What is it?

Quartz laminate, quartz vinyl tile or SPC slab is a piece finish coating that is lamellas with a locking connection and is used mainly for flooring, but can also be laid on walls. As the name suggests, the material consists of two main components: polyvinyl chloride and quartz sand or stone (75-80% of the total mass). There is no glue in the composition, the slabs are pressed under the influence of high temperatures.

In terms of structure, quartz laminate is a five-layer sandwich:

  1. The top polyurethane coating protects the material from abrasion, fading in the sun, getting wet and exposure to aggressive chemicals, and also makes the tile tactilely pleasant and non-slip.
  2. The next, decorative layer, is made by photo printing on paper and reliably imitates any texture: wood, stone, pebbles, leather, fabric.
  3. The third and main layer consists of quartz and vinyl and is equipped with a lock for reliable gapless installation.
  4. The fourth reinforcing fiberglass layer is necessary for strengthening.
  5. A PVC backing completes the structure.

quartz laminate structure

The structure of quartz vinyl tiles and the type of locking connection may vary among different manufacturers, but this has little effect on the physical and aesthetic qualities.

Characteristics

Just a few numbers make you admire or at least become interested in this material:

  • density – 2000 kg per cubic meter;
  • wear resistance class – 35-44;
  • service life – 25-30 years;
  • water permeability – 0%;
  • flammability – 0%;
  • environmental friendliness – 100%.

It is unlikely that any floor covering can compete with quartz laminate in terms of basic performance qualities, not to mention its visual appeal.

quartz laminate in the dining room

How is it different from ordinary laminate?

The materials are very similar in appearance, but upon closer inspection, the advantages of SPC boards are quickly revealed:

  • ordinary laminate amplifies noise, while quartz effectively dampens sounds even from women’s high heels and falling heavy objects;
  • the wear resistance class of its predecessor varies between 30-34;
  • ordinary laminate is quite easily scratched, creaks, swells and becomes covered with bubbles from massive exposure to moisture, can release compounds hazardous to health into the air and burns perfectly, while quartz vinyl is completely devoid of all these disadvantages.

Pros

Let’s put together all the advantages of the new material:

  1. It is used for finishing floors and walls in any room, including the bathroom and kitchen, since it does not allow moisture to pass through and is not afraid of overheating.
  2. It can be laid on any type of heated floors.
  3. It is safe for health, does not act as a source of harmful fumes.
  4. It does not slip underfoot even when wet.
  5. It is easy to wash off any dirt, including children’s “art” with felt-tip pens and stains from coloring products.
  6. It withstands serious mechanical damage, it will not be spoiled by either the hard legs of chairs or the claws of pets pets.
  7. Excellent protection against heat loss in winter and noisy neighbors all year round.
  8. Does not crack under the influence of sudden temperature changes.
  9. Resists the spread of fire in case of fire.
  10. Easy to install by non-professionals thanks to the convenient locking connection of the lamellas.
  11. It has a wide range of textures and colors, harmoniously fits into any interior.

Disadvantages

Quartz laminate also has disadvantages:

  1. High cost – from 1,500 rubles per square meter.
  2. Abundance of fakes on the market.
  3. Difficulties in transportation and installation associated with the large weight of the material.
  4. The need for careful preparation of the substrate.

It is necessary to focus on the intricacies of installation. The base must be absolutely flat and cleared of the slightest debris, otherwise the planks will “walk” and creak when walking. They are installed according to the “floating floor” principle, that is, a gap of at least 6 mm is left near the walls, which is covered with baseboards. This is very important, because the material is completely devoid of flexibility.

The video will allow you to get to know quartz laminate better: