In the field of home improvements, one of the major and innovative developments is laminate flooring. It is less expensive than wood, tile, or stone, durable as well as prefinished. For any DIY projects, they are the best. Most laminate flooring can be installed simply by snapping the pieces with no need for a fastener or glue. The most important thing, however, is to select the right kind of laminate flooring product.
Types of Laminate Flooring
There are two types of laminate flooring styles available which you can choose from:
Engineered wood: This is made from layers of real wood that are bound together using glue with the layers one on top of another for better stability. The top layer is a thin and top-quality layer of hardwood with acrylic finish. It is more expensive than the other kind.
Plastic laminate: This is totally artificial, with a bottom layer of melamine, a resin-saturated fiberboard in the middle, and a wood grain print on the top, which is covered by a layer of clear and hard plastic. It is more water resistant and hardy than engineered wood.
Components of Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring has four basic layers or components. Each of these has a particular role to play in the look and durability of the flooring. From bottom to top, the components are:
a) Balancing Layer: This is a plastic, paper or melamine backing layer also known as the balancing layer which is used for stabilizing the floor and is moisture resistant.
b) Core Layer: The middle core layer is a water-resistant substrate layer that is made up of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or high-density fiberboard (HDF). Both MDF and HDF are composed of wood fibers, which are compressed together with resin and adhesive.
c) Photographic, Decorative or Pattern Layer: This top layer gives the floor its realistic appearance. It is essentially a photograph and is usually constructed with multiple sheets of paper fused with melamine resin. The colors and shine of the ink make the image very real looking. The pattern layer starts with a single large photograph of wood grain, which is segmented into sections according to the wanted size of the laminate plank. The pattern is repeated in many planks, by using the same photograph.
d) Wear Layer: This is the wear layer. It is usually made from an aluminum oxide clear coat. It can be low gloss or high gloss depending on what the customer’s preference is. The wear layer is resistant to moisture.
Installing Laminate Flooring
Here is how you install laminate flooring:
Check each plank before you install it. Use a table saw to remove the tongue from all side joints for the first row along the wall.
Trace the outline with a compass on the tongue slide and cut with a jigsaw for uneven walls.
Lay the first row with the tongue side away from the wall. Keep the planks closely aligned to each other.
Leave some space for expansion on all sides of the plank.
Start new rows with the left-over pieces of the previous row.
Keep assembling the rows.
Check for any gaps.
Use a sealant to make it watertight.
Laminate flooring is less expensive than hardwood flooring and this is why it is having a growing demand in home improvement projects. The above directions will help you on how to install laminate flooring in the most efficient manner. Understandings the styles and types of laminate flowing is immensely helpful when you are out for shopping for accentuating the look of your home.
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