If you want to choose a floor covering, you can pay attention to the Artens brand. The laminate of this manufacturer is manufactured by several popular European companies, including: Kronostar, Lassen, Egger, and Spanolux SA.
If you want to purchase durable material that will last up to 30 years, you should choose decor that is produced under the Artens brand in Germany. Reviews about this product are mostly positive, consumers especially note the affordable price, good quality and excellent appearance. However, you should personally inspect the integrity of each panel before purchasing, as some may be defective.
Characteristics of the “Byzantine Oak” option
The Artens company (we will describe the laminate of its production in the article) offers its consumers many options for the named floor covering. One of the varieties is “Byzantine Oak”, the thickness of which is 10 mm.
This material is of high quality and is made on the basis of high-density fiberboard. Thanks to this, the manufacturer was able to obtain products that correspond to wear resistance class 33.
This flooring is intended for installation in commercial and residential premises; the surface can be subject to any degree of load. The canvases perfectly imitate the natural texture of parquet, and laminate flooring is easier to care for than some alternative options.
Wear resistance
When purchasing laminate flooring, you should pay attention to such an indicator as AC. It denotes wear resistance in German, Belgian and Austrian coatings. The higher the value from 3 to 6, the better the floor covering will perform in operation. Higher values affect price formation. Market needs for price and quality are constantly changing. In this regard, the manufacturer updates the collections. High indicators of environmental friendliness and safety of materials allow us to maintain a leading position among the best offers on the flooring market.
Production Features
Artens laminate, which is produced in a factory using high-tech equipment, is made from fiberboard. It provides products with special strength and rigidity.
A paper layer equipped with a printed pattern is laid on top of it - it is this layer that imitates parquet made from natural wood. Next comes a special protective layer, and melamine or acrylate resin is applied to the paper.
By the way, if you want to choose products that are hard, you should prefer a laminate that uses corundum as the surface layer.
Main foreign and domestic manufacturers
Some of the most well-known laminate manufacturers include::
- Pergo (Sweden).
- Berry Alloc (Belgium-Norway).
- Kaindl (Austria).
- Haro (Germany).
- Kronotex (Germany).
From Russian (or together with Russian):
- Ritter (Russia).
- Egger (Austria-Germany-Russia).
- Kronostar (Russia-Germany).
- Tarkett/Sinteros (Germany-Russia).
- Quick-Step (Belgium-Russia).
The listed companies are the most famous, but the total number of manufacturers is much wider.
When choosing, it’s easy to get lost in names or countries, so you should be guided by the passport data of the material and be sure to check the availability of certificates.
Dimensions of Artens brand laminate
Artens laminate, the sizes of which can be very different, has a thickness ranging from 7 to 12 millimeters. On sale you can find panels with dimensions of 1292x192, 1285x194, and 1285x191 mm.
When choosing a suitable floor covering for yourself, remember that on thicker laminate boards, furniture legs do not leave marks; in addition, such a floor is usually warmer, and its elements are easier to install.
Varieties
Why Germany? The most popular is German laminate of 32 and 33 classes.
It is installed not only in residential premises, but also in offices. Such laminate can be purchased on the domestic market at a high cost. Its price is due to the fact that Germany does not know how to produce low-quality goods. Therefore, it is necessary to choose German companies, each of which is responsible for the quality of the product and its performance properties. The installed floor will last a long time.
German laminate class 32 has one feature. In terms of its qualities and performance characteristics, it is most similar to parquet boards. Many manufacturers occupy a confident place in the domestic and world markets. Every year the range becomes more and more, so German laminate is in great demand. Today it is easy to choose this coating to complete the interior of a room or office. To choose the appropriate option, it is necessary to evaluate not the cost, but the quality of the material. Let's look at the most popular manufacturers.
Positive reviews
If you are considering Artens laminate as a flooring option, you should first read the positive and negative reviews about it. Perhaps the opinions of users will allow you to understand whether it is worth purchasing this finish for your home.
So, according to some home craftsmen, the operation of the described laminate is quite pleasant. Self-installation will take quite a bit of time. If you do not have the appropriate skills, you will have to spend several days on this.
The named floor has been tested for strength by many owners of houses and apartments for many years, thanks to which they are convinced that the initially shiny and bright surface does not lose its original attractiveness during operation.
