Many laminates are so well made these days that it can be hard to know which floors are laminate and which are real hardwood
Laminate flooring can give you the appear and feel of a real hardwood flooring with the added benefits of straightforward installation, greater durability, and reduced upkeep. Rooms that see a lot of traffic are the perfect location for laminate flooring. Laminates are designed to hold up under the type of abuse they are likely to see from kids, pets, spills and all of the other things that occur in a busy home.
Many laminates are so well made these days that it can be tricky to understand which floors are laminate and which are real hardwood. Laminate floors will use a thin layer of paper which shows a photographic picture of natural wood grain which is placed under a stupendously tough layer of protecting film and then adhered to a high density backer board. This gives you the look of real wood for a much lower cost and higher level of durability.
There are many different makes of laminate flooring on the market these days. The two main processes for creating laminate flooring are High Pressure Laminate ( HPL ) and Direct Laminate ( DL ). HPL uses a 2 step process to make the completed product. The paper image, protecting film, and core material are joined using heat and pressure and then these layers are attached to a high density fiberboard backing. With DL all the layers are joined together at one time.
When selecting which type of DIY laminate flooring is best for you the main thing to think about is the level of traffic the floor will see. One of the largest benefits of using laminate flooring is its durability. Thanks to the way it is formed it is resistant to all kinds of punctures, stains, scuffs, and gauges. It is easy to install laminate flooring over existing flooring including wood, vinyl, linoleum, and tile. Most laminate flooring systems are floating floors that means that they’re not attached to the plywood subfloor but instead interlock above it.