Laminate - should something specific be paid attention to?

Hey,

slowly the floor work is coming up for planning. In the areas where there will be no tiles, laminate will be installed.

There is laminate in hardware stores or places like Poco Domäne starting at 5€. What are the differences between a 5€ laminate and one costing 10€, 15€, or even more?

Can you go wrong with a 10-15€ (per m2) laminate? I have read that the thicker the laminate, the more stable it is. What is a common thickness?

Does it make sense to take laminate with built-in impact sound insulation, or is it better to separate both? Are there advantages or disadvantages?

If I have forgotten something... I look forward to more tips and advice.

Thanks!

The thicker the better. In addition, surface texture matters, meaning how much of a tactile structure is incorporated, as well as the usage class for the respective wear. In the guest room, there is certainly less traffic than in the hallway between the bathroom and the living room, one could assume. You could also go a bit lower with the usage class there. Otherwise, suitability for underfloor heating is also interesting. What I find relatively important for aesthetic reasons: joints/bevels. There are laminates that have a continuous "surface" and others where planks are suggested and can be felt. And you have to ask yourself whether you want a glossy or matte surface. I myself am still a few months behind you but recently settled on the flooring in the living room: Parador Basic 400 in oak grey. It's not expensive, but I like it because of its pale color, which in reality tends more towards grey. Our open space is in black and white, and I find that more consistent than the very natural, "yellowish" other tones. The thickness is in the "okay" range, I was told, but it can also be much thicker with up to 10-11 mm. Unfortunately, so far I haven't found a consistent shade for myself in the supposedly higher quality class.

Can you do something wrong with laminate costing 10-15€ (m2)?

Why not just take parquet for 20€ right away? It’s not "plastic" and feels significantly better.

Why not just go for 20€ parquet directly? It's not "plastic" and feels definitely better.

The cheap parquet is lacquered and doesn't feel any different than laminate, in my opinion. Besides, it is very sensitive and scratches very quickly. I would rather take laminate if you don't want to spend much money. However, not the artificially shiny cheap laminate, but more a matte one with a tactile texture.

Best regards
Sabine

The cheap parquet is lacquered and doesn’t feel any different from laminate, in my opinion.

I am talking about, for example, white oiled and brushed oak farmhouse planks. As two-layer parquet, it costs around €21-22. ALWAYS better than any laminate.
It is also available in other shades.