Types of laminate locks: what is it? Laminate lock: different types of locks.

laminate lock determines the way its boards are connected. The basic principle of the lock design is a tenon-groove connection. The end of one long part of the laminate board has a groove, the other has a spike. The short ends of the laminate have various designs, including those other than the tenon-groove type. Let's take everything in order.

Laminate lock - three lock designs, three ways to connect its boards

Assembly at an angle. With this assembly, one laminate board at an angle of 25-30 ° is inserted into the groove of another board and then lowered.

Figure A

Assembly in the horizontal plane of the floor, otherwise assembly by padding. With this assembly, the spike is driven into a groove in the horizontal plane of the floor with the help of hammer blows on a special mounting bar.

Figure B

Combined way. With this assembly, the board is first inserted at an angle, then lowered and knocked out. Knocking is carried out using a bar along the end or with a rubber mallet on the front side of the laminate board.

But it would be strange if the manufacturing firms stopped there. Some manufacturers make not only unique laminate locks, but also change the design of the locks on the short side of the board, which also affects the way it is assembled.

Almost all laminate manufacturers make installation instructions for their collections. Often instructions are available in the manufacturer's language. In this case, as well as in case of need for any translations, use the Kharkiv translation agency.

Let's analyze the types of "short" laminate lock

A short lock is a lock on the short side of a laminate board. Depending on the type of short lock, the laminate is assembled in different ways.

• Short Laminate Lock, connected by "driving" one board into another.

short lock Laminate Click connects at an angle, without padding. With such a laminate lock, a whole row is first assembled (Figure 1), and then the entire row is connected at an angle to the adjacent row (Figure 2).

PICTURE 1

FIGURE 2

A new type of "short" laminate lock. It does not require any padding or corner assembly. It is connected by simply snapping the locks of two boards. To snap it in, just press your finger or lightly hit it.

I will give examples of locks and briefly talk about the assembly of various leading laminate manufacturers. At the end of the article I will illustrate all the videos about laminate locks.

Types of Patent Laminate Locks

You can look at the types of laminate locks on its packaging, and read about them now.

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This is a Quick-Step lock. A strong hitch allows you to disassemble and assemble the floor up to 4 times. Tensile strength up to 950 kg per 1 running meter. The type of assembly is double, it can be at an angle, it can be in a horizontal plane with padding. You can assemble a laminate spike into a groove (as in the figure) and vice versa - a groove into a groove.

Proloc laminate lock plus Perfektfold

Pergo locks. Double lock: Proloc on the long side of the board, for assembly at an angle without padding and Perfektfold on the short side.

The Perfektfold lock is designed so that there is no need to tamp the boards, a click is enough to connect on the short side.

Laminate lock AluminumLocking

Alloc lock (Norway). This is a reinforced castle. In addition to the tenon-groove connection, the laminate boards are connected by an aluminum lock located at the bottom. Such a lock increases the tensile strength up to 120 kg per linear meter. Assembly disassembly up to 5 times. The uniqueness of this castle is that you can collect large areas laminate without expansion joints.

Laminate lockLocTec

Firm Witex. Laminate assembly at an angle. Locks are impregnated with paraffin.

LocklaminateProClick

Firm Egger.assembly of the long part at an angle, the short part snaps into place. Can be used with seam sealer.

Laminate lockClick Xpress

Balterio laminate. Nice castle for assembly at an angle, without padding.

Laminate locks Smart Lock and Pro Lock

Pergo locks for residential and commercial premises. Assembly, both at an angle (Figure A above) and padded (Figure B above).

Laminate lockMega Lock

Firm Classen. Type of assembly at an angle to the long side and a latch on the short side. The latch feature makes the connection so easy that the performance is tripled. Another feature of this castle is its increased moisture resistance.

TitanTriLook laminate lock

Assembling a laminate with such a lock is different from others. The board is inserted with tongues in the horizon of the floor into another board and is knocked out not by blows on the end. And with the blows of a rubber hammer on the front side of the laminate. These were the frequently seen laminate locks, but there are more complex structures. The video is one of them.

