Laying laminate is not as easy as it seems at first glance. This process has a lot of nuances, the observance of which is important for the successful completion of the procedure. And the correct joining of the laminate between rooms, as well as with other coatings, just refers to these aspects. correct installation. The procedure is simple, but it is important to know how to join the laminate between rooms. Only with the necessary knowledge, it will be possible to create neat and beautiful floors.
How to dock laminate and tile - photo
This material, which is a rectangular long slats, which consist of several layers, is one of the most sought after floor coverings on the market. It is characterized by high strength, attractive appearance, ease of installation. The coating itself, created from a laminate, can serve for many years if strips of the appropriate quality were used for manufacturing, and they were correctly laid.
On a note! The thickness of one lamella varies between 9-11 mm. The width is 19.5 cm, and the length of the bar can be up to 185 cm.
The coating consists of several layers, its base is made of fiberboard, and other layers are located above and below it. From above, the coating is covered with a special protection made of melamine resin, under which there is a layer responsible for giving the material certain color(for example, imitation of a cut of wood or stone). The bottom layer also performs a protective function. Thanks to the top layer, the coating is not afraid of exposure to ultraviolet rays, moisture and other external factors.
Laminate does not like water, and its side, unlike the bottom or top, usually does not have moisture protection. That is why it is important to correctly lay the material so that there are no gaps between the individual lamellas. However, often when laying a flooring in an apartment between separate rooms or other rooms, you have to join the lamellas - it is not always possible to lay a laminate with one continuous cover. Also, this type of coating is often joined with other types of materials for finishing floors - for example, tiles, linoleum, etc.
On a note! Since laminate does not like water, it is rarely installed in rooms with high humidity. These are kitchens, bathrooms, bathrooms. Ceramic tiles usually take their rightful place there. And it is also very important to properly and beautifully dock with the laminate.
Prices for laminate "Tarkett"
tarkett laminate
Why you need a connection
Why is it so important to correctly arrange the joints of the laminate between rooms? There are several correct answers to this question:
- individual sections of the coating are sometimes easier to dock between rooms than to continue to lay out the coating all over;
- according to the recommendations of experts, every 7-8 meters between the rows of laminate should be gaps about 10-15 mm wide. They are necessary to compensate for the thermal expansion of the slats;
- jointing is necessary for joining different types laminate, interlock connections which do not match;
- the procedure is performed with a combination of lamellas of different colors or different coatings when zoning a room;
- it is also indispensable in the design of steps, if the room has a podium.
By itself, the locking connection between the lamellas is quite strong and reliable; it will not allow individual parts of the coating to walk. But the laminate is a “live” coating, it is able to change its dimensions depending on the temperature and humidity of the air, either expanding or narrowing. That is why the presence of deformation gaps is necessary. Still, the laminate has in its structure a wood component, which reacts sharply to changes in humidity and temperature.
On a note! Such deformation gaps must also remain along the walls along the perimeter of the room. Otherwise, the coating may bulge over time.
Thus, it is necessary to do the joining of individual parts of the coating and not always the reason is that it is required to connect the floors in separate rooms. It will also look ugly if you leave different types of coatings without joining.
How to join laminate
Connecting individual laminate planks between two rooms can be done in several ways. It can be docking with locks, directly available on the lamellas, docking with thresholds, cork compensator or adhesive mixtures such as sealants or mounting foam.
lock connection suitable if the same planks of the coating are joined, having the same structure and height. Simply put, when lamellas from the same batch are used. In this case, the locks will match exactly. Also, the method is suitable for small premises, where additional compensation gaps between the coating areas are simply not needed.
Nuts are used more often than other elements for docking. This is due to the simplicity of their installation, availability and low cost - you can buy sills in any hardware store for little money. The profile is simply screwed or glued (depending on the type of product) to the gap remaining between the laid sections of the coatings. This gap will be sufficient so that the lamellas can easily expand if necessary, and the coating will not rear up. By the way, sills can be made from the most different materials, but standard metal ones are most often used. Their length can also vary.
On a note! With the help of thresholds, you can join a variety of types of floor coverings with each other, including laminate with ceramic tiles or laminate with linoleum.
It is usually used only to connect two sections of a laminated coating, less often - to connect different types of coatings. Such a product will allow you to avoid the presence of gaps on the floor at all, since cork is a rather soft material and will simply wrinkle when the coating expands, and when it shrinks, it will return to its original shape again. The cork compensator is laid already immediately after the installation of the entire coating - with the help of a small spatula, as it were, it is inserted into the cavity of the remaining gap. Usually the cork is not even visible to the naked eye, since the color rarely differs from the coating itself. And if necessary, it can be tinted with a marker or paint.
