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Are you on the lookout for durable, budget-friendly, and aesthetically pleasing flooring for your place? If so, it’s time to look for the best laminate flooring on the market.
Laminate floorings gained quite the reputation as a budget-friendly alternative to other flooring trends in the past few years. But don’t let that trick you into thinking they’re of low quality. Nowadays, laminate flooring has high-end finishes that render them as prestigious as other floorings.
We’ll help you reach a well-studied decision by telling you everything you need to know about laminate flooring. So let’s jump in!
Laminate flooring is a budget-friendly alternative to hardwood flooring. It’s often manufactured from synthetic and organic materials, and it has three layers. However, some brands add a fourth one.
The first layer is called the underlayment, and it isn’t necessarily present in all laminate flooring. It’s a padding made from a spongy plastic foam sheet, and its primary role is to separate the laminate flooring and your subfloor.
If you buy laminate flooring that doesn’t have an underlayment layer, we recommend adding it. It’ll make for a more comfortable underfoot feel and less hollow sounds.
The second layer is the base layer, which gives the laminate flooring a structure. Generally, it’s made from wood composite or high-density fibreboard.
Thirdly, an image layer adorns laminate flooring to add to their aesthetic, and it comes in different colours and patterns.
Finally, the last layer is mainly for protective purposes. It protects your laminate flooring from damage by UV rays and scratches. This layer is always transparent, and it primarily consists of an aluminium oxide coating.
If you plan to purchase laminate flooring, you should get to know it’s different types. You have two types to choose from, and we’ll tell you all about them.
Engineered wood is the closest type to natural hardwood flooring. It’s made from many layers of material that come together to form a plank. However, the definite number of layers varies from one brand to another.
Generally, the core layers and underlayers are made from plywood, fibreboard, or unfinished hardwood. Manufacturers can use up to 12 layers of those materials. As for the top layer, it’s manufactured from natural wood. That’s why engineered wood resembles hardwood flooring aesthetically.
The best part about engineered wood floorings is that you can sand and refinish them for refurbishing. That said, doing so depends mainly on the top layer’s thickness.
Finally, engineered wood floorings’ only downside is that they cost more than other options due to incorporating natural materials.
While engineered wood floorings include natural materials, plastic laminate floorings are entirely artificial. They’re often made from many layers, with the top one being mainly protective against scratches and damage.
Beneath the top layer, there’s an inner core called the design layer. The design layer controls what the final floor will look like. For instance, some people choose laminate floors that resemble marble, wood, or stones. No matter what you choose, the design layer will make it possible.
After that comes the core layer, which is manufactured from high-density fibreboard and prevents denting on the floor. Finally, the bottom layer, also known as the backer, is a moisture barrier to avoid water damage to your plastic laminate floorings.
Although engineered wood floorings might add more to the aesthetic of your house, plastic laminate floorings are more durable and budget-friendly. So, if you have high-traffic rooms with kids and pets running around, it might be your best option.
Also, apart from laminate flooring, another choice that’s perfectly suitable for playrooms, nurseries, and kid bedrooms is safety flooring, and you can read more about it here.
Laminate flooring is an ideal choice for many people, and here are eight reasons why.
Luckily, installing laminate flooring isn’t that challenging of a task. Of course, it requires focus, patience, and some experience. But you can have it done without a professional if you have a limited budget. However, a professional can finish the task in less time.
Installing such floorings is simple because it’s a dry installation. Sometimes, you won’t even need adhesives or grout to get the task done as you would with ceramic tiles.
You also might not need to nail down your laminate floorings because they can snap and lie in place without the need for nails, like a puzzle.
Since laminate floorings have protective layers on top, the dust never sticks to them. Accordingly, cleaning them is pretty straightforward. They don’t need waxing, varnishing, or any complicated form of cleaning. Instead, a damp mop will suffice, and you can use a hoover or a broom every once in a while.
Most people prefer having laminate floorings with wooden or stone finishes. However, you have unlimited options to choose from. Laminate floorings come in many colours, patterns, and styles. So no matter what your interior decor looks like, you’ll find your perfect match.
Laminate floorings consist of many layers, including protective ones. As a result, they’re more durable than many other flooring types. They resist scratches and impacts excellently, and they live longer than vinyl, carpet, and hardwood floorings.
More so, if you have large windows in your house that allow the entrance of UV rays, don’t worry. Laminate floorings’ top layers are protective against such occurrences and prevent any damage that can result.
