Today, laminate has become the most popular floor covering. This state of affairs is due, among other things, to prostate montage. All work can be easily done with your own hands, without inviting specialists. This simplicity is due to the presence of special locks on each panel. Thanks to them, you can quickly lay a beautiful and practical floor. 
Locks can be used in two designs. We will talk about the features of each in this article.
Which is better Lock or Click
Laminate manufacturers, when advertising their products, claim that their panels have the most modern castles, as well as composition and wear resistance. But, despite their assurances and the wide variety of models, there are only two types of locks:
- Locke locks
- Click locks
Their main difference- This is a method of joining panels. Locke locks were the first to appear. Over a long century of service, they have proven themselves to be very economical. 
These locks look like a milled groove on one side of the panel and a tenon with a fixed comb on the other side. This entire structure is made using the milling method. To connect the panels to each other, you need to insert the tenon into the groove and hammer it in using a wooden mallet.
Helpful information! The blows must be applied until the gaps completely disappear. If you don't have a mallet, you can use a regular hammer. You just need to wrap it with a rag. You need to be careful when working. It is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the joints between the panels.
Locke locks easy to install and quite reliable. But they have not solved the shortcomings either. At long-term load the comb on the spikes wears out (the same thing happens if there are significant unevennesses in the floor. While walking on it, the comb wears out). As a result, gaps appear between the panels. Another disadvantage is the impossibility of dismantling. If one panel is damaged, it will be difficult to replace. Since the locks are disposable, repairing the laminate is practically impossible. Click locks a later invention and it does not have the disadvantages of its older brother. Such structures are made in the same way, but have a different structure. On one side there is a spike made in the form of a flat hook. On the other side there is a platform that engages with the hook. 
This type of laminate is even easier to install than using a lock-lock. There is no need to use a hammer or mallet to install it. It's done like this— the new panel is installed at an angle of 45 degrees close to the previous one. Then it is smoothly lowered until there is a characteristic click (this is where the lock got its name). At this time, the hook fits into the groove and the panels are firmly connected, almost like using laminate glue. This connection can withstand much greater loads than lock locks. In this case, no cracks appear. The problem with dismantling has also been eliminated. According to the manufacturers, click locks can easily withstand up to four disassemblies. 
Whatever lock is used, the connection needs additional protection from moisture penetration. Sealant is perfect for these purposes.
Helpful information! If you use click locks, then you should not be afraid that such a coating will not allow you to dismantle the panels. The sealant is easily removed from the interpanel space and does not interfere with “opening” the locks.
The latest developments in laminate flooring
Manufacturers are constantly improving their products. So today you can find laminate with wax impregnation of locks. After installation, the floor looks like a single monolith, the joints are practically invisible. Another advantage of this impregnation is protection against moisture penetration. There is no need to use sealant for such joints. Also today, panels with aluminum locks have begun to appear. The back side of this laminate is equipped with a metal lamella. Such locks can withstand loads of up to two centners per square meter. 
This floor is very easy to assemble and disassemble. Moreover, manufacturers sometimes give a lifetime guarantee on joints; cracks will never appear in them. And you can disassemble laminate flooring with aluminum locks six times. You can also find laminate with additional plastic locks at the ends. The assembly of such a floor is carried out in the usual way
, the panels are connected at the sides. Then the ends are connected by simply pressing until they click. Laying such a laminate is almost three times faster. Important!
If we draw a conclusion from the above, then the answer to the question: which lock is better? - there will be a click-lock. It simplifies installation (everything can be done without using tools, with your bare hands) and the connections are much stronger than lock locks. This design also allows for dismantling, and repeated dismantling. All the innovations that have been introduced into the lock design over the past, are only modifications of the click-lock. They improve the adhesion of the panels and protect them from the formation of cracks at the joints and moisture ingress. But still, this is a proven and long-used click-lock.
Laminate is a modern, durable, wear-resistant and comfortable floor covering. Installation of flooring can be done without special skills. The amount of effort will depend on what types of laminate locks are used by the manufacturer on the product used to decorate the apartment. Some of them do not provide for disassembly and secondary assembly of the coating. Others speed things up. The third ones are most convenient if you need to minimize the displacement of the slats.
Click
The most common, quite simple and durable lock. It uses the same tongue and groove technology as the Lock connection. However, hammering is not required. Working with a Click lock can be described as follows:
- the lamella tenon has a hook-shaped bend at the end and a protrusion on the reverse side;
- the groove profile corresponds to the tenon configuration;
- Laying laminate with the Click system occurs by inserting the tenon of one lamella into the groove of another and applying light pressure and rocking.
When the lock is locked, a characteristic click sounds, which gave the common name to the class of docking zones. The Click system is convenient, simple, durable. You can disassemble and reassemble the coating up to 4 times. However, one of the shortcomings remains locks Lock. The tenon and groove wear out over time and the connection weakens.