Sealant and foam are used less often as they can stain the surface of the coating. But on the other hand, with their help, you can hide gaps of any width and join sections of coatings that have rather bizarre shapes. It is important to immediately remove excess material after application, otherwise after drying they will leave ugly marks. The main disadvantage of the method is the impossibility of dismantling this section of the panels if necessary. Also, due to the sealant, the lamellas cannot expand, which means that the method can only be used in small areas.
Sometimes connecting elements are issued together with a laminate. They are ideal for joining individual sections of the coating. They cost, as a rule, more than universal connecting elements. Typically, only large and well-known manufacturers of laminated flooring produce such options.
Types of connecting strips
All connectors for individual sections of flooring can be divided into several categories. They are divided by the type of material from which they are made, as well as by shape.
Table. What can sills be made from?
| Type / material of manufacture | Peculiarities |
|---|---|
| This type of sills is made from pressed wood shavings, in other words, these are MDF moldings. They have a laminated coating on the top, which gives the desired color to the product. Usually selected in accordance with the texture of the lamellae. They allow you to discreetly and beautifully join individual sections of the laminate floor. The disadvantage is that MDF moldings are afraid of moisture. |
| It can be made of several types of metal - aluminum, brass, steel. The surface has decorative coating, which is often done in gold, wood or silver. Due to the high strength of the product, they are usually installed in places with high traffic and a significant impact on the floor covering. |
| Pretty flexible and suitable option for the design of curly joints between coatings. Such a threshold is made of plastic, it is inexpensive, it can be made in almost any color. The main drawback is the fragility, which is why such a threshold quickly loses its appearance. |
| It usually looks like an angular profile and is used if you need to decorate the edges of stairs or podiums. Made from rubber. Strong, durable product with no sharp edges. |
| A rather expensive option for sills, which is rarely used for joining laminate. It is more often used for the design of joints between individual sections of a natural wooden floor. The nut is difficult to care for, constantly requires varnishing and polishing. |
Combined floor in the hallway - tiles and laminate
Also, profiles for decorating joints can have a different shape. They are:
- direct- these are used to form joints between two types of laminate or between a laminate and other coatings. The main thing is that they have the same height, otherwise it will be inconvenient to fasten the sills;
- transitional- this version of the nut is useful just for joining multi-level coatings;
- corner- such a threshold is useful if you need to connect two perpendicular surfaces to each other, for example, when decorating podiums and stairs;
- final– allow you to close the edge of the last lath of the laminate.
What to consider before starting installation work?
Before you start joining two separate sections of laminate flooring or joining it with another type of flooring, you should take into account several features and make sure that everything necessary requirements to the conditions of the work were met. For example, the installation of a laminate and its docking can only be carried out if the rough base is perfectly even. There shouldn't be any gaps.
On a note! The maximum horizontal deviation of the floor prepared for laying the laminate should not exceed 2 mm.
Also, do not lay and immediately acquired laminate. He must necessarily lie down in the room for two days before starting work. Otherwise, the coating will most likely heave over time, and even the presence of compensation gaps will not save the situation.
Installation of laminate can only be carried out at positive temperatures. Work begins from the farthest corner of the room from the exit. It is also recommended to orient the lamellas along the direction of incidence of light rays, so the joints between the lamellas will be minimally noticeable.
Mounting of connecting strips
Let's see how the installation of connector thresholds is carried out, which are necessary for joining individual sections of the laminate between rooms.
Step 1. The first step is to measure the threshold and doorway. It is necessary to make sure that the product enters the opening and completely closes the deformation gap along the entire length.
Step 2 The threshold is applied to the installation site, markings are applied through the holes in it, which will allow you to outline the drilling points of the rough base. Dowel holes should be drilled in the center of the gap and not on the surface of the laminate. The location of the nut is also noted.
Step 3 At the marking site, holes are made in the subfloor. The diameter of the drill should be optimal for the size of the dowels included with the nut.
Step 4 Dowels are inserted into the holes made in the floor.
Step 5 The sill is placed in its intended place.
Step 6 The strap is fixed with self-tapping screws, which are screwed into plastic dowels and tightened tightly.
On sale there are also sills with hidden fasteners. In this case, you will have to act as follows.