Artens laminate, reviews of which can be very different, still has additional advantages in the form of affordable cost, as well as smooth and clear lines of each product. After installation, it retains its noble appearance for a long time.
This means that if you want to find quality and beauty in one coating, then you should choose Artens laminate. This is exactly what many users who have already managed to change the flooring in their homes think. It is noteworthy that the manufacturer offers products for sale in two classes of wear resistance, thereby allowing you to save money if the floor in the room is not subject to intense loads.
Parameters affecting the price
The price of class 32 laminate will always depend on the manufacturer, strength, thickness and wear resistance, of course. In some cases, the cost is even determined by the color of the product. While German and Belgian manufacturers occupy the first places, Russian ones have fallen an order of magnitude lower. Although, in most cases, the quality of the boards does not suffer from this, but the price will be several times lower.
So, here is a list of all those manufacturers whose products have become popular due to their quality, reliability, availability, wide range of textures, colors and shades, as well as long service life:
- Aberhof;
- Alloc;
- Balterio;
- Classen;
- Ecoflooring;
- Uniqstep;
- Clix-Floor;
- Pergo;
- Parador;
- Kronotex;
- Kronostar;
- Dumafloor;
- Egger;
- Kronoflooring;
- Kronospan;
- Praktik;
- Vintage-Floor;
- Tarkett;
- Sinteros;
- Ritter;
- Quick-Step;
- Floorwood;
- Bode.
Negative reviews
But Artens laminate, reviews of which you should definitely read before going to the store, may also have some disadvantages. A number of buyers note that when purchasing the material, the finishing colors in some packs are different, which is why it is recommended to check the color match in the store.
Sometimes it happens that there is no pattern at the edges of the boards; this can be considered a defect, which allows you to return the cladding to the store. According to buyers of Artens flooring, the laminate of this company often suffers from defective products, which, by the way, are not always noticeable at the time of purchase. If you bought the material with a reserve, this may solve the problem, but it also happens that the finishing is purchased in another city or purchased to order. In this case, it is not possible to change products.
Main types
Laminate of any class has certain varieties. Class 33 also has various designs.
For example, depending on the number of stripes it happens:
- Single lane.
- Two-way.
- Three-strip laminate.
The number of stripes on the panel brings the canvas closer in appearance to the usual floor slats, which makes the surface more natural and natural.
In addition, various surface types are available:
- Glossy.
- Matte.
- Relief (rough).
In addition to the level of gloss, the material has a lot of different color or texture options. Basically, imitation of different types of wood is used, but there is also material that replicates the stone structure, leather, tiles, etc.
The choice of one type or another is made independently; any advice can only have advisory value and should not be taken as a guide to action.
Carrying out installation
Now let’s clarify what is required to carry out the installation of laminate flooring. The list will include:
- primer;
- foamed polyethylene;
- wedges for arranging technological gaps;
- baseboard fastenings;
- the baseboard itself.
You should prepare plastic film and glue. On sale you can find wedges that are intended for laying laminate flooring; this solution can be called affordable and cheap, like the crosses used when laying ceramic tiles. As an alternative solution, you can use pieces of drywall, laminate scraps or wooden pegs, but in any case their dimensions should be the same and the width should not exceed 10-15 millimeters.
Artens laminate, a photo of which is presented in the article, is not installed using glue; this composition is useful only for fastening elements in those places where the lamellas will be trimmed and the locking joints will be removed.
It is important to ensure that you have the appropriate tools, namely:
- construction knife;
- electric jigsaw or hacksaw;
- hammer;
- construction corner;
- roulette;
- pencil;
- wooden block (it will be needed for tamping the slats).
How to choose?
The choice of material is made by comparing the requirements of the room and the properties of the material.
In order not to make a mistake when choosing, you must first make a list of the most important qualities of the laminate, note the features of the room:
- Type of subfloor.
- Degree of humidity.
- The estimated (or precisely known) number of people.
- Possibility of using trolleys, office chairs, trunks or furniture on wheels.
NOTE!
Taking these requirements into account, you can immediately limit the range of materials that meet your requests. Of these, the most attractive in terms of external and operational characteristics is selected.
Work process
The base will need to be cleaned of dust and debris. If possible, it is best to use a construction vacuum cleaner.