At the end of the article, a few tips from the section, do not harm the connection of laminate locks

• Especially carefully connect the first three rows of laminate. They should be perfectly even with no gaps at the joints. The quality of the entire floor depends on the correct laying of the first three rows.
• If you are pounding the laminate with a rubber mallet on the front side, do not hold the hammer by the middle of the handle. The rubber mallet must be held by the edge. The impact will be light and ricochet.
• Do not hit with a hammer in the area of ​​20-30 mm from the laminate joints. You can damage the internal structure of the lock.
• To tamp the board on the end side, use a special bar. If there is no bar, take a piece of laminate. Insert the tongue of a piece into the groove of the board to be knocked down and hit the piece with a hammer. Do not tamp with a skein directly along the edge of the laminate. A chip is inevitable.

That's all about laminate locks! Walk on beautiful sex!

The suitability of the floor covering for use in the target room depends on the correct choice of laminate locks. Panel joints are both strong and weak side this type of floor, and therefore you need to take this nuance responsibly. When choosing a laminate, you will inevitably have to find out what kind of locks a laminate has. Having studied all types of laminate locks, many inexperienced people are perplexed: why do we need such a large number of if you can apply one, but the most convenient? From this comes the question “Which laminate lock is better than the rest?” Should be sorted out.

Some types of laminate locks have been patented by individual manufacturing companies. Among the variety, one can single out the most popular castle connections, as well as several outdated ones. There are also modern systems connections, before use of which a special molding of the panels is performed. If you plan to use a laminate with a lock for a long time, it would be wise to provide for the possibility of dismantling.

The lock determines the quality of the flooring. It is from this component that the degree of evenness of the surface, the gap between the lamellae, the absence of creaking and minimizing the likelihood of divergence of seams over time depends. In addition, the durability of the entire structure depends on the quality of the manufacture of the interlocks and the laminate itself and compliance with the assembly technology. In order to properly lay the coating and avoid problems in the future, it is necessary to have an idea about the types of lamella coupling.

Types of laminate locks

The classification of castles begins with their division into main subspecies. Many people who are just planning to install this flooring do not know what laminate lock systems are, and therefore manufacturers like to invent their own lock schemes, and then advertise them as the most reliable on the market. All used laminate locks can be divided into two large groups:lock and click.

The most popular laminate locks

These two types of locks differ from each other in the way the panels are joined.

lock

Laminate lock systems like lock enjoy the fame of the most economical option and applied over a long period of time. The production of these joints is done by milling: the connecting element looks like a tongue equipped with a tongue that fits into a groove on the other side of the panel.

To date, lock is an outdated laminate lock, used only by companies that have at their disposal old production lines. It is difficult to disassemble it without damaging the protruding edges of the lock components, which, among other things, are erased over time from constant stress and friction. If you do not close the gaps with a sealing compound (glue or mastic) during installation, then even a small amount of water can ruin the floor.

Before latching a laminate with a lock, you need to make sure that the surface underneath is of good quality. Laying on an uneven floor may increase the gaps between the panels. Assembly is carried out by hammering the spike into the groove with a wooden hammer until the gap between the panels disappears. It is allowed to use a conventional metal hammer, but then you need wooden block or a piece of hard rubber.

Experienced specialists who have already laminated many apartments speak of the need for constant monitoring of joints during installation and the overall laboriousness of assembling these locking systems. With external simplicity and reliability, lock-locks have one main drawback: they are non-separable and wear out at the location of the fixing ridge, which causes gaps between the panels. This indicates the unsuitability of these interlocks for long-term operation.

Castle Click

Most modern laminate collections have click-locks, which are considered more modern and do not have the disadvantages of lock-locks. They are made in the same way, however, the closing spike has the shape of a flat hook, and in the grooves there are platforms for its entry. This design allows you to disassemble the floor up to 3-4 times and securely holds the panels, preventing the appearance of cracks even with heavy loads on the locking mechanism.

