Chinese laminate flooring: how to distinguish a good product from a fake?

The bitter truth of life: the outwardly stylish and high-quality laminate during the installation process is not only whimsical, but also fragile, with ugly joints and various defects. Did you just think that this is probably about Chinese products? Maybe. Indeed, in our country, the expression “cheap and cheerful” rather means unpretentiousness in quality and relative durability of the acquisition, but in no way does it correspond in any way to something expensive. But abroad, such a concept as “cheap and high quality” exists. And even a laminate made in China is really no worse than a German one. But you need to know how to choose, and how not to stumble on a flimsy fake. We reveal the secrets!

What is the risk of buying a Chinese laminate?

So, what can seriously upset the Chinese laminate:

• non-lockable locks;
• noticeable surface defects;
• inaccurate slat geometry;
• environmental insecurity;
• absolute not water resistant;
• leg scratching stitches;
• instead of a glossy pretty sample, dull and different color boards are sealed in the boxes;
• boards even within the same pack can differ in shade;
• noticeable bending of some slats while walking;
• the castle system is made according to the most common technology: a semicircle that is equipped with a longitudinal chamfer. And just such a system wears out the fastest.
• Often you can also hear complaints about the HDF board in the Chinese laminate, which in its density is more like MDF.

And yet such a laminate due to the cheapness of raw materials has an unfortunate fragility during installation. Therefore, if you purchased just such a floor covering, do not risk installing it yourself: let representatives of the seller company do it better. They already have the necessary experience with such boards and are responsible for the final quality of the floor.

In addition, be careful: if suddenly in a pack of boards there are different shades, it will be difficult to return them, because unpacked.

How to recognize that the laminate is still Chinese?

Due to the fact that the myth “Chinese = cheap and impractical” is already firmly entrenched in the minds of our contemporaries, the manufacturer himself is forced to make a knight's move: present his products as European.

Of course, no direct cheating services will be missed, and therefore who is the real creator of such a laminate is indicated in small print somewhere at the end of the attached instructions, and on the boxes themselves an enterprising manufacturer makes huge stamps like “GERMAN TEHNOLOGY”, which means everything only "According to German technology." And this is not even a guarantee of quality, but rather evidence that this laminate was made with the same type of locks as in Europe. But not necessarily the same strength.

Measuring with a tape measure

So, you can recognize the “yellow Chinese fake” by the size of the board: from 1200 mm they are released in 99% of cases there. Those. The first obvious sign of a Chinese laminate is short boards. More precisely, the thickness of the board in a Chinese laminate is almost always 12.3 mm, and 1215 mm in length. It is these parameters that are configured in the production of this country, because This is the most non-waste and profitable option.

We look at the wrong side

You can recognize such a laminate by the color of the back of the boards.So, beige is a testament to quality production, but for Chinese manufacturers, in most cases, it is the brown flip side. And the manufacturers explain the color using special impregnations for moisture resistance. Which, by the way, do not always give the necessary result.

Lack of labeling on products is also a sign of depressing quality. And just more often nothing is written on the Chinese laminate.

We are looking for information about the manufacturer

Note that in China, laminate is produced by both serious companies and small ones with artisanal methods. And, in order to produce laminate flooring at the level of world standards, the plant must be of impressive capacity, with particular attention paid to this equipment. That is why it is not superfluous to find out at least some information about the manufacturer itself when choosing a particular brand.

“Right” we read the inscriptions

Sometimes you can also hear complaints that the laminate was purchased in Belgian or German, and "ran into" a Chinese fake: the floors were swollen, they began to break off at the seams and generally showed themselves disgustingly. This is actually not a fake: just look carefully at the name. So, the high-quality Quick Step brand is the most popular today, and in this example, your friends purchased Qween step.

Yes, the names are really very similar, but there is nothing to blame the cunning Chinese manufacturer: since the beautiful and high-quality laminate of the country they trust is called “Quick Step or Foxtrot,” no one will forbid the Chinese businessman to name his product “Royal step ”, which also sounds good (that's how both names are translated).

And the fact that the average Russian does not notice the difference and behaves is his personal problems. Problems with school English. And the law is not broken, and sales go.

If you are planning to equip a warm floor under a laminate, then you need to remember that not every material is suitable for this. We will help you choose the right coverage in the article:https://floor.expertexpro.com/en/pol-pokritiya/laminat/kakoj-laminat-dlya-teplogo-pola-podojdet-luchshe.html.

