Rating of the best vinyl laminate manufacturers for 2022

Floor coverings based on PVC modules entered the sphere of Russian repair relatively recently, but have already managed to occupy a significant niche in the field of materials for floor decoration. And yet, vinyl laminate, being a fairly new material, is considered a not very well-researched topic for most domestic consumers. And the development of this material is taking place in leaps and bounds: already today there are many different vinyl interpretations on the market with different structures that have their own styling and decorative characteristics.

Vinyl laminate structure

This laminate is produced in the form of square or rectangular modules, subject to adhesive installation or "floating" installation using interlocking joints. Planks without mineral content are referred to as "luxury vinyl tiles", abbreviated as "LVT" (from English Luxury Vinyl Tile). Samples in this category are made from PVC and resin using the hot press method. This method allows you to get the best quality of density, coupled with plasticity. In addition to the PVC base, the modules include a layer with a decorative pattern, which is printed on a vinyl film, as well as a protective polyurethane fill, the purpose of which is to reliably protect the surface from mechanical shocks and the penetration of moisture and dirt into the tile structure.

LVT products are produced, as a rule, in adhesive model ranges, because the basis of such products is not very convenient for locking. With the development of technology, vinyl coatings began to be produced with a more complex composition, in which, in addition to the quartz base, coupled with plastic for stabilization, there are reinforcing inclusions of fiberglass.Also, simultaneously with quartz vinyl, the manufacturer introduced “rigid vinyl”, in which the PVC core has a rigid thickening, which means the possibility of using interlocks.

IMPORTANT! Quartz vinyl modules can be connected both by means of glue and by means of locks. In the Russian market, vinyl tiles can be referred to as both “quartz vinyl” and “luxury PVC”, which indicates their close relationship.

Scope of vinyl laminate

The material in question has one indisputable advantage over other types of floor coverings - this is its versatility. The material is equally suitable for arranging residential premises, and for office areas with a high degree of through traffic, and for spaces with a high level of humidity. PVC modules can have both domestic and commercial applications at the following sites:

In residential buildings and apartments, outside the restrictions on the purpose of the area (living room or bathroom);

• Preschool children's and educational institutions;
• In retail outlets and large shopping centers;
• In restaurants and catering establishments;
• In offices, hotels and sports complexes.

Specifications

Dimensions and design

The coating in question can be made in the form of a complete imitation of a lamella and have dimensions from 100x920 to 180x920 millimeters. Another variation could be a square module with a side ranging from 300 to 600 millimeters. The thickness of the material is traditionally from 1.5 to 3.5 millimeters (sometimes this figure is more, but never exceeds 5 millimeters). With such high wear resistance and strength, such a small thickness allows the use of a vinyl laminate, laying it on top of the previous flooring.This feature will reduce the time spent on repair work, despite the fact that the floor height will not increase much, and the punching of the material will not exceed 0.08 millimeters.

The range of textures and colors of the material in question is so wide that it is not difficult to match it to any interior style. Modern technologies make it possible to create a coating that will not only visually repeat a wooden or stone shade, but will also be able to reproduce the tactile sensations of these natural structures.

Wear classes

This characteristic for flooring is one of the main criteria that will determine the selection of material. Luxury type plastic modules are designed for commercial decoration and are able to withstand minimal load with low tensile strength, which means belonging to class 33. Such a floor is suitable for use in public areas with low traffic and moderate traffic, but class 33 is most suitable for use in the domestic segment (there it has no installation restrictions).

However, most vinyl laminate models belong to class 42 and 43, which indicates the possibility of laying them in areas with high traffic, especially since models of this class include a thick protective layer.

IMPORTANT! In models of class 33-34, the protective shell has a thickness of 0.3 millimeters, in higher classes this figure is from 0.5 to 0.55 millimeters.

