Laminate Bevel: What is it and Which is Better?

When choosing a material for covering the floor, consumers in certain cases face the chamfer of laminate, what is it and which is better – questions that are often asked. The presence of this detail will help to achieve an ideal design in the interior and increase the operational characteristics of the floor.

What is a bevel in laminate?

The technology of creating materials for flooring, in which chamfers are used, has been resorted to since ancient times. To hide the different thicknesses of the slats, craftsmen resorted to cutting the edge of the board. Thanks to this technique, it was possible to hide the unevenness of the base. The floor acquired a beautiful and aesthetic appearance.

In the production of artificial parquet, there was no need to use a chamfer, since the boards were subjected to additional processing and leveled using cycling and grinding.

The laminate chamfer is a beveled edge of the lamella, which is formed by cutting at an angle with a cutter. When individual parts are connected, a V-shaped notch is obtained, or a U-shaped notch in the case of a rounded edge.

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The advantages of chamfering are:

1. The difference in the thickness of the boards becomes imperceptible, which means that the defects of the joints will be imperceptible even with the formation of gaps between the lamellas.
2. The possibility of easy re-installation (for example, in case of flooding), while the quality is practically not affected.
3. The floor covering becomes visually voluminous and acquires an aesthetic appearance. Spatial perception of the room increases. Based on the direction in which the slats are laid, the room visually lengthens or expands.
4. The longer service life of chamfered lamellas compared to smooth edges.
5. Increase in depreciation properties.

Currently, the chamfer is used in the production of single-strip floor coverings and massive parquets. The detail is not used in 2- and 3-strip laminate, where two or three-width strips are included within one board, respectively.

The cut on the edge of the panel is made in the following ways:

1. By cutting the edge of the lamella with a cutter. After that, the cut site is subjected to further processing. A budget option is coating with paint that matches the tone of the board. A more reliable solution is lamination. This type of coating will provide resistance to mechanical loads and high humidity.
2. Rolling is an expensive but reliable method of processing. The method consists of sealing the edge of the board with the help of compression with special rollers. In this method, protective lamination is applied.

Types of chamfers and differences

The type of bevel of the laminate affects the appearance of the floor covering. The material looks different depending on which detail is selected:

1. Extruded, which is characterized by a rounded edge. The detail looks organically with the wooden structure of the board.
2. V-shaped – looks like a pronounced groove that runs along the perimeter of the board, and gives a massive effect, characteristic of natural wood. Such a bevel is treated with hydrophobic paint or laminated.
3. A micro bevel, the width of which is no more than 2 mm. It has a shape similar to a V-shaped detail, but narrower. Thanks to this, the edges of the boards look emphasized.
4. Expressive, the narrowest (width is no more than 1 mm). Exquisitely highlights each board.

So what is better – laminate with a chamfer or without?

When choosing a floor covering, consumers often ask – which laminate to choose? There is no single opinion on this matter, it is recommended to be guided by the purpose of the room and the features of the chamfer:

1. Laminate lamellas with a chamfer are more demanding to care for compared to a flatboard because dust and other contaminants are concentrated in the grooves. To remove them, you need a powerful vacuum cleaner, after which wet cleaning is carried out. Covering with dirt-repellent means will help solve the problem
2. Another possible problem is the accumulation of moisture in the joints. If water gets on the surface of the floor, it must be removed quickly, otherwise there is a high probability of gradual penetration into the cracks. Lamination of sections and treatment with water-repellent substances (for example, using HYDROSEAL technology) will help to increase moisture resistance.
3. The version with a chamfer is more suitable for use in a private apartment than in public places. At the same time, it is not recommended to use such a coating in the kitchen, where the probability of soiling the floor increases. The best option is laying a laminate with a chamfer in the premises intended for living.
4. In exhibition halls, catering establishments, and other places where there are many visitors, a flat floor is better. It is easier to remove, and it also prevents the heel from hitting unevenness.

Laying of the laminate is carried out taking into account the surface. If it is perfectly flat, it is permissible to use a coating without a chamfer, in this case, a rigid plane is formed. If it is necessary to smooth out minor irregularities, a chamfered coating will come to the rescue.

Laying is carried out taking into account the following points:

1. a substrate is laid on the surface of the floor, which is located perpendicular to the laminate boards;
2. the floor covering must be kept in the room for a certain time so that it gets used to the temperature;
3. the first row of slats is placed at a distance of 10 mm from the wall; the gap is made taking into account possible changes in humidity and temperature conditions in the room, which can affect the laminate;
4. before assembling the lamellas, it is recommended to apply glue to the joints, which reduces the risk of moisture getting into the gaps and increases the service life of the product;
5. to evenly distribute the load on the floor surface, the boards are installed in a checkerboard pattern; longitudinal joints are shifted relative to the previous row by 30 – 50 cm;
6. after finishing the installation of the laminate, a plinth is laid around the perimeter.

An important criterion is the strength of the floor covering, many consumers take this parameter into account when choosing a laminate:

1. Boards with beveled faces are no less strong than flat ones because a chamfer with a depth of 1-2 mm is applied to lamellas 10-12 mm thick. This ratio ensures the necessary hardness of the coating.
2. It is recommended to purchase laminate from well-known manufacturers that adhere to strict standards in the manufacture of boards.

There are no clear recommendations for choosing a laminate with or without a chamfer. The consumer orients himself in this matter depending on individual preferences and the purpose of the room in which the floor is planned to be installed.

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