Laminate flooring is expected to be worth up to 4 billion dollars as an industry by 2010. This is for good reason. It has become one the, if not the most popular type of flooring currently on the market. Laminate floors boast a diversity and range of styles unparalleled in the flooring world. Looking for a rare chestnut? Are you seeking the bamboo look for an Eastern styled apartment? Need an exotic Patagonian Pecan tinge? Want black marble? White tile? Spanish Mahogany? Laminate’s got it.
The reason laminate is so multifarious is because the nature of its makeup. Laminate floors are made of a few basic parts. There is usually sturdy particle board at its core which is then layered with synthetic materials such as melamine resin. The top layer is made of a decorative applique. It is this top layer that allows laminate floors to provide such a stunning array of designs. This applique is really a high-resolution photograph of a real material, such as cherry wood or marble. The image is so convincing that when placed on top of the other components it looks just like the real thing. This is a rather remarkable achievement. Test yourself or your friends and family’s judgment. Go into a flooring store or simply browse online and see if you can pick out real hardwood flooring from laminate. Chances are you’ll be stumped.
This should be a delightful surprise because the great thing about laminate is that although it has the capacity to look like weaker woods such as Brazilian cherry or rosewood, it possesses a strength that rivals some of the hardest woods on the planet. It truly proffers the best of both worlds. In fact, most laminate flooring has been found to be up to 20 times stronger than your average kitchen countertop. With flooring that tough it is no wonder that laminate flooring lasts longer than most other types of flooring, hardwood included.
What’s more, laminate is coated with what is called an aluminum oxide finish. This type of coating makes the surface integrity of each piece of laminate floor covering scratch resistant. Whether being employed in a commercial or residential setting, this is a great benefit. With all of the wear and tear floor receives day in and day out, especially in a heavily trafficked area, laminate is an ace. Furthermore, the laminate coating discourages fading and the wearing down of the surface your floor. This is the case because it is common for two layers of oxide finish to be applied to most laminate flooring. Loss of color and vividness are prevented by this process.
So, laminate flooring offers expansive looks, might, endurance and resilience, what is left? Price. On top of everything else laminate is one of the most reasonably priced flooring choices on the market. It tends to cost less because the materials it is made of are not rare and exotic. They are common, man-made items. This means the cut in price the manufacturer sees as a result, gets passed down to you the consumer. Plus, no forests are razed in the process.
Moreover, because most laminate floors make for an easy install, the customer usually doesn’t have to spend money on an installer. Professional installation can compound the total price of getting a new floor by over 100%. Carpenters are indeed expensive. Laminate is easy to install because it is made with a tongue on one end and a groove on the other. This “tongue and groove” system makes for a swift inlay. For, all you are really doing is clicking one plank into another and making sure that no important doorways are blocked or moldings are damaged. Sometimes a buzz saw is needed to cut a piece for a weird corner or angle in a room. Compare this to what is involved in installing genuine wood or tile and you’ll realize the time and hassle laminate with save you along with the cash.
I think the choice of the average consumer is clear. Laminate is the way to go – hands down.