complex curly layouts. Laying methods of the laminate affect the required amount of flooring, therefore, it is necessary to consult a specialist who will help to buy the optimal volume of laminate wenge or classic oak.
A brushed laminate with a four-sided chamfer is an ideal choice for a living room. In an office whose interior is created in Victorian style, it is better to lay a wenge or merbau laminate. It can also have a brushed surface, which will add color and respectability to the room. If the window in the room is not located in the center, but is noticeably shifted to the side, then opt for laminate wenge with a four-sided chamfer. It can be stacked regardless of the direction of the incident rays of light.
Thus, we can conclude that the laminate with a bevel is a practical and beautiful floor covering that will take its rightful place on the floor of a respectable cottage, a fashionable hotel or restaurant.