Step 1. As in the previous case, the threshold and doorway are measured, and then markings are applied to the subfloor in the places where the dowels will be inserted.
Step 2 The threshold with hidden fasteners has reverse side a groove into which the self-tapping screws are inserted. The dowels are screwed onto the self-tapping screws immediately.
Step 3 According to the previously applied marks, holes are made for the dowels.
Step 4 The nut is attached to the gap, which must be closed with it. Dowels fixed on self-tapping screws, moving along the groove, are inserted into the holes made by the perforator.
On a note! There are also self-adhesive sills on sale, with wrong side they have a special adhesive tape that allows you to fix the product in the right place.
Video - Nut mounting option
Joining laminate and tiles
If you need to join the laminate and tiles, you can proceed in exactly the same way as during installation metal sills, or you can use another version of the docking profile - a cork compensator.
Step 1. To install a flexible cork expansion joint, you will need to cut it not only to the required length of the doorway, but also in height so that it does not protrude above the surface of the coatings.
Step 2 The laminate at this stage has already been laid, you need to start laying the tiles. But first, the cork sill itself is glued to the base with the help of reliable building glue. First, glue is applied to the rough base along the edge of the laminate, on which the threshold is then laid, but is not temporarily pressed.
Step 3 Acrylic sealant is also used to seal the gaps between the cork compensator and the laminate. Then the cork compensator is pressed against subfloor and laminate.
Step 4 Excess sealant is removed with a sponge dipped in water. The surface is then wiped with a dry cloth.
Step 5 In the traditional way, on the other side of the cork compensator, ceramic tiles are laid on the glue.
In general, joining laminate and tiles is necessary to achieve aesthetic harmony, extend the life of coatings, and protect the joint from water.
Video - Option for joining laminate and tiles
It is not difficult to join individual sections of a laminate or different types of floor coverings to each other. The main thing is to know how it's done. In general, if you follow the installation instructions, difficulties should not arise even for novice craftsmen.
In an ordinary apartment, you need to join the laminate 5-7 times. These are the transitions from laminate to laminate between rooms. As well as the connection of tiles with laminate in the bathroom, toilet and hallway.
All these joints at the door need to be decorated beautifully and uniformly. The thickness and color of the floor coverings are taken into account. The easiest way to close the connection is with sills.
To date, there are more than 10 types. There are even different levels. This allows you to make beautiful transitions from laminate to thin linoleum and carpet.
And how to join the laminate between rooms without a threshold? Experienced finishers use sealants and cork compensators for this. Let's look at all the design options for laminate transitions. Let's figure out which one is more beautiful, easier and cheaper.
Methods for joining laminate flooring
With seams will be in any case. After all, according to the instructions, you can lay it in one piece on an area of \u200b\u200bnot more than 10 meters. That is why best option- make joints between rooms.
How to close the seams:
- Profiles and sills. For joining 2 laminates. Matched to the color of the flooring. Mounted on self-tapping screws or glued;
- Sealants - as an option for filling joints between tiles and laminate;
- Cork compensator. A thin strip of cork painted or lacquered on top. Inserted or glued between laminate and tile.
It is advisable to consider the method of designing joints at the laying stage. This will allow the master to leave the correct gap between floor coverings. Each of the options involves its own installation features.
Types of thresholds (profiles) for joining laminate
The connecting threshold does not just close the seam. It is important to beautifully arrange the transition between floor coverings. If materials of different colors are joined, the threshold is selected to match one of them.
- Metal. There are steel and brass thresholds on the market. However, most often they are made of aluminum, decorated different ways:
- Laminated aluminium. A thin PVC film with a wood-like embossed texture is tightly glued to the surface of the nut. It does not tear when sawing, and practically does not scratch. Wide choose colors allow you to choose a threshold for any laminate;
— Painted. Special powder paints are used that are resistant to abrasion and scratches. Decors reminiscent of the colors of the laminate are used. The appearance of the nut is preserved with repeated washing of the floors;
- Anodized aluminium. These are powders with shades of gold, silver, copper, bronze and so on. An aluminum profile is placed in a solution of sulfuric acid, after which it is connected electricity. As a result, the thinnest layer of a particularly strong oxide film is formed on the metal surface.
Mounting Features: An aluminum product is easily sawn with an ordinary metal saw. In practice, you can file and gently break. There are 2 mounting methods:
- Open - in the nut 4-5 through holes. It is enough to drill the required number of holes in the floor and insert dowels into them. After that, the threshold is attached to the screws. The disadvantage of this method is that the screw heads are visible on the surface.
