Who hasn’t dreamed of a room with an expensive-looking wood or stone flooring? Despite a budget, it can now be possible with laminate flooring. It was introduced by the company Pergo to the Swedish market in 1984. About 50 years prior, they started using laminates on tabletops, and this made their company a byword in the industry.
The popularity of laminate flooring then spread to Europe beginning in the late 1980s and on to the U.S. in the mid-1990s. It is now the fastest-growing choice in America, due to its huge appeal to consumers wanting the look of real wood but looking for something that is less costly.
Aside from the obvious cost advantage of laminate flooring, another benefit of using this material for your home is its ease of installation. A number of manufacturers now offer glueless systems which makes extremely convenient both for do-it-yourselfers and professional contractors.
Laminate kits are now available in stores nationwide, and apart from the easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions, they include the underlayment and the planks themselves. However, you still would need to buy minor but equally important items such as transition strips, matching floor boards, and grate covers.
You’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that you can save about half of the cost of a professional contractor if you do the installation yourself. Most folks who have studied the method can install flooring at a rate of about 200 square feet a day!
Another benefit of flooring is its impressive durability. It is said to be fifteen times stronger than real hardwood, and most manufacturers even give a warranty of up to 15 years. Moreover, the finish of laminate is highly UV-resistant so its design won’t fade even after constant exposure to the sun’s rays.
What makes this material strong is its construction. Laminate flooring is made of four layers which are melded together. The top layer is also known as the wear layer and is what makes the laminate flooring scratch-resistant.
The next layer is the design layer and gives the flooring its color and design. It is usually made of cellulose paper with a design printed on it. Since it is protected by the top layer, the design won’t easily wear off over time.