T-Lock
Tarkett has carefully considered the advantages of the aging Lock and the common Click system. The patented design of T-Lock realizes the most noticeable advantages of the two systems. The slats are connected at a small angle, almost horizontally (unlike Click, where the initial parking angle can be 40 degrees), and are fixed to guarantee the strength of the connection. At the same time, installation is quickly done without distortions and cracks (what makes the Lock system attractive).
Today the Tarkett company is not a monopolist and dozens of brands offer T-Lock locks in their products. Laminate flooring made from lamellas equipped with such a system allows for disassembly and re-laying of the flooring without damaging the joint area up to 4 times.
5G
For laminate equipped lock circuit 5G, the connection of the lamellas occurs not only along the length, but also in the end area. When laying, the board is easily fixed, literally with one click. There is a slight drawback to this connection system. It necessarily uses an aluminum or plastic fixing tongue that cannot be repaired. Its failure means that the laying board will have to be replaced.
The 5G system is not widespread. The development company patented its invention, so other brands were forced to follow their own path.
Megalock
The very same path that companies took, trying to offer customers the functionality of the patented 5G system. Megalock provides fixation of the board from the end and along the length, but provides for a special procedure for assembling the covering.
- The first row of lamellas is laid with the ends connected. It is carried out by inserting special tongues into the grooves of the laying elements, which can be purchased as ordinary consumable hardware.
- The second row of panels is mounted offset.
- The lengthwise connection is carried out in the usual way, each of the laid lamellas is fixed in place with a light hand press.
- In each row, the boards are connected at the end zones using tongues.
The tongue-and-groove connection of the lamellas made it possible to achieve high repairability of the coating, provide many cycles of assembly and disassembly of the flooring, and when treating the joining areas with special impregnations, it is possible to achieve full protection locking connection from moisture.
Advantages of various lock connections The list could take a long time. The list contains many names and subtypes, most of which belong only to individual brands. The listed connection types are enough to understand how this or that laminate with locks works. This is an excellent floor covering, characterized by durability, excellent aesthetics and a solid service life. And interlocking connections, which simultaneously speed up assembly and improve the quality of the flooring, will allow you to do all the work on decorating a house or apartment yourself.
Types of laminate locks, main 6 types of locks. Which is better?
Laminate is one of the most popular among buyers floor coverings. This is due to its practicality, affordable price, ease of care and installation. Even a person who does not have special skills can cope with the installation of laminate flooring.
An important advantage of the coating is the widest range, represented in the majority construction stores.
Pick up suitable option, focusing on the price, color and quality of the laminate will not be difficult. Another advantage of the coating is its soundproofing properties. In addition, this floor is multifunctional, as it is suitable for use in living rooms, bedrooms, children's rooms, corridors and kitchens.
Every year the material is improved and acquires new qualities. For example, the Belgian company Quick-Step has released a laminate that is suitable for use in bathrooms. Due to its water-repellent properties, the flooring does not allow liquids to penetrate into the floor, and water remains on the surface. You can get acquainted with this and other Quick-Step products on the website http://dogvozdya.ru/napolnie-pokritiya/laminat/quick-step.
In addition to improving the flooring itself, manufacturers are innovating in the locks that connect laminate panels and making them monolithic structure. With this method of fastening, the panels are connected by inserting the tenon of one board into the groove of the adjacent panel.
There are several types of locks, differing from each other in the principle of operation and the way the elements are connected:
Lock Lock
The simplest type of lock fastener, which is also called “drive-in”. It is a fastening of a tenon and a groove with a comb, by hammering the first into the second. To install laminate flooring with a Lock lock, it is enough to attach a small block or piece of board to the panel laid on the floor and carefully drive the tenon into the corresponding groove with careful blows of a hammer
If the action is performed with a wooden hammer, the block need not be substituted. There should be no holes or gaps when connecting boards. The advantages of the lock include its reliability, ease of installation and cost-effectiveness. The disadvantages of the fastener are the wear of the comb, which is fixed in the groove. Under the influence of loads, it wears out, comes out of the groove and a gap forms at the junction of the panels.
Click Lock
This is a more modern version of the lock compared to Lock. It is a spike made in the shape of a flat hook on one side of the panel and a platform into which the hook engages, on the other side. In order to lay the floor, you need to insert a tenon into the groove of the previous board at an angle of 45 degrees (this figure is different for some manufacturers), and lay the panel on the floor. When the tongue and groove engage, a characteristic click is heard, indicating that the lock is engaged.
The advantages of the Click lock are that it reliably connects the panels, and even under heavy loads no discrepancies occur. Such a coating can be assembled and disassembled about 3 - 4 times, while its performance characteristics will not get worse.