There are also foreign companies (especially among German ones) that themselves give orders for the production of their products in China. But they will have the corresponding documents: according to German technology, with German control and under the German brand. And the final quality is not bad.

Why to China? Sometimes it is cheaper to produce products there than at home. And the factories in that country may well show remarkable results, depending on where the order comes from and how the process is controlled. For example, the Millennium Strong laminate is produced in the same way, and reviews about it are heard only laudatory, while the price also pleases the eye.

Moreover, interestingly, the same brand can be produced in Europe and for European countries, but at the same time with the permission of the manufacturer and in China, already for third world countries. And the final quality can be completely different. By the way, even the cheapest and low-quality Chinese laminate is in sufficient demand so far - for example, among those who are preparing an apartment or office for sale, or doing simple repairs in rented housing.

But there is one more point. China itself produces quite decent products for its domestic market, and to order what they order. And, if some countries want to get quality at the exit, but at the same time saving on labor, this is one, and quite another, when a low-quality laminate is specially ordered.

For example, an entrepreneur Mr. X decided to make money: he picked up a beautiful name for a laminate (such as the Qween step) and visually similar to a more expensive and popular brand, ordered the cheapest raw materials and began to produce flooring through a Chinese factory.

The advertising samples are nice and strong, the packaging is not bad, the name is vaguely familiar from some kind of advertisement and the large inscription is “GERMAN TEHNOLOGY” (“here the locks also snap, the real German technology!”) And all this goes to the wide Russian market.And the price will already do its own ... Here, for example, is the case with Winnpol laminate (familiar name?): Belle, KexinFloor, Euroflooring, OmniFloor, EkoFloor, M-floor, E-floor, Tatami, Magnifik, Lamiterra, Premium, Practic, Holzmeister, EuroFloor, Basep, Vohringer, Parador, Deutchgriff, Millenium, Lamett, Eveco, Eco-Flooring, Kaiser, Vohringer, FloorStep, UniStep, Hessen Floor, Platinum, RichFloor, eFloor, Praktik, Vega, Imperial Floor, Starker Endless ArtHolz, Lamitech, LieberHolz, Lignum, Tesoro, WoodHouse, Prestige Life, Luxury, ParaFloor, Siberia Original, WoodRiver, NordWood, MaxWood, Proteco, Titan, Westerhof, GrunWald,, Alpendorf, Palladium, Versale, Alstenn, EvherWood, NikWood , Woodstyle.

This laminate is made in China, although many take them for European because of all the same inscriptions about technology and quality. And among the listed in fact there are quite a few brands of quite decent quality. But to protect you from buying a very bad laminate, we simply must.

Learning from experience

Laminate Megaflloor Euroclic. At first glance, the laminate looks quite high quality. But during operation it turns out that dust stretches towards it, like a magnet, and because of moisture it quickly exfoliates.

Queen step. This laminate appeared on the market relatively recently. It is produced according to German technology, the castle system is quite simple and convenient to use. But completely short-lived.

Laminate Alstenn, Milan. This is a very beautiful laminate of noble colors, textured, with waxed edges. Disadvantages: weak locks, the top decorative film is extremely fragile, each board is visible on the floor.

Laminate Alliage. This is a class 34 laminate with a modern design. Easy to install thanks to waxed castles. Among the shortcomings: some boards with curved geometry, drawing is selected with difficulty.

And one more pretty good one:

Many people ask: is it possible to lay a laminate on a loggia? We will tell you how to do it right and about the features of using such a coating in the material:https://floor.expertexpro.com/en/pol-pokritiya/mozhno-li-klast-laminat-na-lodzhii.html.

How to choose a quality Chinese laminate?

So who can be interested in a Chinese laminate when there are so many negative reviews about it? Why such a risk when the market is filled with excellent products from more developed countries, where manufacturers are most worried about their reputation? But compare the prices: you can buy a whole sofa for the difference between such floor coverings.

You may be wondering: how can Chinese laminate of some brands be cheap and, at the same time, high-quality? The fact is that the less the company-seller spends money on advertising, the cheaper it can sell its goods. There is such a thing as “pricing”, and it is not easy to raise it more than is justified according to the documents. And advertising fees are already included in the price of the product itself. Yes, yes, for that same annoying advertisement from the TV screen, we have long paid for it from our pockets! And those who were lucky enough to get a good Chinese laminate, will confirm one more truth: "China is different."

