First used as a material for countertops and now used for flooring, laminate is an excellent choice for new and existing homes. It is often used in place of real wood, as it’s more durable and resistant to scratches, wear and spills; common vulnerabilities of hardwood. Laminate is also half the price of real wood, and depending on the type of floor and underlayment chosen, the savings can be even greater. With easy installation methods, an abundance of colors and an affordable price tag, laminate continues to be a top choice for flooring.
Laminate flooring may look like real wood, but it uses no hardwood in its construction. This is an advantage because the flooring is not susceptible to rotting, scratches and nicks, or warping. Instead, the flooring uses several materials that are bonded together under high pressure. The top layer of the flooring is a photograph of real wood, or in some cases stone or tile, and shows all the beautiful imperfections of wood. A clear coating is used on the surface, adding a glossy shine that keeps the floors looking new. Laminate is also a sustainable option for homeowners since it doesn’t use real wood.
It used to be that laminate didn’t compare to hardwood because of its high gloss and the way it echoed when walked on. Yet with quality selections and underlayment in today’s market, laminate rivals the look and feel of real wood. To come close to hardwood, it’s important to choose a superior underlayment that absorbs sound. And with a quality laminate selection that captures the true image of hardwood, you can enjoy wood grains and color blending that would be seen with the real thing.
Laminate is cheaper than hardwood, but the savings come from more than just the product. Since laminate flooring can be installed on your own, you don’t have to pay the high cost of labor as with other types of flooring. If you require assistance, flooring companies provide this for an added cost, but many do-it-yourselfers are able to successfully install laminate with no problem.
Traditionally, laminate floors used adhesive glues to bond the edges of the floorboards together. Although effective, the glues could be messy and lost their tackiness over time. Also, this method included an extra step where an additional rubber sealant would be used over the cracks in order to prevent moisture from seeping in.
Newer laminate choices use a tongue-and-groove installation method that allows the floorboards to interlock with each other like a puzzle. This method is simple and efficient and has the boards “floating” over the underlayment. To add to the ease of installation, laminate can be installed just about anywhere, including over existing floors and above or below grade applications, such as basements. Hardwood on the other hand, can only be installed in above grade areas.
Whichever installation method you choose, you can install laminate quickly, completing a whole flooring project in one weekend. This is much easier than the hammering and nailing that goes into hardwood floors, which is a more labor-intensive procedure that generally requires the assistance of professional floor installation companies.
Another criticism of laminate was that it didn’t leave much time for spills to be cleaned up, as water would seep in between the seams. These unexpected spills would cause the floors to buckle, thus damaging their natural appearance. With improvements to the laminate and subflooring, this is no longer an issue. As long as spills are cleaned up promptly and aren’t left to sit, the flooring will remain intact. This makes laminate an appropriate option for bathrooms and kitchens where spills are commonplace. For added protection in these areas of the home, it’s recommended that light dabs of glue are added to the tongue of the planks.
When choosing a superior product, you can enjoy the Eco-friendly advantage of having hydrophobic agents added to the edges to prevent moisture. Once the floorboards are installed, you can walk on them immediately and begin enjoying the seamless look of real wood, without the hassle of fading, scratches or wear. With this in mind, laminate has a natural splendor in high traffic areas that would otherwise be damaged by less durable flooring selections. Laminate can even be installed on stairs, although a more involved installation process is necessary and includes gluing down the boards and nailing in molding and transitions.
Years ago, real wood was the only choice for elegant flooring. Now, Laminate Flooring is becoming the preferred choice for its authentic look, easy maintenance and durable construction.
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