Some types of wooden floors can often not be installed in certain homes due to various reasons. An uneven floor can make it impossible to use wood, or humid conditions can be unsuitable for wooden floor boards to be used. In situations like these installing laminate flooring is often the best way to go.

Laminate wood flooring is widely available and is not made of wood, even though the core material can be wood or a product made of wood. Stain resistant and hard wearing, wood laminate flooring is a great option if you have pets or small children. Contrary to popular belief these floors will stay beautiful for many years and are easy to clean and maintain.

What are laminate floorings composed of?

The best laminate flooring is constructed out of three main layers of material. These three layers have been fused together by heat and pressure and function as one layer. The three layers out of which laminate flooring is constructed are:

The surface layer

This layer is usually made of aluminium oxide. Even through this type of flooring might look like wood or even like tiles; the 'wood' is only a photograph that has been printed on to the aluminium surface of the floor boards, creating an optical illusion. As almost any material can be photographed and printed onto flooring, it is possible to even get discount laminate flooring with a wood print that looks exactly like the real thing.

The core of the floor board

The middle layer of laminate flooring, also known as the core or carrier board, can be made out of any of several materials such as MDF (medium density fibre board), or wood. Often flooring with an MDF core is preferred as this type of material will absorb glue better, leaving a better and smoother finish at the joints of the individual floor boards.

The backing

The backing of the floor boards can be made out of different materials, depending on the manufacturer of the boards and the personal preference of the customer. There are boards with a paper backing or with a plastic second laminate layer on the back. Obviously floor boards with a paper backing layer are not as well protected against water damage as the boards with a plastic backing are. Also it appears that flooring with a solid plastic backing is more stable.

Continue to : Tips On Laminate Flooring Installation And Maintenance

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