The flooring of your house has many variables to consider when it comes to cost.  It could be a one-time cost as with carpets or recurrent costs with hardwood floors since these require maintenance. Research and budget should be planned ahead of time.

If you are looking for the most economical option for your homes, then the first type that comes to mind is laminate flooring.  Laminate offers plenty of variety, with a polished look at nominal costs. Laminate flooring can have different types, like wood texture, stone texture, tiles, and many other varieties. Before choosing the right one for your house in Raleigh, Wake Forest, Apex, Cary, or another North Carolina location, it is crucial to understand what laminate flooring is and how it is made. A1 Floors offers their services for impeccable installation for the flooring, and can also advise the best options as per the budget and personal preferences. 

What is laminate flooring?

Despite the popular belief that laminate floors are made from plastic, it cannot be further from the truth. In reality, the  laminate flooring is made from four different layers that have been fused with intense pressure and extremely high heat. Each layer is essential for durability and is explained briefly below.

1. The back and the bottom-most layers are put in place to ensure that there is no moisture seepage into the planks, and it also balances the floor.
2. The core layer placed above the backboard consists of an extremely durable, high-density board that protects from indentations and moisture.
3. The design layer consists of a high-resolution, photographic image of the stone texture, hardwood floor, or tile with the floor’s surface appearance.
4. The final and topmost layer is the transparent wear layer. The transparent protective layer is made from aluminum oxide, which protects against fading, staining, and light surface burns.

Benefits of using laminate flooring

There are numerous benefits to using this type of flooring. It is an affordable option without compromising the look of the floor. The laminate wood flooring will look as good as the real deal without the higher price tag attached to it. Not just that, the maintenance is minimal, meaning it is not just affordable to install but also easy to maintain for years.  

Laminate flooring offers scratch, stain, and burn-resistant floors. This is due to it being made from pressed wood particles, which ensure that they are extremely durable and do not get damaged easily. The best part about these floors is that in case of any damage to a certain section of the floor, the entire flooring does not need to be changed. Rather, it is possible to remove a section of the flooring to replace that particular section. Laminate floors stay looking as good as new with proper maintenance, making them an extremely durable and affordable option.

Cleaning and maintenance of our affordable laminate flooring are hassle-free and quick. There is no need to polish, wax, or varnish, and it does not require harsh chemical cleaners to do the job. One simply needs to sweep with a broom that has soft bristles and then vacuum to pick up larger particles of dirt from the floor. 

What is even better with these floors besides these points? The ease of installing laminate flooring makes it suitable for those that are looking for a fast and quick option for flooring. It is always advisable to seek professional assistance for the neatest job. The groove and tongue system that these flooring installations use is easy and does not require special equipment or glue to keep in place. 

The other fantastic fact about installing such flooring is that it does not make a difference what the subfloor is as these floors do not need to be glued or nailed down. This means that it can be laid on an existing wooden, concrete, and also vinyl floors; it can also be laid on radiant-heated concrete slabs, making it an extremely versatile and affordable option for flooring, without compromising the aesthetic appeal and durability.

The non-porous surface of the laminate wood flooring or laminate flooring with other textures ensures that it is easy to clean. It is one of the best options for people suffering from respiratory issues and prone to allergic reactions. Due to the air locking system with a plastic exterior, it is ideal for families with babies and pets, as accidents can be easily cleaned without staining.   

Durability is another factor that is one of the main advantages of such flooring; if the process of installing is done correctly, taking into consideration how much traffic the floor receives, these floors have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years. 

The most common reason for damage is the use of the wrong types of cleaners for the floor. These floors do not respond well to harsh chemicals, and they can, damage the floor over time. Considering how easy it is to clean and maintain these floors, there should not be any need to use a chemical cleaner that is not specified for such a floor. 

These floorings are extremely versatile, making them suitable for almost all the rooms in the house. The only rooms where all types of laminate flooring should not be used are kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms due to potential water damage. For these rooms, there is waterproof laminate flooring you can opt to install. 

Laminate floors are not prone to fading in the sunlight, unlike some kinds of wood and stone floors. The aluminum oxide coating ensures that the floor is protected from any UV ray damage.

Types of laminate floors

The main feature that makes laminate flooring so popular is that it is possible to imitate practically any material with high-resolution images for the desired floor. Polished stone, marble, mosaic tiles, and wooden floors are popular options for homes. The most popular ones are marble, limestone, slate, and travertine imitation floors. 

It goes without saying that the most popular laminate flooring option is the one that imitates hardwood floors. It is almost impossible to distinguish from a distance, and a complete job can be finished at half the cost of actual hardwood floors. It is possible, therefore, to choose the most expensive wood grain look and replicate that on laminate planks for a sophisticated look that is easy to maintain.

The thickness of the laminate sheet is customizable, which means that choosing thicker planks as a durable option is advisable. It is possible to have an inexpensive option with thin sheets for flooring.

Is laminate flooring the best option for the house?

It is a common misconception that using cheap laminate flooring will decrease the overall value of the property. This is not true, as a laminate floor in good condition will add and ensure a higher resale value of the property. However, if the carpeting or hardwood floors of the property are in moderately good condition, then it makes little to no sense to change it to laminate as it will not affect the resale value by much.  

However, if the condition of the flooring is poor and damaged, although not by much, then changing to laminate floors can be advantageous for the property. If the acoustic of proper wooden floors is desired, it is possible to replicate it with laminate floors. The only drawback is that it is an expensive option as for similar acoustic, thick planks of laminates are required, about the thickness of 12 mm to 15 mm, which are the more expensive varieties of planks.

Therefore, it depends on which types of flooring are preferred. Laminate flooring is an efficient, durable, cost-effective as well as aesthetically pleasing option for many households looking to save costs on the renovation without compromising the quality of the materials.

Waterproof laminate, along with the other types of laminates for the house, is easy to install with an interlocking tongue and grooves system, it makes installation a breeze. 

The laminate floors are the most lifelike and realistic copies of various other floor materials, making them look like the real deal. The most important factors to consider for this type of flooring is the longevity of the floors along with the ease of installation, versatile options for every room of the house, and also easy maintenance and cleanup for years to come.