Everything about Laminate Flooring

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Flooring is an important part of a home. Right type of floor can really enhance the beauty of your home. With plethora of options available today, one can choose any of them. But, laminate flooring is the preferred choice of most of the people. This flooring is not wood, though it appears to be. Basically, laminate flooring is composite wood flooring type which is made up of composite wood covered with two or three layers.

History

Laminate flooring was invented in the year 1977 by Swedish company Perstorp. The company sold this flooring under the brand name Pergo.

Composition

Laminate flooring simulates wood with a photovoltaic applique layer under a protective layer. The inner layer of the flooring is basically composed of melamine resin and fiber board material.

Advantages:-

· Convenient Packaging

Laminate Flooring comes in planks that are for different sizes and convenient to pack and transport from one place to the other.

· Easy to Clean and Maintain

One of the biggest advantages of this flooring is that it is very easy to maintain and clean. Dust and dirt place on it can be wiped off with the help of a cloth. It is because layers of this floor protect the material from stain. For maintenance, regular sweeping or vacuuming is enough.

· Quick and Easy installation

Laminate flooring can be easily and quickly installed. It doesn’t need to be glued or nailed down. A person with little experience of installation can install it efficiently. An entire room can be finished in just a day or two.

· Versatile

Laminate flooring is available in different sizes, shapes, and prints to meet diverse specifications of the customers

· Provides Health Benefits

The flooring is naturally resistant to bacteria and mold; thereby protecting people from many diseases which are caused due to the bacteria.

· Acclimation

Unlike Wood Flooring with solid wood, it doesn't require too much time for installation and setting down completely.

Disadvantages:-

· Sound

Walking on laminate floors creates a hollow sound. This can be an offset to some extent through the use of dampening underlying materials that can assist to simulate the sound of natural hardwood flooring.

· Environmental Concerns

Some expert says chemical used in the composition of this flooring can affect air quality of the place.

· Affected by Temperature Changes

The flooring is affected greatly by any change in temperature. It expands and contracts according to temperature.

· Can’t be used everywhere

It can’t be used at moisture prone areas like bathroom.

· Short Life

Lifespan of this flooring depends entirely upon the quality of material used in its manufacturing and thickness of the wear layer.

· Hard

It is quite hard and unyielding underfoot.

· Refinishing

As laminate flooring has single wear layer, it can’t be refinished. After sometime wear layer starts to degrade which causes replacing entire floor.

Applications

It can be used at the following places:

· Offices

· Dining room

· Bedroom

· Stores

· Restaurants

Installation

Installation of laminate floor for a DIY homeowner is quite easy as it is packet with a number of tongue and groove planks. It doesn’t matter at all that where your sub floor is because the floors do not need to be nailed down or glued. It can be simply laid down on the top of wood, concrete, plywood, and your vinyl flooring. Even most of the laminate floors can be easily installed over radiant heated concrete slabs.

A small gap is required between the flooring to allow expansion when the temperature changes.