Laminate is a material pressed and glued from several layers, which is used in furniture construction and as a floor covering, among other things. The term laminate is also used as a synonym for laminate flooring.
The first laminate floor was developed in Sweden in 1977 and was launched three years later. Within a short time, it spread in other countries and became one of the most popular floor coverings. To date, the composition of the laminate floor has hardly changed. The former construction of laminate included three layers – top layer, backing plate, and backing. Today, the top layer is divided into two layers, namely a protective and decorative layer.
The uppermost layer of the laminate floor, the protective layer, consists of several layers of melamine resin and protects against stains and bumps. The second layer, the decorative layer, is almost an extremely stable photo wallpaper for the floor. The decorative paper coated with synthetic resin usually depicts wood, even stone, and ceramics. Underneath is a carrier plate- a fiberboard of high or medium density- HDF or MDF or chipboard. On this carrier plate, the first two layers – from above – and the counter-pull, or the compensation layer – from below – pressed. The counter-pull serves to balance the tension of the top and bottom.
Laminate is low in emissions, robust, and easy to clean. All pluses that residents appreciate with allergies or pets. If you have an animal with very sharp claws, you should choose a flooring with a high-stress class.
Laminate is an advantage in residential and commercial spaces. Depending on whether you need a floor covering for kitchen and hallway or only slightly used rooms, there are various usage classes and laminate qualities to choose from. For the basement and wherever it is permanently wet, conventional laminate is disadvantageous because it can warp. The manufacturer also impregnates tongue and groove of the panels, so that moisture can’t penetrate so easily. Always true: Small quirks and scratches in the laminate can be easily repaired. However, if the floor covering is partially swollen due to water damage, only the replacement remains.
If you don’t want to go with the replacement option, you should go for the other available option for flooring. Solid wood, engineered wood, etc. are some popular options for flooring. If you want a long-lasting flooring installation, you should go for these options instead. If you have confusion for laminate flooring or engineered hardwood, you can go for the reviews of these particular options. You will get many positive and negative feedback and reviews between these two options.
