"Laminate 101": An in-depth look at laminate flooring
Laminate is a man-made product that simulates the look of hardwood, ceramic tile, natural stone and many other types of flooring. They are made like your kitchen counter top but are 25 times stronger due to the addition of aluminum oxide to the finish. Second only to diamonds in hardness, aluminum oxide finishes provide unsurpassed wear and stain resistance.
Laminates are known for being low maintenance. The floors never require wax or refinishing. All you need to do is occasionally sweep or vacuum the floors and use the manufacturer’s spray cleaner for more stubborn spills. Laminates have 10, 15, 25, or lifetime warranties against staining, fading, and wearing through.
There are different qualities and styles of laminate floors. The high-end wood looks come in narrow board widths with micro beveled edges and a subtly textured wear layer to provide amazing depth and realism. High-end tile and stone laminates have texturing and finishing that captures the essence of the original source materials. The benchmark laminate floors have square edges and give the appearance of a sanded hardwood floor. These floors are available in a multitude of colors, and wood species.
These floors are very versatile and are well suited for active families or anyone looking for a low maintenance, high performance floor.
 What Is Laminate?
Today’s laminate floors are available in a multitude of designs, patterns, and textures, yet they all consist of four main components that are bonded together. The bottom layer, or backing, is a melamine plastic layer that lends dimensional stability to the planks and also helps guard against moisture from the sub floor. The next layer is a core board, generally made from high-density fiberboard or particle board, which may also contain melamine plastic resins that help improve the moisture resistance of the core. Then a decorative layer or print film is adhered on top of the core board giving the floor its hardwood or tile look.
This decorative layer is a printed high-resolution photo-reproduction of wood grain, natural stone or ceramic tile pattern.
On top of the other layers is a durable wear layer, providing protection and stain resistance. Many wear layers also contain aluminum oxide, as well as melamine resin, and that creates exceptional durability.
All four layers are then combined in a high-pressure process.
Laminate floors are installed using a “floating floor system” in which a padded underlayment sits between the subfloor and the laminate planks. The planks sit directly on the underlayment and are not anchored to the subfloor on the bottom but rather tongue and groove clicked together at the edges. These floors make for easy repair if that is ever necessary.
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 The Benefits of Laminate
- Exceptional durability
- Easy to clean surface
- Superior stain resistance
- Superior fade resistance
- Install in/on all grade levels, even below grade
- Install over many different types of subfloors
- Great impact and indentation resistance
- Exceptional realism at affordable costs
- Easy to replace later on, if desired
Oops-proof performance
Spills happen, but laminate floors take them in stride. Juice, wine, grease, and chocolate are easily wiped away. Cigarette burns, asphalt, shoe polish, paint, ink, crayon, and nail polish come clean with alcohol or nail polish remover. Candle wax and chewing gum can be gently scraped away.
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