Seal laminate - the big comparison of means
- Costs and prices for a seal
- frequently asked Questions
- seal species
- Seal laminate - a guide
Although laminate is relatively resistant, but the layer structure of this flooring, moisture can cause serious damage. Therefore, laminate should always be wiped with very little moisture whenever possible. But you can also seal the laminate so you do not have to be so careful. Then dirt and moisture are immediately rejected from the laminate floor. The moisture can not penetrate between the individual layers.
Laminate is made from several thin layers of wood. So laminate stays very flexible. At the same time, this process, together with the click system, makes laying and processing laminate easy. Although the top layer of the wood is sealed with a synthetic resin product, moisture can still penetrate the sides and seams. The moisture causes the laminate panels to expand and swell. Depending on the severity of this damage, the floor starts to squeak. In severe cases, the panels can push up and break. There are several ways to seal the laminate itself. Here we compare the individual means for the sealing of laminate.
Material and preparation
You need this:
- Bodenwischer
- Auswringsystem
- microfiber cloth
- cotton cloth
- Plastic spatula
- nanosealing
- Polishing / sealing
- wax seal
- oil seal
Costs and prices for a seal
It is hardly more extreme than the prices for the sealing of laminate. While some products cost less than five euros per liter, more than 30 euros are ever called for high-quality and durable seals. Here are some examples of the prices of different products.
- Sofix laminate care - 1 l - about 5, 00 Euro
- Mellerud gloss laminate sealant - 1 l - about 8, 00 Euro
- HG laminate coating - 1 l - enough for 60 m2 - about 10, 00 Euro
- Bona Polish care products - 1 l - about 12, 00 Euro
- Poliboy laminate renovator - 500 ml - about 10, 00 Euro
- Nano ground seal Preimess - 1 l - about 45, 00 Euro
Apart from nano-sealing, it is usually not obvious at first glance which substances are contained in the seal. If you want to avoid certain ingredients, you should take a magnifying glass and study the fine print or check the manufacturer's data sheets. For example, you can often only tell at the indicated drying time whether solvents are contained in a product. However, most manufacturers have put their data sheets for the products online. So that you can comfortably check the exact ingredients at home.
frequently asked Questions 
Wan is the right time for the seal "> 
Especially the end pieces, which had to be cut during the laying, are strongly endangered. Of course, laminate is always easily sealed from the factory, but of course this protection no longer exists at the cutting edges. In addition, with a click laminate, the moisture can run into the tongue and groove connection and remain on the fine spring strip. As a result, you no longer have the opportunity to wipe off this moisture.
Which seal is the right one "> 
seal species
These seals are available:
- oil
- wax
- solvent-based sealant
- nanosealing
Oil - high care effort - little effect
What works very well on a real solid wood floor will have little effect on a laminate floor. Nevertheless, oil or wax seals for laminate are offered again and again. At least the oil seal is more of a danger than a protection, because of course, the plastic surface of the laminate panels can not absorb the oil. So it stays on the surface where it forms a greasy film that is very slippery. In addition, the effect of the seal is short-lived, because the next time you wipe with a detergent, take the oil with you again. The drying time of an oil seal is at least 24 hours.
Wax - different products with different effects
Depending on its consistency, wax is slightly more effective than oil, but it can also be quickly removed by wiping too hot. Basically you should use wax only if the laminate has a real wood surface . With a plastic surface, as most laminate types have, wax also makes more effort than sense. The drying time of a wax seal depends on which wax you choose. Some products are as firm as real wax and can be difficult to apply and distribute. These seals are also the more durable on the laminate. The more liquid the product, the longer it will have to dry.
Tip: The only advantage of these two seals with oil or wax is the lack of solvents. A harmful odor development will not arise here. So these products can be easily used in closed rooms.
Seal with solvents
A seal with a solvent-based product is a bit of a double-edged affair. The higher the level of solvent contained in the seal, the higher the protection against penetrating moisture at the bottom. Of course this is not so good for the environment and for your own health. Therefore, breathing masks should be worn when applying such a seal. In addition, you must ensure a good air supply and even after application for a while avoid the room and at the same time airing. Solvent-based products even contain as much as 60 percent of these harmful substances. But the drying time in the seals is also significantly reduced. In addition, little or no polishing must be done to produce the shine.
Tip: Avoid using these products in living rooms or bedrooms. Some solvent-based sealers still evaporate harmful substances in small quantities even after weeks. Nobody wants to have that in the bedroom or children's room.
- nanosealing
In many areas today we hear about the tiny nanoparticles. Also in the nano-seal for laminate these small particles are included. These particles are capable of sealing the pores of the laminate for a long time. The particles form a veritable protective layer, which also prevents the setting of dirt. At the same time, these particles are relatively flexible, which causes a slip-resistant effect on the laminate floor. Another advantage is the long durability of this seal. While you will need to re-apply other sealants after a few weeks, a nano sealant should last for about three years.
Conclusion: Nano-sealing is clearly the best choice available on the market today. At the same time, however, the nano seal also has the highest price of the various products. So you have to decide if your laminate is worth the expense. An extremely cheap laminate for five euros per square meter, you can rather buy new in a few years, because then it will be scratched anyway. Converted, many manufacturers demand about 3.50 to 5.00 euros per square meter for nano-sealing. With a high-quality laminate, which lies in a much used zone in the house, you should not shy away from this use however.
Seal laminate - a guide
The seal must be very thoroughly incorporated, which can certainly do some work. Many household tips recommend again and again to add some vinegar to the mop to prevent streaks when wiping. But the vinegar leaches out the laminate, or pulls the painstakingly applied seal back from the floor covering. Therefore, you should only use vinegar for pre-seal cleaning to remove grease.
Step 1 - Clean the floor
The laminate floor, even if it is still new, should first be thoroughly cleaned with a slightly damp microfiber cloth. The term foggy is again very appropriate here, since really only a touch of moisture should be used. In addition, the mop water should not be too warm.
Tip: You can polish off small scratches with a microfibre cloth and some baby oil and black shoe marks disappear with a normal eraser. Such damage should also be eliminated before sealing. However, polishing can not solve these two problems.
Step 2 - Apply sealant
Some sealers are applied with a soft cloth, with other products you may need a plastic spatula. The polish or seal should be incorporated in small sections. Particular attention should be paid to the seams and joints.
Tip: On the two sides in the room where the cut panels were processed, you should close the joints and joints very thoroughly. Some manufacturers also recommend sealing the cut edges before laying.
Step 3 - repolishing
Using a soft cloth, such as a cotton rag or a fine microfibre cloth, polish the seal until nothing is visible from the product. However, this is not necessary for many products if they contain solvents. Many seals promise an instant gloss.
Tips for quick readers
- Select the appropriate seal
- Oil seal only short-term effect - slippery
- Wax a little better - natural agent solvent-free
- solvent-based seal with harmful odor development
- Sealing with solvents better long-term effect
- long and good sealing by nano-sealing
- Nanoparticles seal joints and seams
- seal immediately after installation
- Thoroughly clean the floor but only damp
- Apply sealer with a cloth, brush or spatula
- Polish the seal with a soft cloth
- polish until seal is invisible
- repeat every six months depending on usage
- Nano sealing lasts up to three years
