Laminate flooring is such a wise choice when you are trying to update your home.  It firmly believe its one of the cheapest and yet most effective ways to increase the value of any residence.

As I brought out earlier it can completely change the look of a house. One of the nice things about laminate, out of many, is that there are so many choices to choose from!

You can make your house look any style you want.  It can look stone, ceramic, or wood. And there are variations of all kinds of colors and styles within all of those.  The options for you to choose from can number in the hundreds.

This may be a little off topic but most theme parks utilize laminate pieces when they are designing themes and cues for certain rides or areas within their park..  Like the whole “Sword and the Stone” knight theme. Those stones are most likely not real.  They are laminate, although, you never would know it.

It is becoming more popular all of the time because this particular flooring is easy to install, affordable, and its durable also.

I am also a firm believer that its especially nice for families that have kids, pets, and just a lot of traffic in general. The reason for this is that also doesn’t fade in the sun unlike real wood floors and it resists water!  If or when you have kids you will really be able to appreciate that point.  Kids spill drinks all the time and you need a material that you can easily wipe up and not stain.

Good quality laminate has thicker cores and is treated with water repellent chemicals. That makes it able to sustain excessive amounts of water without swelling.  Many people only put it in the living and bedrooms but I think this point makes it  great for bathrooms or kitchens. The top layer is also very dense so it makes it very hard to scratch or even burn!

By the way a lot of companies that make laminate floors give warranties with their products, which make it a little more comforting for your purchase.  Most of them have a five year warranty of them against defects but the top quality ones will usually come with a ten year warranty.

I repeat, these types of floors are made to be easy to install for your typical homeowner with little prior knowledge.  There are so many different laminate flooring companies, with so many different styles, and they are continually coming out with more innovations to make it easier all the time for installing it.

Generally it has a tongue and groove interlocking system to install it, making it go together fast and easy. If you have any sort of carpentry experience at all you can honestly make putting a new floor in just a weekend project. Also all that you need underneath is basically any hard flat surface that is even. The sub floor can be plywood, concrete, sheet vinyl flooring, hardwood floor, etc.

So go on ahead and get started! Quit dreaming and start shopping for the right style laminate floor for you!

When people call me and ask for my opinion I tell them that there are a couple of things to consider before the installation process even begins.  They are:

1. What species of wood grain would you like to use?
2. Would you like to use plank style or tile style?
3. Would you like to install a glued down floor or a snap together floating floor?
4. What type of floor are your putting laminate flooring over, and what would be the best style of laminate for the that floor.
5. What type of laminate flooring do you want to use ) ie. a direct pressure laminate or a high pressure laminate)

So I try to talk with the customers to see if we can figure this out because at this stage they are usually very confused.

You may not realize this but floor installers make great money.  Especially so if they know what they are doing and know how to get jobs done right.  All it takes is for a person to do a fantastic job for one person and he or she tells all her friends and they want it done.

You can put flooring material on almost any old floor surface. Therefore it is an ideal product to use when upgrading your home or make long lasting changes. The floor is made of a thin piece of paper which is a photograph natural wood. It is made of four layers that have been strongly bonded together.

The top layer is made of aluminum oxide which offers resistance from such effects such as heat, stain or moisture. It helps to protect the layers beneath which is one of the reason laminate floors are very durable. This is then combined with a very strong material such as melamine. This is used to strengthen the flooring material and also provides the aesthetic part of the floor.

Kitchen, Bathrooms, Saunas Laundry Area

Laminate flooring is made of natural cellulose fibers which allow it to expand or contract depending on weather conditions. There are high quality planks which are manufactured by treating with water expellant materials to improve water resistance. They also have paraffin wax impregnated joints to enhance moisture repellent action.

This guards the inner core by preventing absorption of moisture which easily damages the material.  Such material is suitable for use in kitchen, bathroom area and other portions of the house that experience high levels of moisture.

High Traffic Portions

These might include staircases, corridors, living area etc. For these parts you can consider using entry level laminate wood flooring. It is designed for high traffic portions in the house. This type of floor is made of a thicker inner core to make it more stable and durable to prevent damage.

Living Area and Bedrooms

Laminate flooring is also available in a wide range of color, design and cost. One of its main benefits is that it is visually appealing as it looks like real hardwood. You can choose attractive or elaborate designs for these parts of your house. Depending on your liking you can select a color or design that perfectly fits the needs of these areas in your home.

For over thirty year the floor has become one of the most commonly used finishing in many homes today. It is one of the easiest floors to install as it can take you a few days to have it fixed. It is very easy to clean and maintain too.

Laminate flooring can last from ten to twenty five years if proper care and maintenance is used on it. This helps to cut costs on constant repairs or replacements when using it in your home. The type of synthetic material used to manufacture the floor prevents damage such as scratches, heat, stains, and wear from heavy traffic. This guarantees long duration no matter where it is installed.

Buying high quality laminate floor to install in your house is advisable as it guarantees to last for long duration. If you are planning to live in the house for a long time then this is a wise idea. It is also a cost effective measure as it saves you costs that would have gone on future repairs or replacing the floor.

Start by assessing the needs of your house before buying the floor. Kitchen and bathroom areas might need a different type of laminate floor from other areas. Check out for durable material to use on high traffic areas too. You can also choose different designs or colors for your living areas or private rooms. You also don’t have to spend so much on the floor as your house might not have extensive needs.

You can easily install the floor by yourself. Alternatively outsource labor to help you out with the job.

Clean the Floor

This is the first step when installing laminate floor in your house. Make sure you remove any trace of solid dirt, moulds, particles that may be lying around the surface. This might affect how fast laminate planks get fixed on the floor. Consequently you might consider repairing surfaces that are uneven or cracked. This allows you to work with an even surface.

Install

The next step is to fix laminate planks on the floor. If you are working on concrete floor, make sure you place a vapor barrier first. You can use suitable plastic material for this purpose. You can then layer the floor with the underlay. Place it out flat in rows without it overlapping in any place. Follow this by sealing the seams with duct tape

Lay the Planks

The best place to start is at the far end corner of your room. Lay the first plank by fixing the groove side towards the wall. Make sure the planks fit properly by cutting off the groove side if you see the need to. It is advisable to leave some space, about ¼ inches perimeter from the flooring to the wall. This is important as the floor expands and contracts during different seasons.

Joining the Planks

The easiest way to fix the planks together is by inserting the tongue in the groove at a high angle and then pushing them together. This allows them to click together and remain fast. You can use a hammer and a tapping block together to make sure the planks lock together.

Useful Tips

Do not use a hammer directly on the planks. Use a tapping block together with a hammer to avoid damaging the planks. It is advisable to use a saw with a fine blade to size down the planks to a desirable fit.