Recently, many have been trying to do the installation without using laminate flooring thresholds. The only advantage is the absence of thresholds, but there are so many disadvantages.
- Introduction
- § 1. Disadvantages of laying without seams
- § 2. Laying laminate flooring without thresholds
- § 3. Thresholds for laminate
- § 4. Application of thresholds
- § 5. Methods of fastening thresholds
- Conclusion
INTRODUCTION
For laying flooring in a residential area, it is recommended to use class 31 laminate. It is worth paying due attention to the quality of the locks, geometry and density of the panels. If one of these parameters fails, then, in the end, it will lead to big troubles.
Threshold for laminate
Weak laminate joints will make themselves felt by the appearance of cracks, and this will happen much earlier if laid on an uneven floor. The density of the panel affects how your laminate floor will react to changes in temperature and humidity. The harder the panel, the more reliable the assembly will be, the fewer gaps there will be.
Basic selection rules?
There really are a lot of materials. Modern outdoor porch tiles are the most acceptable choice. There are a lot of nuances that you should pay attention to immediately before purchasing. During operation, the facing material for the street is exposed to all environmental factors. Increased humidity levels, sudden changes in temperature, scorching sun rays - all these unfavorable moments at different times of the year will daily affect the quality of the coating. In order for the tiles on the threshold to last for many years, when purchasing, you need to study its mechanical parameters.
In order to make the right choice, you need to study the documents accompanying the product. They usually indicate important technical parameters:
- Minimum compressive and flexural strength values;
- Resistance to temperature changes;
- Water absorption indicators;
- Wear resistance;
- Lifetime.
It is also worth initially deciding on a design for finishing the future main entrance. Depending on its parameters, the color palette and shapes of materials are selected. Coverings with intricate patterns and non-standard shapes will require more installation time and experience in carrying out such work.
§ 1. DISADVANTAGES OF LAYING WITHOUT SEAMS
Recently, many have been trying to do the installation without using laminate flooring thresholds. The only advantage is the absence of thresholds, but there are so many disadvantages.
Missing thresholds between laminate
Firstly, it is much more difficult to do the styling; it will require certain professional skills. Secondly, in order to lay such a floor without seams, you need to carefully study the geometry of the room. Without seams, you can lay laminate flooring over an area of up to 50 m2 or in a sheet of no more than 10 meters.
Any specialist will confirm to you that there must be a gap between the rooms, as there is a danger that a bulge will appear near the door. To prevent this problem, use a laminate floor release strip.
The situation will be even more dangerous if laminate flooring without thresholds is installed on an area of more than 150 m2. The need for gaps is supported by the fact that it is very difficult to achieve a level base over a large area, which is a mandatory requirement for seamless installation. In this case, it is better to buy thresholds for laminate flooring so as not to have problems with the flooring in the future.
In addition to all this, if just one panel is damaged, you will have to dismantle almost the entire floor to get to the board that has become unusable.
§ 2. LAYING LAMINATE WITHOUT THRESHOLDS
If all of the above doesn’t scare you, you can safely do the styling without seams. The technology for assembling a single structure is not complicated and is almost no different from the usual one. All installation technology can be found on our website, or in the instructions for any laminate. Just before you start installing it yourself, consult with a specialist to see if this can be done in your apartment. He will be able to give you a lot of practical advice on how best to lay laminate flooring.
If you decide to lay laminate flooring without thresholds, do not forget about expansion joints. At the walls you need to leave up to 10 mm. Without this, your floor will quickly become unusable. This is written in more detail in the article about baseboards.
The laminate sheet can change its geometry in width and length; unfortunately, it is not possible to guess this. To prepare the flooring for such surprises, you can groove the wall a little. In this case, the floor will never hit the wall and will not swell.
If the combination concerns only two adjacent rooms, for example, two adjacent rooms, then laying a single integral structure, done according to all the rules, should not cause problems.
Types of balcony thresholds
Before you start creating and finishing the threshold for the balcony, you need to choose what it will be made of. The following types of design exist:
- Plastic. This is one of the most inexpensive options; such a threshold is not afraid of moisture, is resistant to mechanical stress, and is quite durable. The best option for installation is a PVC window sill, which can be installed ready-made: you just need to select the product to size or cut it.
- Cement-concrete. This is a more reliable and durable option, but its installation is more complicated, and it is advisable to finish the outside to give it a more aesthetic appearance. The covering can be made of tiles, laminate, linoleum, and other materials.
- Brick. It is quite difficult to lay out such a threshold; you need to calculate the dimensions and carefully level it. The finished structure can be finished with any materials, from wood to tiles.
- Wooden. The product is lightweight, easy to install, attractive in appearance, but it is resistant to moisture and pests. This balcony door threshold has a shorter service life than its analogues.
Related article: What can be laid on the floor on the balcony
§ 3. THRESHOLDS FOR LAMINATE
In some cases, when laying laminate flooring, it is almost impossible to do without thresholds. So, for example, if you are installing laminate flooring in the hallway, and there are tiles in the kitchen, then multi-level thresholds for the laminate will help hide the unaesthetic joint.
Thresholds for laminate
Thresholds are a kind of decorative strip. There are several types of metal trim:
- edging - used for pressing different types of coverings with different heights;
- joint - used for pressing coatings having one level;
- corner with rubber insert - it is used for flights of stairs and steps.
Thresholds for laminate flooring can be made from a variety of materials, but the most popular and in demand are thresholds made of steel, brass and aluminum. Metal thresholds, as a rule, are covered with a special film that imitates gold, silver, wood, and so on. Wooden, plastic and flexible laminate thresholds are also widely used, but are less popular due to low efficiency and wear resistance.
Purpose
Mainly, a well-chosen threshold is intended to mask the joints between floor coverings. Thus, in the places where laminate joins tiles, the following types of connecting pads are used:
- Edging (leveling). It will come in handy if there is a small level difference. As a rule, such options are made of metal and complemented by an elastic rubber gasket;
- Decorative. Such details are used when transitioning different rooms;
- Curvilinear. These thresholds are used in cases where it is planned to join dissimilar coatings to each other using an unusual design solution;
- Final. This joining strip is used when framing the edges of the flooring in the hallway. Often similar designs are used in the design of raised floor coverings, for example, near stairs, steps or at the junction dividing a loggia or balcony (balcony threshold).
§ 4. APPLICATION OF THRESHOLDS
Many kitchens have dining and work areas that have different surfaces to emphasize their separation. Typically, ceramic tiles are laid in the work area, and laminate in the dining area. A special feature of this type of flooring is that it is necessary to leave a gap between different materials when laying them.
The main purpose of this gap is to compensate for the thermal expansion of tiles and laminates during fluctuations in temperature and humidity. In order to close this gap, a threshold is used between the laminate and the tile.
§ 5. METHODS OF ATTACHING THRESHOLDS
Today, there are two ways to attach thresholds: external and hidden. External mounting is the most common. During the installation process, the threshold between the tile and the laminate is fixed using self-tapping screws and dowels. All thresholds intended for this method of fastening have symmetrical holes or marks for dowels. During installation, the base is marked through the holes. If the floor is concrete, you need to drill holes for the dowels, but if it is made of wood, then you can immediately screw in the screws without additional preparation.
Fastening thresholds with self-tapping screws
The hidden method involves using liquid nails or special glue to fix the threshold. This method is more labor-intensive, but due to the absence of visible fasteners, it is more aesthetically pleasing. As practice shows, thresholds for laminate and tiles are best secured externally.
If the gap between the coatings is arched, the threshold will have to be bent along an arc. To perform installation you need a special tool and certain professional skills.
