The choice of flooring is one of the most important after the repair. A Russian laminate is considered the most suitable material for this. Even despite the prevailing opinion about the low quality of Russian products, lamellas of domestic manufacturers loudly declared themselves in the construction market.
How to make a reliable floor
The basis for laying finishing coatings is not just a clean surface with decorative material laid on top of it. To meet all the necessary requirements, you need to properly prepare the foundation. If the floors are wooden, then you need to check the reliability of all lags and boards - so that they are not rotten and do not stagger. In addition, you need to choose the right thermal insulation and correctly lay it. Only in this case can you make a truly reliable foundation.
But no matter what you do, everything will be hidden by the finishing material. Therefore, what lies beneath our feet is no less important component than the very foundation of sex.
A bit about laminate flooring
Floor coverings made of chipboard appeared on the Russian market in the early 90s and immediately took a leading position as materials of high quality and decorativeness. Manufacturers of European laminate were the first to come to our market. At first they presented something exotic, and not all of these materials were available.
Every year the competition increased. More and more companies producing such flooring came to the construction market. And this prompted manufacturers to reduce prices for their products. And today, almost everyone can afford material from chipboard (laminate).
Laminate of Russian manufacturers
Domestic manufacturers came to the market with their products in 2003. The first factories opened and production began.
Moreover, the first companies were "daughters" of international holdings such as the "Kronospan Group" or "Krono Group". The first Russian company to produce this coating was called Technosila. It was opened in 2005 and manufactured products from chipboard under the brand name Shelekhov Laminate. And in 2008, another company launched the production of flooring material under the RBC-Laminate brand.
European brands
The flooring from famous European manufacturers is represented by brands from Austria, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Finland and many other countries with long-established production.
In the domestic market, Swiss Alpendorf laminate is in great demand, having a high strength class and produced under the strict conditions inherent in German pedantry. This is a very practical material, but its cost is higher than that of products from other manufacturers.
Products from the Middle Kingdom
Laminate manufacturers from China are widely known to Russian consumers due to their low cost.
Judging by the estimates, its share in sales is about 30%, and the quality of the material can be either good or very poor, which can not be said about European products. It depends on the manufacturer, but mainly the Chinese laminate belongs to the economy class.
Quality products from Russian companies
Modern Russian laminate
The first Russian-made laminate is Kronostar's Baudorf. Lamels are produced without chamfers, and they are mounted on the adhesive. This product was assigned the 33rd strength class. Such a laminate is made of a 10 mm thick wood board. All slats have a high density and a robust work surface.
They are used to supplement or create the floor in any interiors, residential and office premises, which is facilitated by the diverse color of the material and good characteristics of abrasion resistance. Manufacturers claim a 5-year life of products in places with increased impact on the surface. And if you put them at home, then they will lie for about 15 years without problems.
Variety of textures
Russian laminate from the Baudorf company is made in various colors and colors. For example, the coating naturally mimics the surface of natural wood. The upper layers are additionally treated with protective compounds and coated with special films. The latter provide increased resistance to abrasion, damage by heels or furniture legs. The collection of Baudorf laminate is represented by textures such as Canadian oak, Nobel oak, ash and many others.
Another bright representative of this coating is the Russian laminate from the Kronospan company. The products of this company are made of 90% natural wood, which is why it occupies a high line in the popularity rating. The optimal combination of price and quality, a variety of colors, a special design and a fairly simple assembly process provide this coating with great demand in the domestic market and allow it to be used in almost any environment.
Characteristics of a laminate of domestic producers
Russian manufacturers of laminate have dispelled the long-held view that everything produced in our country does not have the required quality.
The production is organized on modern equipment, so that the products are high-quality, meeting all European standards.
For example, very accurately the material from chipboard reflects the colors of ceramics, wood of different species or the texture of natural stone. A laminated coating is produced with a smooth as well as a raised surface. The color of the material can also be different, from bright provocative tones to soft pastel shades. The design of a laminate imitating a downed plank floor is very popular.
A bit about the Kronospan coating class
The collection of the Russian brand "Kronospan" is widely represented on the market:
- Swiss-Plank - most accurately conveys the shades of the color of wood and the forgotten spirit of the old era of classicism.
- Komfort - this type of coating is notable for the presence of airy shades of wood, which are indispensable in the decoration of children's rooms and living rooms.
- Prima Floor is a relatively new type of material, which despite its “youth” has already gained popularity among consumers. This class of laminate flooring is manufactured according to all environmental requirements and with a huge variety of colors and textures. In addition, it costs relatively little, which is especially true for the domestic market.
Laminate "Ritter"
This is a relatively new material on the market. It has good environmental characteristics, is washable and has moisture resistance. Manufacturers also offer anti-slip coatings, among other types. The surface of such materials is made with the skin texture of a crocodile or a snake, which is unnatural for domestic manufacturers. But still, Russia laminate has such features.
