Overview

For the home with active pet’s, rambunctious children and any chance a natural hardwood floor could be damaged or compromised, what type is the best option when making a decision? Because it is a versatile, durable, and an attractive floor with the appearance of a hardwood floor, lamination floors would be your best decision. Although this type of floor looks like wood flooring, there is no solid wood used in its fabrication. These floors are made up of several materials bonded together under high pressure.

Most laminated floors consists of a moisture resistant layer under a layer of HDF (high density fiberboard). This is topped with a high-resolution photographic image of natural wood or stone flooring. It is then finished with an extremely hard, clear coating made from special resin-coated cellulose to protect the laminate flooring. Once laid few people who can tell the difference between ¾ inch hardwood and 5/16 inch laminate. The number one aspect of laminate flooring loved by homeowners and builders is the fact that it can be used below grade (typically below the first floor) to provide a look of hardwood flooring.

Laminate Types

High pressure lamination

High pressure lamination involves subjecting the entire core material to heated laminate. As the core material passes through the laminating machine, laminate is applied to it using more than 1,000 pounds per square inch of pressure at over 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This results in a flooring material that is scratch- and dent-resistant.High pressure lamination is thinner and more expensive than a direct pressure lamination.

Direct pressure lamination

Direct pressure floors are created a section at a time under significantly lower pressures and temperatures. Both the core and the laminate are subjected to about 300 pounds per square inch of pressure at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Laminate flooring that uses direct pressure lamination is cheaper, but it is less resistant to scratches and dents. Its laminate shells also tend to peel away sooner.

Core materials

The core material is the part that undergoes the lamination process. Almost any kind of flat surface can be laminated for flooring material. Wood is a popular core material for lamination. It is organic, porous, and valued for its sheen and warm tone. However, it is vulnerable to mold and mildew infestation. Maintaining wood flooring can be difficult, but laminating the wood slats can keep them intact and make them easier to maintain.

The fiberboard is also a popular core material. It is synthetic and less prone to rotting than wood. However, the fiberboard is still porous, so attempting to scrub or mop it can only ruin it. Applying a laminate layer over it can protect it, give it added durability, and make it easier to maintain.

ProSand Flooring is proud to serve the following Indiana communities:
Indianapolis, Anderson, Avon, Bloomington, Broad Ripple, Brownsburg, Carmel, Columbus, Franklin, Fishers, Geist, Greenwood, Greenfield, Lafayette, Lebanon, Martinsville, Mooresville, Muncie, Noblesville, Pendleton, Plainfield, Shelbyville, Westfield, West Lafayette, Zionsville.