Laminate flooring

Laminate flooring is becoming increasingly popular due to its appearance anddurability. The heavy duty construction and ease of installation make laminate awise choice for any home or business.Every individual who has watched a home improvement show or consideredreplacing his matted carpet has heard of laminate flooring. Laminate is thelatest entrant into the flooring industry, and arrived by way of Europe.Europeans developed the original laminate products, and use of the flooring hasbeen widespread throughout the continent. Now, as is customary with Europeaninnovations, the United States has caught on to the idea and is quickly makinglaminate a staple in most flooring stores.Appearance There is a great deal more to laminate than what meets the eye - literally.The surface of laminate flooring is designed to appear like hardwood, andrecently some laminates are designed to appear as stone or tile, complete withthe presence of grout. Laminate is designed to imitate almost every wood grainfrom maple to mahogany. High quality laminates, at first glance, appear almostidentical to hardwood as they are designed in planks complete with the grainscharacteristic of real wood.But what the eye sees as it sweeps the broad expanse of smooth laminateflooring is actually only the top two layers of laminate - the decorative layerwhich maintains the desired appearance, and the prefinished top coat whichoffers the outstanding durability laminate is known for.Manufacture Laminate flooring is comprised of four layers. As previously discussed, thetop two layers offer the desired appearance and the protective coating. Thecenter, or core, of each plank or section is comprised of high or medium densityfiberboard. This center layer offers the support necessary for high volumes offoot traffic. The final layer, or backing, binds the laminate together andprovides additional strength and durability.Read more about Laminate flooring. When examining a section of laminate flooring for quality, take notice of theselayers. High quality laminate will have thicker individual layers than its lessdesirable counterparts.Benefits The most touted benefits of laminate flooring are ease of installation anddurability.Laminatefloor installation is simple with most brands of laminate flooring. Unlikehardwoods which usually require glue or nails, laminateis assembled by fitting sections together in a snap lock. This means thelaminate is designed to fit together like a large puzzle and sits directly onthe sub floor. These factors make it simple to install and a great homeimprovement project for any individual with basic carpentry skills.Durability is the key selling point of laminate flooring worldwide. Theunique construction and tough top layer make laminate almost indestructible.High quality laminates are almost impossible to scratch or stain. Most canwithstand burns, and they are water resistant. The prefinishing of laminate makesit tough enough to withstand extensive amounts of foot traffic,and does not warp or fade with age. Laminate is quickly becoming a timelessaddition to any home. For more info visit Laminate flooring.