You might
not give your floors much thought -- until it comes time to replace them. Then
you realize that there are many options out there. For busy families whose
floors need to stand up to kids and pets, laminate flooring is a good option.
Laminate flooring has been a fashionable option in Europe for more than
20 years, and it's rapidly gaining popularity in the United States. The most
common designs have a wood grain appearance; some are made to look like stone
or marble. Laminates are designed to look good for many years with a minimum
amount of maintenance. Laminate flooring consists of four main components that
are bonded together.
A wear-resistant decorative surface made of
resin-based melamine/aluminum oxide is bonded to a moisture resistant wood
composition-based core. A balancing backing is bonded to the underside of the
core. On the top is a clear cap sheet of aluminum oxide, which provides the
protection and stain resistance. Since the resin-filled wear layer is so dense,
it becomes extremely difficult to stain, scratch or burn. Ease of installation
is one factor that contributes to the popularity of laminate flooring.
It uses a tongue and groove interlocking system, which can be installed
over the top of an existing substrate. Plywood, concrete slab, sheet vinyl
flooring, hardwood flooring or virtually any other basically flat hard surface
is a suitable base for laminate. Because installation is so simple, and because
you can walk on your new floor immediately (no waiting for glue to dry),
beautifying your home with new laminate flooring is truly a project you can do
in a weekend. Taking care of a laminate floor is even easier than installing
it.
To keep your floor looking like new and avoid scratches, simply
vacuum or dust mop regularly to remove loose dirt or grit. Glides or cushioned
bottom protectors under chairs and table legs also help prevent possible
scratching, and floor mats at all outside doorways keep dirt from coming
inside. |
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