If you install laminate flooring, you won’t have that panic moment when you see someone walking with high heels on your floors. They’re entirely dent-resistant.
If you or your kids are asthmatic or allergic to dust and pollutants, you’ll love what laminate floorings offer. Generally, soft floorings attract dust, and they aren’t as easy to clean. As a result, they might awaken your allergies until you find a solution for the trapped dust.
On the other hand, hard floorings, like laminate floorings, never trap dust and are pretty easy to clean. You’ll merely have to use your mop or hoover, and voila! You can say goodbye to allergies.
Since laminate floorings have multiple layers with a comfortable underlayment, they offer a pleasant underfoot feel. As a result, you’ll never feel scratches, dents, or rough spots beneath your toes.
Some laminate floorings offer waterproof and water-resistant features. Accordingly, you can install them in rooms prone to water damage like loos, basements, kitchens, and laundry rooms. However, it isn’t always recommended.
Laminate floorings are often made from wood pulp and fibres, making them somewhat environmentally friendly. And while they have some artificial materials, they’re still considered an ecologically low-impact product.
To make sure you reach a well-studied decision, we’ll tell you all about the negative aspects of installing laminate floorings. This way, you’ll have the whole picture and will be able to decide for yourself.
While good-quality laminate flooring often has a natural look that resembles wood, some low-quality products don’t enjoy the same advantage. For instance, some laminate floorings have weird-looking wooden patterns on their surfaces, resulting in a fake appearance that looks like plastic.
So, if you want to buy laminate flooring, choose a reliable and high-quality brand.
You’ll only feel this issue if you miss the underlayment step we’ve mentioned before. If you do so, you’ll leave a gap between your subfloor and laminate flooring. This gap will cause louder footsteps and hollow sounds as you walk on your floor. With that being said, this issue has an easy solution: installing an underlayment.
Although good laminate flooring generally feels comfortable underfoot because of no scratches and dents, it might feel a little hard if it lacks an underlayment.
We know laminate floorings are highly durable; however, they aren’t imperishable. And if an accident occurs and your floors get damaged, you won’t be able to refinish or repair them like you would with hardwood floors.
You can still replace the planks that got damaged without resorting to replacing the entire floor. And although it’s inconvenient, it’s a more budget-friendly choice.
Some laminate floorings are waterproof; however, constant exposure to moisture can still affect the way they look. So ideally, you shouldn’t place laminate floorings in areas where they’ll constantly get wet. On the other hand, installing them in kitchens and loos is fine if you make sure to wipe water spills quickly.
While laminate floorings are partially eco-friendly, they aren’t entirely made from organic materials. Therefore, they’ll never biodegrade fully.
Before purchasing laminate flooring, there are a few factors you should consider. Here’s a brief roundup of the most important ones.
The first point you should consider is whether to get high-pressure or direct-pressure laminate flooring. Direct-pressure laminate flooring often consists of four layers: wear, decorative, high-density fibreboard, and bottom.
Meanwhile, High-pressure laminate flooring consists of the same materials but has extra kraft paper sheets that manufacturers often treat with a phenolic resin.
DPL flooring is more budget-friendly than HPL. However, HPL flooring offers more durability and a more rigid structure, mainly because it’s fused using very high degrees of pressure.
The AC rating, also known as abrasion class rating, indicates the laminate floor’s ability to resist impacts, scratches, stains, and abrasions.
Laminate floorings have six AC ratings, ranging from AC1 to AC6. However, AC6 is rare and only used in commercial settings with maximum wear and traffic. If you’re purchasing laminate floors for your house, it’s enough to take a look at the first five ratings.
Starting with AC1, floors with this rating are only suitable for light use and rooms with low traffic. For example, you can install them in your cupboards. AC2 is good enough for installation in guest bedrooms but won’t suffice in high-traffic areas like the living room and the main bedrooms.
Thirdly, AC3 makes for good-quality laminate flooring. You can install it in your house if you’re on a limited budget, and it won’t cause any issues.
The most durable floors have either AC4 or AC5 ratings, with the best laminate flooring often having the latter. Those ratings indicate that the floor is super scratch-resistant.
As a rule of thumb, the thicker your laminate flooring planks are, the more they’ll live. This is because thicker planks take traffic and resist damage better than thinner ones.
Most customers prefer having laminate flooring with a textured look. This way, it’ll almost look like natural wood. However, if you’d like to have the same advantage, check the laminate floor’s appearance and finish before installing it in your house to make sure you like it.