- Closed - on the back of the profile there is a groove into which the screw heads are inserted. Holes are drilled in the floor, then we put self-tapping screws with dowels on the threshold. Then gently hammer the threshold with a hammer. As a variant of the closed method of fastening - gluing the profile to the base of the floor or to the surface of the laminate.
The form is distinguished:
- Straight lines - to join single-level coatings without height differences. As an option, laminate and laminate of the same thickness;
- Multi-level - for connecting floor coverings of different thicknesses. For example, laminate with linoleum, carpet or high tiles;
- Corner - used when sheathing stairs with laminate;
- Finishing (edging) - used instead of a plinth.
Price- aluminum thresholds are the cheapest option to close the joints of the laminate between rooms. A standard profile 90 cm long costs about $2. If we talk about steel or brass, such a nut will be 3-4 times more expensive than aluminum.
- Wooden. They are usually made from pine and spruce, less commonly used hardwoods. Most often they are varnished, impregnated with various oils or simply polished. Wooden sills are an expensive pleasure. They are mainly used for joining parquet.
By shape there are - straight, angular and final.
Mounted to the floor with glue or inserted into plastic fixing strips. The tree is afraid of moisture and temperature changes. Over time, it needs updating - grinding, varnishing.
- MDF. This is compressed wood chips, the binder is synthetic resin. Pasted over it decorative paper coated with melamine resin. Such sills are produced by laminate manufacturers - Berryalloc, Quick-step and others. That is why the profile can be matched exactly to the color of the floor.
Attached to the floor, like wooden thresholds on glue or fastening strips. Cheaper price natural wood but more expensive than aluminum.
- PVC is plastic. The main advantage of plastic is its flexibility. Such sills are most often used for rounded joints of tiles and laminate in the kitchen. However, closing the seams between rooms is also possible. Despite the flexibility, plastic profiles are quite strong. They withstand significant mechanical stress.
Mounted them on a bar pre-installed at the joint, less often just on self-tapping screws. The cost is comparable to the price of aluminum thresholds - $ 2.
Sealant - as an option to join laminate and tiles without thresholds
Usually the laminate goes to the tiles from the corridor to the toilet, bathroom and hallway. It is in these places that it is advisable to use sealants. You don't have to drill the floor like you would with a sill. However, when making joints with sealant, there are other features.
Before using sealant at the joints, it is important:
- Fit tiles and laminate to each other at the same level. That is, both floor coverings must be of the same thickness. At the same time, an even gap of 5-6 millimeters is left between them;
- Glue the edge of the laminate (5-10 centimeters at the joint) to the floor. Part cut off first. This is necessary for the strength of the future seam. Then we press the glued area and wait for the glue to dry.
From the foregoing, it is clear that using sealants must be decided in advance. The store will be with tiles in thickness. And you will also need elastic glue for gluing the last row of lamellas.
What sealant to use? Many recommend pouring ordinary silicone into the joint. However, it is short-lived and you will have to renew the seams after a couple of years. For joints, it is better to use polyurethane sealants for outdoor work. This one will definitely last longer.
Operating procedure:
- The edges of both materials are glued with molar tape;
- The sealant is gently squeezed into the gap between the laminate and the tile. Excess can be removed even with your finger. But it is better to use special rubber spatula;
- After processing the entire seam, remove the tape from the floor and wait for the sealant to dry.
Flexible cork expansion joint for connecting laminate with tiles
It is a long thin strip of cork tree bark. The thickness of the compensator is 7-10 mm, the length is selected according to the doorway. The upper part of this bar is varnished or painted. You can easily choose the color you want. The cost of cork strips is $ 2-3 per piece.
Mounting method:
- Previously, as in the case of a sealant, the edge of the laminate is glued to the base of the floor;
- When the laminate has seized, we glue the cork compensator. To do this, the adhesive is applied both to the base of the floor and to the cut of the laminate. After that, the strip is pressed tightly against the planks;
- Now you need to lay tiles close to the cork plank. As a result, we have a beautiful joint of 2 floor coverings without a threshold.
Some simply insert a piece of cork into the seam. Do not repeat other people's mistakes. It will keep popping up.
However, it is not easy for a beginner to carefully install a cork compensator. liked this option docking? Show it to experienced finishers.
