All about laminate flooring: Understanding your options

Laminate floor has come a long mode in recent years. Rather than just a cheaper alternative to natural wood or stone floor, laminate flooring is available in a spectrum of styles  to offering a beautiful and durable complement to any decor.

When purchasing laminate, there are a lot of variables to keep in mind, like the surface on which the floor will be laid, in what room it'south going, toll and the look of the space. Read on for the ultimate guide to laminate flooring, including what to consider when buying and laying the floor in your newly designed space.

What is laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring is sometimes called a "floating flooring" or "floating tiles" because information technology tin be laid right on meridian of existing linoleum, subfloor or on any difficult surface, including concrete, without gluing it or fastening information technology to the floor. Information technology's made by bonding four layers of materials together , coated by resin on the peak and bottom.

Laminate flooring consists of:

• Wear layer: The habiliment layer is the top layer of flooring  that gives the whole floor a shiny, finished advent. Information technology too gives the flooring much of its strength and durability. It protects the flooring from pet's claws, chair legs, kids' toys and all other daily wear. It also protects the printed layer from the sun's rays, which could otherwise discolor information technology over time.
• Printed layer (or decor layer):  The printed layer is the await of the flooring — the pattern or markings you see. It can expect like natural wood flooring, stone or marble, and comes in a variety of colors and patterns .
• Fiberboard layer (or core layer):  High-density fiberboard (HDF) is fabricated upwards of processed softwood, which is mixed with resin and wax. This layer is formed with both heat and pressure, creating panels. The panels are then cut so that they "click" together, eliminating the need to attach each board with the floor or another board.
• Backing layer:  This layer helps to keep the floor direct and even, and is sealed to go along out moisture, so your floor shape and stability won't be compromised from underneath. Some higher-end laminates as well include foam padding, eliminating the demand for a separate underlay for the flooring.

Where to install laminate flooring

Laminate is manufactured to be tough and sound regardless of where information technology's installed. Still, actress steps may be necessary when it'southward installed in basements, bathrooms and kitchens. When installing below grade (below basis level like in a basement), a moisture bulwark  should be installed betwixt concrete and laminate to continue natural humidity away from the flooring. In bathrooms, laminate can outperform hardwood for ease of cleaning. But particularly in full baths where moisture is mutual, glue should be used betwixt laminate planks  to brand sure whatsoever drips or leaks in the bath don't make their manner in between floorboards. For kitchens and baths, silicone sealer  is likewise recommended where the flooring butts upwardly against walls, tubs and toilets.

How to buy the best laminate floor

At present you know where y'all can install laminate flooring, merely how do you choose the best laminate flooring to purchase? There are a few factors to consider:

Types of laminate flooring

Laminate flooring tin resemble annihilation, just information technology virtually commonly mimics the look of stone, tile or wood. Though the patterns can be relatively convincing, their repeating nature often gives away their manufactured origins. Laminate floor also comes in glueless "click" format, while other types need mucilage applied during installation. Others however come up "pre-glued," but may demand the glue to be moistened when the floors are laid.

Laminate flooring thickness

Bachelor in thicknesses of six to 12mm, a laminate plank's thickness will decide its sound insulation, its resistance to warping over time and how well information technology masks imperfections on the floor below. A smooth subfloor will permit for a thinner plank, while a thicker plank volition be necessary for more uneven floors. More often than not speaking, thicker planks are more than expensive to buy.

Laminate flooring width

Just like many other flooring types, laminate comes in planks of various widths, ranging from 3 inches broad to vii inches or more. Which you cull volition depend on cost, the size of the room and personal preference. Smaller spaces oft exercise well with narrower planks, both for looks and for ease of installation, while a large, wide room may look better with wider planks.

Texture of laminate flooring

While many laminate floors offer a polish, fifty-fifty surface, others are textured or embossed to more realistically imitate natural materials. Some accept wood grain-embossed textures or are bumpy like natural stone. Laminate floors are also bachelor in a distressed-wait to mimic antiquarian floors. Patterns and textures may hide wear and tear on the flooring, and testing shows  deeply textured floors don't suffer impairment as quickly as polish ones. Personal preference and ease of cleaning volition be deciding factors in which texture yous choose.

Read laminate flooring reviews

Any new flooring is a big investment in a home, and then become as much information as possible before making any firm choices. Reviews and ratings are a great way to determine the right floor for y'all. In item, seek out Air conditioning ( Abrasion Criteria ) ratings which determine the immovability of the flooring. It is especially crucial to consider AC ratings when floor a kitchen, a well-used hallway or an entryway of a dwelling. AC ratings range from AC1 to AC6. Lower-range Air conditioning ratings are manufactured using straight pressure level laminate , while AC5 and higher are created using high-pressure level laminate . Generally speaking, college-traffic areas of a domicile should practise well with an AC3 or AC4, while lower-traffic areas like bedrooms tin can apply a lower AC rating.

Installing laminate floor

1 of the reasons laminate floors are so popular is because of their ease of installation. Panels are manufactured to fit tightly together, and then DIY installers can hands put the floor downward themselves, sometimes completing a whole room in a twenty-four hours. To install a laminate floor, you will need the following tools:

• Circular Saw
• Jigsaw
• Hammer
• Tapping block

Depending on the space, a mitre saw might also be useful for cutting the wood panels into shape. Professionals can as well install the flooring at minimal expense because the panels go in very speedily. Mostly speaking, installation can cost about  $2 to $iii per square pes .

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Compare laminate floor cost

Laminate flooring ranges from $iii per foursquare human foot to effectually $seven installed , while flooring solitary can range from $1 to $5 per square foot. Factors that become into pricing are thickness and the AC rating of planks, whether the flooring has pre-attached underlayment  or no underlayment  and by brand proper name. Pergo  and Mannington  flooring, for instance, will generally set you lot back more than laminate flooring from Shaw .

Elevation laminate flooring brands

Pergo

Pergo manufactures laminate, rigid vinyl and hardwood floors that are widely available. Pergo's floors are known for existence extra tough , with superior wearable, scratch and water resistance. The visitor has been making laminate for over four decades, and their peak lines are:

• TimberCraft
• Outlast
• Portfolio

TimberCraft is a realistic wood-look console that's completely waterproof, making it well suited to the areas of the home at risk of getting wet.

Mohawk

Mohawk is a flooring brand that's been around since 1878. Their RevWood Plus series of flooring is coated in Hydroseal ™ , a waterproof and scratch-resistant coating. You lot can opt for the All Pet Plus protection (an extra available warranty) to comprehend pet accidents and damage. Mohawk's all-time-known laminate lines are:

• RevWood
• RevWood Plus

Mannington

Mannington takes a step into more environmentally-aware flooring manufacturing. I laminates are made from seventy% recycled materials, and the company also gives its floors FloorScore ®  certification for better air quality inside the dwelling. Its laminate lines are:

• Restoration
• Revolutions Plank

Mannington'due south Restoration collection comes in a huge pick of colors and features SpillShield®Plus  waterproof engineering science.

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Source: https://www.mymove.com/home-inspiration/flooring/all-about-laminate-flooring/

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