Laminate is one of the most popular floor coverings; it is beautiful and durable, but even it has certain disadvantages. The fact is that laminate is afraid of water and upon contact with it loses its appearance and shape. Another drawback of the material is the appearance of squeaking. In order to protect the coating from damage, it is necessary to lay it correctly, carefully covering all cracks and joints. This is especially true for low-quality laminate, which itself is short-lived, and is also more susceptible to moisture than others. Additionally, sealant for laminate flooring will help protect the joints between the planks of the covering.
Laminate sealant
Why do you need sealant?
Laminate is a type of flooring that consists of small planks made from wood fiber board. The very name of the material - laminate - directly indicates that this material is layered and consists of a load-bearing layer, a decorative layer that gives color to the material, and a protective top layer made of acrylic or melamine resin. It is the last layer that protects the laminate from premature swelling and deterioration.
Why use laminate sealant?
During installation, the laminate planks are tightly connected to each other using special locks. However, the top layer will not 100% protect the material from moisture. Water that gets on the floor in large quantities can easily seep into the area of the slat locks, as well as penetrate inside the lamella itself. Liquid can cause damage to the laminate, as it reacts very sharply to its influence and is severely deformed.
Moisture poses a great danger to laminate flooring
On a note! In case of flooding of a living space, with a 99% probability, the laminate flooring will have to be completely replaced.
Laminate sealant is necessary to further protect the material from getting wet. It is not afraid of exposure to water and will not allow it to have a negative impact on the coating. The sealant will perfectly protect all the interlocking joints of the coating, which will significantly extend the service life of the laminate. All areas treated with the substance will be very tightly connected, which will allow them to withstand heavy loads.
Applying sealant
Important! Using a laminate sealant will not have a negative impact on the material during the entire period of use. Neither the operational nor decorative characteristics of the floor covering will change.
Laminate sealant does not affect the performance of the coating
However, there is no point in using sealant everywhere when installing laminate flooring - it is enough to use it only in those rooms where there is high air humidity. In living rooms that are regularly ventilated and not constantly exposed to damp air, this substance does not need to be used. But even where it is excessively dry, sealants will help protect the coating from drying out and deformation.
Example of joints sealed with sealant
sealant for laminate
How to avoid defects on a laminated floor surface?
Having chosen a laminated covering for flooring in an apartment or house, you should immediately provide for its protection. It would be a good idea to do this after the surface has been repaired, so that you don’t have to work on scratches and chips again.
These activities are simple and consist of the following steps:
- When cleaning the coating, do not use detergents containing abrasive ingredients.
- If laminate is laid in the hallway, then you should definitely lay rugs on both sides of the front door, that is, outside and inside the home.
- To protect the laminated covering from the wheels of the office chair, it is recommended to lay a thin but durable flooring that fits well to the surface in the area where it moves. This can be a rubber-based mat or acrylic glass.
Acrylic glass as protection of the floor covering from abrasion by the wheels of an office chair
- It is also necessary to protect the laminate from the legs of furniture, especially those that are frequently moved (chairs, tables, stools, etc.). To do this, felt, vinyl or polyamide pads are glued to the ends of the legs.
- You must remember to periodically use polish or mastic for laminate flooring to treat the surface. These products create a protective film on the coating, which additionally protects it from minor mechanical influences.
Check out the tips for homeowners on how to choose a laminate flooring class from our new article on our portal.
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As you can see, there is nothing complicated about preventive measures - they are easy to implement. If you don’t want to make certain efforts to preserve the laminate flooring, then you should immediately abandon the idea of choosing this particular material. Without proper care, it will quickly become unsightly or even completely unusable.
At the end of the publication, there is a video in which the master shows a slightly different method of repairing a laminated surface.
A little about the composition of the product
Sealants can be produced on the basis of acrylic or silicone, to which various coloring, plasticizing and other components are added:
- fungicides and antiseptics that protect against mold and mildew;
- chalk, quartz flour and other mechanical components;
- organic extenders, which reduce the viscosity of the substance;
- pigments that give the sealant a certain color.
Colored sealant for laminate
On a note! At home, sealants cannot be painted. Therefore, it is important to purchase sealant immediately matching the specific color of the material.
Using laminate sealant
The composition requirements for laminate sealant are as follows:
- the absence of substances that negatively affect the human body;
- ease of removal from surfaces, which will allow you to easily remove excess substance from the surface even at the initial stage of hardening;
- the substances in the sealant should not glue the lamellas very tightly to each other.
Rico Protect Click Sealant
What kind of substrate is best to use under it?