Click-click laminate is practical and versatile, as it implies the possibility of repeated disassembly. It is also called "just click". At its core, it is a modernized version of the lock-lock. Since the grooves follow the shape of the fixing hooks, the click-lock laminate can be assembled even by a non-professional - it is enough to follow the assembly technology to avoid damage and divergence of the panels.

Before assembling a laminate with a click lock, you need to understand the mechanics of the action. During installation, the panel is inserted into the groove at an angle of 45 degrees, after which the panel should be moved to a horizontal position with swinging movements. When the closing elements are coupled, a click is heard, thanks to which this locking mechanism got its name.

In addition to those described above, there are other types of laminate locks on the market:

• uniclic;
• aluminum locks;
• megaloc;
• t-lock.

UniClic lock

The uniclic laminate lock differs from others in its special profiles of tongues and grooves. You can assemble it both by knocking it down, and by simply snapping it at an angle. Thanks to the lower wedge-shaped edge of the groove, the load is distributed evenly throughout the structure. All lock components are made from the same material as the panels. This approach to manufacturing avoids deformation of the panels during installation.

Opinions differ on how to properly latch uniclic locks. Practice shows that installation at an angle is optimal. By docking the panels in this way, you can do without a special tool, and also make installation faster. It is necessary to fix the short sides of the lamella first, and only then the long ones. To lay the last row, as well as to assemble in a hard-to-reach place, you need to have a hammer and a wooden lining.

This lock was invented and patented by the manufacturer Quick Step. Other manufacturers of a similar type of lock may be called differently. For example TwinClick, ProLock or SmartLock. However general principle installation and fixing panels remained the same.

Laminate equipped metal locks, by right is the most reliable. The coupling mechanism can withstand loads up to 1200 kilograms per square meter. Laminate with aluminum locks can be laid without thresholds and disassembled up to 5 times without any damage or abrasion of the protrusions in the grooves and on the studs. Also, laminate with aluminum locks does not deform over time and is distinguished by the smallest gaps between the panels. An additional aluminum plate increases the strength of the connection and increases protection against moisture ingress under the coating. Such a lock is used in its products by the Norwegian manufacturer Alloc, giving a lifetime warranty with correct styling laminate.

lock 5g

The design of this coupling mechanism includes an iron or plastic insert - tongue. This element ensures the tightness of the joints in the 5g laminate and the reliability of fixing the panels to each other. Like many other lock systems, the 5G lock snaps into place by inserting a panel vertically. When fixing, the insert is removed, after which a click is heard, notifying that the tongue has taken the right place and the panel is fixed. This lock allows you to simultaneously connect panels on the long and short sides with a simple push from above.

At of this type connections have another name - 2-Lock, which is found in the manufacturer Tarkett.

Megaloc lock

This system is developed by Classen based on the 5g lock. Reliability of fixation is achieved through the use of a special insert at the end of the laminate. When connected, the insert bends and then snaps into place with a characteristic click, fixing the panel. The megaloc laminate lock implies assembly from the front side. Upon completion of the assembly, the second strip is attached to the first strip with an offset. If we compare the assembly time with other types of locks, then megaloc is mounted as quickly as possible. It is possible to dismantle and reinstall the cover with these locks up to 4 times.

A distinctive feature is the best tightness of the finished coating. Another advantage of this type of locks is that there is no need to use any tool when laying.

T-lock

Created by Tarkett based on positive aspects lock and click lock systems. Today, this type of connection can be found in the assortment of dozens of companies. The T-lock can be disassembled four times without damaging the components. The panels are connected at a very small angle and guarantee the strength of contact without distortion of the lamellas and excessively large gaps. The disadvantage of the lock is the visibility of the joints, especially on dark colors. Subsequently, the design of the castle was improved: Bottom part the castle became more concave, and at the junction the side with the decorative layer became more massive. This is how the TC-Lock was born.

Which castle is better?