Remember about the uniform design of flooring seams. Laminate with laminate throughout the apartment can be joined with the same sills. And in places of transitions to the tile, use a sealant or compensator.
What is the difference good repair from bad? Thoughtfulness of details. Very good and expensive material can be spoiled by little things. In the case of laminate, this is 100% true. Even such a nuance as a seam in the coating between two rooms, the junction of two laminates that are different in height or in the way of laying. All this requires a thoughtful approach. How to join a laminate, what methods and materials to use and we'll talk further.
The laminate is laid using floating floor technology. To ensure that it does not rise with changes in temperature or humidity, the coating should not have hard fastening points. To compensate for changes in size, a gap of about 1 cm is left around the perimeter of the rooms to the walls. Subsequently, it is closed with a plinth. Skirting boards are attached to the wall, not to the floor.
Even if the same type of laminate is laid in the rooms, with large areas it is better to doorway make a seam. It is needed all for the same purposes: so that when the dimensions of the planks increase, the seams do not swell. The seam usually runs under the door. When it's closed, you can't see anything at all. Even when the doors are open, a properly selected docking profile or threshold does not attract attention.
How to connect laminate between rooms
Where to make a laminate joint between rooms? It is most logical to connect laminate to laminate so that the seam is under door leaf. Then at closed door joints are not visible. If several doors enter the room, it is desirable to arrange all connections in the same way.
Between the rooms, the laminate is connected using:
- connecting profiles;
- thresholds;
- cork compensator.
The connecting profile and the nut are not the same thing. These are two different types of connectors. The thresholds can be used with any floor covering, but they differ in appearance, as they are usually made of a different material. The connecting profiles are produced by the same companies that make the laminate. They are covered with the same film that is used for laminating the plates. This allows you to choose a connecting strip for a laminate with an exact match in color and pattern (if you're lucky).
Connection profiles
How to join a laminate so that the seam is minimally noticeable? Using laminated joint profiles. They are made of aluminum alloy or MDF, covered with a film that covers the laminate. Connecting profiles for laminate consist of a guide and a decorative strip. The guide can be plastic or metal. It is attached to the floor with glue (plastic) or dowels (metal).
The decorative strip can be metal or MDF. In any case, the material is laminated with a film. This type of molding is produced by the same companies that make laminate. Colors and textures match the laminate. If your company does not produce such strips, you will have to take a sample and try to find it from other manufacturers.
By shape top bar, connectors can be straight (pictured top center) or rounded (pictured left). Straight lines are less noticeable, but materials of the same thickness should be joined. Rounded ones can be set at a slight angle, which makes it possible to join laminate of different thicknesses.
Straight butt profiles for joining laminate flooring come in one thickness. They are called direct or connecting. There are options for coatings of different thicknesses, they are called "transitional". They have different shelf heights. It is selected according to the thickness of the coating used.
The width of the bar can also be different. The wider it is, the greater the compensation gap can be made. Minimum Width strips 22 mm, maximum - 44 mm. Perhaps there are more or less, but they are very rare.
How to join laminate with sills
Thresholds for connecting floor coverings are a plank made of wear-resistant material. What distinguishes them from connecting profiles is that it is only a bar. It just closes the gap at the top.
Make sills from the following materials:
- Metals and their alloys. Most often this aluminum alloys and brass. Coloring usually imitates one of the metals - brass, bronze, aluminum, etc. They can be shiny, matte, with a satin finish (semi-gloss), etc. There are options laminated with wood-like film, but they must be selected according to the color of the coating.
- Made of wear-resistant plastic. There are many planks in brown tones, there are colored ones, with imitation of wood.
- Wooden. Sold unpainted, you can try to choose the color yourself.
In order for the sills to look normal and not “scratch” the eyes, they are selected to match one of the mating coatings. Before joining the laminate, take samples of your coatings and go in search of the sills. Neither by eye nor by photo you will understand which of the options will be optimal. Only by attaching to a specific material can you choose.
Without "trying on" you will not understand which one is better. According to the type of fastening, the sills are hidden or open-mounted. Open-mounted - with through holes in the bar in which the fasteners are installed. Fasteners - self-tapping screws. It is desirable to select their color to match the color of the nut, and the shape of the cap should be conical and straight on top. If there is no fasteners in the kit, it is better to take a bar or a piece of it with a hole to the store with you. There you can "try on" different screws and choose the best option.
