Laminate Flooring

Laminate Flooring - An Alternative To Hardwood

Laminate flooring was originally developed in Sweden in 1982 and is one of the most significant flooring developments since the introduction of StainMaster® carpet in 1986. It has now been perfected as an ideal flooring product.

To get the look and feel of hardwood flooring many homeowners are turning to laminate flooring for its aesthetic appeal, ease of installation and ease of care. The manufacture of laminate flooring has progressed significantly over the past few years making it available in many styles, colors and of a variety of materials. With the wide selection of grain styles available it can be installed in virtually any room of the house without needing a lot of preparation work.

The quality of laminate flooring varies widely with prices running from the cheapest, for rooms that might be seldom used to high quality for rooms that face a lot of traffic, use and possibly abuse. Laminate materials are also made from a variety of materials and the type of material helps determine its price as well as its durability.

Installing Laminate Flooring

The easy installation is possibly one of the most attractive points of laminate flooring and with a few hand tools and a little understanding of how to use them, the average floor can be in place within a day. Unlike some other types of flooring.

An excellent guide on how to lay laminate flooring is now available... 
the Installing Laminate Flooring Video
It shows you the entire process in less than 15 minutes. Everything from room prep, necessary tools, underlayment, laying, cutting and staggering the first few rows to troubleshooting and angle-fitting at the finishing wall. Most installers charge a minimum fee of $500 for a small 150 sq. ft. room. You stand to save $460 (minimum) by doing it yourself with the help of this video. Once you've watched three professionals demonstrate how to install laminate flooring you'll be confident you can do it yourself.

Most installations require no gluing when using a floating floor. Once laminate flooring is in place it can be used immediately. By simply sweeping off the dust and wiping off any left over fingerprints and the floor is ready to add warmth and appeal to the room.

Select The Floor That Matches Your Décor

The type and design of laminate flooring chosen can be found to fit into the décor. From light to dark wood patterns to some of the newest and brightest colors, a design can be found to meet just about anyone's needs. One of the best parts is that no matter what type of laminate flooring is chosen, the methods of installing laminate flooring are all the same.

The cost of laminate flooring is also considerably less than traditional wood flooring, which makes it affordable for nearly every budget. It comes in a selection of durability, mainly determined by the type of materials, the bonding glue used between the individual layers making up the laminate flooring as well as the number of layers. The outer layer, which is the visible portion of the floor is laminated onto the top layer of the substructure and is coated with a durable finish to prevent scratching and denting with use. How long the top finish lasts is determined by the quality of the protective coating on the laminate flooring.