Laminate: An Affordable Alternative to Hardwood Floors?

If you are interested in putting new floors in your home you might want to choose laminate flooring over hardwood floors. Laminate is a definite alternative which results in a beautiful, strong floor. It is made from pressed wood cores and then completed with a printed paper topping. The appearance is designed to resemble hardwood flooring. If you choose laminate flooring you will find that it can easily be installed over the top of a subfloor. You do not need any nails, glue, or adhesives. Laminate is quickly installed. Another great thing about laminate flooring is the fact that it requires very little maintenance.

Laminate is one of the newer flooring's available on the market. Through the years it has improved so that it produces a durable, handsome, quality floor. The new laminates available on the market make it difficult to distinguish from an authentic hardwood floor. There is a wide variety of colors and styles from which to choose in laminate flooring. You will also have the option of choosing between a dark tone, which produces a formal environment, to a lighter tone which appears to offer a larger looking area. When you decide to purchase laminate flooring you will basically need to choose the design, style, and color.

Laminate flooring is extremely durable. It is often stain resistant. It is manufactured in layers. This provides for a lasting floor. The first layer is considered as the 'wear' layer. It is often a melamine top layer and this provides for a very tough finish. The second layer is an image design layer. This is the layer that provides for the beautiful wood appearing finish. The next layer is the inner core. This provides the structural strength and stability. It is usually made from a high density fiberboard or HDF. It is generally impregnated with a plastic resin. This gives the floor more strength. It also provides for more stability and resistance to moisture. The final layer, the fourth layer, is the backing layer. It is a melamine backing layer that offers a moisture barrier and structural integrity. These different cores generally provide much more strength and durability opposed to hardwood floors.

Unlike hardwood flooring laminate can be installed above, on, or below grade level. Depending on the laminate flooring you choose it generally offers a life expectancy of 15 to 30 years. The top layer is unmatched in the resistance to wear and stain opposed to hardwood floors which will be discolored or become blemished if water or other beverages are accidentally spilled on the floor. Also, if a hardwood floor becomes damaged in any way, such as through stains or scratches, it generally requires a professional to come in and complete the costly repairs. However, laminate flooring is so strong and durable that blemishes are seldom a problem.