European or Chinese – what’s the best laminate flooring quality?

European or Chinese – what’s the best laminate flooring quality?

In the search of the best laminate flooring, we’ve prepared a brief summary for you.

As with production in general, there are also many aspects of laminate flooring construction where it’s possible to cut corners and produce an inferior quality product.

Thankfully, the majority of European laminate manufacturers are obsessed with not only producing a beautifully realistic looking laminate but offering the best resistance against moisture, scratching and denting. Furthermore, you can be sure that the old continent made laminate flooring fully complies with the strictest European environmental and emissions standards.  

By comparison, there are several common issues with Chinese made laminate flooring, including  the following:

Poor aesthetics.

The cheapest laminate just cannot compete in appearance compared to the best laminate flooring from Europe. Especially laminate from the premium ranges available from manufacturers such as Germany’s Krono Original. Krono Original offer features such as Authentic Embossed laminate flooring, which produces a surface that is barely noticeable from the look of a real hardwood floor.

Harmful emissions.

Toxic chemicals within the Chinese laminate flooring is a particularly worrying issue. On the contrary, you can be confident that European-made laminate complies with the strictest emissions standards, meeting the strict E1 standards.  Recent lab tests carried out in Germany of a cross-section of European-made products available in the market, show very low emissions indeed.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Chinese made laminate. A recent scandal in the USA which was publicised on CNN and many other media outlets shone a light on high levels of dangerous to your health chemicals like VOCs and formaldehyde in Chinese laminate. If safety is a priority, then you should buy European manufactured laminate flooring only.

Unlicensed locking-systems.

At first glance, the click-lock system should not be a source of worry. However, these rather simple looking systems that are designed to hold each plank firmly in place without glue are highly engineered mechanical systems that are crucial to the long-term success & durability of your floor.

You should always buy laminate that comes with a licensed locking system designed by Valinge or Uniclic, the global experts in flooring. While the manufacturer may re-name the system under their brand; it should still be technology licensed to one of those two companies. You are guaranteed that European made laminate flooring will feature a quality licensed locking system.

Chinese made laminate may or may not have locking systems designed by Valinge or Uniclic. If not, then the risks involved include the floor squeaking when walked over, or the locking system may break under high stress.  It’s also possible that the planks will not fit together as perfectly as they should, leaving unsightly gaps between planks in some areas.

Lack of innovative technology.

On the contrary to Chinese laminate flooring, you can be sure that the European manufacturers lead the way in offering the new and innovative technology making it the best laminate flooring available today. For example, you can expect innovations such as the following:

  • Light-fastness.
  • Heat-proof surface.
  • Integrated aqua-stop system, to minimise damage from liquids.
  • Perfect fitting; thanks to high-tech production.
  • Anti-scratch technology.
  • Anti-bacterial coating – this highly sought-after feature is available from Krono Original.
  • Latest designs, which reflect current European interior trends.

The above is just a snapshot of the advantages of buying European made laminate. As you can see, there are many good reasons for choosing European made laminate flooring.

Flooring Underlay Makes All The Difference

Flooring Underlay Makes All The Difference

Consumers understandably focus on choosing an appealing design and suitable AC Durability Class when shopping for laminate flooring. However, the quality of flooring underlay used is also crucial.

The underlay plays a vital role in overall quality of the installed floor; in particular, a quality underlay should significantly reduce both Impact Sound and Walking Sound.

Impact sound: Sound travelling through to the room immediately below.

Walking sound: Footfall noise heard in the same room.

While many underlays adequately reduce Impact Sound, most do not properly address Walking Sound, which can result in the typical ‘loud and hollow’ sound that laminate flooring is known for.

It’s good to know that laminate flooring doesn’t have to sound this way – simply choose an underlay with large Walking Sound reduction for the best possible acoustic performance.

Laminate Flooring Durability

Laminate Flooring Durability

Laminate flooring durability is rated according to a special classification, from the AC1 up to AC5 which is the highest rating.

The AC rating is the measurement which specifies the durability level of laminate flooring. AC ratings are applied to laminate floors by an independent organisation known as European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF). These ratings provide a summary of a laminate’s resistance to stress and abrasion, helping buyers understand the difference in durability among laminate flooring products.

To assign an AC rating, a series of tests are performed to assess each line of laminate flooring for resistance to scratches, impact, burns and stains. These tests also examine the effects of furniture legs, castors and thickness swelling along plank edges. Laminate flooring is given a rating only if it has passed all of the tests, as failing a single test disqualifies the product.

ABRASION CLASS (AC) RATING FOR LAMINATE FLOORING

  1.    AC1 – Moderate Domestic: Only suitable for light residential use such as in closets or bedrooms.
  2.    AC2 – General Domestic: This class of laminate can handle moderate foot traffic and can also be used in the majority of rooms such as dining rooms or living rooms.
  3.    AC3 – Heavy Domestic/Light Commercial: Suitable for every room in the house, including high-traffic areas. Also suitable for commercial spaces with light traffic (such as small offices or hotel rooms).
  4.    AC4 – Heavy Domestic/Medium Commercial: Suitable for all residential uses as well as commercial spaces with heavy foot traffic like offices, cafes, and boutiques.
  5.    AC5 – Heavy Commercial: Suitable for commercial use in high-traffic spaces like department stores and public buildings.

Based on the above, AC4 is the most widely used laminate flooring, suitable for heavy domestic and medium commercial use; however, AC5 Heavy Commercial laminate is becoming very popular not just for commercial projects, but also for residential buyers who want the most durable floor surface possible.

We hope you enjoyed our explanation of the laminate flooring durability classification system.

What is laminate

What is laminate

The first laminate floor was developed in Sweden, arriving on the market in 1980. This new kind of flooring quickly spread to other countries in Europe. The laminate back then was not of the high quality that it is today – but thanks to on-going developments, by the end of the 1980’s visible advances had been achieved.

Today’s sophisticated looking and very durable laminate is one of the most popular floor surfaces in the world. What has not changed since the 1980s is the composition of laminate flooring. The general construction of laminate floor is composed of three layers.

Layer 1

The top laminate layer consists of an overlay to protect against wear and tear and a design layer, which depending on the production process is made from one or several layers. The surface coating is composed of a special synthetic resin-treated cellulose to give the floor a tough, durable surface. The decorative layer gives the laminate flooring an attractive appearance.

Layer 2

Under the decorative pattern is the high-density wooden composite core (HDF).

Layer 3

At the base on the back of the HDF core you will find a watertight layer that improves the structural stability and serves as a moisture barrier.

All three layers are permanently bonded with resin, heat and pressure.

Especially on the surface, the differences between inferior laminate flooring and high quality European made laminate become clear. In particular for the design: a good quality laminate feels comfortable and demonstrates a very natural-looking structure. At the same time, the high-quality finishing of the laminate provides many advantages.

We hope you have enjoyed the above introduction to the world of a laminate floor.