The latest technology used in the production ensures quick installation of the coating and guarantees a service life of up to 30 years. In the collection of laminate "Ritter" several types can be noted:
- Nefertiti - stands out for its high density and small thickness of the plate, reaching up to 8 mm.
- George the Victorious - this material is characterized by a non-slip surface, embossed under the skin of a reptile.
- Peter I - the thickness of the material can reach 12 mm, and the warranty period of operation - up to 30 years. A modern Mega Master lock soaked in wax protects the joints from moisture.
- Hannibal - the surface is embossed with genuine leather, as well as other decors, such as “black pearls”.
Russian laminate
Today, Russian Laminate has the most advanced production facilities in this industry among Russian chipboard and chipboard manufacturers. In addition to the parent company, the company has production sites in the village of Kholm-Zhirkovsky, Smolensk Region ("IDK"), its own logging production, ensuring uninterrupted supply of raw materials.
Control at all stages of production, our own quality laboratory, which checks the products for compliance with European standards, allows the company to maintain a leading position, while remaining a reliable supplier of materials for furniture production.
In many cities of Russia official representative offices are opened. The brand “Russian Laminate” was registered in 2005. You can read more detailed information about the development of the company and reviews of partners on the official website.
Wood fiber board material
The company "Russian Laminate" is engaged in the production of materials for the manufacture of furniture:
- chipboard (chipboard),
- laminated chipboards (chipboard),
- wood-fiber boards (fiberboard) and ennobled wood-fiber boards - with the application of paint and varnish material (DVPO).
Russian Laminate has a full-cycle production: from the procurement of raw materials to decorating products using a modern lamination line equipped with German equipment.
Plates of the following standard thicknesses are made: 10, 16, 18, 22, 25, 32, 38 mm. In addition to the indicated dimensions, it is possible to produce plates of non-standard thickness ranging from 10 to 38 mm.
Particleboard plates have the following dimensions: 4200x1220, 3060x1220, 2750 × 1830 and 2440 × 1830 mm.
In addition to products of its own production, "Russian Laminate" offers components for furniture production.
PVC edge
For the convenience of customers, in addition to laminated boards, a board edge is also available that matches the basic colors and decors of the chipboard presented in the catalog. The offered range of furniture edges is wide: in addition to the most common PVC edge, there are melamine, ABC, and acrylic 3D edge of European and Chinese manufacturers.
Laminated board decor
The catalog contains more than one hundred and twenty different decors of laminated surfaces. Decorative paper coatings from leading European manufacturers are used in production: Lamigraf, Schattdecor, Bausch Decor, and others. Laminate coated boards are available in two formats: 2750 × 1830 and 2440 × 1830 mm.
Decor are divided into three groups. Classical wood designs are widely represented in all three groups: laminate “Russian Oak”, “Chamonix Oak”, “Skalny Oak”, “Milano Walnut”, and others. In addition to the traditional ones, the catalog has very interesting options with wood decors. These are “Arabesque” - a bleached board, “Oak Antik” and “Oak Arriva”, imitating old unpainted boards, “Pine Winter” - boards with a floor painted in white.
Please furniture designers and new items: "Taxonium", "Pine Provence", "Felice", "Moringa", and others.
Another group - with a coating under the fabric: "Twiggy", "Aladdin."
The third type of chipboard coatings is monochrome decors of various colors. In the color catalog of chipboard “Russian Laminate” are present as coatings of light, pastel shades: “White”, “Beige”, “Beige-latte”, “Sky Blue”, “Twist”, “Lavender”, “Mint”, “Pistachio” . So are the bright colors: “Black”, “Red”, “Purple”, “Anthracite”, “Marsala”, “Orange”, “Green”. There is a silver-gray option, “Silver”, which is perfect for modern furniture, for example, in high-tech style.
You can see some options for finishing the plates in the photo. The official site "Russian Laminate" has a convenient current catalog of all the decors currently used in production. Designs and colors in the catalog are presented by high-quality large-format photos, allowing you to consider the decor in detail. In addition, to facilitate the work of designers, there are textures for visualization that can be downloaded.
Aesthetics of coatings is achieved by embossing a laminated film. Embossing gives the surface a texture that enriches visual and tactile perception. The following types of embossing are used in the manufacture of laminated boards:
Laminated chipboards made of chipboard manufactured by the Russian plant “Russian Laminate” are an advantageous solution for manufacturers of modern furniture. High-quality material and a magnificent, diverse surface design can satisfy any demanding customer.
