Yes, solid wood flooring looks pretty darn good and you get to brag to your friends about having it but it’s not for everyone. It’s more expensive for a start, which we know means some people won’t choose it and that’s fine. This is where laminate flooring can save the day.
Laminate floors still look fantastic but differs in many ways to solid wood, making it the ideal choice for many, and in some cases it can actually perform better than its solid wood cousin.
If you’re considering buying laminate flooring for your home, here’s a beginner’s guide to get you started…
What is laminate flooring?
An excellent question and as good a place to start as any. Most laminate flooring is made up of four layers. Starting from the bottom:
• Backing – this layer is the unsung hero of the laminate flooring world and resists moisture to stop the wood warping.
• Inner core – made from HDF (high-density fibreboard), this makes up the majority of the flooring, giving the board its substance and strength.
• Design layer – The fashion bit. This is a photographic image that gives each style of laminate flooring its wood or tile effect.
• Wear layer – Laminate flooring would be no good if it just got ruined when you walked on it. This clear top layer provides resistance to wear and tear as well as stains, moisture and fading.
Different types of laminate flooring
Like pretty much every style of flooring, laminate comes in a range of types, which is great for you, the customer – unless you’re indecisive, in which case it could complicate the whole process even further! There are three different types:
• Smooth – the most common type of laminate and pretty straightforward. As smooth as an Action Man’s nether regions, it’s easy to maintain and wipe down.
• Wood grain – has a visible wood grain and small grooves, similar to that of real wood.
• Embossed – this is where the texture is pressed onto the surface of the laminate, again making it look like real wood.
What colour should I get?
Well that’s entirely up to you! There are a wide variety of finishes you can choose from, making it probably the most flexible type of flooring there is.
You can even get stone tile-effect laminate, which really is a heck of a lot cheaper than the real thing, so you won’t have to sell the children to pay for it.
A good tip if you want to brighten your room up and make it seem bigger is to opt for a lighter coloured laminate. Conversely, if you want something more cosy and intimate, then a darker tone would do the trick.
Just beware that some colours of laminate floor provide excellent camouflage opportunities for your pets…
How much does laminate flooring cost?
One of laminate flooring’s biggest trump cards is that it costs a fraction of the price of real wood flooring, making it a much more realistic option for many people. This means you can buy more of it. Please buy more of it.
Is laminate suitable for all rooms?
Another string in its bow is that laminate flooring is suited to more conditions than solid wood. We already know that solid wood isn’t really suitable for rooms with high humidity or moisture levels, such as bathrooms or kitchens, but laminate is much more forgiving in this regard.
Laminate is more resistant to warping from moisture, although not completely immune. You may well be able to lay it in the bathroom or kitchen, but you may need to purchase a specific kind of laminate. And that’s where our amazing Hydro Guard flooring comes in, which is suitable for both bathrooms and kitchens. Go check it out by clicking Mickey Mouse in the image below.
How to fit laminate flooring
Most types of laminate floors use a click locking system, making it child’s play to fit. You should be able to do this yourself in just a few hours, if you’d prefer a professional to come and fit it for you then we recommend MyBuilder.com to help you find a suitable, local tradesman.
How to care for laminate flooring
Caring for laminate flooring is a doddle. Just give it a wipe or a brush to get rid of dust and dirt, or wipe with a damp cloth to get rid of spills and stains. Obviously if you invited the cast of Riverdance into your front room then it’s going to get pretty messed up, but in general it’s reasonably hardwearing. You can always lay down rugs or runners to help protect it, and be wary of pets or people with high heels walking on it.
Does laminate flooring need underlay?
As well as being shouted by everyone’s favourite Mexican mouse, Speedy Gonzalez, underlay is also an incredibly important part of laying a wooden floor. It provides a barrier between the sub-floor and your lovely new wooden floor which can help with sound proofing, moisture protection and also increase the lifespan of the flooring. We would usually recommend laying underlay under a laminate wood floor, although the type of underlay differs depending on your circumstances. For example, if you have a concrete sub-floor or have underfloor heating, then this could affect the type you need.
You can read more about underlay in our blog post or go straight through to see our great range of underlay.
Is laminate flooring noisy?
All wooden flooring can be a little on the noisy side, especially if you’re in the room below and someone is walking around in shoes. However, laminate isn’t strictly wooden floor (don’t say that to its face, though) and therefore isn’t as noisy as solid or engineered wood, especially when you have shoes on. If noise might be a problem then laminate could be a good option to reduce it. Only having carpet can really solve this problem, although laying acoustic underlay underneath can also help. As can taking your shoes off.
If we’ve worked our magic and won you over, then take a look at our fantastic range of laminate flooring. If you have any questions or comments then drop them below.