Laminate flooring is an affordable alternative to other traditional flooring options like marble granite, mosaic, wood, floor tiles, etc. Many personal and commercial spaces have adapted to this easy-to-install laminate flooring because of its low-maintenance and long-lasting properties.
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How is Laminate Flooring Made?
Laminate flooring consists of individual separate layers. High-density wood fiber or HDF core is the most important component used to manufacture flooring laminate sheets. Compressed wood fibers are extracted from wood chips to process HDF cores. Contingent to the flooring quality, the HDF core has a few categories like resistance to moisture, thickness, and density.
- HDF cores that are resistant to moisture are great for use inside a kitchen or bathroom.
- Thick HDF cores offer rigid and robust flooring.
- High-density HDF cores protect the cores from premature wear and tear and make them durable.
HDF sheets are individually wrapped and finished with a balancing paper. This creates a protective base layer for the laminate and prevents it from swelling, warping, and moisture resistance. However, not all HDF sheets have this feature; it is available mainly in costly variants.
Benefits of Using Laminate Flooring in Indian Homes
Affordable Pricing
Laminate sheets used for flooring purposes are much less expensive than traditional flooring surfaces. However, the price of decorative laminates varies from one kind to other. Such fluctuations in price are characterized by the difference in thickness of the wear layer and the quality of the designer prints. Since the price range is widely affordable, it is best to invest in expensive laminate flooring as they are less susceptible to damage and wear. Furthermore, anyone can easily install it without expert support, which cuts all budgets for professional installation. On the other hand, hardwood, mosaic, marble, or other surface floorings need specialized experts for installation, and the labor costs contribute a lot to their high prices.
Easy Maintenance and Repair
Laminate flooring can quickly be cleaned with a vacuum or a broom. Laminate floor cleaners or a soft, damp cloth will remove any stains or marks from the surface. Avoid using any harsh chemicals, detergents, or abrasive materials to clean laminate sheets. Wring the damp cloth thoroughly so that excess water cannot seep into the laminate boards and cause swelling. Laminate flooring is not resistant to stagnant water, which sometimes happens in the kitchen or bathrooms. The transparent layer of melamine resin covering the designer sheet protects it from dents, scratches, and stains. Some leading laminate manufacturers provide additional guarantees on this wear layer to assure quality.
Countless Designs
Decorative laminates can mimic the look and texture of different surfaces like wood, plywood, stone, and other natural materials. Real hardwood often comes with many discardable pieces which are uneven or imperfect to be installed for flooring. Laminate sheets successfully eliminate the problem of unnecessary defects from the beginning. All the laminate boards have a consistent look and quality. It is a great choice to incorporate laminate flooring in personal and professional spaces as they offer a quicker and more affordable approach to renovating dingy floors. There is a wide range of designs available for decorative laminates. You can easily customize and choose your favorite laminate flooring accordion to your needs and desires.
Quick DIY Installation
One of the significant advantages of laminate flooring is its easy-to-install properties. Anyone with a manual guide can lay down hundreds of square feet within a week. Unlike traditional laminate sheets requiring individual pieces to be glued together, modern laminate flooring has a quick “click-and-lock” or “fold-lock” system used for installation. In this process, each plank is joined with another in an interlocking fashion, from edges and ends. The particleboard cores make it easy for the planks to cut and fit with miter saws. Laminate flooring is installed as a floating floor where the planks are interlocked to create a solid mat on the underlayment. This is an adhesive-free process, and in case you have a strain on the budget, you can quickly complete the installation for a room without having any unique expertise.
Convenience and Satisfaction
The resilient foam underlayment used in installing decorative laminates creates a slight spring effect that is very comfortable for walking. This underlayment also reduces any hollow sound that may occur otherwise. Several laminate flooring brands in India are coming up with various textured top layers of laminate sheets to make them slip-resistant. It is an excellent option for people who suffer from severe dust allergies as laminate flooring does not accumulate a lot of dust on the surface.
Numerous creative experiments and innovations have changed many fundamental properties of traditional laminates. Manufacturers consistently develop different modifications that improve the quality, durability, and resistance of laminate flooring. If you are looking for an easy and affordable alternative to expensive hardwood flooring, do sufficient research and invest in laminate sheets for the best results.