Five Factors to Consider When Choosing Laminate Floors Laminate flooring is made from a balancing layer, fiberboard layer, and different sealants and thin layers of fibrous material like paper. An image of a natural stone tile or a particular grain of hardwood is imprinted on one of the layers, to make it the look like of the real thing. The top layer is a protective coating that prevents wear and tear, making your floors always look brand new. It is as if you have a huge laminated photograph of natural flooring placed on your floor. Once you have decided to go with laminate flooring for your home, you may think the difficult decisions are over. However, the numbers of options available can be overwhelming. Below are some things to consider when buying laminate flooring: 1. Laminate Floor Design If you can dream it, you can have it on your floor. Fantasizing about that lovely tile floor you spotted while on vacation in some place? You can have the same look at home. As soon as you have chosen your design, you should find a manufacturer that provides several different “photographs” of the same floor. In a natural floor, no two planks or tiles would be similar, so you can have the same effect for your laminate floor. Another factor in selecting authentic-looking laminate flooring is to get a product which is “embossed in register,” which basically implies the surface lines of the laminate carrying out the image design. If the product does not have this feature, the surface lines are going to stand out against the design – a dead giveaway. 2. Settle for Your Laminate For as low as $5, most manufacturers will let you purchase a sample plank or tile to try it in your own home. You can choose a sample online and receive it, product catalog and occasionally even a certificate or mail-in-rebate towards your final purchase. Line up your samples in the rooms wherein you plan to install laminate flooring and settle with it for a while. 3. High-Pressure Laminate and Direct-Pressure Laminate
The difference between High-Pressure Laminate (HPL) and Direct-Pressure Laminate (DPL) is mainly the layers. The more layers you have, the better. The layers provide you with additional protection from the elements. Generally, HPL has a minimum of four layers and DPL has only three layers. HPL is much more expensive, but if you are installing it in high-traffic areas, it will be worth the cost. One of the essential ways to tell if a floor is laminate or natural is in the sound it creates when you walk on it. Obviously, HPL will be a good choice if noise is a factor for you, because the layers can help to muffle the sound. You can also get laminate flooring with sound barrier layers applied on it. 4. Laminate Floor Installation Laminate flooring is a great choice for do-it-yourself types, since it is relatively simple to install. You can even buy a product with glue already on the sides; just wet them down to activate the glue. Upon purchasing the installation kit, you can install your laminate floor yourself. Three Types of Laminate Floor Installation In choosing the installation for your laminate floor, it comes down to the glue. You can have a glue laminate, which needs the application of glue to each piece before placing it down. As stated above, pre-glued laminate is just moistened before you fit the pieces together. The third alternative is glue-less laminate with a method that snaps the tongue and groove together, locking the floor into place. Glue laminates take more time to install, and you will have to wait longer to walk on them once installed. 5. Manufacturer’s Reputation To make sure your product meets industry standards, check if it carries the seal of approval from the North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA).