Laminate is a versatile and relatively inexpensive flooring option. It’s also easy to find; you won’t have to drive into a town you’ve never heard of to see a specialist selling the design you’re after. For those interested in installing, say, DIY laminate flooring or wondering how to install laminate flooring, here are five quick points about the material to make your life a bit easier.
1. “Laminate” flooring refers to the lamination process. It’s like laminating a piece of paper; this process fuses layers of different materials to create something stronger, more versatile, and better insulated. A complete piece of laminate flooring consists of a compound layer, usually made of melamine resin.
2. Different types of laminate flooring are fused in different ways. Most laminate needs to be “tapped” together with a special tool, but some types also require gluing. Though this requires more work, glued laminate is less prone to separating after installation. Lower quality, glueless laminate is the most prone to separation, typically needing to be “re-tapped” every so often.
3. Laminate flooring comes with rubber underlaying, on which the pieces are positioned. This makes a DIY project much easier; it allows you to figure out how to cut and align the pieces of laminate before laying them down. It also lets you decide how to cut smaller pieces to fit special areas, such as edges, cupboards, and door entrances.
4. Though relatively durable, laminate flooring requires occasional cleaning. Water, if left too long, can infiltrate planks and cause warping, and dust and dirt particles render it more susceptible to scratching.
5. The vinyl top of laminate flooring is very versatile in appearance. There are types of vinyl top for almost any type of wood and, recently, for many times of stone, as well. This makes laminate flooring a great choice for almost any room in the house.
If you’re wondering how to install laminate flooring, check out this article, where we ask a TalkLocal employee about her experience installing her own laminate flooring so you can see how it’s done. If you don’t have the time or would prefer the expertise of a professional, head to TalkLocal – our free service will quickly connect you to a local handyman.