In materials for flooring made of polyvinyl chloride, it will not be possible to find an answer based on the type of substrate under it, since the concept of “vinyl laminate” currently includes several completely different materials:
- PVC floor tiles (regular covering);
- self-adhesive panels (Contesse);
- vinyl laminate with a locking connection method (quartz vinyl).
There is no point in laying the backing under the tiles and lamellas on glue - there should be no intermediate link (layer) between the base of the floor and the glue. A number of interlocking laminate manufacturers also believe that an underlay is not needed. The inscription on the packaging will help you figure out when it is necessary to lay a substrate, where this point is necessarily specified: “needed, not needed.”
If laying the underlay according to the flooring installation technology is necessary, you can buy:
- cork backing. This is the most effective material that allows you to compensate for unevenness of the base, retain heat well and absorb sound waves. Considering the small thickness of the lamella board and its flexibility, the optimal thickness of the backing is 2 mm (on the forums, visitors note that with a thicker backing, the floor begins to sag under the weight of an adult);
- "Izolon" is the cheapest material. It is necessary to lay foamed polyethylene with a thickness of 3 mm. Under the weight of the floor covering, it will shrink to 2 mm, which will compensate for unevenness of the base;
- "Tuplex" . This underlay perfectly compensates for unevenness on the floor base and is a good heat and sound insulating material. Here, too, the optimal thickness is 2 mm;
- coniferous substrate - guarantees compensation for minor irregularities and good sound insulation. One of the best options when installing a “warm floor” is to ensure uniform distribution of heat over the surface of the laminate.
Properties and characteristics of laminate sealant
Unlike compounds not intended for processing laminate, the sealant does not glue individual laminate strips together, so it cannot be called glue. It rather resembles a kind of elastic seal. However, many of its properties directly depend on its composition.
Sealant for laminate homax Сlick
Main characteristics of the sealant:
- elasticity , but at the same time strength and durability, resistance to various external influences;
- ability to withstand moisture and temperature changes;
- is possible to hide the cracks and joints between the laminate planks so that water does not penetrate there;
- ease of application at home - no complex equipment is needed (maximum - the sealant itself and a mounting gun);
- the possibility of dismantling the laminate if necessary - the sealant will not glue individual lamellas together;
- ease of removal of excess product;
- safety for human health under any operating conditions;
- invisibility on the floor surface;
- additional sound insulation properties.
There are many benefits to using laminate sealant.
On a note! As a rule, in expensive and high-quality laminate, the joints between the lamellas have a special coating, and therefore sealant may not be used for such material.
It must be remembered that for laminate it is worth purchasing a specialized sealant. Conventional sealing compounds used in other areas are not suitable for these purposes.
Bostik Clic Protect laminate sealant
Rules for operating the coating
Often reviews of quartz vinyl laminate indicate its high degree of reliability. But this will only be relevant in cases where it is properly cared for. First of all, this applies to the timely removal of stains of various origins.
To do this, it is recommended to use a biodegradable cleaner that will not damage the polymer surface. Before use, you should read the instructions. In some cases, after applying the product, it does not need to be washed off with water. If the damage is significant, you need to use special vinyl polishes.
You can replace defective tiles or a section of rolled linoleum yourself. To do this, you should dismantle part of the covering and clean the floor surface from the adhesive base. Having cut out a new piece, it is installed using the technology described above.
If you need to find out how practical vinyl laminate is, reviews from professionals will help you decide. It is only important to choose the right coating model, as well as follow the technology for its installation. In this case, the service life can be from 10 to 15 years.
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Laminate sealants
All sealants produced by various manufacturing companies, depending on the composition, can be divided into two categories - acrylic and silicone. They differ in operational properties and some characteristics.
Using sealant when laying laminate flooring
Silicone sealants
The name of the category speaks for itself: in the composition of the sealants included in it, the obligatory base is silicone - an organosilicon chemical substance that has found its way into many areas of human life.
Silicone-based sealants are characterized by high elasticity and good adhesion, while they are also very durable. These products are safe for human health, do not leave stains during operation, are not afraid of temperature changes and are very easy to use.
Silicone sealant for laminate
On a note! Sealants belonging to this group are used most often. The main areas of application are sealing joints and cracks, protecting the coating from moisture.
Acrylic sealants
Here the composition is based on acrylic - a synthetic polymer. These sealants provide a strong connection that remains flexible and does not allow moisture to get under the coating and ruin it. This sealant can also be used to mask minor coating defects and does not crack throughout the entire period of operation. Interestingly, seams treated with acrylic do not turn yellow, which means the floors will look like new.