A good locking system is the key to a long service life of a laminate floor. When choosing, you should know in advance the conditions in which it will be operated. There are many opinions, but which locks are better - only practice always shows, because each type of connection has its own advantages that others do not have. AT recent times there is a laminate with wax-impregnated locking systems developed by Witex.

The presence of wax in the locking mechanism several times increases the protection against moisture getting under the coating. In addition, wax-impregnated laminate locks make the coating more aesthetic due to the visual solidity of the floor. The wax coating also simplifies the assembly process and increases resistance. locking mechanism external loads, increasing its durability.

Comparing lock and click locks, one can argue about the technological superiority of the latter. The duration of their service depends on many factors, so the most best laminate is the one that has minimum thickness seams and high strength connecting systems. Which manufacturer is better to choose is everyone's business, but experts are confident in the undisputed leadership of German firms.

Sometimes it happens that laminate floor does not latch or the lock opens spontaneously. In this case, it is necessary first of all to determine which of the factors does not correspond to the recommendations for the installation and operation of floors. This will allow you to quickly determine what caused the divergence of the panels and understand what should be done if the lock has opened on the laminate.

findings

The choice of locks for a laminate floor is a responsible matter that needs to be given due attention. When wrong selection castle systems, you can only get disappointed in your decision to change the appearance of the home. To make the right choice, you need to clearly understand whether the laminate will lie for a long time or whether it will need to be dismantled, what loads it will experience and in what conditions it will be used.

We should pay tribute to modern manufacturers, they do not leave buyers to their own devices, indicating on a pack of laminate what locks are used and how the panels should be fastened together.

Laminate has become the most popular flooring today. This state of affairs is due, among other things, to the ease of installation. All work is easy to do with your own hands, without inviting specialists. This simplicity is due to the presence of special locks on each panel. At their expense, you can quickly lay a beautiful and practical floor.
Locks can be used in two designs. We will talk about the features of each in this article.

Which is better Lock or Click

Laminate manufacturers, advertising their products, claim that their panels have the most modern castles, as well as composition and wear resistance. But, despite their assurances and a wide variety of models, there are only two types of locks:

• Locke locks
• click locks

Their main difference is a method of docking panels. The first to appear were locks. Over a long century of service, they have proven themselves well for their efficiency.
Such locks look like a milled groove on one side of the panel and a tenon with a fixed comb on the other side. All this construction is carried out by milling. To connect the panels to each other, you need to insert the spike into the groove and score with the help of blows of a wooden mallet.

Helpful information! Blows must be applied until the gaps completely disappear. If there is no mallet, then you can use a regular hammer. You just need to wrap it with a rag. When working, you need to be careful. It is required to carefully monitor the condition of the joints between the panels.

Locke locks easy to install and quite reliable. But they are not solved shortcomings. With a long load, the comb on the spikes wears out (the same thing happens if there are significant floor irregularities. While walking on it, the comb is erased). As a result, gaps appear between the panels. Another disadvantage is the impossibility of dismantling. If one panel is damaged, it will be difficult to replace it. Since the locks are disposable and repairing the laminate is practically impossible. click locks a later invention and it is devoid of the shortcomings of its older brother. Such structures are made in the same way, but have a different structure. On one side there is a spike made in the form of a flat hook. On the other side is a platform that engages with the hook.
Such a laminate is even easier to install than a lock lock. For its laying it is unnecessary to use a hammer or mallet. It's done like this- the new panel is installed at an angle of 45 degrees close to the previous one. Then it is smoothly lowered to a characteristic click (because of it, the castle got its name). At this time, the hook enters the groove and the panels are firmly connected almost like with laminate glue. Such a connection can withstand much greater loads than locks. In this case, cracks do not appear. Also eliminated the disadvantage of dismantling. According to the manufacturers, click locks can easily withstand up to four parsing. Whichever lock is used, the connection needs additional protection against moisture penetration. For these purposes, sealant is perfect.

Helpful information! If you use click locks, then you should not be afraid that such a coating will not give you the opportunity to dismantle the panels. The sealant is easily removed from the interpanel space and does not interfere with the “opening” of the locks.

