What material to choose for finishing the floor in the bedroom?

Laminate

Price per m²: 500-2,500 rubles.
Life time: 3-10 years old.

Laminate: exterior / Photo courtesy of Larsson

Laminate: cut / Photo courtesy of Larsson

Laminate is one of the most popular floor coverings. Manufacturers offer a wide range of colors and textures.

Typically, the laminate consists of five layers: two layers of cork, moisture resistant board, wood veneer, protective vinyl. The material's wear resistance class depends on the thickness and quality of the latter - from 21st to 34th. The higher the class, the more loads the laminate can withstand and the longer it lasts.

Laminate is easy to install and relatively inexpensive. At the same time, an ordinary coating does not tolerate the effects of water, and the price of a moisture-resistant one is much higher. In addition, the laminate has poor sound and thermal insulation.

The laminate contains formaldehyde. In large quantities, it is harmful to humans, and when it burns, it forms a poisonous gas.

You can determine the degree of environmental friendliness of the laminate by the formaldehyde emission class, which is indicated on the package. For living rooms, coatings with the E1 marking are suitable - they emit a minimum amount of harmful substances and are not harmful to health.

Each country has its own quality standards. I recommend choosing laminate from European manufacturers, especially German and Belgian. They have strict requirements, and the declared characteristics accurately correspond to reality.

Quartz vinyl tiles

Price per m²: 1,200-3,000 rubles.
Life time: 10-25 years old.

Quartz-vinyl: exterior / Photo courtesy of Larsson

Quartz-vinyl: cut / Photo courtesy of Larsson

Quartz-vinyl consists of three layers of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). One of them is reinforced with fiberglass, and quartz is added to the other for strength. The third layer is decorative: it gives color and texture. A protective polyurethane coating is applied to it.

Quartz vinyl has many benefits. It is not afraid of water, does not fade in the sun, and has high wear resistance (43rd class). The coating is warm to the touch and not too hard, dampens some of the sounds. Installation is no more difficult than with laminate flooring. On sale there are quartz-vinyl tiles of different colors and textures.

Quartz-vinyl is made from synthetic materials. It emits toxic substances when it burns, but in everyday life it is usually safe. Some manufacturers add unhealthy phthalates, lead and cadmium to the material. It is better to buy products from European manufacturers - they follow strict quality standards and use safe raw materials.

Parquet

Price per m²: 3,000-15,000 rubles.
Life time: 20-50 years old.

The parquet is entirely made of precious wood. It is an environmentally friendly, durable, beautiful and tactile material. It dampens sounds well and provides thermal insulation.

The peculiarity of parquet is that it can be updated. To do this, remove the top layer from it and re-varnish it. This can be done several times as needed.

Parquet is difficult to maintain. It must not be filled with water. For cleaning, you will need a vacuum cleaner with a special attachment and care products. It is important to monitor the humidity and temperature in the room: if abnormal, the parquet will swell or dry out.

Parquet will cost much more than artificial materials. The cost depends on the type of wood and manufacturer.

Parquet board

Price per m²: 2,000-12,000 rubles.
Life time: 20-40 years old.

Parquet board: exterior / Photo courtesy of Larsson

Parquet board: cut / Photo courtesy of Larsson

The parquet board consists of three layers. The lower and middle layers are technical, they provide the strength of the material and consist of coniferous wood. The top layer is decorative, made of expensive wood species: ash, beech, oak and others.

Parquet board is an environmentally friendly material that is pleasant to the touch. Like parquet, it can be renovated. The number of restorations is limited by the thickness of the face layer. The disadvantages are the same as for parquet - difficult maintenance and high cost.

Engineering board

Price per m²: 2,500-10,000 rubles.
Life time: 15-40 years old.

Engineering board: exterior / Photo courtesy of Larsson

Engineering board: cut / Photo courtesy of Larsson

An engineered board consists of two or three layers. In the first case, plywood and sawn veneer are used. In the second, a middle layer of oak, ash or other wood is added. A three-layer board is more durable due to the fact that the wood fibers in the layers are located perpendicular to each other.

Engineering board is a beautiful material. Its appearance depends on the type of wood in the decorative layer and the shade of the oil with which it was coated. It is environmentally friendly because it is almost entirely made of natural wood. The glue contains silicone additives between the layers, but they do not emit harmful substances.

Engineered board is not as finicky as parquet. It tolerates temperature extremes more easily. He does not like water either, so it is better to prefer dry cleaning and quickly wipe off the liquid if it gets on the floor.

How to choose a bedroom flooring

Any of the listed materials is suitable for the bedroom. Here are some tips for choosing.

Choose quality coverage in a segment that fits within your budget. Better to get a good laminate floor than the cheapest engineered board - it will look nicer and last longer.
Pay attention to the manufacturer. I recommend buying flooring from European brands - they have strict quality standards and high requirements for raw materials. This affects the characteristics of the material and its safety.
Ask the store for a certificate of conformity so as not to buy a fake.
Sniff the material before purchasing. If you opened the package and felt a strong chemical smell, do not take it.

For my bedroom, I would buy an engineered board: it looks beautiful in the interior, serves for a long time and is not as demanding on the indoor microclimate as parquet and parquet board.