Connection types

There are two main methods of laying vinyl laminate flooring - it's castle and adhesive. Adhesive modules are attached to the surface on a special contact adhesive base.Products from this group have a minimum thickness, so before laying the work surface should be smoothed as much as possible. In the absence of such a condition, any error will be visually noticeable, and the finish will not be of high quality. A kind of alternative to adhesive strips can be strips on which an adhesive layer is pre-applied. Self-adhesive tiles are distinguished by the fact that during its installation it is not necessary to additionally treat the floor surface with glue. However, this type of connection will require the most leveled surface.

Lock connections are more perfect in terms of ease and speed of installation. The only drawback of quartz-vinyl tiles with this type of connection is the insufficient strength of the lock itself, which, in turn, is due to the small thickness of the plate. Nevertheless, modern production has already solved this problem: the current market already has solid versions of quartz vinyl, which has a composite polymer-stone or polymer-wood core (“Stone-polymer core” or “Wood-polymer core” technology).

In the locks of PVC strips, standard systems are also used, akin to the classic HDF laminate. Interlocking locks work under two methods - Overlay (Click) and Lock (Lock). For some manufacturers, these methods may be subjected to some modifications in order to provide a better connection.

Advantages and disadvantages of vinyl laminate

Like any finishing material, the laminate in question has its pros and cons, and the number of positive qualities is twice the negative ones.

The positive properties include:

1. A large number of design variations that differ in color and texture.Laminate can be chosen for a different interior. In addition to the usual options, the panel can imitate stone, ceramic tiles, various types of wood, as well as products from it (plank floor, parquet, etc.).
2. All modern samples are characterized by increased resistance to interaction with various mechanical loads. Also, the surface of the vinyl laminate does not lose its color qualities under the influence of direct ultraviolet rays. The standard service life of such a coating is 6 years.
3. Printed vinyl modules, due to the use of a durable and wear-resistant film, perfectly prevent dirt and moisture from entering the coating structure. You can easily take care of such a surface and quickly clean it from all sorts of stains. Tiles with a uniform pattern wear out faster - this is shown in practice. From this it is clear that for a uniform coating it is required to take care of buying spare lamellas in advance.
4. Vinyl lamellas are easy to install, even an amateur master can handle laying this type of flooring. The main rule is to carefully prepare the surface to be treated, completely cleaning it from the smallest construction debris and dust.
5. The considered flooring is excellent not only for ordinary residential and office premises, but can also be installed in kitchens, and in bathrooms, and in bathrooms. Vinyl, in itself, is water resistant, and even protected by a moisture-resistant impregnation, which prevents the penetration of water into the structure of the tile.
6. Affordable cost of such a laminate. Its price can vary greatly only if we compare models by wear resistance classes - the difference between the lower and higher classes is quite noticeable.

Despite the majority of positive qualities, vinyl models have a number of not weak disadvantages, which include the following:

1. Vinyl is perfectly susceptible to burning, in which it emits especially caustic toxic substances that are absolutely harmful to human lungs. From this it is clear that vinyl laminate should not be laid out in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bfire hazardous areas, fireplaces, various stoves and stoves with open flames.
2. Not all types of vinyl products are made from completely sustainable materials. The degree of environmental protection for a particular brand of laminate can be found in the certificate of conformity.
3. Although the flooring in question does not absorb dirt, indelible stains may remain on it from interaction with various liquid chemically aggressive substances. The rubber soles of shoes can leave similar marks on vinyl. Therefore, increased indicators of durability and strength are considered to be more fair only for expensive samples. Cheap laminate tiles are not able to withstand prolonged mechanical stress, they are easily abraded, which leads to very frequent replacement of individual panels.

Difficulties of choice

A wide range of vinyl tiles can confuse even advanced designers. However, if we discard purely artistic and individual aesthetic preferences, then there will be not so many technical factors that the buyer should pay close attention to when choosing. These may include:

• Features of the future operation of the coating and the purpose of the premises where it is supposed to be laid;
• The level of intensity of the load and the degree of probability of occurrence of negative factors affecting the floor;
• Financial opportunities for the purchase of the material itself, coupled with the cost of its installation, as well as the need to purchase spare parts.

