Laminate flooring is among the popular choices for flooring materials in the UK. They can increase both the aesthetics and charm of your interior design with their vibrant colours and unmatchable patterns. However, selecting laminate flooring for your house requires a thorough study to determine its feasibility according to your use and other preferences.
Our blog is a complete guide on laminate flooring that provides information on its composition, pros and cons, and types. We have also provided DIY installation tips for beginners.
Composition of Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring has become one of the most influential flooring options in the market. It is made from a High-Density Fireboard (HDF) and delivered with a high-definition photo with a tough layer of melamine. It gives an illusion of being a multi-layer synthetic flooring option.
Layers of Laminate Floor:
Laminate flooring has four layers. The first layer, the backing layer, seals the board’s back, making it moisture-resistant. It also prevents the board from cupping or bowing, crucial to maintaining the floor level. The next layer has a high density that enables it to endure dents. The third layer is a photo layer replicating your chosen wood or other texture. The fourth layer is a scratch-resistant layer that contains melamine resins.
The Impact of Laminate Flooring on Your Home
Suppose you are considering laminate flooring as a flooring option for your building. In that case, you must know what positive or negative impact it has on your floors or family. Here is a comprehensive overview of its advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages of Laminate Flooring
Anti-Static Surface:
Laminate flooring has an anti-static surface, which means its surface protects against dust collection. It’s highly resistant to water and moisture. Basements usually get easily dirty and have damp environments so laminate flooring should be on the list of your options for your basement flooring.
Simple Installation and Maintenance
Laminate flooring has a simple click-and-lock installation system that makes it easy to install at home. Laminate flooring is low maintenance, and getting a clean look with them is easy and requires minimum effort. Regular mopping and sweeping keep it shining as new.
Cost Effective
Laminate flooring gives the illusion of high-quality materials with premium quality and luxurious looks at a highly affordable price.
Aesthetic Appeal
Laminate flooring is best known for its aesthetic appeal and smooth finish. Whether you want a clean, vintage or minimal aesthetic, you can find the perfect style with laminate flooring.
Durability
Laminate flooring is highly durable with immense strength. They also are stain and dent-resistant with fewer chances of scratches and stains, making them the best options for you if you have children or pets.
Versatility
They are available in myriad styles, patterns, designs and textures, making them highly versatile. They are also available in forms that create the illusion of hardware and tiles, making them a versatile candidate that can easily match the interior of your house.
Disadvantages of Laminate Flooring
Refinishing Constraints
Suppose the surface has lost its sparkle with time or has experienced excessive damage. In that case, it can’t be refinished but has to be replaced. Many options like hard work flooring or carpets, can be refinished with some tools and techniques; however, laminate floors can’t be refinished.
Moisture Vulnerability
Many laminate floorings are resistant to moisture but are not fully waterproof. Long-term exposure to water may cause seepage of moisture, leading to blisters and swelling of the boards. Avoid using this type of flooring in bathrooms and basements prone to moisture.
Sensory Impact
Though laminate provides a vibrant look, unlike hardwood or carpet floorings laminate flooring doesn’t provide satisfactory warmth and acoustics. They produce a hollow sound when walked on and have a minimum tendency to reduce noise, like other padded flooring options. It might not be the right option if you hate squeaky noise and love cosiness.
Synthetics
The world is moving towards sustainability, and many consider environmental considerations before choosing something. If you are an environmentally conscious person, then you must know that while laminate floorings can be made of sustainable materials, they still contain synthetic materials and adhesives that are not eco-friendly.
Cost of Laminate Flooring
Typically, laminate flooring costs between £15-£80 m². Laminate flooring cost varies depending on different factors like:
- Quality of Laminate
- Thickness and width of laminate
- Contractors you are hiring
- Conditions of your subfloor
- shape and size of the space
- Any challenges, internal or external
- Locality
Types of Laminate Flooring Available in Market:
There are numerous types of laminate flooring; however for your ease, we have categorised those types based on material, texture and installation.
Based on Their Final Looks
The main types include wood, stone and tile Laminate Flooring. However, it is crucial to remember that it’s not their composition but they imitate the looks of those materials.
Wood Laminate Flooring
A popular and economical type of laminate flooring is wood. For this type, using high-tech, the wood imprints are scanned on the top layer to make them look like wooden hardware. They mimic almost all sorts of woods like Pine, Tigerwood, Maple, Oak, Teak and Cherry, Beech, Birch and others. They also come with different finishes depending on your taste and aesthetics. You can get anything if you want a look of old vintage scaped wood or a shiny finish. You name it, you get it.
Stone Laminate Flooring
Laminates are known for their mimicking qualities. Like wood, laminate floors mirror the stone floors equally well. It gives you a sturdy, neat floor look without using stones. However, one must remember that though they are perfect for mimicking the looks, they don’t mimic the sensory feel of actual stone floorings.