Acrylic sealant can be easily processed using regular sandpaper. It can be coated with various primers and paints
Acrylic sealant contains no silicone or polyester substances, which increases its value from an environmental point of view. Sealants will not harm either people or pets living in the house.
Application of acrylic sealant
Advice! Acrylic sealants are rarely colorless - they almost always contain dyes. Therefore, when choosing a sealant by color, it is important to have with you a sample of the laminate for which the substance will be used.
Total
The flooring market offers a wide range of different types of products for processing laminate joints:
- Sealant gels;
- Silicone sealants;
- Acrylic sealants;
- Wax compounds;
- Mastics;
- Grout;
- Liquid plug.
Each composition has its own advantages and disadvantages, which characterize the area of its application. Some are more universal, others have a narrow focus. You can choose the right sealant for laminate flooring only based on the specific conditions of use.
Most popular brands
The selection of sealants on store shelves today is amazing. The product can be selected in any price category, for any laminate color and with different application requirements. A review of popular products will help you choose the best and most suitable sealant.
Table. Popular sealants for laminate flooring .
| Name | Characteristic |
| Click Guard | A German sealant that is used quite often and has very good reviews. Suitable for processing absolutely any laminate - expensive and cheap - as well as parquet. It is convenient to use, as it is sold in tubes with a tip and does not require special devices. The disadvantage is the high price. The substance polymerizes in just 15 minutes, then excess composition is easily removed. Consumption – 1 package per 8 sq. m. |
| Soudal | Acrylic colored sealant, suitable for sealing cracks and restoring chips/scratches. It does not have an unpleasant odor, but has excellent adhesive properties. Excess can be washed off with water. The product can only be used with a specially designed gun, which is a disadvantage of the product. |
| Masterfix | The sealant is made in Russia, and therefore has a low price and good quality. It is universal and has excellent water-repellent properties. Ideal for non-professional use. |
| Rico AquaStop | A composition that is made on the basis of natural wax. Perfectly protects laminate planks from moisture. Apply with a brush. |
| Click Protect | Swedish sealant, colorless. Polymerization time – 30 minutes. Economical consumption - only 1 package per 15 sq. m. Recommended for use during laminate installation. The disadvantage is the high price. |
Click Protect sealant
ClickGuard. A series of German sealants that are distinguished by the highest performance indicators, therefore they are considered one of the best on the modern market
Which putty is better?
The domestic market offers a sufficient range of various materials for repairing and maintaining the laminate surface. Almost all of them do an excellent job. One of the most important points to achieve the desired result is choosing the right shades of wax or other repair products.
The most popular materials for laminate restoration are German and Dutch “Quick-Step” products. Both companies produce putty in the form of paste, wax bars and pencils, as well as in special kits.
Repair kit “Quick-Step Mix & Fix” for repairing scratches on laminate and parquet.
Companies present on the market 24 shades of wax putties that mix well with each other. Therefore, if desired, you can achieve any color that will effectively mask the flaws that have appeared.
Choosing a sealant for laminate
Not all popular sealants are described above - there are a lot of them on store shelves. It is clear that making the right choice is very difficult, especially for a beginner in the field of laminate installation. What should you consider when choosing a sealant for laminate flooring?
- First of all, the quality of the product is determined. It is worth remembering that the price-quality ratio is not always adequate. It happens that even expensive remedies turn out to be far from the best. Reviews from those who have already used one or another sealant will help you determine the quality of the product.
Elastic sealant Homax Click
- Composition is also an indicator of quality. In addition, attention is drawn to the presence of substances in the sealant that emit an unpleasant odor and are harmful to health. Among the variety of products, there are also those that do not emit a smell at all.
- Timing of work. It is better to take a sealant that has a short polymerization time and complete drying.
- The method of application is also worth evaluating, because for some products you need to buy special equipment, for others you don’t have to buy anything.
- Price is also an important indicator. The budget must be assessed, because several packages of the product may be needed to treat laminate flooring in a room.
Elastic sealant Homax Click
Professional laminate installation
Reviews
“We recently installed regular laminate flooring in our home. I really regret that I didn’t find out about vinyl laminate earlier, as I definitely would have preferred it. All the benefits of vinyl make it so different from ordinary vinyl. Moreover, I have now set a goal to replace the floors in a couple of years and install vinyl laminate.” Olga, Krasnodar.
“On the advice of a friend, I installed vinyl laminate. I was surprised that it is absolutely no different from parquet. The top covering is designed to look like parquet, and at a much lower price than the real thing. Nowadays, you can believe the advertising: why pay more for parquet if you have vinyl laminate?” Vladimir, Saransk.