Experts believe that the latter factor may be of decisive importance when choosing. Despite the fact that among the majority of buyers it is widely believed that vinyl laminate has adequate prices, there are hardly more than two or three lines of truly budget models (among all manufacturers). And then, the first point becomes decisive, according to which the choice must be made based on the upcoming load. From this it is clear that samples with wear resistance class 44-45 are better suited for public premises, and class 33-34 is perfect for domestic and residential buildings (which will obviously cost less).

For rooms in which the temperature regime is rather unstable, it is better to install a vinyl laminate on an adhesive base, because the lock joints will converge / diverge when the temperature rises / falls. A similar requirement applies to rooms with high humidity.

Self-laying panels

One of the main advantages of vinyl tiles, as mentioned above, is the ability to install them yourself. However, in this case, it is also necessary to follow certain recommendations of specialists. Before starting the actual installation process, finishing experts recommend completing the following steps:

• First things first, you need to draw up a plan of the room. This is required in order to correctly calculate the required number of planks. The surface area should be calculated taking into account all the protrusions, recesses and niches.
• It is preferable to purchase planks immediately with a 10% margin of the total volume. Such a step is necessary to replace damaged parts in the future.
• Prior to the start of installation work in the room, the temperature should be maintained in the region from +20 to +28 degrees Celsius. If it is supposed to finish laying on a "warm floor", then it must be turned off about three days before the laminate-vinyl is applied.
• The vinyl laminate itself must be kept within the same temperature range for at least 24 hours prior to commencement of work. At the same time, its storage should be carried out horizontally (this is necessary so that its flat shape does not undergo deformation in any direction).
• During direct work, it is desirable to avoid sudden temperature changes, as well as a sharp increase in humidity. For the last parameter, the ideal indicator would be a limit of 30-60%. If the work was carried out on top of the "warm floor", then its first inclusion is possible only after 6 days after the end of the work.

The installation methods themselves are weakly dependent on which manufacturer produced the material, but in any case, a somewhat lightweight installation method can be used. It can work in the following ways:

• Lay with an adhesive (for this, a special glue is purchased in advance, which is recommended by the manufacturer of the lamellas);
• Laying on a self-adhesive base (if the lamellas have such functionality);
• Mount the slats using a smart tape, which is specially used for gluing tiles along the edges;
• If a locking system is used, then no glue is needed. With this method, the main thing is to carefully insert the tiles into the tongue-and-groove lock (the method is typical for a floating coating).

IMPORTANT! In any case, installation should be carried out only on a dry base, otherwise adhesion with the adhesive composition may not occur, and the tile will very easily peel off the surface. If there are irregularities on the base, they must first be eliminated (this requirement does not apply to the "floating floor").

The installation process itself using the locking method is not particularly difficult, but several restrictions must be observed:

• The substrate for the basis is not applied;
• Waterproofing for vinyl laminate is not required;
• It is possible to install modules on the previous coating;
• The base can not be leveled if the difference is no more than 3-4 millimeters (all this can be compensated by the elasticity of the tile).

Laying vinyl laminate using the locking method takes only a few hours. Assembling a floor covering with an adhesive base will take much more time, because it will require: surface preparation, screeding, leveling and cleaning the floor from dust, paint and dirt.

Rating of the best vinyl laminate manufacturers for 2022

Budget segment

3rd place: "Alpine Floor"

This company is one of the founders and the main developer in the development and production of PVC tiles. The range of products includes a huge variety of designs and design options that reproduce the textures of stone and wood, as well as the stylization of herringbone parquet. It is worth highlighting the Premium ExEl line, which is specially designed for arranging large-scale areas - it uses elongated lamellas of 1500 millimeters in size, which speeds up the workflow. It has its own EasyClean protection technology, which has an antibacterial effect and resists the penetration of paintwork materials.

• Proprietary security technology;
• The presence of a line of long tiles;
• budget cost.

• There is a high probability of a fake.

2nd place: "Fine Floor"

This brand can be called exclusive, despite its relatively budget price. The entire product line is focused on the domestic Belgian market, and almost never shipped abroad. The collection includes both lock and glue models. The production can be based on standard quartz vinyl and laminates based on rigid vinyl. The execution is presented in two versions: traditional thickened and duplicated with reinforced reinforcement.

