The Beauty of Laminate Flooring

One way to add value to your home is to consider laminate flooring installation. Laminate floors combine the beauty and elegance of hard wood, or tile floors with the easy upkeep of linoleum or vinyl flooring. Constructed from high density fiber (HDF) wood board topped with a wood or stone pattern, laminate flooring is extremely durable. Resistant to scratching, scuffing and burning, the beauty of laminate floors will last a lifetime. With today's constantly changing interior style trends, the easy installation and variety of laminate flooring is a popular choice for home designers.

The Quality of Laminate Flooring

If you're planning to redecorate your home and are considering laminate floor installation, there are some decisions you need to make about the type of laminate flooring that will work best for you. It is normally thought that the tougher the HDF core, the higher the quality of the laminate flooring. The second mark of laminate floor quality is the means by which the core is bound to the pattern and protective layers. There are two standard kinds of laminate flooring to consider.

Direct Pressure - Direct Pressure lamination consists of a one-step process to bind the flooring layers into a single cohesive unit. Direct Pressure Laminate (DPL) flooring that has been bound is then treated with melamine resins to boost the strength of the core. This final step also allows notches and grooves to be evenly cut into the pieces to facilitate the process of laminate flooring installation.

High Pressure - High pressure lamination produces a far more durable end product by binding the flooring layers over several steps. First the top layers are joined to each other and then glued to the HDF core. Right after this, the melamine resins and glued flooring are submitted to a high pressure press that completes the process and makes the product ready for laminate flooring installation.

Laminate Flooring Installation Types:
As soon as you've decided on the design and item you want to use, you are ready to begin the process of laminate flooring installation. The variety of laminate products currently on the market offer various various choices for laminate flooring installation. The type of installation you choose will depend on your spending budget, your commitment and ability to execute the project and your preference in design. When shopping for laminate flooring, you can expect to find products the requirements of the following laminate flooring installation techniques:

Standard Flooring - Standard laminate flooring is installed by utilizing glue to affix the flooring to the sub floor. Standard laminate flooring installation is both cost-effective and secure.

Pre-Glued Flooring - You could also come across laminate flooring products that have been treated with glue prior to sale. To complete the laminate flooring installation, water is applied to the underside of the board to activate the glue.

Snap and Lock - There is no glue required for a Snap and Lock laminate flooring installation. The floor boards are instead linked by a locking mechanism on the underside of the wood. Snap and Lock flooring is very simple to install, but may be more costly than laminate flooring installed with glue.
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