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There are three main laminate flooring benefits :

1. Cost | 2. Ease of installation | 3. Durability

Probably the greatest laminate flooring benefit is its ability to add a smart and sophisticated look to a room, with the cost being considerably less than what it would be if real wood flooring was used. The other main benefit of laminate flooring is the natural look of a genuine wood floor that most good quality laminate flooring products have.

Laminate Flooring Johannesburg – More Benefits…

The durability of laminate flooring is another benefit that is far superior to real wood flooring. Laminate flooring is approximately fifteen times stronger than hardwood flooring, and most come with a 10 or 15 year warranty This is a considerable benefit over real wood flooring.

Apart from the three main benefits shown above, laminate flooring also has other smaller benefits that can get overlooked :

Unlike real wood flooring, laminate flooring has a high UV resistance which blocks the harmful rays of the sun and protects the design from fading. This benefit can save alot of future maintenance that would be requied to keep a real wood floor looking as good as laminate flooring.
Due to the visual design’s of laminate flooring being simply an image printed onto paper the various design options are endless and provide further laminate flooring benefits.

Laminate floor boards tend to be wider than real wood floor boards, which reduces installation time for laminate flooring. This laminate flooring benefit could be a significant one, if the area that the laminate flooring is being installed into was high traffic area.

With the glueless systems of laminate flooring, there is no excess glue to clear up, and the floor can be used immediately after installation, again, another great benefit of laminate flooring if its a high traffic area..

Most laminate flooring brands come with either a 10 or 15 year warranty Real wood floors cannot normally offer this benefit.

Other laminate flooring benefits include its low maintenance, requiring just a quick wipe over with a brush. Any spills can simply be cleaned upusing a mop or sponge.

Laminate flooring technology has dramatically improved over the past few years and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to distinguish laminate flooring from real natural wood and tile flooring. Laminate flooring is not just offered in wood plank designs, many manufacturers offer a wide range of colors in realistic stone, slate and tile designs with grout lines.

Before choosing a laminate floor be sure to see and understand all specifications about the brand you choose.

Laminate flooring is often confused with real engineered hardwood flooring. enginnered wood floors are constructed totally from real wood plies that are laminated together. Where as, laminate flooring consist of some type of fiber core body with a photographic print layer and a clear top coating of melamine resins.

There many advantages to laminate flooring. Laminate floors can give you realistic looking ceramic or stone tile appearances without the hassle of having to clean soiled grout joints and is far less costly to install. Also, if you are concerned with upkeep of a wood floor (especially with large pets) than a laminate floor may be your answer. If you are concerned with tearing up your old floor than a floating laminate floor may be a great alternative for you. (Floating refers to the floating installation method, where the individual planks are locked together but never attached to the subfloor underneath. Laminate floors have a special tongue and groove locking system that tightly join the planks & tiles together. No glue, nails or staples needed.)

The leading manufacturers of laminate flooring use sophisticated, computerized technology to create extremely realistic plank and tile design patterns. The top melamine finish wearlayer is incredibly durable and very easy to care for. The finish layer is impervious to most stains, spills, burns and is extremely scratch resistant

 

Some laminate floor facts to consider:

 Laminate flooring is extremely impact and scratch resistant.

 Laminate floors do not need a wax or polish.

 Laminate floors are highly resistant to the effects of sunlight.

 Most laminate floors can be used over radiant heated concrete slabs.

 Trims and moldings are available for laminate floors.

 Usually used for: family rooms, living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms and densThe benefits of laminate flooring are widely known to interior decorators, contractors, homeowners, and anyone with access to Google. It gives consumers the aesthetically pleasing look of natural hardwood floors without the high price tag or maintenance headaches, and the ease of installation makes it especially appealing to those who enjoy DIY projects.

But what exactly is this stuff and how does it work? Learning a few facts about the history of laminate flooring, as well as about the structure, composition, manufacturing process, types available, and the difference between styles such as matte and high gloss laminate might help you make smarter choices when it comes time to buy.

 

History

Laminate flooring was originally developed and marketed in Sweden in 1974 by the company now known as Pergo. It took about a decade for the product’s popularity to spread throughout Europe, and then another decade for the trend to take off in the United States, where it is now one of the bestselling floor options around.

 

Structure

Examining a cross-section of a typical laminate flooring plank would reveal that it is made up of distinct layers. At the bottom is the base layer, which is the part that comes into contact with the underlayment or subfloor and therefore must be moisture resistant in order to prevent warping, buckling, and similar damage. Above the base layer is the core. This layer is made up of strong materials that allow the plank to withstand the impact caused by footsteps and support heavy objects such as furniture. On top of that is the decorative layer, which is simply a high resolution image of natural wood. Finally, the wear layer features a coating of aluminum oxide to protect against wear, fading, and staining.

 

Composition

The various layers are made up of a combination of natural and synthetic materials including fiberglass, wood pulp, recycled plastics, and different kinds of resins. These materials are bound together during the manufacturing process to create the high gloss laminate planks that end up in stores.

 

Manufacturing Process

The manufacturing process basically consists of running the layers through a laminating machine at extremely high heat and pressure in order to permanently fuse them together.

 

Types

Direct Pressure Laminate (DPL) and High Pressure Laminate (HPL) are the two types that dominate the marketplace today. HPL is a premium product that incorporates more layers into each plank and uses more steps in the manufacturing process, resulting in high gloss laminate that is very strong and durable. The superior quality of HPL is reflected in its higher prices.

 

Finishes

Choosing a finish comes down to both personal preference and your existing decor. Some people like the understated, natural look of matte, while others enjoy the luster and shine of high gloss laminate.

 

Modern laminate flooring is truly a marvel of technology. This product provides the perfect balance between form and function, and gives you a way to enjoy the beauty of hardwood floors without having to forfeit your life savings. Now that you are armed with a few basic facts, you are in a better position to choose the right type of synthetic floor for your home.