• Variability of both material and execution;
• European quality;
• Adequate cost.

• Difficult to get on the Russian market.

1st place: "AquaFloor"

This company is a specialized subdivision of the world concern Damplast. It exists relatively recently, but already has its own wide range of LVT laminate and its composite versions. It has a patented protection technology "Ceramic Protective Layer", which gives the surface of the tile a water-repellent effect, turning the accumulated water into granules that are easily removed mechanically. He tries to use the most environmentally friendly materials in his products.

• Focus on environmentally friendly production;
• Own protective system;
• Expanded product range.

• Not detected.

Middle price segment

3rd place: "Wonderful Vinyl"

This brand is considered one of the patriarchs of the creation of quartz vinyl tiles. The bias in production is made on design samples and samples with reinforced rib stiffness protection.One of the main achievements of the company is the "Natural Relief" line, in which vinyl tiles repeat the texture of natural wood beams. Also, there are lines with designer colors and deep embossing. The main emphasis in production is on the reproduction of wood patterns.

• Quality performance;
• The presence of embossing on models;
• Embodiment of tactile realism.

• A certain one-sidedness of the model range (emphasis on the wood pattern).

2nd place: "Vinilam"

Another Belgian representative. It is considered the largest enterprise in the country for the production of LVT-laminate and its composite variants, the developer of most innovative protective technologies in its field. This circumstance is emphasized by the presence of triple protection and its reinforcement through ceramics in all models. All products undergo post-production processing using update technology. The company is focused on counteracting the activities of harmful microorganisms.

• Focus on the protective properties of the product;
• Post-production updating of products;
• Extended Warranty.

• Somewhat overpriced.

1st place: "Tarkett"

Another brand that specializes in the production of laminate and has production points on almost all continents. With enviable constancy, they produce completely new samples of vinyl slats, the latest of which are the Art Vinyl models. The release can be performed both in the form of planks and in the form of tiles in different sizes. The range of colors and shades is very large.Special for the Russian market, the Polysteel model was released, which has a somewhat budget price and is slightly limited in color variations.

• Focus on customer needs;
• Wide coverage of the global market;
• Proper product quality.

• Not detected.

Premium class

3rd place: "Allure Floor"

This brand is rightfully considered one of the leaders in the entire field in the world. Products are produced according to the original proprietary technology, the essence of which is not disclosed even in general terms. The material is characterized by increased strength, a variety of colors and sizes, variability of laying methods. Due to the special "hype" of the brand, the prices on the Russian market for its products are clearly overpriced.

• Top manufacturer;
• Quality performance;
• Increased strength.

• Heavily overpriced.

2nd place: "Quick Step"

This company is considered the leading manufacturer among European countries. It has been leading its history since 1960, when the flooring market around the world was just beginning to gain popularity. He is the inventor of the universal lock connection (UniClick technology). To date, it produces an extremely high-quality and popular Livin line, which is characterized by affordable prices, coupled with the highest quality and durability. All products have passed the Russian certification. When carrying out trading activities, it shows a strong customer focus, constantly holds various promotions for buyers.

• Good value for money;
• Customer focus;
• A company with great experience.

• Not detected.

1st place: "HARO"

This manufacturer has German roots. At present, all production has been transferred to Turkey, which has by no means worsened the quality of the goods produced. The activity is focused on the manufacture of exclusive and expensive models. Products are characterized by high wear resistance and a high degree of environmental friendliness. Nevertheless, the color range does not shine with variety, and the prices are quite high.

• Increased environmental friendliness and durability;
• Exclusivity of goods;
• Good quality.

• Extremely high price;
• Poor color variety.

Instead of an epilogue

The analysis of the market of the materials under consideration found that it is completely occupied by a foreign manufacturer, and Russian firms are not represented at all. At the same time, a variety of models allows you to realize almost any design solution. Products today have reached a very high level of both durability and environmental friendliness, but their prices can simply be called “biting”.