Why Pick Laminate
A flexible choice in the consumer market, laminate flooring can come in a variety of finishes, ranging from wood to natural. Laminate flooring allows you to craft the look and feel of a room. This product is recommended for places like living rooms, entry ways, and hallways.
While it looks as if it were made out of plastic, laminate flooring is typically not made out of plastic. Laminate gives off the glossy look of a design being sacrificed for affordability. Laminate flooring consists of 4 separate layers, which are wear, design, core, and the back layer. There is a distinct purpose being served by each layer, and they are all fused together via high heat and intense pressure.
The Wear Layer is the top layer. It is clear and made out of aluminum oxide which protects it from fading, stains and general surface burns. The second layer is the Design Layer, which features a high-resolution photograph of the floor’s surface appearance. The Core Layer is a highly dense and durable board that protects from damages like indentations and moisture. The Back Layer is the bottom layer, and its main responsibility is to shield the plank against moisture accumulation. The Back Layer also provides balance for the floor.
Laminate flooring is considered to be an extremely durable product because of its multiple layers. Being both scratch- and fade-resistant, laminate flooring is relatively easy to clean. Since it is a durable product, laminate enables absorption of heavy traffic, so if you have an active family with children and pets constantly running around, then this would be the ideal flooring choice to make. You can use laminate flooring for rooms like kitchens and baths as long as you take precautions beforehand, such as installing moisture barriers. However, laminate flooring is not recommended for areas that normally have high moisture.
Kinds of Laminate
Currently in the market are two separate types of laminate flooring products. One type is made out of engineered wood, and the other type is called Plastic Laminate.
Engineered Wood Laminate has layers of real wood glued together with each layer being perpendicular to the one above and below it for improved stability. Layers of UV-resistant acrylic finish make up the top layer, and a hardwood surface is the second layer. There is also a hardwood core layer beneath that, and then comes the hardwood veneer backing as the bottom layer.
Plastic Laminate only has two layers that contain plastic materials, so in reality it is not a complete plastic flooring product. It has a melamine (plastic variant) Wear Layer and a melamine Back Layer. Its second layer is a wood grain print film, and its Core Layer is fiberboard, which is saturated with resins for hardness.
