You might not give your floors much thought -- until it comes time to
replace them. Then you realize that there are many options out there.
For busy families whose floors need to stand up to kids and pets, laminate
flooring is a good option.
Laminate flooring has been a fashionable option in Europe for more than
20 years, and it's rapidly gaining popularity in the United States. The
most common designs have a wood grain appearance; some are made to look
like stone or marble. Laminates are designed to look good for many years
with a minimum amount of maintenance.
Laminate flooring consists of four main components that are bonded
together. A wear-resistant decorative surface made of resin-based
melamine/aluminum oxide is bonded to a moisture resistant wood
composition-based core. A balancing backing is bonded to the underside of
the core. On the top is a clear cap sheet of aluminum oxide, which
provides the protection and stain resistance. Since the resin-filled wear
layer is so dense, it becomes extremely difficult to stain, scratch or
burn.
Ease of installation is one factor that contributes to the popularity
of laminate flooring. It uses a tongue and groove interlocking system,
which can be installed over the top of an existing substrate. Plywood,
concrete slab, sheet vinyl flooring, hardwood flooring or virtually any
other basically flat hard surface is a suitable base for laminate.
Because installation is so simple, and because you can walk on your new
floor immediately (no waiting for glue to dry), beautifying your home with
new laminate flooring is truly a project you can do in a weekend.
Taking care of a laminate floor is even easier than installing it. To
keep your floor looking like new and avoid scratches, simply vacuum or
dust mop regularly to remove loose dirt or grit. Glides or cushioned
bottom protectors under chairs and table legs also help prevent possible
scratching, and floor mats at all outside doorways keep dirt from coming
inside.
