 If you are
looking for exceptional durability in active areas of
your home. Laminate flooring may be the right choice
for you.
For
remodeling, or even new construction, laminate is
becoming a very popular choice for homeowners. Laminate
flooring features the look of real hardwood, but is
easier to maintain. By its nature, laminate flooring is
more durable than hardwood and easier to install, making
it a popular choice for do-it-yourselfers. In
remodeling applications, laminate can be a great choice
since its low clearance space height is particularly
suited for situations where floor thickness can be a
problem.
Laminate
flooring originated on the European continent and has
been popular in these countries for many years. The
product was inspired by countertop materials, but it is
at least 20 times stronger. In the last ten years,
laminate has become very popular in the United States,
with a wide variety of brands available in many
different designs, sizes and colors. There are numerous
plank widths and square tile sizes. Plus, the designs
are wide ranging, with realistic stone, tile and
hardwood visuals.
The
manufacturers of laminate flooring use highly
sophisticated, computerized technology to create designs
that are growing ever more realistic looking. The wear
layer that is placed on the top of each laminate plank
is extremely durable and easy to care for. Laminate is
also impervious to most stains, spills, burns, sunlight
fading and is highly scratch resistant.
Laminate
flooring can be installed over a variety of hard
surfaces including substrates like plywood, OSB,
concrete slabs, vinyl, hardwood, and even tile. Each
plank or tile has tongue and groove edges that lock
together. In almost all installations, laminate floors
float – that is, they are not secured directly to the
sub floor.
In general,
laminate flooring does not require glue to hold the
planks together. The locking systems are designed to
essentially snap together. This glue less installation
process makes laminate floors an ideal, and
consequently, very popular choice for
do-it-yourselfers.
LAMINATE
FLOOR CONSTRUCTION
Laminate
flooring is manufactured in either planks or tiles.
Laminate floors replicate floors such as hardwood, stone
or ceramic tiles. Laminate floors are constructed from
several different layers of various materials pressed
together to form the plank. A printed film (extremely
high-resolution photograph) gives the floor the look of
a real hardwood, stone or tile floor. This film layer
is protected by a highly durable, tough wear layer,
which is applied over the top. The resins in this layer
are made up of aluminum oxide or other extremely hard
materials and provide a high degree of wear and stain
resistance.
In general,
the inner-core of laminate flooring is made from
high-density fiberboard and also forms the tongues and
grooves for locking the planks together. This core is
the base that the upper layer materials and back
material are fused to. In some cases, laminate
manufacturers treat this core with a melamine resin or
water-resistant sealant to help to protect the inner
core form moisture.
 Backing
– Melamine plastic layer that provides for additional
structural stability and in some cases added moisture
protection to the planks
Core
– Usually made from a high-density fiber board (HDF),
particle board, or plastic. The core provides
additional impact resistance and actually forms the
tongue and groove locking mechanism. Some manufacturers
also impregnate the core with melamine plastic resins to
improve moisture resistance.
Melamine Resin – A plastic resin used
throughout the entire manufacturing process to add
stability and increased durability to the planks
Print
Film – An extremely high-resolution photograph
or decorative layer that provides for the real
appearance of hardwood, stone or tile.
Wear
Layer – A very tough, clear melamine layer with
aluminum oxide particles embedded. Heat and pressure
applied during the manufacturing process produces an
extremely hard, durable finish. This layer is very
difficult to stain, scratch, fade or burn
Underlayment – A clear thin plastic that should
be installed over the sub floor before laminate flooring
is installed. This layer protects the laminate from
moisture.
Laminate
planks are fused together in either a one- or two-step
process. In the two-step process, the different layer
materials are first glued together and then these layers
are combined with the remaining materials and then glued
and fused into a plank. This process is referred to as
High Pressure Laminate (HPL). In the one-step
process, the materials are fused together at once and
this is called Direct Pressure Laminate (DPL).
As
technology changes, laminate manufactures continue to
make marked improvements in the look of laminate
products. Some laminate styles now are offered with
micro-beveled edging. Other products have a textured
feel added to the surface layer to give more realism and
enhance the overall floor experience. |