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Changes in Laminate Flooring Construction and Design
28th June 2017
Changes in Laminate Flooring Construction and Design
Laminate flooring in earlier times was not quite as respectable as other materials used for flooring, like hardwood and tile. But recent developments in flooring manufacture and materials have changed peopleís perceptions of this flooring material because of how durable and attractive it now is along with the types of locations where this flooring material can be used in Virginia and beyond.
In fact, laminate floor technologies of today make it possible for many people to have the floor design of their dreams at a cost they can afford.
Laminate Floor Manufacture and Installation
Manufacture and marketing of laminate flooring began in the 1970s. In its earliest versions, the individual panels of flooring were connected together with tongue and groove fittings, and the top layer had a shiny, plastic-coating appearance which contributed to this laminate flooring having a low appeal for some people. Early laminate flooring products also required glue for adhering the laminate planks onto the sub-floor.
Now, laminate floors use higher strength adhesives and materials in the body of the planks and state-of-the-art photographic technologies and materials for imprinting realistic and detailed impressions of many flooring types, including hardwoods, tile, marble, and stone onto the durable, reinforced flooring surface.
Click-lock innovations for fastening each plank together eliminate glue and its fumes when the floor is being installed. Click-lock fittings are also stronger than tongue and groove assembly and resist pulling apart over time as the floor is used.
All laminate flooring is manufactured in the same basic manner. A thin layer of ridged backing material is first laid down, creating a solid and even surface for the remainder of the flooring components.
Next, a 3/8 to æ inch thick panel of high-density fiberboard containing water-resistant additives is attached to the first layer of backing material.
Then a thin layer with a photographic impression of hardwood grain patterns, stone finish, tile patterns, or other design is adhered above the layer of fiberboard.
Finally, a protective, clear layer is placed on the surface of the laminate plank, which may contain aluminum oxide or other additives to make it especially resistant to scratching and water damage.
The word ëlaminateí refers to the gluing together of all of these four layers while the materials are still together in large sheets. The lamination is done by putting the layered flooring material under intense pressure of between 300 and 1300 PSI, along with heating the material to approximately 400∫F (204∫C).
The amount of pressure and heat used during the manufacture of laminate flooring products determines the final type of laminate flooring produced. There are two different types of laminate flooring: direct-pressure laminate flooring (DPL) and high-pressure laminate flooring (HPL).
After assembly of the four layers, DPL laminate products are subjected to pressures of 300 to 500 PSI. DPL laminate is more easily impregnated with patterns resembling realistic impressions of stone surfaces, wood grain, and the small details in tile.
HPL laminate flooring is made under higher pressures, ranging up to 1300 PSI. This produces an exceptionally durable and impact resistant surface. In addition, HPL laminate is more heat and sound resistant than the DPL types and it contains additional layers of fiber for improved rigidity and greater resistance to sound penetration.
Advantages of Installing Laminate Flooring
Most people who know anything laminate as a flooring material know that one of its main advantages is in price. Laminate floors are as much as 25 percent lower in cost than a similar solid hardwood floor. But there are reasons beyond price for choosing laminate flooring for your home or business.
Another advantage to laminate floor products is the wide selection of patterns and designs which become available to you. Laminate flooring makes possible aesthetic options which might otherwise be out of reach.
Solid, exotic hardwood floors can be prohibitively expensive to install, but a laminate with an exotic finish surface can be virtually indistinguishable from the real thing and can last for many decades with minimal care.
Another advantage of installing a laminate floor is the versatility in the locations where it can be installed. Real exotic hardwood is not advisable in a bathroom, kitchen, or entry way where water and moisture are common. However, putting in a laminate floor with an exotic hardwood finish is entirely possible in areas like these.
Laminate floor products combine an outstanding selection of aesthetic possibilities with a long product life and economy in installation. To find out more about the possibilities for new laminate floors in the Tri-Cities and Prince George areas, contact Accent on Floors or visit our showroom in the Heart of Hopewell.