The latest developments in laminate flooring

Manufacturers are constantly improving their products. So today you can find a laminate with wax impregnation of locks. The floor after installation looks like a single monolith, the joints are practically invisible. Another advantage of this impregnation is protection against moisture penetration. There is no need to use sealant for such joints. Also today, panels with aluminum locks began to appear. The back side of such a laminate is equipped with a metal lamella. Such locks are able to withstand a load of up to two centners per square meter. This floor is very easy to assemble and disassemble. Moreover, manufacturers sometimes give a lifetime warranty on the joints, they will never have gaps. And you can disassemble the laminate with aluminum locks six times.
You can also find a laminate with additional plastic locks on the ends. The assembly of such a floor is carried out in the usual way, the panels are joined side by side. Then the ends are connected by simply pressing until it clicks. Laying such a laminate is accelerated by almost three times.

Important! If we conclude from the above, then the answer to the question: which castle is better? - will be - click-lock. It simplifies installation (it can be done without the use of tools, with bare hands) and the connections are much stronger than locks. Also, this design allows for dismantling, and repeated.

All the innovations that have been made to the lock device lately are just modifications of the click lock. They improve the adhesion of the panels and protect them from the formation of cracks at the joints and moisture ingress. But still, this is a proven and long-used click lock.

AT modern world flooring laminate is popular. A special system for laying laminated panels, which snaps them together with a lock, allows you to update the floor quickly and easily.

The service life of the flooring directly depends on the quality of the locks and adherence to the technology of laying panels.

Peculiarities

Technology lock fastening laminate was developed not so long ago, but has already managed to earn the love and recognition of people related to the repair. There are several reasons for this:

• Laminate locks facilitate the process of laying flooring. Installation does not require additional fasteners or glue. The snap-in device is already built into the panel.
• If the panel is damaged, the broken part can be easily replaced. This increases the life of the laminate.

• lock system fastening laminate panels allows you to lay the most accurate floor covering without protruding or depressed areas.
• The sides have special form, which, when snapped together, connect the panels without gaps and do not allow moisture to pass through. This reduces the chance of mold growing under the floor covering.

Options & Description

To begin, consider basic types locks:

• Locke locks appeared much earlier than another type and are considered more budgetary. This mechanism works according to the “thorn-groove” principle, that is, on the one hand, the laminate board is equipped with a spike with a comb for fixing, and on the other hand it is a groove. Installation of slats with Lock system is carried out by driving the spike into the groove cavity using a mallet made of wood or a hammer with a rubber head until it is fully connected. Unfortunately, during operation, the combs wear out from the load on the panels, so gaps may form in the flooring.

• click locks, which are also used to connect lamellas, are considered more modern and made with past mistakes in mind. The name of Click locks comes from the characteristic click that is usually heard when panels are closed. The technology for the production of click-lock panels is similar to the previous type. However, the side with the spike is made in the form of a hook, and the groove cavity is designed in such a way that this hook hooks. The assembly of the flooring with this fastening system does not require special efforts and produced quite quickly. To do this, the panel with the hook side is inserted into another with a groove at an angle of 45 °. Then the panel should be lowered. Then a click will be heard, indicating the entry of the spike into the groove.

Unlike the lock system, click locks are not afraid of heavy loads, and are also easy to disassemble.

In addition to basic locks, many companies, using their own technologies, produce laminate with patented locks. Among the existing proprietary developments are:

• Just Click from the Austrian company Egger can be called classic example locks with click system. The panels are closed at an angle of 30° to 45° around the entire perimeter, due to the high spike, tight joints are obtained, which makes the laminate resistant to serious loads. Some Egger slats with a justclick system are available with a special Silenzio underlay, which helps to soften the sound of footsteps.

• Uniclic is an achievement of the company Quick Step from Belgium. A special feature is that it can be snapped in both at an angle and when attaching and even knocking down the planks. This variety is suitable for inexperienced users. Laminate with a uniclick system is perfect for finishing the floor in rooms with a non-standard shape, various obstacles and hard-to-reach places- multi-level floor or low-lying battery.

