You want to create a wooden landscape in your house, but you do not have enough money. Prepare yourself for a great solution. Hard-wearing laminate flooring, scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, and lightfast; easy to clean; hypoallergenic; suitable for families who have a child or pet and do not have to pay for a wooden floor. This type of flooring is offered in different types with different widths and colors, which can withstand the stresses of crowded places. Laminate can look like ceramic or stone ceramics, but we know it more as a substitute for wood. Every day we see new innovations in the production industry for this type of flooring, and fixing systems and different designs are introduced.
Laminate is an advanced technology in the flooring industry, which is the result of combining several layers of different materials on one board. The core layer or middle of the laminate board is usually made of very dense fibers and sometimes medium density fibers. This core carries the weight and load when walking on the floor; it also determines its durability and strength.
Part of the strength and durability of the laminate also depends on the underlying reinforcing layer. The decorative layer is welded onto the core. The decorative layer actually determines the design of the flooring, which is achieved by printing the desired design on a living panel. Then a transparent top layer consisting of one or more layers of aluminum oxide is applied to the decorative layer. This is the layer that protects the floor from scratches, burns, stains and dents.
Laminate has a fixing system that forms the floor of your house by joining the panels together. This glue-free system is one of the outstanding features of laminate, making it easy to install. For this reason, you can also lay this flooring yourself. It is not necessary; glue the laminate to a subfloor or vice versa, a wooden floor does not require a substructure.
Because the simple process of laminate manufacturing is to bond several layers of material and then seal them together; the world of laminate is a world of choice. Wood, stone and ceramic are the most popular types of laminate. The variety of designs and colors of this flooring makes it difficult for consumers to choose.
There is one way to do this and that is to think about laminate and categorize it into different types to make the right choice according to your needs.
You can categorize it according to the way the laminate is laid and see which installation method you prefer:
Glue-less laminate flooring. Two-thirds of the laminates available on the market have this type of installation system.
Note that some laminate floors are underlaid before installation, which makes the installation process quicker and easier. If this is not the case, you should place a layer of underlay under the floor before installation to create a soft and sound-absorbing surface. If you are laying the flooring in a damp environment, apply a thin layer of plastic before laying. It is necessary to lay this layer; whether or not the floor has an underlay.
Glued laminate flooring. With this method, you have to glue the planks together. Although you will have a much stronger floor covering, the cost and time required for this method is higher than before.
Pre-glued laminate flooring. With this type, a layer of glue is already applied to the floor. By moistening the floor, this layer of glue is activated.
The floor design can be the criterion for your choice. As we have already said: the laminate is constantly changing its shape. In the past, there was only one type of surface, but today it is more varied.
Smooth and polished. A shiny plank, which reminds you of wood. You can choose a fully glossy, semi-glossy, or low gloss surface.
Embossed laminate flooring. Some laminates have embossed designs and patterns. This regular design is not necessarily a series of grooves created by printing but is the result of our visual defect.
Handscraped. Handscraped laminates are available these days.; in the past this was only done on wooden floors, giving your floor an antique look at home.