Laminate may be the “new kid on the block” when it comes to flooring options, but it has quickly become one of the most popular. It resists scratching, staining, fading, and denting, and is reasonably easy to install on a do-self basis. Laminate flooring is sometimes called a “floating” floor, because it is all connected to itself, but not to the house. It can be installed over most hard surfaces – concrete, sheet vinyl, vinyl floor tile, and ceramic tile – so long as that surface is flat.

Choosing Laminate Flooring:

Laminate flooring has three layers, which are fused together to form boards 6” to 10” wide, 36” or 48” long, and about 5/16” to 1/2” thick. The top layer is cellulose paper finished with a design, usually a high-resolution photographic image of natural wood flooring, but sometimes a print or photograph of other materials (like ceramic tile); it is this design layer that determines the appearance of the flooring. It is covered by a low-sheen finish, made up of thin layers of clear melamine plastic resins, that protects the surface from scratches and general wear. Below this top layer is a moisture-resistant core of high-density fiberboard, a man-made material composed of small pieces of wood compressed and bonded together. Pay attention to this middle layer; how it is made can affect durability. A thicker core is more stable and less vulnerable – and will sound more like a real hardwood floor when you walk on it – and a quality core is treated with water-repellent chemicals. The bottom layer is a thin ply of balancing material that helps the flooring conform to the surface it is being placed upon; in some higher-priced laminates, it may have some noise-deadening properties.

It’s also important that you choose flooring that is designed to hold up under the use it will be getting. Like many materials, laminate flooring comes in various grades, called AC hardness ratings. For an area without much traffic, like a bedroom, you can probably use AC1 flooring, where a high-traffic area in a home would require AC3 material. (Read more….)