• ProLoc and SmartLock are developments of the Belgian firm Prego. The first variety is represented by a three-component fastener system, which increases the resistance of the laminate to heavy loads and allows you to repeatedly disassemble and assemble the floor covering. The second type is more simple systems fasteners that are easy to mount at any angle and easily carry loads.

• Another company Berry Alloc manufactures its products in Belgium and Norway, and the Norwegian laminate is produced with aluminum locks. The patented names of the locking connections of this company are of two types - 4G and 5G-S Aluminum Locking System. These castles successfully combined everything best qualities two main types of locks, and metal system spike and groove increases the strength of the fastening and makes the laying process faster.

Aluminum locks allow the use of laminate flooring in places with increased traffic and high intensity of foot traffic. According to the manufacturer, the panels can be disassembled 3 times and reassembled without losing the quality of the flooring.

• Also found locks 5G with a plastic insert that resembles a tongue. Distinctive feature of this type of locks is the assembly of panels in horizontal position, which allows laying the coating even for a beginner.

• Snap-in system for laminated panels T-Lock is a Tarkett development. This type of lock allows you to snap the spike into the groove of another panel at an angle of 45 °, not only along the length of the laminate, but also from its end side. Such a system is characterized by reliability and strength of the connection. Dual-clutch laminate is able to withstand considerable loads and last a long time. During operation, T-Lock is not erased, does not break and does not diverge.

• Another popular lamella lock ClickXpress equipped with a rounded bottom from the side of the thorn and groove, plastic parts are absent in the model. The possibility of assembling and disassembling such a coating comes up to 4 times.

Which is better?

A person who is not professional repair work quite hard to choose suitable laminate among the variety of key connections.

According to most experts, the most practical design floor covering with Click-locks is considered. And although Lock locks are less prone to stretching over time and are easier to disassemble if necessary, and the price of such a laminate is more affordable, they are still a more outdated modification. Over time and under the influence of heavy loads joints at the joints wear out, forming gaps between the panels.

Click system, in turn, guarantees maximum strength of connections during repeated assembly and disassembly and without damage lock system. Laying such a coating is very simple and fast, even on a floor with minor irregularities.

And although you have to pay for such a laminate more money, but the quality of the coating will remain at its best for more than one year.

How to connect correctly?

The method of laying laminated panels and their connection to each other depends on the type of laminate. Before laying the slats in any case need to eliminate the difference and unevenness of the floor with a screed, and then lay the substrate.

There are two options for connecting panels when installing a laminate. The adhesive method, due to a special technology, protects the joints between the panels from moisture penetration. Therefore, the life of the floor covering is significantly increased. But it has this way and many negative points. For example, spending additional funds for the purchase of a special anhydrous adhesive composition, besides, gluing a laminate is always more difficult and longer. Underfloor heating is absolutely incompatible with adhesive method laying laminate.

In order to lay the laminate in this way, it is necessary to apply glue to the grooved part of the panel and insert a spike into it. Then, using a hammer with a wooden head, you need to press the lamellas together as tightly as possible. surplus adhesive solution must be cleaned with a cloth. First you need to lay out three rows of lamellas and wait a few hours until the glue is taken. Then you can fill the rest of the room with lamellas.

Before the floor covering is completely dry, at least half a day should pass.

However, due to the ease of installation, hardware stores are increasingly offering laminated panels with different locks. Laminate with Lock-locks is assembled by hammering one panel into another. Most Click-mechanisms are connected at an angle, and when the panel is lowered to the floor, the lock closes. If necessary, the panels can also be knocked out with a hammer.

Laminate with a lock connection has approximately the same assembly algorithm. Before laying, you need to measure the width of the room so that at least 5 cm is left for the last row in length. If necessary, shorten the lamellas of the first row. In addition, it is necessary to leave gaps for thermal expansion.

When laying panels with glue or using Lock-locks, the panels must be joined first along the length, and then along the end side. Click-locks are characterized by picking up the entire row of slats at once and attaching it with a whole canvas to the previous row.