“I laid the floor myself. At first, I chose any laminate in the store, but settled on vinyl. I didn’t know about its advantages, I relied on the ease of installation, consulted with the sellers and they suggested vinyl laminate as the easiest for these purposes. The boards are light, it’s clear how and where they are attached, for each square meter I spent only 500 rubles. This is the best choice for the price." Vitaly, Voronezh.
“We chose the gender as a family. The renovation budget was minimal. The qualities of vinyl flooring are ideal: environmentally friendly, durable and, according to specialists, should last a very long time. But still, the choice of vinyl laminate hit our wallet. We paid 1,800 rubles per square meter. We hope it pays off." Julia, St. Petersburg.
We have a child at home, he is still six months old. That's why I took a long time to choose the floor. Based on reviews and characteristics, vinyl laminate flooring was suitable. I decided what would be the safest for the child, and I was not mistaken in my choice. Plus the floor is very practical. All the time some kind of moisture gets on the surface, which is a common occurrence with a child, I have never noticed any damage.” Lana, Moscow.
Using laminate sealant
Laminate flooring is usually sealed in two cases - if a new coating is being laid and if the old one is being restored.
Attention! In the second case, after the laminate is disassembled, it is important to remove the old sealant, if any, from the ends of the lamellas. A spatula or a special solvent will help remove the substance. The main thing is to carry out the actions carefully so as not to damage the locks of the laminate.
Then you can begin sealing the seams while laying the laminate.
Step 1. The surfaces where the sealant will be applied, that is, the ends of the lamellas, are cleaned of debris and dust.
First, the surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned.
Step 2. Next, the sealant is applied in an even layer to the upper part of the end.
Applying sealant
Step 3. Immediately, before the sealant has hardened, the lamella is inserted with its end into the groove of the lamella of the previous row and snaps into place with careful pressure.
The slats are connected
Step 4. The sealant is also applied to the side of the laminate panel.
Carefully apply the sealant
Step 5. Excess sealant is removed from the surface of the laminate after approximately 20-30 minutes.
Extruded sealant
Removing excess sealant
Video - Sealing laminate
Laying
Installing vinyl laminate flooring is essentially no different from installing regular laminate flooring. The main feature is lightness and simplicity.
Vinyl flooring can be installed on any old ceramic, concrete or linoleum surface. The process is divided into stages
- The base for installation is carefully leveled and putty is applied.
- The surface is cleaned of moisture, dust and dirt. The material itself is cleaned using the same system and kept indoors for about two days.
- Before installation begins, the room temperature is checked. It should be no lower than +18 degrees.
- Section of the planks. The laminate planks are separated using a hacksaw or scissors. After separating the boards, special glue is applied to them.
- Laying begins from the corner of the room; the planks should be connected at an angle of 45 degrees.
Very fast installation. Just a few hours.
It is also important not to forget about the deviation of the planks from the wall by 4-5 mm. Everything is carefully checked for possible cracks and uneven joints.
The same applies to laying interlocking laminate. First, the panels are joined at the specified angle, then lightly pressing downwards are snapped into place.
At the end of the work, the floor is once again checked for unevenness and the strength of the connection of the planks. To do this, it is best to use a special rolling roller.
Sealing the deformation gap
Using sealant, you can also seal expansion joints. They must remain along the walls after installing the laminate, but can pose some threat to the material, allowing moisture to penetrate into the coating.
Laying laminate flooring with sealant
Step 1. Using a slightly damp cloth, treat the working surface of the laminate - the place that is very close to the wall.
Cleaning the work surface
Step 2. Painting tape is glued along the deformation gap so that the sealant gets only into the seam, but not onto the surface of the laminate.
Applying masking tape
Step 3. The seam is evenly filled with sealant.
Filling the seam with sealant
Step 4. Using a small rubber spatula, smooth out the sealant. It is important to carry out this procedure in the first 10 minutes after applying the substance.
The sealant is leveled with a spatula
Step 5. The masking tape is removed from the surface of the laminate.
Removing masking tape
Step 6. The surface of the sealant is carefully wiped with a damp cloth.
The sealant is wiped with a damp cloth
What should I do to prevent cracks from appearing?
- Vacuum regularly. If dirt particles do not clog into the gaps, they will perform their functions - they will prevent deformation of the boards.
- When liquid is spilled, immediately wipe the floor with a soft cloth. Moisture will not seep between the boards and will not be absorbed.
- Do not move heavy furniture across unprotected floors. In case of rearrangements, keep walkways and rugs made of soft, dense materials on hand. Lay them so as not to catch the joints of the boards with furniture legs.
- If a gap appears, seal it immediately. Minor deformation can be easily corrected using sealant or grout. These compounds will prevent further development of the problem.
