- Main criteria of choice of laminate
- Rating of the best laminate flooring manufacturers
- The best European laminate flooring manufacturers
- ergo
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
- Balterio
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
- Berry Alloc
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
- Kaindl
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
- Westerhof
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
- Kronotex
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
- Classen
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
- Haro
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
- Best Russian laminate flooring manufacturers or joint ventures with the Russian Federation
- Tarkett
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
- Quick-Step
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
- Ritter
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
- Kronostar
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
- Egger
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
- Kastamonu
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
- The best Chinese manufacturers of laminate or joint production with China
- Floorwood
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
- Goodway
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
The most popular type of flooring in recent years is laminate. If 10 years ago only rich people could buy laminated panels, today the situation on the Russian market has changed dramatically. Many domestic and Chinese manufacturers offer quality flooring at an affordable price. In order to compete with them, we have to lower prices for Europeans as well. The popularity of laminate is due to its beautiful appearance and durability. The average lifetime of the flooring is at least 10-15 years. It is enough to be morally prepared for the next repair.
Main criteria of choice of laminate
- One of the most important criteria for quality and reliabilitywear-resistance grade. The number 31 indicates that the laminate panels are designed for use in heated, dry rooms. Worn correctly, the covering will last approximately 10 years. And the 34 class is capable of living up to 30 years in the living space.
- The weak points of laminate flooring aremoisture resistance. The generally accepted standard is 18%, but many premium materials have a moisture permeability range of 7-12%, which allows you to lay panels in baths or kitchens.
- The structure and decor of laminate. And if there is no match for taste and color, the smooth coating loses slightly to the embossed products or coatings imitation leather. The grooved surface looks more ergonomic in everyday use.
- Some types of laminate have a small groove on the ends, which is called a chamfer. When installing this material, the borders of each board are drawn. This allows you to visually smooth out floor irregularities. And it is better to lay smooth flooring only on a flat surface.
Our review includes the best laminate manufacturers. In compiling the rating we took into account such criteria as:
- innovative approach;
- Modern equipment and technology;
- price range;
- expert opinion;
- customer feedback.
Rating of the best laminate flooring manufacturers
| Nomination | place | product name | rating |
| Best European laminate flooring manufacturers | 1 | ergo | 4.9 |
| 2 | Balterio | 4.8 | |
| 3 | Berry Alloc | 4.8 | |
| 4 | Kaindl | 4.7 | |
| 5 | Westerhof | 4.7 | |
| 6 | Kronotex | 4.7 | |
| 7 | Classen | 4.6 | |
| 8 | Haro | 4.6 | |
| The best russian laminate flooring manufacturers or co-productions with the russian Federation | 1 | Tarkett | 4.9 |
| 2 | Quick-Step | 4.8 | |
| 3 | Ritter | 4.8 | |
| 4 | Kronostar | 4.7 | |
| 5 | Egger | 4.6 | |
| 6 | Kastamonu | 4.5 | |
| The best Chinese manufacturers of laminate or joint production with China | 1 | Floorwood | 4.8 |
| 2 | Goodway | 4.6 |
The best European laminate flooring manufacturers
European companies are considered to be the pioneers in the laminate industry. And today, manufacturers from Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, Norway, dictate the fashion in the world market. Experts have chosen several popular brands in Russia.
ergo
Rating 4.9
According to the opinion of experts and consumers, the winner of our rating is the Swedish manufacturer Pergo. The company is considered the pioneer of this type of flooring. The first laminate panels were available since 1979. Today the products are in demand all over the world, and the technological chain at the Pergo factories is so advanced that the laminate flooring is of exceptional quality.
In the line of floor coverings there are 12 collections in the most popular class 32-34. In addition to laminate, such products of Pergo brand as parquet and vinyl flooring is also in demand. All products have international environmental certificates confirming safe use of the material.