T-Lock
Flooring manufacturer Tarkett has developed new option T-Lock lock, which works based on Click technology. The boards are fastened by snapping the tenon into the groove of the adjacent panel, not only on the long side of the board, but also on the end side. Laying occurs by cutting a tenon at an angle of 45 degrees into the groove of an already laid board.
The advantage of the T-Lock is its reliability and strength. Thanks to the double interlocking of the panels, the floor can withstand heavy loads even over a long period of use. The T-Lock does not wear out or break, and the boards secured by it do not come apart. The tensile strength of this design is 800 kg/m. P.
5G Lock (2Lock)
The 5G lock combines Click and Lock technologies. With this grip, the board is secured along the long and short sides with two types of locks. The long part is fixed at an angle, and the end part is placed on top of the underlying panel and snaps into place, like in a Click lock, until a characteristic sound occurs.
The advantages of a 5G lock are its incomparable strength. Thanks to the removable polymer flexible insert, which is located at the end of the panel, the boards fit tightly to each other, regardless of the load. Laminate with 5G lock can last long years without losing its characteristics and advantages. Installation, as well as dismantling, of floor coverings with such a lock does not require special skills and abilities.
Megalock lock
The Megalock, manufactured by the German company Classen, is an improved version of the 5G lock. Laying laminate with Megalock fastening is carried out by connecting boards along the length. The tenon of the long part of the board of the row following it is applied to the grooves of the row that has already been laid. The panels are connected at an angle, after which the attached board is lowered and a lock is snapped into its end part.
The presence of a Megalock lock guarantees reliable fastening boards in absolutely any conditions. Regardless of the loads and operating conditions, the floor covering will remain perfectly smooth. Another advantage is quick and easy dismantling, which can be done even by an unprepared person.
Aluminum lock
The system is aluminum profile, located at the bottom of the panel or in the load-bearing layer, both on the long side and at the end. Thus, a double connection is formed, and the tenon that falls into the groove is secured with light and reliable aluminum.
Aluminum locks are considered the strongest. The tensile strength is about 12,000 kg, which makes such a lock practically invulnerable to stress and abrasion. The joints between the laminate panels are not visible, so the coating looks monolithic.
An important advantage of laminate with an aluminum lock is that when installing it there is no need to use connecting thresholds. When installing a floor with all other types of locks, thresholds are usually used. On the website http://dogvozdya.ru/napolnie-pokritiya/laminat/porogi you can find big choice thresholds that can be used with any laminate.
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Without any controversy, laminate can be considered one of the most popular floor coverings today. And not in vain, because it is characterized by very great benefits, compared to other analogues. Even an inexperienced person can install a laminate floor, and this saves money large funds, since if you want to do the work yourself, you don’t have to hire specialists. At the ends of the panels there are special ends, which, when interacting with the grooves on the adjacent panel, form a locking system. Thanks to this technology, you can assemble the floor quickly and without special labor. Here we will talk about the types of locks, the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.
IN last years The laminate production industry is developing rapidly, and therefore there are many brands of this product. Often, each manufacturer tries to create its own technology for locking connections, and then insist that it is the most flawless and reliable. But be that as it may, various innovations from manufacturers’ designers do not prevent the conditional division of all locks into two groups: “Lock” and “Click”. They differ from each other in the way in which the panels are joined.
Lock "LOCK"
If you look at the chronology, then “Locke” locks appeared first and by this time were known as an economy option. To make them, they use the milling method. At its core, it is a tenon with a fixation comb on one panel and a corresponding groove for insertion on the other panel. Installation of the laminated panel occurs by driving a tenon into the groove until the gap between adjacent panels is eliminated. The blows are applied with a wooden hammer or an ordinary metal one, only through a substituted block.
When laying laminate flooring, the craftsman requires attention and constant monitoring of the joints. Despite its simplicity and reliability, the Lock connection has its drawbacks. During operation, friction constantly occurs in the lock system, which leads to premature wear of the coating and the appearance of cracks. To make locks more secure, regardless of their belonging to one of the two groups, it is recommended to treat them with an airtight compound. When buying a laminate with such a connection system, keep in mind that it is not designed for dismantling and re-installation.
Lock "CLICK"
The “Click” locking system is considered a more modern development. Its inventors took into account all the shortcomings of the Locke system and corrected them in their brainchild. The manufacturing procedure also involves using the milling method, only here the panel tenon is made in the form of a flat hook. Accordingly, a groove of the required shape is placed on the side of the other panel for tight fastening to the hook.
Laying panels with "CLICK" locks
The prefabricated process of coverings with the “Click” system is not complicated at all. Special effort there is no need to apply it here. The panel is held at an angle of 40-45 degrees and carefully inserted into the groove, then completely lowered to the floor. The fact of the fastening itself will be confirmed by a characteristic click. It is through the presence of this property that the name of this system arose. It securely fixes the panels and does not wear out even with heavy loads and long-term use. Here you don’t have to worry about the panels coming apart and forming cracks. A great advantage is that this coating, if necessary, can be easily disassembled and then reassembled in some other place. Manufacturers of laminate flooring with the “Click” system assure that you can disassemble the laminate 3-4 times without causing harm to it.