Famous Russian manufacturers
Today in Russia there are many companies specializing in the production of laminate floors. The most famous of them are:
- Kronostar. Probably the largest domestic enterprise in terms of production, located in the Kostroma region. The company has been operating since 2002. The main guideline in the production of laminate flooring is environmental safety and durability. The company offers several rather interesting collections, peculiar and unique decors. In addition, this company is one of the few Russian that supplies its products abroad.
- Sinteros. Also a well-known brand, which, unfortunately, cannot be called completely Russian, because the enterprise operates on the basis of an agreement with Tarkett. Products of the same name are produced by the plant for the domestic market, as well as for neighboring countries. It is noteworthy that a few years ago, Synteros began producing laminate under its own brand.
- Platinum. A well-known brand in narrow circles, existing since 2006. The company is positioned as a German (largely due to the use of equipment and technologies from this country), but in reality the brand is a joint venture of Russia and China. The company produces Russian laminate flooring quite well, it is sold at a very affordable price, so it will be an excellent solution for many consumers.
- Baikal. The company has been operating in the domestic market for a very long time and today the annual production of laminate reaches 15 million m2. Laminate floors are manufactured using high-precision equipment using proven domestic wood raw materials and components. The company offers several interesting collections and excellent decors at affordable prices.
- Baudorf (Baudorf). It is also a Russian company, although the brand is German (Baudorf is a well-known building materials company in Germany). The company produces laminate flooring on European Homag equipment. The presented laminated coatings have a 33 class of wear resistance. A 15 year warranty is provided on products.
- Ritter. Probably the most famous laminate company from Russia abroad. The Russian laminate from the Ritter brand is unusual, unique, unparalleled laminate coatings. What is a laminate that mimics the skin of reptiles (snakes, crocodiles, etc.). Of course, such laminate floors find their consumers both in our country and in Europe. Laminate of this type is perfect for thematic rooms and non-standard interiors.
Features of the Russian market of laminated coatings
Russian laminate began to be sold only in 2003, when several enterprises specializing in the manufacture of such products were opened. Today in our country there are quite a lot of companies that can boast the release of a rather good laminate in appearance and characteristics that successfully competes with well-known foreign brands.
Naturally, the Russian production of laminate floors has its own characteristics, among which it is necessary to highlight:
- Almost all domestic companies producing Russian laminate, the main components for the manufacture of products purchased from European suppliers (in particular, HDF-plate, which we do not produce),
- In Russia, the system of standards and quality of laminated coatings is poorly built, so domestic companies have to rely on international standards and certificates,
- Of course, the cost of a Russian-made laminate is almost always lower than that of foreign analogues,
- The European laminate is considered more interesting and attractive in appearance than the Russian (the opinion, of course, is subjective, but this fact is noted by many experts and ordinary consumers).
Production technology and quality control
The basis is taken wood chipboard, which is applied under a press of film. The panel is laminated under the influence of a press and high temperatures due to thermoactive polymeric materials.
Laminate is produced, checking at every stage of production. Everything is checked: from the workpiece and wood chips used to make chipboard to final coatings.
Chips are tested for such indicators:
Process resins are also tested for viscosity, gelation and other indicators.
Chipboard testing is carried out two times: before and after lamination. To determine the quality, various tests are carried out, for which samples are taken from each plate in the amount of 8 pieces from different places.
Lamella check
The bending strength is checked with a special press or the panel warpage indicators are checked with another device.
Chipboard is tested with water, on the basis of which the degree of swelling is determined. Resistance to vapors and moisture is determined.
Tests are carried out to determine the abrasion and scratch resistance.
Foreign manufacturers carry out much more tests to identify the quality of the product, but this does not detract from the quality of the products of the domestic manufacturer.
Advantages of the Russian laminate
This product has the following advantages:
- ecological purity of the material. It is made from particleboard using formaldehyde resins, but the operation of the laminate will not allow them to stand out and cause harm to human health,
- optimal density, which is selected empirically in laboratory tests,
- strength. Press tests of products revealed the high strength of Russian material.
- easy handling. It’s convenient and easy to work with,
- decorativeness. There are many colors of the laminated coating that will decorate the interior of the room. It has more than 120 decor options.
It should be noted that the laminate is made with a thickness of 10 to 38 mm, which is thicker than products of foreign manufacturers.
Color solutions and interior use
The decorative component of the Russian laminate is extensive. On the market there are any shades and colors of the material. Decors are widespread:
Oak (wenge, dairy, chamonix, sonoma, rocky).
Walnut (Pegaso, Milan, etc.).
Ash (shimo, locarno, anchor).
Color spectrum
And this is a small part of the possible options. The use of a decorative Russian laminate is possible in any interior of a room with light tones and with prevailing dark cold loft or hi-tech style.
Russian laminate is a new material that is not yet recognizable on the shelves of the country. But it is worth taking a closer look at this durable decorative material, perhaps it will become a serious alternative to expensive laminated coatings.
