A guide to types of floor laminates and their maintenance
There are only two basic categories of laminates – real wood and man-made, with the latter made from wood compounds. Wood laminates are a thin layer (or ply) of exotic wood such as wenge, oak or maple, which are glued onto layers of base plywood for extra strength. As only the top layer is made of the expensive wood, the cost is lower than that of solid wood. Engineered laminates on the other hand, are made of raw sustainable wood materials bonded together.
It is important to remember that wood, as a natural product, varies from piece to piece so grain and color variations exist. Thus wooden laminates that is monochromatic and completely flat (like table top) does not exist. Focus on what you want and need from your flooring. If you insist on the texture and feel of real wood underfoot, then go for laminate made with wood ply.
Otherwise, the man-made woods – which now come in convincing textures and grains – are durable and just as good-looking. Naturally, the increasing rarity of top-grade and exotic woods makes wood laminates more pricey. Man-made laminates are generally cheaper, but there is still a wide range in their costs due to differences in manufacturing technology, quality and installation techniques.
It also offers many advantages, including being very difficult to stain, scratch, or burn with a cigarette. Laminate flooring can be used in any room in the house but tends to be most popular as bedroom or lounge flooring with a rug over the top for added style and homeliness. Laminate flooring needs only a quick wipe to clean. However, remember to keep it dry as the under layers swell when wet, and may cause the planks to buckle and warp. With today’s technology, laminate flooring is more lasting and requires less maintenance than before. This is especially true for wood laminates because most wood are pre-finished – pieces that have been sanded and sealed and in some cases, stained.
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Lester Fong www.unique-home-decor-ideas.com