One of the sills is a gap-closing profile. And all
Flush-mounted thresholds are usually made of metal. More often made of aluminum and brass, can be found from of stainless steel(for the price of an airplane wing). It is better if the aluminum is anodized - it does not change color longer. Aluminum can be laminated with a woodgrain film, which increases the chances of making the joint less noticeable. Fasteners are included with the strap. It must have a certain shape of the cap - so that they go into the groove.
Cork expansion joints
If you do not like the sills, you can put a cork in the seam. There are special cork compensators. They are usually used when laying parquet. In width, they can be 7-12 mm, in height - 15, 18, 20 and 22 mm. Cork strips are painted and polished. Cork compensators are sold in pieces of 90 cm, 120 cm. You can also find strips 3 m long.
Cork compensators are laid when one of the coatings has already been laid, and the second will be mounted. This is convenient if the doors open onto the corridor, and two coverings from different laminates are connected, moreover, with different laying directions.
To install a cork compensator, you will need wood glue and silicone sealant (preferably transparent, it is almost imperceptible). We apply glue on the floor in a zigzag or two parallel strips, install a strip of cork and press it. We take silicone, bend the cork, coat the joint with the laminate, return the compensator to its place, press it.
When the second coating reaches the joint, the laminate cut must be smeared with silicone - this will protect against moisture and debris. Be sure to remove excess silicone immediately, otherwise they can then be torn off the cork only by damaging the surface. So, once again: we glue the bottom of the cork strip with universal glue, which glues wood and concrete (if you have concrete), and glue the sides with a sealant to the cuts of the flooring.
Installation of thresholds in the seam of the laminate
Read the installation instructions before making a joint between a laminate and a laminate threshold. It is usually included in the package. There may be some nuances, but in general, the order is the same. We will describe the general sequence of actions.
Connecting laminate flooring between rooms with a flush-mounted threshold
When installing a flush-mounted threshold, the bar is cut to the desired length. Holes are drilled in the seam, in the middle between the two coatings. Dowel plugs are installed in them. The dowel heads are inserted into the groove on the plank and distributed along the plank so that they are opposite the holes. It is more convenient to press the bar to one of the door jambs, turn it sideways, set the screws in this position.
If there is a self-adhesive layer on the bar, protective film take off. If there is no such layer, a thin strip is applied to the edges silicone sealant. It is better to choose a sealant that, after drying, remains elastic, and not hard. Such a seal will not collapse from periodic loads (when someone steps on the threshold).
Then we turn the bar with the fasteners installed, and carefully, from top to bottom, lower it into the holes. If the fasteners are set incorrectly, an assistant will be required. One person holds the bar, the second adjusts the position of the screws. When all the screws are in the holes, take rubber mallet or a hammer and a piece of wood and, with their help, we seat the threshold in place.
Docking laminate with laminate between rooms with an open-mounted threshold
You can close the joint of the laminate with an ordinary threshold. First of all, we measure desired length strips, cut with a hacksaw. We clear the junction of debris. We apply the threshold as it will lie. Using a pencil or marker, we put marks on the floor through the holes for installing fasteners. We hold the pencil strictly perpendicular. Even a slight deviation can bring installation problems.
We take a drill, insert a drill. Diameter - 1 mm less than the diameter of the fastener. We drill holes in each of the marks. The drill, again, is vertical.
We install plastic dowel plugs into the holes, hammer them so that they are flush with the floor. Apply a layer of silicone sealant on the sides of the nut strip. Turn the plank over and put it in place. It must be lowered from top to bottom. Lateral movements are undesirable due to the possibility of smearing silicone. We take the screws, insert them from above, tighten them.
If during installation silicone squeezed out from under the bar, immediately take a damp cloth and wipe everything without residue. As long as it has not polymerized, it is removed without problems. After a few minutes, it can be difficult to achieve a clean surface.
Now you know how to join a laminate with the help of thresholds. It's not all that difficult.
Laying laminate without thresholds throughout the apartment
Not everyone likes laminate joints, no matter how you arrange them. IN small apartments you can lay this coating with a continuous carpet. But the maximum length without thresholds is 10 meters, and the width is 8 meters. Different manufacturers may have differences in the maximum allowable laying without connecting seams, but not by much.
Even if this is possible in your apartment, it is not very convenient if you need to repair the laminate. The fact is that the laminate can be deformed, rubbed, etc. When laying with joints, it is easier to get to the desired fragment and replace it. If there are no joints throughout the apartment, for any replacement you will have to sort through everything from the very end. Very uncomfortable, though not fatal.
