What is a laminate floor?
A laminate wooden flooring is a synthetic composite floor. The base of the floor is formed by a base layer of plywood or fiberboard. In some cases, a back layer or base layer is added to the bottom of this base layer for additional protection and insulation. The core layer is glued on top of the image layer – a printed high-resolution image of real wood, stone or other material.
Finally, a wear layer of thin and transparent plastic is added to protect the bottom part. layers against damage.
Laminated wooden flooring is a popular way to get the look of wood or stone floors without paying the price of said floors. Although it used to look cheap and artificial, today it is considered durable, low-maintenance and—thanks to the excellent photorealistic image layers—high quality.
Pros
- Durability: Wood laminate floors are extremely durable. because they require little maintenance. Laminate withstands heavy traffic with minimal damage, is UV resistant and is waterproof. It also doesn’t scratch or stain as easily as a parquet floor.
- Most affordable and easy to install: Flooring hardwood laminate is cheap compared to other floors and easy to do yourself.
- True eco-friendly: It is a laminate floor. made from recycled materials (especially the core layer). Reputable brands also offer some type of environmental certification, such as GreenGuard.
Cons
- Prone to liquid damage: Wood grain laminate floors are sensitive to moisture. Oversaturation with any liquid, not just water, can cause wires to bend, stain and break if left untreated. Although waterproof laminate flooring is becoming the norm, it is still important to be careful, especially if water gets under the floor. Water-damaged boards or planks must be completely removed and replaced.
- Cannot be refinished: Due to the composite structure and wear layer, laminate floors can never be refinished. If laminate flooring is damaged or worn, it should be replaced.
- Artificial Appearance: Unfortunately, laminate flooring, despite its quality, does not pass the test of its real counterpart upon close inspection. Everything from repeating patterns to how the floor sounds and feels underfoot (for example, a laminate floor is louder than a hardwood floor) indicates that a laminate floor is laminated.
Price
The price of a wood and laminate flooring depends on the quality, but you can expect to spend about $0.70 (wood, such as maple or red and white oak) and $2.00 per square foot (such as hickory). Besides wooden laminate floors belong to the same range. You pay more for extra features or functions, such as waterproofing or custom designs.
Care and Maintenance
- Laminate wooden flooring are easy to maintain. Most floors come with manufacturer’s instructions, as the best way to care for them can vary depending on the materials used in construction. Otherwise, take the same precautions as any other floor: clean up spills and messes as soon as possible, put down rugs in high-traffic areas, add padding to furniture legs, and try to avoid any activity or objects. which can scratch your floor.
- Laminate floors are sensitive to water, so unless your floor is waterproof, try to avoid regular mopping and stick to a monthly or monthly schedule. A wet mop is usually enough. To maintain and protect the wear layer, make sure that any cleaning products you buy or make yourself are safe for laminate floors. Oil-based, acidic or abrasive products can damage the surface. Also, never polish or wax your floor.
- Remember that laminate flooring cannot be painted over if it is damaged. While minor scratches can be repaired by using a wax pencil or repair putty to fill the scratch, major ones usually require the entire damaged tile to be replaced.
Design Options
Because laminate flooring wood use printed patterns as an image. layer , it is possible to customize your floor (although you are guaranteed to pay more). Most traditional floor types, colors, patterns and styles can be replicated with laminate flooring. Although wooden floors are the most common, stone and tile laminate floors are becoming more and more popular. Bevel, relief and gloss effects are also possible.
Because laminate flooring is so versatile and inexpensive, it is possible to use different types of laminate flooring in every room of your house. For example, the kitchen might have ceramic tiles, while the adjacent dining room might have classic oak.
Installation
Wood and laminate flooring is usually installed as a floating floor, which means it consists of interlocking boards that are placed over the existing floor. below No glue, nails or staples needed. This makes installing laminate flooring a very easy project.
Expect the actual installation of the boards to take about a day depending on the size of the room, but it may take longer if you need to prepare the subfloor or if there is damage. to the tiles you bought. Follow all manufacturer’s instructions and take all precautions when using power tools.
If you want your laminate flooring professionally installed, you will pay between $8 and $15 per square foot for labor and materials. (or about $2-$8 per square foot of work). Installation prices vary according to the difficulty of the project and the type of floor. The labor price given generally includes the necessary underlayment and finish, but check with the installation company for more detailed information.
Lifespan
A laminated floor lasts an average of 15-25 years. The exact lifespan depends on the product quality of your floor, how well you take care of it and how much it gets. In some cases, laminate floors can last more than 25 years. In many cases, it won’t even last ten.
Top Brands
Manufacturers of laminate wooden flooring specialize in certain types of laminates, so look for brands that suit your needs. In general, brands offering longer warranties and “mid-range” or “premium” floors (etc.) are a good sign of high quality. Also look for the AC rating (carry-out rating); the higher the number out of five, the more durable the floor.
Eurotex Flooring and Pergo are the best known brands and both are considered reputable and high quality manufacturers. The floors they make are waterproof, come in a variety of styles and are GreenGuard certified. Shaw Laminate, Armstrong Laminate, and AquaGuard Laminate also offer excellent flooring. If you’re on a tight budget and want something more widely available, check out Dream Home and TrafficMaster floors (sold by Home Depot).
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for affordable, durable flooring with plenty of floor space. . Because of the design options and easy installation process, laminate wooden flooring may be the right choice for you. Carefully consider the artificiality of laminate at a much higher cost than other materials (both financially and in terms of maintenance and durability).
