All You Need to Know About Laminate Flooring
Laminate is a widely-used, durable alternative to real wood floors. It imitates most aspects of typical hardwood flooring but offers several additional benefits.
But what is laminate made of, and what are these benefits? Those interested in laminate flooring for their home should know as much as possible before making a decision. Let's see what laminate is all about.
What is laminate flooring?
Four main components comprise laminate flooring: the stabilizing (backing) layer, the core layer, the decorative paper, and the wear layer.
The stabilizing layer is at the very bottom of any piece of laminate. It's there to provide moisture, resistance, and stability.
The core layer is made out of fiberboard of high or medium density. This layer is the thickest one. It is also known as the "substrate layer."
The decorative paper layer is responsible for making laminate appear like wood.
The wear layer is the topmost part of any piece of laminate flooring. It is made out of melamine resin. Given that it's the layer in contact with household appliances, shoes, and the like, it's wear- and scratch-resistant.
The appearance
Modern laminate flooring looks identical to natural wood flooring at first glance. The discrepancies are so minor that only a detailed inspection could reveal them. The laminate flooring planks are intentionally made to be the size of natural wood planks.
The laminate flooring designs are made of photographic images (the decorative paper layer) to appear as natural as possible. A huge upshot to using laminate flooring is that the homeowner can choose their flooring's exact custom designs.
What is an underlayment?
Laminate flooring isn't typically installed directly on the sub-floor surface. Underlayment is applied to improve insulation, acoustic properties, reduce fatigue when walking, and protect the stabilizing layer of laminate flooring.
Underlayment is any sheet or roll product intended to sit between the sub-floor surface and the laminate. It's what makes laminate flooring "feel" as close to hardwood as possible.
The benefits of laminate flooring
Laminate does have some benefits compared to other surfaces, especially hardwood. For one, it's more durable and scratch- and wear-proof. Where hardwood floors are prone to indents and scratches, laminate offers more resistance.
Also, wood alters shape as a result of seasonal changes. These shrinkages and swellings might not be apparent, but a hardwood floor becomes less stable when it shrinks. When it swells, it is more prone to damage. Laminate flooring does not change in shape or size.
Finally, there's the benefit of easy installation. Since laminate is specifically and precisely constructed, it is much easier to install than hardwood. Typically, laminate is installed without glue, using a reliable locking system. For this reason, renovation skills aren't necessary with laminate, as opposed to hardwood, for instance.
Laminate – a perfect hardwood alternative
If installed correctly and with quality underlayment, laminate can both look and feel like hardwood. It's more resilient, more dependable, and much easier to install. Not only is this flooring type an ideal alternative to hardwood, but it's superior in many respects.
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