The surface is primed, which applies not only to concrete screeds, but also to wooden floors. The latter option is additionally treated with fire retardants and antiseptics.
Waterproofing is laid on the cleaned surface, the material should be placed with an overlap of 20 centimeters. The resulting joints must be taped.
At the next stage, foamed polyethylene is laid, and installation of the laminate begins from a source of natural light, that is, from a window opening. The underlay for the laminate can only be placed on the area of the floor where the flooring is being carried out, and then the material is laid as the work progresses. This will allow you to maintain the cleanliness and integrity of its surface when installing it yourself.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of class 33 laminate include:
- High decorative qualities of the surface.
- Resistance to mechanical damage and abrasion.
- No static charge accumulates.
- The material does not support combustion; an unextinguished cigarette or match will not cause damage.
- All care consists of periodic wiping with a damp cloth.
- The material does not emit harmful substances, it can be installed in children's rooms.
- The ease of installation makes it quite accessible for DIY installation.
- The covering can be disassembled to repair or replace individual lamellas, and then reassembled.
The disadvantages of class 33 laminate include, first of all, high price . In addition, this material is fully characterized by the common disadvantages of all types of laminate - demands on the quality of the base, the negative impact of water, the possibility of squeaking or rattling when walking.
Expert advice
Laying Artens laminate involves the use of a backing that should extend 3 centimeters onto the walls, which will allow the formation of a shock-absorbing strip. Subsequent strips of polyethylene are laid end to end with the previous ones, and then glued with tape.
Installation begins with the installation of the first lamella, which will be located in the corner of the room on the window side. Pegs should be installed between this element and the wall, which also applies to the end part. Next, the lamellas are installed in a row as one-piece elements, and it is important to make the correct connection.
There are grooves at the ends into which each subsequent panel is inserted at a slight angle (no noticeable effort is required), then you should use a special hammer. If the row does not contain a whole piece at the end of the installation, then it is necessary to fill it with a segment.
The second row begins with a piece that remains from the previous row, but only if its size is less than 30 centimeters. Otherwise, you need to cut half of the new panel. The elements of the second row should be laid initially without using a lock with the first row; you just need to touch the edge of the end. As soon as the second row is ready, you need to lift it, and then push it all the way into the lock and latch it.
Arteo (Germany)
The Arteo
brand appeared on the Belarusian market relatively recently.
Behind it lies the well-known German manufacturer Classen
.
The assortment includes the current best colors of the manufacturer and a number of unique new products. Our company was one of the first to become an official dealer of these coatings. There are no large number of sales, since the product is new and unknown. But several buyers still shared with us their emotions and experience of installing Arteo
: “
We bought Arteo by accident, we just liked the color when we were choosing laminate flooring in the showroom.
The consultant said that this is Klassen's premium brand. In fact, it doesn’t matter to us what brand it is. The main thing is that the floor is installed without problems and lasts at least five years. We bought it and a pine backing. The master did the installation and said that there were questions about the locks, but in general, everything was as usual: no better and no worse than others. The floor lies and does not creak. Are you happy with your choice? In general, yes. » Nikolay Yablonsky, Minsk
In the picture: popular color Famara Oak
“ I chose the laminate simply based on a picture on the Internet. I liked the color Famara Oak . I took a sample at the salon and went home: apply it and see how it will look directly in the apartment. Fits perfectly! Rich white color and wood structure! My husband laid it on a simple 3mm backing. He said that the locks are flimsy and crumble. Maybe we were unlucky and this is the party. I managed to put him down, but he wanders around in some places (near the radiator in the hall). Maybe they chose the wrong underlay or the floor is not even... everything is fine in color, but it creaks. Maybe it will settle down some more...
» Nemogai Anna, Minsk
Aberhof company
This company was created on the basis of two countries - Germany and Switzerland.
Where is German laminate exported to? Minsk, Moscow, Kaliningrad, St. Petersburg - this is not the entire list of cities where you can purchase this coverage. The company has become popular thanks to its high-quality products, which are distinguished by their pleasant appearance and long-lasting performance properties. There are many laminate designs, each with a distinctive pattern. Its price is quite reasonable, so anyone can purchase it. The most popular model is Victory. It was thanks to her that the company became famous throughout the world.
