Know The Characteristics
Of Laminate Flooring
- Make The Right Choice
- Make The Right Choice
The Europeans innovated laminate flooring, but it has quickly spread to
our continent and become a flooring fan favorite here in North America. Not
only is it great for residential homes, but because of its strength,
durability, and economic pricing compared to other types of flooring, it has
also become very popular in commercial offices. Just because something is
popular however does not mean that it is clearly understood; there are many
mysteries and misconceptions surrounding laminate today. Many of which focus on
how it is made and how it differs from real hardwood.
Quality laminate flooring and real hardwood look strikingly similar.
Some of which, when laid side by side, you cannot tell which one is which. This
leads to one of the most common mistakes, thinking that laminate and hardwood
are similar. Just because they look alike does not mean they are alike;
hardwood gets its look from the type of species of wood it is, while
laminate is a highly rendered photograph of a type of wood species. This decorative
layer is coated by a resin based wear layer that makes laminate stand up to so
many different things that hardwood just can't. Medium or high density fiber
board makes up the central core layer that absorbs the majority of the stress
that will be put upon your floor, while the backing layer is the part that
binds all the other layers together; it is called the stabilizing layer.
One of the things that sets laminate apart from other types of flooring
is the ease in which it is installed. Almost all laminate on the market today
is a true floating floor; no glue is required for installation. These types of
laminates connect by means of a tongue and groove locking system which simply
clicks together, that's right, no nails required either. The most novice of do
it yourselfers can install laminate flooring with ease, and that is but
one of the many reasons laminate has become a favorite here in the US. Many
people choose to have laminate professionally installed to get the best job
done as possible and for convenience sake. On the other hand if money is tight,
you can cut out some expense with laminate flooring because of being able to
install it yourself. Laminate can also be installed much faster than hardwood
flooring so contractors benefit from offering this to their clients; the faster
the job gets done, the more contracts they can take on.
