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Laminate flooring is one of the most versatile and affordable floor coverings available today, offering a variety of styles and designs from authentic patterns of exotic woods to stone and ceramic.

By Cheryl Oud
 
Laminate flooring has become a very desired flooring solution for not only being an economical floor for a wood looking surface but also for the ease of maintenance and durability.

With the continued improvements in design and technology and a growing assortment of products and designs, laminate has become a product ideally suited for clients who want the look of natural flooring without the high cost. Laminate flooring is fast becoming the preferred floor covering for new home construction, renovations and commercial space alike. While affordability is key to the rise in popularity of laminates, it is the versatility and durability of this type of floor covering that is most appreciated.

The look and feel of hardwood and stone flooring for a bathroom or kitchen has been favored by designers for years. Laminate flooring offers the same look, but without the expense and required maintenance.
 

  

Laminate flooring provides a much cleaner and healthier living environment when compared to other flooring options such as carpet. Although laminate is easy to maintain, it needs to be kept clean, as dust, dirt and sand particles may scratch the decorative surface.

Laminate flooring is made of layers of material bonded (laminated) together for strength.  Several materials such as resins, wood fibre and kraft paper (materials vary by manufacturer) are compacted under pressure to create the final product. The product is made into planks.  The surface of a laminate plank is actually an image printed from film onto a thin decorative layer, which is then treated with a wearlayer. The high resolution of the film allows an extremely authentic appearance.

There are two different ways the laminate can be manufactured.  There is the Direct Press Laminate (DPL) and the Hard Press Laminate (HPL).  Direct Press Laminate are individual layers, that make up the individual tiles or planks, will first be arranged in  their required position and then pressed and bonded together at the same time.
 
With Hard Pressed Laminate (HPL) the individual layers of planks or tiles are fixed together in separate stages.  This technique uses a combination of both pressure and heat. Result is usually a wear layer that is thicker and harder wearing than laminates made by Direct Press. While HPL is harder wearing, DPL provides design flexibility and easily allows manufacturers to produce realistic patterns and therefore are more visually appealing.

The final product is similar in feel to a kitchen countertop. Laminate flooring comes in a variety of finishes and designs. They range from exotic wood looks to tile stone and concrete. New technology is making laminated wood flooring a rival for real hardwood in aesthetics. Thicknesses range from 7mm to 12 mm thick and 4” beveled and 7 ½” wide plank. Many high gloss collections from Armstrong and the new Luminiere product from Shaw are giving a more sophisticated look with their smooth glossy finishes.  Formica has just introduced three new tile looks and Pergo (the inventor of laminate in 1977) has come up with a black and grey slate.

With the ever evolving trends and environmental issues, laminate flooring manufacturers will be constantly changing their designs and manufacturing procedures over the years.  We can still expect many exciting changes to come.
 

Cheryl Oud is flooring consultant at Wingren Floors in Nanaimo. Visit www.wingrenfloors.com. 		  
 
 
 
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