Flexible laminate

Today, probably, each of us is familiar with such a coating as a laminate. In almost all building stores you can find panels that are widely used for decorative decoration of floor surfaces. Well, what do you know about material with a more intriguing title, such as “flexible laminate”? In its appearance, it is absolutely no different from the usual, but in terms of performance it is much better and more durable. Interested in? Then in this article we will tell you in detail about this coating and about how to lay it.

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What is a flexible laminate?

A flexible laminate is elastic vinyl-based boards that are made in the form of planks. They consist of such layers:

• Upper layer. It is made of aluminum oxide and polyurethane. Its main purpose is to protect the coating from damage. In addition, it also carries a decorative function, as it imitates various natural materials, such as wood, tile or marble.

Important! The top layer of a flexible laminate belongs to the 43rd class of wear resistance, in contrast to the traditional laminate, the panels of which have a maximum rate of 34.

• Bottom layer. It is even more stable and is the foundation. It is on it that the adhesive tape is located, thanks to which when laying such panels you can do without the use of additional adhesive composition.

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Advantages and disadvantages of a flexible adhesive-based laminate

Flexible laminate is a very versatile coating that has a pretty impressive list of benefits:

• Complete protection against moisture. Due to this property, this coating is also called “rubber laminate”. This is due to the fact that such material can be used at production sites, as well as in rooms with extreme conditions. That is why the liquid spilled on the floor is absolutely not afraid of flexible laminate panels, unlike the standard version.
• Wear resistance. Due to this property, this coating has high performance properties, respectively - as mentioned earlier, it can be used in industrial enterprises.
• Security. A flexible laminate is made from materials that are absolutely safe for human health, unlike a simple laminate, which may contain harmful components.
• Ease and simplicity of installation. A distinctive feature of this material is its low weight, due to which styling can be done in a fairly short time, and even a person who does not have the slightest experience in construction can cope.
• Soundproof. Due to this property, you do not need to additionally purchase and stack special substrates.
• Fire resistance. Flexible laminate is not “afraid” of fire, therefore, using such a coating in your home, you will significantly increase the safety of the room.

Unfortunately, a soft laminate, like all other similar finishing materials, is not ideal, respectively - it also has negative sides. The disadvantages of this coverage include the following:

• After the complete dismantling of the coating, many have problems with disposal, since the material does not decompose on its own in the natural environment.
• When chemically reacted with rubberized material, there is a risk of discoloration.
• Under the influence of direct sunlight, the coating begins to turn yellow.

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Types of Flexible Laminate

Depending on the production method, the rubber laminate is divided into the following types:

• Quartz. This is a vinyl material, in the composition of which there are crumbs of quartz, providing the coating with additional strength and reliability.
• PVC Such a coating is produced by a press using polymers. Very often, natural resin is added to the composition.
• Flexible self-adhesive vinyl-based laminate.
• Vinyl-based mirror laminate. It mainly serves as the material for the implementation of the most innovative design solutions.

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Connection Methods

The essence of laying a flexible laminate is that the strips with adhesive tape are joined to each other at the ends. This method essentially resembles the traditional castle joints of an ordinary laminate, only the process in this case is much faster. The lower part of such a panel is slightly offset, approximately 20-25 millimeters, so a small edge is obtained on the side, on which the smart tape is applied.

Another mounting option is when the adhesive base is placed at the bottom of the strip, so during installation the protective film is removed, and the laminate itself is glued to the already prepared surface. In this case, the strips are not connected to each other.

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Basic foundation requirements before laying

Flexible laminate with smart tape can be laid on absolutely any surface, and without any special preparations. For example:

• The concrete base must be leveled with a screed and putty should be repaired with all irregularities and floor defects. The final stage of preparation consists in coating the surface with a primer. Thus, you will fix the top layer of the screed and do not let the particles of cement stick to the laminate panel.
• Wooden floor. When planning laying a flexible laminate on such a base, it should be borne in mind that it should not bend, and also have various cracks and chips, and the protruding nail heads should be deepened or even dismantled.
• Stone tile or tile. Also suitable as a basis for laying flexible laminate. The most important thing is to turn your attention to the seams. If they are too deep, then it is advisable to seal them with cement mortar or fugue.

Important! As for the flexible laminate on an adhesive basis, in this case the surface needs to be prepared more carefully, since such a coating will repeat all the bumps and flaws. Therefore, for this material, the most acceptable bases will be sheets of plywood, a perfectly even screed or bulk floor.

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Flexible laminate laying technology

Flexible laminate is a very picky floor. The only nuance that should be taken into account when laying it is the temperature regime. In the room in which you plan to carry out work on laying soft flooring, the temperature should not be below seventeen degrees.

Important! Experts recommend leaving the laminate in the room for two to three days before the installation process. Thus, it is acclimatized, and installation will be much faster, better.

Installation of flexible laminate according to the type of connection

The castle type of soft laminate should begin to be laid from a far corner space. The work sequence consists of the following actions:

• Inspect the surface of the rough base. If you find any visible defects, they must be removed, since the surface should be smooth.
• Clean the subfloor from debris and dust, and also degrease it.
• Cut the tape of the first row, attach it to the surface.

Important! At this stage, a small gap should be left between the decorative coating and the wall in order to ensure better breathability.

• Remove the protective film and place the segment. Iron the junction with a rubber roller.Subsequent elements are laid in the same way, with only a slight offset.

Important! Before making a laying of a design, it is better to warm up a smart-tape by means of the usual hair dryer.

Installation of soft panels on a glue basis

In this case, the stages of laying such a floor covering with the previous method of joining the panels are slightly different, since adhesive-based tiles do not require a gap between the segments. They must be stacked tightly. The installation process consists of the following steps:

1. Remove the protective film from one segment.
2. Attach the panel to the rough base and press firmly.
3. Walk on the floor to increase the adhesive properties of the structure.

Important! If you are laying a flexible laminate near niches, columns and other ledges, trim the planks according to the pattern.

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Stock footage

Soft floor is a modern achievement in the construction and design industry. In addition to the fact that you get a fairly reliable coating with high performance properties, you get a smooth and comfortable surface that will be nice to walk with bare feet. The most important thing is to strictly follow the rules and installation sequence so that in the end minor troubles do not spoil your mood. We hope that our article will help you at all stages of laying this decorative floor tile, and the installation process will be quick and easy.