Advantages
- stylish design and texture;
- resistance to wear and tear;
- ease of use and care;
- eco-friendliness.
Disadvantages
- high price.
Balterio
Rating 4.8
The Belgian company Balterio Laminate Floors appeared in 2001. Since the company’s founding, its employees have set themselves the goal of creating forward-looking and trendy flooring based on laminate panels. High quality and in-house developments have quickly won over European consumers and expanded production. But the attractiveness of Balterio laminate flooring also interested some Asian pseudo entrepreneurs, who established the production of counterfeit products and flooded the Russian market with them.
According to experts, the Belgian laminate flooring is reliable and durable. Installation can be done not only by skilled installers, but also by craftsmen in the home.
Advantages
- a wide choice of colors and sizes;
- international quality certificates;
- Long service life (up to 30 years).
Disadvantages
- high price
- a lot of counterfeit products.
Berry Alloc
Rating 4.8
The production of laminate flooring is the main activity of the Belgian-Norwegian company Berry Alloc. Two companies Berry Floor and Alloc combined large industrial capacities, extensive experience and research facilities. As a result, HPL or high pressure laminate flooring has entered the market. Balterio Laminate Floors is principally distinguished by its production method, which presses the upper layer of the covering from the very beginning. This innovation allowed the brand to take third place in our rating.
Laminated panels HPL surpass traditional products with the designation DPL (direct pressure), both in quality and resistance to negative influences.
Advantages
- the richest collection of designs
- High durability;
- safety in operation.
Disadvantages
- A lot of fakes without certificates;
- high price.
Kaindl
Rating 4.7
Kaindl products meet all modern quality and environmental requirements. One of the reasons is its long experience (more than 120 years) of working with wood. Experts especially note the high resistance of the laminate flooring to moisture, which greatly extends the scope of application. The material also has good marks in terms of impact resistance, so that the accidental fall from the table utensils will not lead to the destruction of the coating.
Create a perfect laminated panels of the Austrian company allows advanced equipment. That’s why the products have precise dimensions and reliable locks. The material has managed to become famous not only in Europe, but also in North and South America, Russia.
Advantages
- Low water absorption;
- dense substrate;
- Long service life (30 years).
Disadvantages
- modest set of accessories;
- high price.
Westerhof
Rating 4.7
Under this brand the laminate flooring from the German manufacturer. For this purpose the company uses proprietary technology and Japanese equipment. Quality control according to European standards. laminate types from 31 to 34 are available in the catalog. Home collection
It has a smooth surface with a chic wood polish effect. For fans of more pretentious flooring the manufacturer offers a laminate flooring “under the parquet”, maximum imitating the thin slats of natural wood. The “Vintage” line is intended for connoisseurs of antiquity and contains laminate with an artificially aged surface. Tiles of 8-12 mm thickness provide excellent heat retention. The decorative layer can be decorated with the pattern of oak, alder and other trees, which shows the smallest details of wood cuts, such as knots and cracks.
Judging by the reviews, it is a laminate “for life”, t. e. It is not afraid of scratches from claws of animals, rearrangement of furniture or impact from falling hard objects. If you want not to worry about the beauty of the flooring in the daily active use of the room, then choose among the products of this manufacturer. It can easily withstand the stresses of domestic and commercial use.
Advantages
- abrasion resistance;
- does not absorb household dirt;
- Excellent heat retention in the room;
- All types of laminate are hypoallergenic.
Disadvantages
- cheap positions are prone to burn out in direct sunlight;
- squeaks locks after 1 year of use.
Kronotex
Rating 4.7
German company Kronotex is actively engaged in production of wood-fibre panels since 1993. The plant is part of the largest association, the Swiss Krono Group, which has a wide dealer network in 80 countries around the world. Experts explain the brand in our rating by the complete cycle of manufacturing. Kronotex specialists grow the wood themselves, process it and sell it to the end consumer. In addition to laminate, the company also offers modern materials such as HDF boards, MDF, OSB, etc. d.
