If you are planning to renovate your home and looking for ideas to use in your project, you have probably come across the term laminate flooring. Traditionally an affordable alternative to carpet or wood, laminate floors have come a long way from the basic style of the past. Realistic chamfers, grooves, and distressed finishes have been added. Moreover, due to advanced embossing techniques, laminate flooring can be designed to resemble a specific wood grain. Simply put, it gives you the look of any material you want (wood, tile, or stone) without the hefty price tag while ensuring durability and reducing stress on natural resources.
Laminate flooring is a good choice for any room in your home. Besides basements and living rooms, wood flooring installations are recommended for parts of the home that are used regularly by children and pets. The details and style of wood floors make them a visually appealing choice. Wood panels can even be installed on walls but not on ceilings or countertops. To get the best wood flooring for your home, you have to keep a few things in mind. Don’t jump right into buying. Get a design that fits your needs and is easy to fit and care for.
Decide which type of wood flooring is best for your home
Laminate flooring is available in a wide range of patterns, colors, and textures. The floor thickness ranges from 0.6 mm to 1.5 mm. There are different types of wooden floors, which are as follows:
- MaterialMaterial: plastic, synthetic wood
- installation type: Glueless mortise, adhesive, pre-glued
- surface type: smooth, textured, distressed
Laminate flooring practically involves joining several different layers of synthetic materials together via a process called lamination. The floors come in planks, making them easy to install in place. The panels are very durable, moisture resistant and easily repaired. Because of this, you can expect wood floors to last much longer.
Often times, laminate floors are confused with solid wood floors, so they will make your home look unique. One of the huge advantages of this type of flooring is its ability to withstand wear and tear. Years later, floors can be refinished to return them to their former glory with light sanding and surface repair/replacement. The top cover and internal components can stand up to pet claws, moisture, sand, etc. You can choose from an endless list of finishes, including cherry, ivory, chestnut, maple, walnut, oak, pine, and walnut.
Consider ease of maintenance
You should take care of the type of flooring sheets you choose. As a general rule, most types of wood floors are low maintenance and simple to keep looking great. So, how do you make your investment last longer? Well, it is best to avoid excessive exposure to moisture even if water does not seep through and damage the material. Microfiber mops are gentle enough to use on hardwood floors. Sweep the floors every two months and use the manufacturer-recommended cleaner. Do not lift the mop head until you are done. Laminate can scratch floors, so use a soft-bristled broom to clean up the debris.
Don’t choose color based on an empty room
Laminate floors last a lifetime if maintained properly, so choosing a color can feel like an investment in a feature that can affect the aesthetic for years to come. According to the experts at Quick-Step, it’s crucial to consider the bigger picture when selecting a color and floor finish. To be more precise, the color of your wood floors should match your style and the kind of feel you want to give your home. If you want to emphasize a focal point in your interior design, it is best to use natural colors, such as classic oak.
The decision is up to you, but someone in the family may want to have a say in the flooring you install. As you can imagine, your loved ones have varying preferences, so what might sound good to you may not be to their taste. Laminate floors can have a visual impact depending on the color you choose. For example, dark floors absorb sunlight, so they look great in rooms with large windows. If you have a smaller room that is cluttered with furniture, it is not a good idea to use dark floors as it will make it look smaller.
Ensure that the underlayment is easy to install
Unless your floor slabs have a pre-installed underlayment, purchase a separate underlayment for the project. The underlayment is a flexible, angled sheet of strong material that is installed over the subfloor, providing a barrier that protects the panels you are installing. In addition, it flattens the floor, reduces sound transmission, and improves the R-value of the floor. Some underlayments have self-adhesive tape for joining row to row, while others call for separate tape. Cork and foam are usually preferred for underlayment for wood floors. Cork has antimicrobial properties, which means it prevents mold growth. On the other hand, foam absorbs unwanted sounds and compensates for minor defects in the subfloor.
As mentioned earlier, you can find laminate floors that are made with down filler embedded into the underside or underside of the material. The installation process is more efficient, but the floor is thinner. When installing floors, make sure the subfloor is level and free of defects. Get rid of as much debris as possible. Since you won’t be able to see all of the debris, use a vacuum cleaner to make sure the subfloor is clean. It is advised to spend as much as possible on the bottom tier because performance follows price. Buy as many or more than you need.
All things considered, wood floors are a good way to achieve the look you want without paying a hefty price tag. It is important that the laminate flooring stay in your home for a few days prior to installation. In this way, you will get used to the humidity levels and temperature in the room. If the subfloor is not quite even, choose a narrower slab.