What is Laminate Flooring?
Nowadays, there is a wide variety of flooring options available on the market when it comes to choosing a new floor. Whether its carpet, real wood, roll vinyl or LVT flooring, tiles, and of course, laminate. All of them have their pros and cons, but in this entry we will discuss laminate flooring specifically. So what is laminate flooring?
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is a composite flooring material. It is composed of multiple layers, the main layer of the board being fibreboard or plywood. The general idea when laminate flooring was invented was to reuse wood waste and turn it into a useful product. Laminate flooring is then topped with an image layer to the effect of wood or stone usually. Laminate floors can vary in quality, and the wear layer will reflect this, some being almost indistinguishable from real wood or stone.
Wide ranges of colours can be applied to the wear layer to accommodate various styles. Some wear layers will be smooth, making the image obvious, but some are manufactured with grains and seams to closely resemble real wood to the touch.
Some modern laminate floors are manufactured with waterproof surfaces, that doesn’t mean the whole board is waterproof like a LVT floor, but if it is sealed off with silicone when installed, it will protect the layers beneath against water, and is still suitable to be fitted into bathrooms and kitchens.
Laminate flooring is suitable for a wide variety of rooms in the home. As stated above, if you find a brand of laminate flooring with waterproof surfaces, then it can be installed in a kitchen or a bathroom. As well as these, laminate floors can be fitted in hallways, dining rooms, living rooms, and bedrooms.
It is a great choice for hallways and entry rooms due to its durability. Laminate will resist a lot of wear and tear that would slowly chip away at a veneer of real wood—essentially, it can go anywhere hardwood flooring can, with the added versatility of kitchens and bathrooms and reduced risk of it being damaged.
Another thing that makes laminate flooring a suitable flooring solution is the easy maintenance. It’s tougher to stain than real wood, and due to its durability, is more scratch resistant, making it an ideal option for busy households with children and pets. The wear layer is exceptionally tough, and is less liable to damage from the wear and tear of work boots or high heels or pets. With real wood, it can cause chips and scratches that would have to be repaired either with sanding or refinishing, but you won’t get such hassle with laminate.
Laminate floors are easy to install. They come manufactured with modern click systems, meaning they can be floated on the subfloor. In simple terms, this means no glue or adhesive is required for installation. The laminate floorboards will click together like jigsaw pieces. This makes fitting cheaper, if you are hiring a professional fitter to fit the floor, or makes installation easier for an enthusiastic DIYer.