Over the years, wooden flooring has remained a popular option among home renovators, and its popularity continues to increase by the day. Imitating a traditional look while adding a certain elegance to any room, there’s no reason why wooden flooring wouldn’t work. However, wooden flooring comes in several types; hence several factors must be considered before determining a good fit for your home.
To help you make the right decision for your home, Graana.com brings you everything you need to know about laminated wooden flooring.
Types of Wooden Flooring
Before talking about laminated wooden flooring, it is essential to understand the types of wooden flooring and what sets laminate apart from the rest.
Hardwood
This wooden flooring is made from natural wood, using wood from usually pine, walnut, and oak trees. It is extremely durable and lasts for several years. However, it must be kept safe from moisture.
Engineered Wood
It consists of natural wood from trees glued to several layers of other types of wood underneath. This option offers stability while holding up much better against moisture.
Laminate Wood
This type of wooden flooring is made from a synthetic material that imitates the style and appearance of wood, which is then laminated. It is extremely durable and easy to install.
What is Laminate Flooring?
Laminated wooden flooring is a multi-layer flooring material comprised of wood fibre, designed to offer the same appearance and elegance of natural wood while maintaining stability and durability. Laminate flooring has four layers mounted on one another to provide the finest quality. Each layer plays a part in the overall finish of the wood.
- The bottom layer offers dimensional stability and protection from moisture.
- The middle or core board is made from a high-density fibreboard comprising almost 80 per cent wood. This layer offers resistance and structure.
- The top layer is purely decorative and allows different patterns and designs to be imprinted on the surface.
- A final layer is added, which serves as a barrier to protect the wood from everyday wear and tear. It also makes maintenance easier due to its stain-resistant and durable nature.
The durability of Laminate Flooring
Laminated wooden flooring is extremely durable, owing to the high-fibre density core boards that offer resistance and stability against denting and heavy damage. Moreover, the top layer of the laminate protects it against damages from scratching, fading, and stains. This makes laminates perfect for rooms with a lot of traction, such as living rooms.
Laminate floorings are also perfect for areas with heavy domestic use, such as the kitchen. In rooms such as these, the flooring undergoes heavy strains from everyday home life. The laminate’s hard surface makes it the perfect solution for the constant traction, food stains, dropped utensils, and spills and drips.
Laminate Flooring Lifespan
Like any other wooden flooring, laminate flooring also has a limited lifespan, especially if regular maintenance is overlooked. Knowing how long the flooring lasts can help in planning. The exact lifespan of this wooden flooring cannot be determined. However, several factors can wear it down and lower its overall lifespan.
Temperature and Moisture
Laminates are generally considered perfect for indoor spaces due to their less reactive nature towards humidity. Having said that, this type of flooring is still not appropriate for areas with high moisture and temperature levels. Laminated wooden flooring should be avoided in laundry rooms, bathrooms, and any other place prone to wet objects.
Sunlight
Laminate floors are less prone to react to sunlight when compared to other types of wooden flooring. With that being said, prolonged sunlight is still responsible for fading and discolouration of the laminate. To protect your flooring from excessive wear, be sure to keep sunlight at bay.
The Best Places to Install Laminate Flooring
Laminate wooden flooring can be installed almost everywhere. However, a few practicalities must be taken into consideration. Some spaces may be perfect for this type of flooring while others may not offer a suitable area for the laminate to thrive.
Living Room – Owing to their extreme durability, laminates are perfect for living rooms, since this area accumulates a lot of traction. Ensure that your couches and chairs have protection pads underneath to protect the flooring from damage.
Office Rooms – Laminates can provide a creative yet straightforward space for office rooms – perfect for drawing out creativity and productivity.
Kitchens – Laminates are perfect to withstand the wear and tear of kitchens. Just clean any spills and drips to avoid stains and fading.
Entrances – A laminated wooden floor can provide an elegant entrance, setting a rustic tone for your home. Be sure to place a mat on the entrance to avoid too much moisture.
Maintaining Laminate Flooring
Laminated flooring is quite simple to maintain. The outer protective layer on the laminate keeps all the dirt and debris on the surface, making it easy to wipe away and sanitise. A simple vacuum and mop can do the trick for regular maintenance. However, the flooring may require some more intensive cleaning for stains. Simply use a soap solution, and it should do the trick.
The Bottom Line
Laminated wooden flooring is a cost-effective and aesthetic flooring solution for all types of spaces. Its durability and stability set it apart from its wooden counterparts. Being easy to install, damage-resistant and economical, laminated flooring checks all the boxes for being the perfect flooring option for your home. For more information, visit Graana.com.