You have three options to choose from for installing your laminate floorings: floating, glue-down, and nail-down. The first choice is the easiest because it works like a puzzle, and you can do it for yourself easily if you’re a DIY enthusiast.
However, the second two options are a bit more challenging. So, if you settle on one of them, you should ideally hire a professional to avoid mistakes and save time.
Next, we’ll tell you all about the best brands for laminate flooring to make your choice easier.
Armstrong Flooring shines among competitors because of its wide variety of styles available and wide range of budgets. So whether you’re on a tight budget or free as a bird, you’ll be able to find your perfect match in no time.
WetProtect laminate floors are manufactured with an innovative technology that renders them completely waterproof. Pergo innovated those floors with tight-locking joints and a waterproof surface to ensure that any spills remain on top and don’t leak to the subfloor.
While WetProtect floors aren’t available in many colours and patterns on Pergo’s website, the waterproof feature makes them a favourite for many people.
Mohawk presents highly durable laminate flooring in three different options, Mohawk RevWood, RevWood Select, and RevWood Plus.
Mohawk RevWood is the most budget-friendly among the three. However, it isn’t waterproof, only water-resistant.
As for RevWood Select, it’s more water-resistant with a ten-year warranty for its topcoat, which is the coat responsible for resisting moisture. It’s also highly resistant to scratches and damage.
Finally, RevWood Plus is the best laminate wood flooring out of the three. It’s waterproof, highly resistant to scratches, and resembles natural hardwood greatly.
If you want your laminate flooring to survive for long years and maintain the same glossy and elegant look, you can opt for Pergo. Although it doesn’t offer as many styles as other competitive brands, it ensures water resistance and high durability.
AquaGuard provides the best waterproof laminate flooring on the market. Manufacturers coat the laminate planks twice to ensure they don’t absorb water. And if you’re still worried, you’ll be glad to know that they offer a lifetime residential warranty and a 15-year warranty for commercial settings.
While Shaw Industries doesn’t offer as many colours and styles as its competitors, it shines when it comes to high-quality and durable laminate floors. Also, if you visit the company’s website, you’ll find an excellent option that lets you visualize specific floors in your rooms. This way, you’ll have a better idea about how your room will turn out.
Mannington Mills offers high-quality laminate flooring to satisfy every need. You’ll have a myriad of designs and styles to choose from, and they’re primarily waterproof and scratch-resistant.
And if you want your floors to look like natural wood, you’ll be glad to know that Mannington Mills makes the most authentic-looking laminate flooring on the market.
Whether you like vintage-wooden looks or modern interiors, you’ll find your perfect match at Newton. Manufacturers provide enough styles to satisfy every taste, and they come with varying price tags to suit everybody. Ultimately, it’s your go-to laminate flooring store if you want budget-friendly and high-quality products.
You can install laminate flooring in any room that doesn’t have constant exposure to moisture. So you can install it in your living room, bedroom, or any other room in your house. It’s also OK to install it in your kitchen and loo, but it might not live as long as in the other rooms.
Laminate floors can last from 15 years to 25 years or longer. However, this number depends on how well you take care of them and how high-quality they are.
Wipe them with a damp microfibre mop every few weeks. If you use a regular mop, don’t put it on the floor till you squeeze it tightly to get rid of excess moisture. Also, cut your pets’ nails regularly and avoid using abrasive tools on your laminate floors.
The best laminate floor for kitchens is one with waterproof features. Typically, kitchens are more prone to water spills than the rest of your rooms. So it’ll be better to look for a waterproof floor that can live for a long time, not only water-resistant.
While it isn’t that easy, it’s possible. If you have enough patience and like DIY projects, you can install your laminate floors by yourself without an issue. However, hiring a professional saves time and effort.
Yes, you can repair scratches on your laminate floors using wax, crayon, or coloured putty. But if the scratches are everywhere, it’ll be best if you replace the entire plank.
Laminate floorings have grades that range from AC1 to AC6, with AC1 being the least resistant to scratches and impacts. Household laminate floorings often range from AC3 to AC5.
Yes, you can, but preferably a microfibre mop. Regular mops might leave too much moisture on your laminate floors, which might eventually damage them.
We all know how floorings can be expensive, wear fast, and gain scratches quickly. However, laminate floorings come as a knight in shining armour to help you bid those issues goodbye. They’re budget-friendly, highly durable, and resist scratches and impacts excellently.
So what are you waiting for? If you’ve decided to install laminate flooring, get in touch with us!