How to choose the best one for your laminate flooring buying guide
With all the other materials that laminate flooring can resemble, it is a good choice for any room in your home. Believe it or not, people are even using it on walls these days, especially in high-humidity rooms like kitchens and bathrooms.
Natural floor coverings such as wood and stone, and laminate flooring materials. It consists of four different layers – wears, decor, core, and base – which are bonded together in a lamination process. It is purposely designed to be both durable and affordable. Thanks to the decorative layer (printed image), it can recreate the appearance of more expensive types of floors such as wood, tiles, or stone.
Laminate flooring was invented in the 1975s by the flooring company Prestart, but wasn’t widely introduced to the world market until 1984. And it wasn’t until a decade later that it became available in the US. There are pros and cons, but it is still one of the most popular floor coverings, and not just for kitchen floors.
Different Types of laminate flooring
Plastic flooring: Plastic laminate flooring is artificial. Some people avoid it because of this, but it can be about half the cost of faux wood laminate. It is waterproof and not prone to dents, scratches, or stains, making it excellent for dirty and busy areas. Manufacturers have made great strides in making plastic laminate look very close to the material it imitates (be it wood, stone, tile, etc.).
Artificial wood: For those who are more focused on using real wood but still want the benefits of laminate flooring, wood floors use layers of real wood in addition to acrylic lamination. It can be twice as expensive as plastic laminate and is also less resistant to damage and water. However, unlike plastic laminate, it can be sanded and repainted several times, which can extend its life.
Type of installation
Gluten-Free Click: This is the most popular type of laminate flooring because it is the easiest to install. It’s simple and mess-free. Most laminate flooring in this style uses the double-click method to snap it completely into place.
Glued: It was the first form of laminate flooring. Applying glue can be a complicated project, but it’s also a highly durable installation method if placed correctly.
Pre-glued: With a simple, mess-free installation process, pre-glued laminate flooring uses a peel-and-stick method. Sometimes the pre-applied adhesive needs to be moistened before the panel is attached to the floor.
Surface type of laminate floor
Smooth surface: This is the easiest and simplest type of surface to clean, but it can also look less realistic if you want your floor to resemble more natural materials.
With texture surface: Textured or embossed laminate floors can look more accurate to the materials they are modeled after. However, the nooks and crannies make it difficult to clean.
Desperate surface: Worn or hand-scraped laminate floors are designed to look old on purpose. If you want an antique look at a lower cost and more durability, this is a finish to consider.