Still, laying laminate without joints throughout the apartment requires a thoughtful development of a laying plan. After all, there are no joints, you have to think which of the schemes will be the most convenient.
As a rule, when laying flooring, the most difficult is the connection of laminate and laminate. This is due to the fact that the joint should be neat so that it does not interfere with free movement and is invisible. Next, we will look at how to deal with this complexity.
I must say that the design of the joints causes difficulty only for those who are engaged in laying their own hands for the first time. Such trifles have long been thought out by specialists, so we can only use ready-made solutions. In this case, the connecting strips are such a solution.
The design of joints using planks, or in other words, a lock connection, turns out to be quite dense, as a result of which the tiles cannot move freely relative to each other when humidity changes or temperature changes in the room.
When a connection is needed
First of all, consider in what cases this connection may be needed. It should be understood that this is not about joining the tiles during assembly, but about those cases when the tile must be connected to the previously laid material, for which it is necessary to use a connecting profile for the laminate.
So, the need for this operation may arise in the following cases:
- Laminate connection between rooms, which is most often done in the aisle.
- When decorating large areas. In this case, the joints serve as damping gaps.
- When laying different types of material with mismatched locks in the same room.
- If it is necessary to finish steps or other differences in floor level.
Advice! By using different materials, for example, differing in color, you can perform zoning in the same room.
When purchasing a coating, you can ask the seller in advance if the strips that are necessary for the design of the joints in your particular case are available. It should be borne in mind that they may differ in both shape and material.
Profile form
Connecting strips, depending on their purpose, can be as follows:
- Straight profiles- are used when making joints between laminate and laminate or with other floor coverings, for example, with ceramic tiles.
- Transition profiles- located at different levels.
- Corner profiles- used when making joints of perpendicular surfaces on podiums and stairs finished with this material.
- Final Profile- used to frame the open edges of the floor material.
The above profiles have not only a decorative function. As mentioned above, the installation instructions for this coating require expansion joints. Connecting strips make these seams hidden.
Note! Expansion joints must be made every 7-8 meters. Otherwise, the coating will have nowhere to expand, as a result of which it will billow at the joints.
In the photo - a damaged coating as a result of the absence of expansion joints
Profile materials
Connecting strips can be made from the following materials:
- Laminated- made of wood-pressed fiber and covered with a decorating film. The pattern is selected in accordance with the pattern of the coating. Since it is necessary to connect the coating between rooms as discreetly as possible, the product is usually used in doorways.
- metal- usually made of brass, aluminum or stainless steel. Such slats are characterized by increased strength, so they are used in high traffic areas.
- Plastic- these are flexible and soft profiles, therefore they are usually used in the design of curved joints. The main advantage of these products is the low price and variety of colors. However, their service life is relatively short.
- Rubber- usually corner profiles which are used on stairs to ensure the safety of movement.
Mounting of connecting strips
All of the above connecting elements are sold complete with a mounting rail designed for flush mounting.
The connection is made as follows:
- The mounting rail is fixed to the base with glue or screws. The second option is more preferable, as it allows you to install the bar repeatedly, and also provide greater strength.
- Then a second coating spreads from the rail.
- After that, a decorative strip is installed in the mounting strip, which snaps into place with light hammer blows through a wooden block.
In the same way, you can connect given material with tiled floor tiles or some other covering. You can clearly see and learn how to connect the laminate between rooms from the video below.
Advice! metal profiles can be installed open way using screws or dowels. Holes for them are made at the factory.
Conclusion
As a rule, the overall impression of the quality of the repair and the interior is largely formed by such trifles as the design of corners, joints and transitions. Therefore, the implementation of the connections must be taken no less responsibly than the installation of the floor material itself. The above information will help you cope with this work quickly and efficiently.
There was an opinion that laying a laminate floor is quite simple. We will not dispute it, but in the process of work, depending on the specific circumstances, certain difficulties may arise. The most common problem arises when it is necessary to connect one coating to another. A similar situation occurs even when the entire apartment is covered with the same laminated material. You still have to face the question of how to join the laminate between rooms, use a threshold or do without it. Here everything depends not only on the design solution, but also on the technical preparedness and expertise of the laying specialist.
The joint between laminate and laminate is made under the following circumstances:
With the combination of laminate, you can perform all sorts of design solutions. For example, it is possible to visually increase the size of the room. To do this, docking of the same coating in the room is performed without setting thresholds.