Therefore, for large area premises it is better to enlist the support of an assistant.

Why does it diverge?

Sometimes even such an impeccable flooring as laminate can disperse. Then it is necessary to determine the cause of damage to the coating and, if possible, eliminate it.

The reason for the failure of the laminate can be dry air, because of which the panels shrivel and crack. To avoid this, you need to constantly ventilate the room, or install a humidifier.

Neglecting the screed before laying the laminate will cause the laminate to uneven floor diverges, creaks or sways when walking on it, and the locks become unusable.

It can be considered the most common floor covering. The ease of laying the panels allows you to do this work yourself without hiring expensive specialists. Each panel has special locks, thanks to which it is not difficult to assemble the floor covering. We will talk about what types of laminate locks are, and which ones are better to give preference to.

Many manufacturers often come up with various locking connections and claim that their system is the most reliable. To the question of what kind of locks there are, you can answer this way - all locks are conventionally divided into two groups:

•  Locks
•  Click locks

The difference between these groups is in the way the panels are joined. Locke locks have been used for a very long time and have proven to be the most economical option. Such laminate locks are produced by milling. They are a spike with a fixing comb on one side and a milled groove on the other side of the panel.

Panels with Locke locks are mounted by driving a spike into the groove up to full fit and eliminate the gap between adjacent panels. This is done with a wooden mallet or a metal hammer, after substituting a wooden plate or a piece of timber.

Such work requires attention and constant control of the joints from the master. Despite the fact that these are simple and reliable locking connections, they have their drawbacks. Under load, the lock comb wears out from friction, which leads to the appearance between the cracks. Panels with such locks, unfortunately, cannot be disassembled and reassembled if necessary.

It is important to know! To increase the protection of joints from water, it is recommended to treat any types of laminate locks with a sealant.

A more modern development is considered to be equipped with click-locks. Such a coating is devoid of the disadvantages of Locke locks. Locks are also made by milling, however, the panel spike looks like a flat hook. The groove on the other side has a selected platform for engagement with the hook.

Assembling the panels is very simple and does not require much effort. The panel is driven with a spike into the maz of the previous panel at an angle of 45 degrees. When the panel is lowered to the floor, the hook engages with the groove platform and a characteristic click occurs. Hence the name Click.

This is interlock connection laminate securely fixes the panels. Even under heavy load, the lamellas do not diverge when long-term operation. It is very important that such a coating is easy not only to assemble, but also to disassemble. Manufacturers claim that it is possible to disassemble a laminate with click-locks up to 3-4 times.

In the event that the climate is very humid, such an interlock can also be treated with a sealant. Do not be afraid that then the laminate can not be disassembled. The sealant can be easily removed from the groove of the laminate.

The latest developments in laminate flooring

On sale you can find a laminate with wax impregnation of locks. This is the so-called Lock Tec lock developed by Witex. All edges are treated with wax, which significantly increases the protection against moisture.

Thanks to wax impregnation, the joints between the panels during right direction the patches are almost invisible. The floor looks monolithic, which guarantees the resistance of the coating to the penetration of moisture.

Laminate with an aluminum lock is able to withstand loads up to 200 kg per 1 sq. m. Metal lamella located on back side panel engages with the groove of the adjacent board. Due to the simplicity of the design, laying such a laminate is very fast. Manufacturers guarantee that this will never disperse, and some manufacturers even give a lifetime warranty (ALLOC laminate). Such a coating can be mounted and dismantled up to 6 times.

Innovative developments of Megaloc locks make it possible to speed up the process of laying laminate by 3-4 times. This is due to the location of the additional plastic lock on the end face of the plate. The assembly of the coating is carried out on the side as usual, and for docking at the end, it is enough to lay the panel and lightly press it until it clicks.

The question of which laminate locks are better can be answered unequivocally - Click locks. A wide variety of locks from different modern manufacturers, in fact, are just modifications of one reliable locking system.