All About Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring can be an economic alternative to the higher priced wood flooring, and the fact that they are incredibly easy to install, makes them a functional and practical choice happily made by most Irish buyers. If you are enthralled by the looks of it, and wondering whether you should invest in it, here’s all you need to know in order to make a decision. 

Whether you are remodelling a house, or office if you are looking for new flooring in Ireland, chances are high that you’ve come across the option of Laminate Floors, if you don’t already have it. So before we get down to the ideals of what it can be for you, let us spread out, what it actually is. 

What Is Laminate Flooring  

These floorings come in planks or parquetry, that are created with multiple layers of plywood, MDF, HDF or melamine, with a surface image of wood grains, stone texture, marble, terracotta and the likes. The surface is further treated with anti-scratch coating that even water resistant. 

To untrained eyes, it is almost impossible to tell apart real wood floors from laminates. 

The idea is rather new, that started off in the late 80s, which at that time, looked quite tawdry, being largely crafted with melamine, looked unreal. The only thing about them was that they were cheap and a flooring option of sorts. But now, manufacturers are creating sophisticated products that not only look like real wood, but also stand the test of time and can last for a lifetime or even more. The cost has elevated with the quality, but it is still cheaper than solid or even engineered wood flooring. 

Buying New Laminates 

Buying new floors is not simply about the average price, it is more about what you are paying for. And when it comes to laminates, there is a lot to decide. First of all, you should know that not all models are the same, they come in varying thicknesses, Abrasion Classes (AC ratings), decors and finishes that are priced accordingly. Here’s a layout of it 

· Minimum Price - the lowest bid starts with the 8mm AC 1 rated floors that are ideal for a couple or college roomies, showrooms, small offices, and spaces with low to moderate foot traffic. They usually have basic decor, and some manufacturers offer rich embossed finishes, that gives them a genuine texture. 

· Average Price - on an average, the 10mm thick floorboards come at AC ratings between 2 and 3, with lots of choices regarding decor and finish. This is a good option for 4-5 people families with pets. And are suitable for moderate to high footfall. 

· High Price -     12mm thickness with a high AC rating of 4 and 5, is suitable for high footfall, including house party, to indoor football. They are not likely to break or crack easily. 

No matter what product you buy, you are not likely to be short of options when it comes to decor. There are seemingly endless styles to choose from, and finishes include, oiled, rustic, and semi-oiled finishes, of which, the rustic finish seems to be the most favorable contemporary style. If you are in for some water-tolerant surfaces, you try out Balterio laminate floors that produces a line of “water-proof” floorings, which are more than water-resistant. 

Installation 

The installation is made simple with the invention of tongue and groove or click-lock mechanism, that work much like a jigsaw puzzle. There are sundry mechanisms presented by different brands, like the V-Groove planks devised by Balterio, or the Uniclic system devised by Elka laminate floors. They are all pretty much convenient for DIY. 

Maintenance 

Laminate floors are low maintenance, and it is best to vacuum them, since they are not so well behaving with water. But if you need to use some soap water, it is important that your floor is water-resistant, and you better make it quick. 

Final Word Of Advice - Is It A Good Buy For Your Space? 

What makes laminate floors ideal for urban homes is that they are super functional in terms of rigidity, longevity, impeccable style and of course, the best part, their low price. However, you must the flipside of these boards is that there is little to no scope of repairing these floors, unlike solid wood, or engineered floors in some cases; moreover, they are not so good with moisture so not ideal for bathrooms, or rooms adjacent to moist areas, kitchens and basements.  However, many people happen to use laminates in their kitchens and other places, so it’s really your call how you keep up with your floors, as long as you can keep them away from extensive moisture exposure. Finally, these floors won’t add anything to the value of your house, they have next to zero resale value.