The distinctive feature of the Kronotex flooring is the wide range of solid colors (200 variants). These panels allow you to create a bright and creative design in any room.
Advantages
- a wide choice of colors;
- high performance characteristics;
- Compliance with environmental standards.
Disadvantages
- high number of imitations;
- high price.
Classen
Rating 4.6
Another German laminate manufacturer made it to our rating. The Classen Gruppe has been in the wood industry since 1963, and has accumulated invaluable experience. The company has evolved from a small local factory into a corporate group with several production sites in Germany and Poland. Besides the laminated panels, doors are well known in our country, and their assembly is established in Russia.
The basis of the Classen philosophy is to provide consumers with practical, modern and environmentally friendly products. Employees of the company boast a lot of patents, which were obtained for unique developments. Especially successful production of laminate of classes 32-33.
Advantages
- a wide range of structures, formats, colors;
- high performance;
- Convenient and reliable lock.
Disadvantages
- The laminate flooring from Poland is not of high quality.
Haro
Rating 4.6
At the end of the rating of the best European manufacturers of laminate flooring brand Haro. Flooring on the basis of laminated panels, parquet and cork for over 30 years comes out of the German concern Hamberger Flooring GmbH Co. The geography of customers is amazing, with deliveries to 90 countries. High quality laminate flooring and stylish design are the main components of success.
Designers from Haro have a large number of their own designs. Some of them can also be found in flooring of other brands. Experts note the aquaShield protection, Silent Pro soundproofing carpet pad, permaDur and bioTec coatings. The laminate flooring is equipped with two kinds of locks. Lock Connect plus is considered a classic of the genre, while the 4G Top Connect is considered more modern.
Advantages
- impressive design;
- In-house developments;
- strong locks.
Disadvantages
- No bright colors;
- high price.
Best Russian laminate flooring manufacturers or joint ventures with the Russian Federation
To occupy its own niche in the Russian market, foreign laminate manufacturers had to solve the price issue. Joint ventures and subsidiaries on the territory of our country were created to reduce production costs. The following domestic brands were included in the review.
Tarkett
Rating 4.9
The emergence of the Tarkett brand dates back to 1987. The main area of activity for the company is the production of soft floor coverings (carpet, vinyl). Subsequently, the plant expanded its product line and became a large concern Tarkett Sommer AG. It is located in Düsseldorf, Germany. Mytishchi, Moscow region, where the laminate flooring is produced under the brand names Tarkett and Sinteros.
Experts gave the brand the palm for high quality and affordable price for domestic consumers. The flooring has a long service life (15-25 years), which is more than enough until the next repair. The use of simple but effective locks allows you to assemble the floor covering.
Advantages
- high quality;
- reasonable price;
- durability;
- durability.
Disadvantages
- There are cases of defective products.
Quick-Step
Rating 4.8
The Belgian-Russian company Quick-Step belongs to the large group UNI
The Quick-Step factory in Russia was founded in 1993. Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod region. It happened in 2011, immediately after its opening, the domestic market began to receive affordable and stylish products.
Advantages
- unique decor;
- proprietary locks;
- moisture-resistant laminate for bathtubs.
Disadvantages
- strong odor;
- Quality is inferior to Belgian analogues.
Ritter
Rating 4.8
Ritter brand appeared in 2009, when “Laminat-Trade” Ltd. started mass production of floor coverings. Experts praised the company’s unique developments and unusual style approaches. The brand has got the place on the podium of the rating not only for the unusual embossing in the form of leather, but also for the European quality of products. Thanks to modern German equipment, the domestic manufacturer has managed to achieve stability in size and precise execution of the locks.
In a short period of time the laminate has managed to occupy its niche on the Russian market. Specialists attribute the lightning-fast progress to such elements of success as the use of high-quality raw materials, in-house development and the presence of a production laboratory.