Tile Laminate Flooring
Clear from its name, this type mimics tiles. The planks can be as comprehensive as 16 inches. They give the finish of tiles and are low-maintenance. They are good options for the kitchen and corridors.
Based on the Texture
Embossed Laminate Flooring
Polymer is a primary constituent in its composition. It provides a premium quality vintage finish at an affordable price. Unlike smooth laminate floors, they have bumps.
Smooth Laminate Flooring
It is a popular laminate flooring option that provides an even finish while minimising grooves. They give a minimalistic, clean finish and are easy to maintain.
Distressed Laminate Flooring
Unlike the other two types. They include arbitrary designs and colours that make them highly diverse and increase their chances of matching your existing furniture and colour scheme. Its unique quality makes it a trustworthy option.
Based on the Installation Method
Glue-less Laminate Flooring
It’s a popular option for the free-souls who love experimenting and trying DIY installations. Their click-and-lock system saves the headache of using adhesives, making their installation easy. They are affordable and easily accessible in various stores.
Pre-Glued Laminate Flooring
These types of planks come with already applied adhesive. Like eating instant food, you must remove the plastic covering the adhesive side and place the plank on the floor, which immediately gets attached to it. How simple is that! However, they are fragile and need to be replaced more frequently than other laminate flooring options.
Glued Laminate Flooring
This type requires high skill and precision since you must install them manually by applying glue. It can be hectic if you install them yourselves. Hiring experts is advisable.
Based on the Plank Strips
Single Plank
In single planks, each board is an individual strip installed on the floor. They are traditional in their look but are still a classic option.
Multi Plank
This type has multiple planks on a single board, giving the illusion of small mini-planks on the floor. They come in different vertical and horizontal patterns, giving you options to experiment with.
Wide Plank
They have wide planks and make the room look spacious. They have an arcadian finish, adding beauty to your home.
Narrow Plank
This type has sleek designs and relatively narrow planks.
Hiring Professionals Vs. DIY Installation For Laminate Flooring
Many people consider DIY floor installations for many reasons, while others still prefer hiring professionals in their area like Qflooring. If you are confused about DIY floor installation or hiring a professional, then you must consider these factors:
Pros of DIY Floor Installation
The main reason people prefer doing DIY is to save their money. Contractors may charge a hefty amount for installing new floors; however, DIY can save you valuable money. If you are an introvert and don’t want to meet people daily for days, then DIY is for you. Many families also feel uncomfortable seeing so many people in their homes working daily for hours; in that case, DIY saves you. DIY installation also saves you the stress of scheduling consultations and contracts with the experts, which means you can work efficiently in accordance with your comfort zone, time and schedule
Cons of DIY Floor Installation
DIY might save you money for installation; however things may turn opposite too. If you lack the required skills, the finishing of clean flooring might be missing, and you may waste or damage the flooring material or even your subfloors. Flooring installation and removal of old floorings required specific tools and techniques. If you don’t have them, you will break your bank, which does not guarantee a safe installation. DIY installation will take a lot of your time and energy that you can invest in other things.
DIY Flooring Installation: Tips for Beginners
If you are still here, you are seriously considering laminate flooring. If you are thinking of DIY installation, then here are a few tips for you:
Accustom the Planks
Once you have bought all the planks, leave them in the room you want to install for at least 48 hours so that they can acclimate according to the moisture and temperature of the room.
Smooth out Subfloors
For a clean look, make sure that the subfloors are at a smooth level and are even. You can install laminate on your previous floors as well; however, their removal will add more neatness to the finish.
Thorough Cleaning
Ensure the base floor or subfloor is free of all dirt and debris. Clean it thoroughly and ensure no gaps, dirt or unevenness; try to fix that first. If you have a wooden floor, ensure no loose nails.
Trimming around doorways
Cut down some trim from the doorways when laying planks around the doorways so that you don’t have to cut your flooring to match the irregular shape.
Underlayment
Underlayment is a thin, concentrated foam that reduces noise and provides insulation. Many floorings have their underlayment, but if it doesn’t have that, consider buying it and installing it before installing the laminate roof.
Conclusion
DIY installation is for you if you love experimenting and learning new things. However, one must watch some tutorials or get consultations from companies like Qflooring to choose suitable materials for their floors. And suppose you are someone conscious and don’t like taking risks. In that case, you should hire a professional company with years of experience. A company that can go along with you at every step, from initial consultations to customised flooring options for your home and ultimately installing them in your home.
If you are looking for flooring options and installation, then visit Qflooring. We offer premium quality products and services with a guarantee on all our products. So contact us right away!
