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What is Laminate Flooring?
Fashionable and Durable
Laminate is one of the hottest flooring products being sold today and laminate floors represent the most significant flooring entry in the past 30-years. Three important attributes - durability, design and installation ease continue to propel the popularity of laminate floors. If you want flooring for active lifestyles, a floor that is durable and easy to clean, then laminate floors may be exactly what you are searching for.
Lower Cost
Laminate flooring offers affordability compared to other types of hard surface floors.
Selection
The designs, which are created by high definition printing and embossing techniques, are limited only by the imagination of the producers. This has resulted in a product that is now recognized by the design and decorating community for its ability to create an atmosphere of great beauty.
Flexibility
Laminates lower cost and higher durability opens up more options for your flooring project. Let's say you love the look of Walnut hardwood floors. Walnut is pretty expensive and may be out of reach for your budget. A laminate of a walnut design will cost no more than an oak (all other factors being equal). What if you like Pine hardwood flooring? Its priced within your budget but may not stand up to your high traffic household (pine is pretty soft). Once again, laminate will give the look and durability you desire. Even very expensive hand scraped and soft scraped rustic hardwood floors are duplicated in great detail.
Eco-Friendly
NALFA, The North American Laminate Flooring Association, describes Eco Benefits of laminate floors:
Laminate flooring is inherently eco-friendly but not all products make the cut. The NALFA certification seal is proof that a laminate floor is sustainable and is built with these qualities:
- It’s made with natural resources like wood chip fiberboard
- It’s recyclable
- It’s free of air-damaging chemicals
- It complies with formaldehyde emissions regulations for laminate flooring core board set forth by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) sections 93120-93120.12, title 17, of the California Code of Regulations
- It is comprised of recycled content that may contribute points to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for homes and businesses
- It requires no special glues or adhesives during installation (eliminating VOCs) and no special cleaners for proper cleaning and maintenance (improving air quality)
Construction
- Laminate flooring consists of components that are bonded together:
- A transparent, protective wear layer that is extremely durable and resistant to stains, fading, burns and abrasive wear
- The decorative layer provides a high definition, highly detailed image complete with texture, grain and edge details
- A high-density fiberboard core (or HDF) offers impact resistance, stability and long-lasting durability.
- A layer comprised of melamine resin as balancing backing is bonded to the underside of the core
Image from Nalfa
