What affects the quality of flooring?

Good flooring – what does it mean?

Currently, there are many versions of laminate flooring available on the market. They differ not only in size and colour, but also in quality. If you wish to create beautiful and durable interior designs, when choosing flooring you should focus primarily on the technical parameters. Good flooring should be resistant to every possible damage it is exposed to every day – negative impact of moisture, scratches or deformation during use. It is also important that it is correctly adapted to the specifics of the room and the individual needs of the household members. Flooring that meets all these requirements will surely turn out to be a perfect choice!

Good quality flooring – key parameters

What are the characteristics of best flooring? When looking for an answer to this question, pay attention to the technical parameters that determine the durability and functionality of a particular product. Below you will find descriptions of the most important ones.

Water resistance

Water-resistant flooring will be a right choice for any room in your home. If you’re looking for high-quality floors, this feature should be your primary selection criteria. The best option will be water-resistant flooring that can withstand the negative effects of standing water for 48 hours. It means that spilt liquid does not penetrate into the floor, cause its swelling or detachment from the substrate even for 24 hours after the planks got wet. All you have to do is wipe off the puddle within this time and the floor will look like new. This is especially necessary in bathrooms, hallways and kitchens. Water-resistant flooring can also cope well with moisture in these rooms, so that the floor retains its beautiful appearance for a long time.

Abrasion class

Flooding is not the only hazard that flooring is exposed to. Even more often, floors are exposed to scratches. The abrasion class is an indication of how well they can manage them. This is determined by a test. It consists in imitating the everyday use of the flooring. A specimen is rubbed with an abrasive material until the first damage appears. The later this occurs, the higher the abrasion class rating the flooring get. There are usually 5 abrasion classes, marked with the letters AC and numbers from 1 to 5. To make sure your floor is durable, choose AC4 and AC5 models. In the case of vinyl flooring, you can also find products with AC6 rating. By choosing them, you won’t have to worry about scratches on the floor surface for a very long time.

Usage class

The abrasion class is often confused with the usage class. The latter parameter also affects the quality of materials. During classification, the resistance of flooring to everyday situations is checked — it is verified whether it can cope with furniture movement, stains, cigarette burns or heavy objects falling on it. During testing, it is also checked whether planks increase in volume when exposed to moisture. Based on the results, they are assigned to one of six classes. In theory, Class 21-23 laminate flooring is suggested for domestic use, while Class 31-33 for public utility buildings. However, if you want to install the best flooring in your home, choose Class 32 or 33.

Thickness

Thickness is another parameter that affects the flooring functionality and its ability to cope with everyday use. Planks should not be too thin so that they do not deform or bend under the weight. However, if you are planning to install underfloor heating, avoid planks that are too thick as well. They can block the proper distribution of heat in your home. Medium-thickness flooring is the best choice in this case. A compromise that will keep the floor stable and your home well heated are models with a thickness of 8-12 mm.

Safety

High-quality flooring should also be fully safe for health and environmentally friendly. In order to ensure healthy atmosphere in your interiors, choose materials with the Blue Angel certificate. This is awarded to flooring that does not harm nature or the inhabitants of the buildings in which they are installed. If you decide on vinyl flooring, pay attention also to their composition. Reach for recyclable flooring that does not use PVC or other harmful substances.

High-quality flooring should also be safe for allergy sufferers. This is ensured by the anti-static coating. No electrical charges are created on its surface, which significantly slows down the settling of dust. This not only helps to alleviate bothersome discomfort, but also makes it easier to keep the interior tidy.

Installation system

Modern flooring is developed in such a way so that you could easily assemble and disassemble it yourself. Floors with the Megaloc system are an excellent example. They are equipped with clips that make it possible to create a perfectly even, stable floor without the use of glue or specialised tools. As a result, the installation time can be reduced by up to half compared to standard techniques. When you decide to completely redesign the interior, disassembly is just as quick and easy. Flooring with the Megaloc Aqua Protect installation system also stands out due to its high quality. It is characterised by an innovative coating and a shape that protects the joints against water and moisture penetration even better.

Additional features

Water-resistant and scratch-resistant flooring of the highest quality can also be equipped with other features. For example, innovative floors are covered with special coatings, which perfectly protect them against the appearance of traces of use. What’s more, they maintain the effect of a matte or glossy finish of the flooring for longer. You can also go for UV-resistant flooring, which will not fade even in very sunny rooms.

The V-groove is also a popular feature. It involves milling the edges of the planks. As a result, they do not create a uniform parquet – instead, the natural effect of individual planks is achieved. The edges of the planks are additionally protected with a water-resistant varnish, which prevents damage to the floor during contact with moisture.

Quality flooring – opt for durability!

Good quality flooring will allow you to enjoy a beautiful floor for many years. Resistance to negative effects of moisture, protection against scratches or stability are just some of the parameters that will allow you to assess the quality of your floors. We hope that thanks to the advice we have prepared, you will find it easy to choose a reliable floor. Choose the offer of renowned manufacturers and enjoy a beautiful, functional interior!