Laminate flooring has become one of the most popular types of flooring for the home. In just ten years laminates have become the trendsetter among floor coverings. The first laminate flooring product came on the market in Sweden in 1989. Pergo brought laminate to the United States in 1994 and now shares the market with hundreds of other brands. This article will introduce you to laminate floors, so that you can decide whether it’s right for your home.
Laminate flooring is highly resistant to staining and requires very little maintenance, freeing up your time for more productive activities. Just sweep daily with a soft brush, and damp mop as needed. No waxing is necessary. Laminate flooring will never fade, even in direct sunlight.
As its name implies, laminate flooring is composed of different layers, or laminae. The top, or wear layer, is composed of aluminum oxide, which provides a protective layer against abrasion and stains. Next there is a thin design layer which displays the look of the flooring. It may be a thin strip of real wood, or maybe a photographic image of wood, stone, or whatever the floor is designed to mimic. The inner core is a dense fiber or wood-chip board saturated with a plastic resin to provide strength and moisture resistance. And finally, there is a backing layer made of resin-saturated paper for a barrier to moisture to prevent warping.
Laminate flooring is easy enough for most do-it-yourselfers to install correctly, with some advance preparation. First , plastic sheeting is put down on the sub-floor, and then covered with foam. This acts not only as a moisture-proof barrier, but adds sound-proofing and evens out slight irregularities in the sub-floor itself. The planks are fitted together with tongue-and-groove, and sometimes need glue as well.
Laminate floors come in a variety of different colors and styles, so you can find just the right look to complement your interior decor. It can be made to look like stone, hardwood, tile, or ceramic flooring, but at a much lower cost. Laminate flooring is sold as square tiles or as thin 8-inch boards in 3/8 inch or even 1/2 inch thicknesses. The planks can be displayed as one, two, or three strips per panel. You may also have a choice of square or beveled edges, and a choice of surface finishes.
In addition to its different looks, laminate flooring comes in different grades. You should choose flooring that is rated for heavy residential to moderate commercial use. Anything more durable is probably a waste of money for home installation. Also try to get at least a 15-year warranty against wear, stains, and fading. Better yet, some warranties also cover accidental moisture damage, just in case your refrigerator springs a leak. 10-year warranties are usually given only for “low-end” materials, which will usually also be less resistant to scratching — one thing that is not covered.
When choosing a manufacturer, it makes sense to pick one of the well-known brand names or distributors. They will be more likely to stand behind their product, since they have a reputation to maintain. Visit their website, and pay close attention to customer testimonials, which is becoming an important tool in making a decision about the quality of laminated flooring being sold.
If you have used this information to help you come to a decision about what kind of laminate flooring to get, and where to buy it, then it’s time to get to work. Buy the flooring, and either put it in yourself or hire an expert to do it for you. Then complete your decorating scheme, and invite your friends and neighbors in to show them your newly decorated room.
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