Interesting facts about laminate flooring

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When renovating your existing home or selecting the finer details of a new build, one of the big design decisions you will have to make is what flooring to get. Whilst I do believe that different flooring options are best suited for different rooms and that you have to factor in the style, practicality and cost of flooring when deciding what flooring to opt for, one type of flooring which I think is a fantastic option for most homes and rooms is laminate flooring.

Laminate flooring is a common household flooring choice as it is versatile and practical plus it is available in a variety of styles and budgets. As laminate flooring is a popular choice and offers a variety of positive benefits here we take a look at a few interesting facts about laminate flooring - 

Versatile

As mentioned above, laminate flooring is popular because it is versatile. Its versatility means that it can be installed over almost any floor. Laminate is what’s known as a ‘floating’ floor which means it can be installed on top of a clean, flat existing floor without the use of nails or other things that will damage the floor beneath it. It can be installed on top of concrete, wood and any other existing flooring already installed in your home which negates the need to remove existing flooring before installation. The versatility of laminate flooring helps save time and installation costs. Its versatility means that laminate floors can be used in any and every room throughout the house and is perfect for high-traffic areas where durability is a must.

Hypoallergenic

Perfect for allergy sufferers laminate floors are hypoallergenic. Laminate flooring is considered one of the best flooring choices for those suffering from allergies as it does not collect dust or hold on to any mold, dander, pollen or pests. Whereas with flooring such as carpets and rugs dust accumulates in the fibers which can be a health hazard for allergy sufferers. 

Eco-friendly

Laminate is made primarily from high-density fiberboard, which is made by pressing wood chips together with substantial force. Unlike traditional solid hardwood, the wood chips can come from any part of a tree so you do not need to cut down an entire tree for laminate flooring. 

Printed

The top layer of laminate flooring is made using a HD printer. Using a 3D printing process a thin layer of what’s called ‘living paper’ is made for the top layer of laminate. The living paper is what makes your laminate floor robust and look so much like hardwood. To help laminate flooring resist scratches and other damage the living paper top layer is covered with coats of aluminium oxide.

Harder than hardwood 

Laminate boasts being one of the hardest wooden materials thanks to the high density fiberboard used to make it. This means is is harder than hardwood and less likely to be gouged or dented than hardwood.

A popular flooring option

Not only does the interesting facts above about laminate flooring make it a great option for most homes but it also boasts many more positive benefits. 

Laminate flooring is solid, strong and durable which makes it perfect for withstanding high use. It is also quick and easy to install and thanks to it’s floating floor design it is able to move, expand and adjust as necessary without the worry that the floor will warp or damage. 

Laminate is also easy to clean and maintain. They can be cleaned by vacuuming or dust-mopping and it is low maintenance it does not need to be refinished, sanded or re-stained. 

The beauty of laminate flooring is that it is available in a variety of styles and colours. Laminate floors are designed to look like wood, stone or ceramic tiles and are available in either planks or square tiles. Whilst they look like hard-surface products, laminate is soft, comfortable and quiet under foot.

Do you have laminate flooring?