So, just follow these tips:

• Tip number 1. Do not buy laminate with too bright, light and polished decor - usually such a floor is not durable. And the shabby look already in the second year of operation will not add to the mood.
• Tip number 2. At the time of purchase, pick up two or three boards and connect them. It will be so easy to check the quality of the joint of the laminate - whether there are bumps or crevices there, how strong the lock is and whether the parts will crumble when trying to connect them a little with force. You can even try to slightly press on the lock - it should not break.
• Tip number 3. Examine all purchased boxes carefully. It often turns out that the buyer already at home notices that in one package or another the side is completely torn off and the boards are damaged. And the floors will turn out as if peeled at the seams, which does not look aesthetically pleasing. Why is this happening? This is a common factory defect or a box falling during loading.
• Council number 4. Pay attention to the color of the HDF plate. If it is green - this is not a guarantee of high quality and moisture resistance, as sellers like to position it. The fact is that in China, most often produce a laminate with a brown HDF plate, as in Europe. But green is the prerogative of the domestic Russian market.
• Tip number 5. Also pay attention to the smell: if it is too harsh, it is a sign of a high content of hazardous chemicals.
• Tip number 6. If you are interested in a particular brand, be sure to find reviews about it in advance.So, only in the framework of this article we examined in detail almost a dozen of the most popular brand of Chinese laminate! A little-known product of such a manufacturer is better not to acquire at all.
• Tip number 7. It is easy to check the obtained sample for moisture resistance: for a quality material, this indicator should be at least 18%. Just put a piece of water in the heat for 8 hours, then check: if the sample has increased by more than 20% during this time, the laminate is not moisture resistant.
• Tip number 8. Also, if you have such an opportunity, open a few packages. You should find six or more identical variations of the picture. The opposite is said about saving on production.
• Tip number 9. If you notice any obvious flaw - refuse to buy such a laminate at all. Because then there will be many hidden problems.

So, many users of such a product are sure that with the right choice and care for the Chinese laminate, it can last quite a long time, and at the same time look no worse than the European counterpart. Here, for example, very inexpensive and relatively high-quality brands of Chinese laminate.

Laminate Euroflooring Comfort Super. This laminate is especially valuable for its simplicity and ease of installation, the floors are perfectly smooth. Among the shortcomings: during assembly, some locks are chipped.

Laminate Versale. This is a beautiful laminate with pronounced relief. By its structure, it imitates a natural tree better than others. It is easy to clean, wear-resistant.

Laminate Floorwood Life. This laminate is not always chosen because of its dark colorsbecause dust is always visible on such a floor. But in terms of quality, this product pleases: wear resistance, durability and structural integrity.

Cutting a laminate is not as easy as you might think. You will learn about how to do this and what tools are suitable on our website:https://floor.expertexpro.com/en/pol-pokritiya/laminat/chem-rezat-laminat.html.

Eurosky. This is an innovative Chinese laminate. Beautiful decor, good quality and affordability. Imitation of natural wood is quite high, and tangible roughness enhances the effect. Such a laminate is not slippery, and therefore in many respects is not inferior to a parquet board. But you can wash this laminate with anything. The color scheme is wide, the surface is wear-resistant. All the same German technology.

And one more, no less popular:

Of course, the ideal situation is when you can personally sort out the necessary boards from a whole truck - then even from the cheapest Chinese board you can assemble a very decent floor. But this requires certain connections and a lot of time.

For example, the Chinese brand "Tatami»To this day it pleases with its quality, although the price is“ Chinese ”. Although, perhaps, this option will be interesting for you: if you cooperate with a good Chinese laminate company as a dealer, then the material itself will turn out to be much cheaper. Moreover, no contract on an ongoing basis is needed, as well as investments. And the logistics of imports from China are well established today.

Those. acquiring such a laminate, you risk, but the risk is beneficial. With the Chinese "pig in a poke" you can get wonderful and durable floors, and you can also get hurt with the undulating rough appearance of a laminate floor, which is also more afraid of moisture than fire. Study reviews, keep this article for yourself - and good luck!

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