With just a handful of standard options for flooring, the onset of laminate flooring changed the flooring scenario. Now you see them everywhere – from homes to offices to shopping complexes, etc. Coming into the consumers as a cheaper alternative to natural wood flooring, Laminate Flooring remains a flooring choice for many.

Anytime you go out looking for flooring options, laminate flooring pops up in the suggestion list. Give this article a read to find out everything you need to know about laminate flooring.

What is Laminate Flooring?

In a simple definition, Laminate flooring is a synthetic flooring material designed as an alternative to natural wood flooring. 

In laminate flooring, a fusion of four different layers of synthetic materials takes place under high pressure. All of these layers together enhance the overall durability of laminate floorings. 

Layers and components in Laminate Flooring

• The bottom layer in laminate flooring is made of a synthetic material that is moisture resistant. 
• The layer above it is the High-Density Fibreboard (HDF), which plays a crucial role in the longevity of Laminate floorings. 
• On top of the second layer comes the vital layer for the aesthetic look and appeal of Laminate Floorings. This layer simulates natural wood. Although, these days, laminate floorings come with additional options for ceramic tiles and steel. 
• The final and the topmost layer are for the protection of the laminate flooring. It lays a dense and highly resilient material of resin-coated cellulose that is a clear/transparent coating. 

Why use Laminate flooring

A large section of the consumers and interior designers prefer wooden floorings. All is well until you check the price range of natural wooden floorings with the added burden to the environment by felling down trees. 

Laminate floorings cater to that need for wooden floorings, with added advantages:

• First, it is synthetic, and therefore there is no direct damage to the environment. 
• Secondly, it is extremely pocket-friendly. With laminate tiles of wooden floorings/ceramic tiles, the prices come up to half the price than the real one. 

The onset and evolution of Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring started with one sole purpose. To bring in cheaper alternatives to natural wooden flooring, and is now one of the most sought-after flooring options. 

A company named Pergo in1985 established and built the first Laminate Factory, and ever since, the journey of laminate flooring has been upward. 

Initially, laminate flooring’s sole motive was as a synthetic natural wood alternative. Over time, it saw many improvisations and design additions. An option for designs includes –

• Glossy/matte stone-finish look.
• High-grade graphics.
• Incorporation of deep wood-like textures.
• Micro bevels.

Laminate flooring installation variants 

Besides the affordable pricing with high durability, laminate floorings also come with the most straightforward installation processes. You can hire a professional for installation or assemble and install them yourself.

The three types of laminate flooring installation are:

Pre-glued

Just as the name suggests, the lowest layer, nearest to the floor, comes pre-glued. It eliminates the hassle of applying any glue separately to the floor.

Glued

These types are the first-generation laminate floorings. It requires applying glue to affix the laminate flooring to the floor. 

Click

It is the most modern version of laminate floorings and among the most popular options. It does not require any glue or pre-labour to install them. The fixing of the tiles and planks of laminate flooring to the floor use their click-and-lock system.