By combining different materials it is possible to create unique interior. Can join laminated panels different shades or textures in the space of one room. The connection of the boards is done in accordance with the overall design. 
Note: at present, the combination of two floor materials in the design of a room is becoming an increasingly used artistic technique, as a result of which the interior design of a room acquires a special charm and originality.
Preparation for bonding laminate flooring
Recall that for laying laminated panels, the base must be well prepared, leveled and cleaned of all contaminants. For joining two floor materials, this condition is also necessary.
To join a laminate with a laminate, it must be foreseen that the panels can have different thicknesses, it is 6 - 12 mm. The best way is to purchase laminated boards, underlays of the same thickness, in order to avoid the slightest difference in the height of the surfaces. It is very good if materials from the same manufacturer are to be joined, so that they have the same type of locking joints, the same strength class, and hence the service life.
How to join a laminate with a laminate, with or without a threshold, and which profile should be used for the laminate joint?
There are several options for joining laminate to laminate. Consider the most common and less complex.
Most often, the connection of laminated surfaces occurs when moving from one room to another, i.e. in the doorway. Here it is necessary to leave a technological gap. In its absence, the formation of deformation, swelling of the floor surface is likely. The gap left must be filled in some way. How to close the joints of the laminate?
Laminate joint in a doorway To our joy, all these questions have been thought out for a long time, the answers to them have long existed, our task is to take turnkey solutions and apply them correctly. Coating manufacturers also produce a variety of components. These include: substrates, skirting boards, connecting strips for laminate. Planks for connection are also called threshold, molding, profile for connection. They vary in shape and are made from various materials.
Profile form
According to the forms, the docking strips for the laminate can be divided in this way:
The considered products carry a decorative load, but not only. When installing a laminate floor, you must have technological clearance, which the connecting profiles make hidden, protect against damage and at the same time allow for an aesthetic appearance.
Threshold materials
Connecting profiles are made from various materials.
- Laminated - made from compressed wood fibers, a laminated film with decoration is applied on top. A wide variety of colors and textures, so it is easy to match the decor of the joined laminate. The connection is aesthetically pleasing and correct selection, almost imperceptible. Often installed at the junction of a doorway.
- Metal - aluminum, brass, steel; top is covered decorative film. It is characterized by high strength, due to which it is installed in places with high traffic, for example: doorways.
- PVC profile is a flexible joint profile for laminate, excellent for making wave-like joints. Available in a wide variety colors, i.e. well matched to the color of the joined surface. Relatively inexpensive.
- Rubber - more often an angular profile for decorating stairs. They are anti-slip, increase the safety of walking on stairs.
There are several ways to design a seam line:
- using thresholds, profiles;
- use of a cork compensator;
- use of building sealants.
With all its advantages:
- ease of installation;
- beautiful view of the joint;
- no threshold - not used very often.
The point is their serious shortcomings:
- after their application, it is impossible to dismantle the panels in contact with the connecting compound without damage;
- when filling the joint with sealant or foam, the laminate loses its ability to expand, this can lead to damage to the coating.
Installation of connecting profiles
Aluminum moldings can be mounted in an open-mounted manner using dowels and self-tapping screws. On the aluminum bar there are already ready-made holes for self-tapping screws, accessories are sold together with a metal threshold.
Aluminum threshold, open fitting Decorative fastening method - looks more attractive, fastening is not visible, it is hidden under a decorative nozzle.
The mounting profile is connected to the base with self-tapping screws. A decorative nozzle is laid on top, pressed until it clicks. It covers the traces of fastening, and the joint looks pretty.
How to attach a universal profile:
Docking laminate and linoleum
This combination of materials is quite common. Both coatings are of high quality, but it is necessary to correctly and aesthetically arrange their joint. The strength of the floor covering and the interior of the room depend on this.
Consider the connection case: the thickness of the linoleum is much less than the thickness of the laminated panels with the substrate. There are two ways to connect in this case:
- joint in one level;
- joint at different levels of surfaces.
CONCLUSION
Now you know how to connect laminate with linoleum at the junction, how to connect laminate joints with laminate between rooms, it remains to translate all this into reality. Big problems when docking coatings will not occur if everything is done according to the instructions. If the connection line is complex or too long, it is better to entrust the connection of surfaces to specialists.
From such small but important points, as the design of the joints of the coatings, the level of repair and the general interior of the renovated premises largely depend.