Advantages
- original design developments;
- affordable products;
- Long service life (30 years).
Disadvantages
- Modest choice of decors;
- The absence of smooth coatings in the assortment.
Kronostar
Rating 4.7
The laminate flooring under the brand Kronostar is successfully manufactured in Russia, although it is controlled by a large international concern Krono Group. Thanks to European equipment and modern technology at the domestic plant in Kostroma manages to produce flooring, wall panels, MDF and other materials of high quality.
The brand got into our rating for solving a difficult problem, which was put by the plant’s employees. They make all efforts to produce not only qualitative, but also safe for people laminate. It was this approach that allowed the head of the company to win the honorary title of “Environmentalist of the Year” in 2013 and 2014. Many experts consider Kronostar laminate panels to be the most environmentally friendly material.
Advantages
- environmental friendliness;
- affordable price;
- high technical characteristics.
Disadvantages
- poor choice of designs;
- all collections have the same size.
Egger
Rating 4.6
More than 56 years have passed since the first chipboard press was put into operation in Austria. Since then the Egger company has become an international concern with modern factories in various European countries. Several branches have also been built in Russia, where high-quality laminate, as well as other materials based on chipboard. Experts have assessed the scale of production in our country and included the brand in our rating.
The laminated panels of grades 31-33 are available not only under the Egger brand name, but also to order for large enterprises and trade organizations. All necessary accessories, from decorative elements to care products, are available in the manufacturer’s range for flooring.
Advantages
- a wide choice of designs and formats;
- the water-resistant Egger Aqua+ collection;
- wall mounting.
Disadvantages
- panels with weak locks;
- high price.
Kastamonu
Rating 4.5
Kastamonu is the big holding company, which unites the factories in Turkey, Bulgaria, Russia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is one of the five largest woodworking companies in Europe. The laminate flooring occupies a special place in the product line. In order to make the flooring material as accessible as possible for the residents of our country, a company with a full production cycle was built in Elabuga. Due to the use of innovative technologies and continuous improvement of the employees, the brand managed to win its niche on the Russian market in a short time.
Experts have appreciated the combination of availability of the laminate and excellent quality that meets European standards. This is confirmed by the flattering reviews of domestic consumers.
Advantages
- affordable price;
- Excellent quality;
- eco-friendliness.
Disadvantages
- Modest selection of designs and colors; defective panels can occur.
The best Chinese manufacturers of laminate or joint production with China
Chinese manufacturers have recently tightened the quality of products, while maintaining an affordable price. Many of them are created by well-known European concerns that control the manufacturing process. Several brands managed to get into our rating.
Floorwood
Rating 4.8
German Floorwood has a simple but important goal. The company wants to make high-quality floors affordable for all segments of society. Laminate flooring with a long warranty is produced in different countries, but most of the products are made in China. The German quality is ensured by strict quality control, but it is not difficult to achieve it thanks to the most advanced equipment and quality wood.
Experts gave the first place to the brand for a wide range of shades and structures. The model line is constantly updated. The customer can choose both very wide panels and truncated narrow strips. Convenient lock allows you to install the laminate flooring by yourself.
Advantages
- Many interesting collections;
- long warranty period;
- 5G volume fixation.
Disadvantages
- high price.
Goodway
Rating 4.6
Experts gave the second place to Goodway brand for its originality. The innovation of the company lies in the fact that each country offers its own laminate line. The most luxurious and rich are the floor products for the Arab countries. Each panel is highlighted by a special U-shaped chamfer. A total of 8 collections with the color of different countries.
Not bad looks and such an indicator of laminate, such as reliability and durability. Flooring from the Celestial Empire are assigned 33 and 34 classes, and the warranty period for products is 25 years. To make the products even more accessible to the Russians, two collections were made in our country.
Advantages
- original collections;
- Compliance with international and Russian standards;
- Long warranty period.
Disadvantages
- poor quality locks can be found.