It is also recommended to treat the locks of such a laminate with sealant, especially if there are fluctuations in humidity in the room where the coating is installed. Even when using this composition, the possibility of safely dismantling the floor is not excluded, since it can be easily cleaned from the groove.
DIY laminate installation
In the field of construction, new developments appear almost every day. Laminate production is also no exception. For example, now on the market you can find laminate with locks impregnated with a wax composition. The developer of such products is WITEX, and the brand of laminate itself is called Lock Tec. Thanks to wax, the locks are reliably protected from moisture and do not need to be treated with sealant. At the same time, the joints of the panels when correct installation are not visible at all, creating the impression of a completely seamless coating.
There are also options with aluminum insert locks. According to technical specifications products, its coating can easily cope with a load of 200 kg/sq.m. The aluminum lamella is attached to the back of the panel and, when laid, engages with the groove of the adjacent board. The design is very simple, so laying the floor will not take much time and effort. Some manufacturers even give a lifetime warranty on floors with such a locking system. The number of repetitions of disassembling and assembling the structure can reach 6 times.
Other innovative developments, such as Megaloc locks, can reduce the installation process of flooring by 3-4 times. This effect is achieved thanks to the unique design of the product. On end side The plates have an additional plastic lock. As usual, assembly occurs along the side, and for end joining, simply pull the panel all the way until a characteristic click is heard.
If you need to answer the question of which lock is better, without a bit of risk you can say – “Click” locks. In fact, various innovations of modern manufacturers are only modifications of this basic fastening system.
Laminate- a modern floor covering that has recently become widespread in our country. Its popularity is explained by its high aesthetic and quality characteristics at an optimal price accessible to a buyer with an average level of income.
By many indicators laminated coating superior to natural floors.
The basis of the laminate design is HDF board. high density, in the thickness of which a lock is cut, thanks to which the installation of the floor is simple and can be done by a person who does not have the skills of a builder-finisher. Exists a large number of castle structures, differing both in design and assembly technique. Many manufacturers develop their own locking systems, and some manufacturers use previously developed ones.
In this article we will give an overview of the main designs of laminate locking systems.
ProLoc lock
The ProLoc system is developed and patented by Pergo. The system has a triple locking system, installation of the laminate is simple, the joints are treated with wax impregnation. The lock perfectly holds the panels in tight contact and can withstand heavy loads. This is one of the most reliable locks.
SmartLock
The SmartLock system is a simpler version of ProLoc. Connecting elements laminates are also impregnated with water-repellent impregnation. Locking system reliable, withstands heavy loads. Provides easy installation with an excellent final result.
PROClic lock
PROClic is an innovative development by Egger. It features a special geometry that allows you to lay one element at a time. Possesses high resistance to point loads and pressure strength.
ClickXpress lock
ClickXpress is developed by the Balterio concern. The system is truly revolutionary. Allows you to assemble laminate very quickly, while panel joints are difficult to find. The lock allows you to repeatedly install and dismantle the floor if necessary.
Uniclic lock
The unique Uniclic system is developed by Quick Step. Is different original design elements. Assembly of the panels is simple and convenient. The panel is inserted into another panel along the long side at an angle of 20-30°, then the assembled row is inserted into the previously assembled one and snaps into place. Assembly requires 2 people.
Megaloc Castle
Megaloc - development German manufacturer Classen. This is an innovative invention that allows you to speed up the laminate assembly process by 3 times. On the end side of the panel there is an additional movable plastic lock. Assembly is carried out along the long side, as usual, and on the short side, just press on the board and it will snap into place without effort. Installation can be done by 1 person. The edges are impregnated with wax protection.
ConnectSystem lock
ConnectSystem is another development from Classen. The system has gained great popularity due to its unique streamlined shape. It smooths out unevenness in the base thanks to movable joints at the joints, compensating for the tension between the laminated panels. IsoWaxx wax edge protection protects joints from moisture penetration.
LocTec lock
The LocTec system is Witex's own development. Possesses high strength indicators. This is one of the strongest locks. All edges are treated with wax impregnation, which protects the joints from moisture.
T-Lock
The T-Lock system is a development by Tarkett, which is widely used in the flooring market. Many manufacturers have adopted this lock. The system very reliably fixes the panels in tight contact. The assembly is carried out along the long sides, then the assembled row is inserted at an angle into the previous row and snaps into place with a light pressure until it clicks.
Based on materials from the site http://interier-nn.ru/tovar.php?id_vid=1&pathVid=laminat - online laminate store.