Laminate flooring
From Floor Coverings
Laminated Flooring
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What is Laminate Flooring?
Laminated flooring is made from a synthetic plastic material known as melamine resin that is combined with formaldehyde and is used as a floor covering. It was discovered in 1977 by a Swedish company named Pergo. Laminated Flooring made its way to the United States in 1994 and thus became a very popular floor covering material. The process includes bonding or laminating the resin with either paper or wood fibers under very high pressure to form the resulting product. The cover design comes from a replicated image that is transferred to the surface. It can be designed to mock natural floor coverings like wood, stone, marble and granite.
Laminate Flooring Applications
In recent years, with eco-friendly products in higher demand, some laminated floor plastics are combined with recycled materials or natural materials to promote "Greener Living". Laminated flooring is more stain resistant than it’s wood and stone counterparts and it resists fading and wear better too. Laminated flooring is 20 times stronger than formica and is water resistant. This makes its use perfect for kitchen and bathroom floors. It also resists denting, whereas wood does not. The cost comparison of laminated flooring over natural flooring is beneficial enough to make laminated flooring certainly worth investigating.
Laminate Flooring Installation
Ease of installation also makes laminated flooring a good option for home improvement do-it-yourselfers. Each plank is designed with tongue and grooves that become almost seamless once they are locked into each other. There is no need for staples, glue, hammer, nails or any type of cement to put down most laminated flooring. High traffic may cause glueless planks to separate, but tapping them back into place will prevent dirt from building up in the cracks. Of course, if you wish, you can always hire a professional to install your laminated flooring for you.
Laminate Flooring Maintenance
The care and maintenance of laminated flooring is quite easy compared to wood. Natural wood, generally speaking, requires waxing, oiling or even re-staining in order to keep it beautiful. Laminated flooring only requires regular cleaning. This is important because dirt can scratch and wear the surface if left there to do so. You might consider purchasing a brand of laminated flooring that comes with a water-resistant coating, because if water is left to sit on the floor it can soak in and cause the plank to warp or swell. If you clean spills up immediately, there should be no problem with the material warping.
There have been some recent concerns over home air quality that becomes comprised with materials that contain formaldehyde. However, laminated flooring contains less formaldehyde than particle board, so this should not be too serious of a concern. Laminated flooring is considered a floating floor, because it is installed over a sub-floor like concrete, vinyl or tile, but they are not actually attached to it. The use of a foam underlayment between the laminated flooring and the subfloor will promote sound proofing and moisture protection.
