Laminate Flooring 101: Beauty & Durability at an Affordable Price

In your home, there can be certain areas where the floors are used more than others. For example, the entranceway to your home likely takes on more traffic than the floors of your bedrooms or bathroom. If you’ve got children, then rooms like the kitchen, living room, and dining room may, also, be high traffic hubs that need durable floors able to withstand the usage while maintaining the aesthetic integrity of the space.

Ultimately, these high-trafficked areas of your home require flooring that is not only beautifully suited to your style, but also durable enough to withstand years of kids running around, dinner parties, and life in general. Laminate flooring is the ideal solution! Laminate flooring is the best option for cost efficiency, quick installation, color options, and overall, a popular choice for home renovation.

What You Need to Know About Laminate Floors

Laminate floors are composed of various materials that are then laminated or layered together. The flooring is topped with a woodgrain photographic imprint on either face of the board.

There are two types of laminate flooring

Engineered Wood Laminate

Made from layers of real hardwood that are glued together. Each layer is laid perpendicular to the one above and below it to increase stability.
Best for homeowners who prefer the appearance of natural wood.
About the same cost as plastic laminate.
Thin top layer of hardwood may make it more susceptible to dents, staining or scratching – but can be rejuvenated with sanding and refinishing.
Can last longer and increase value of your home due to buyer attraction to natural wood floors.

Plastic Laminate

Completely artificial with a layer of melanin at the bottom, a middle made of resin saturated fiber boards, and topped by a woodgrain print that is protected by a layer of clear, hard plastic.
Best for areas where you want the look of hardwood but need protection from moisture, such as kitchens.
The hard top coat layer makes this type of laminate flooring incredibly durable, standing up to the wear of moisture, pet claws, skates, sandy feet, etc.
Technology for plastic laminate has come a long way in making the print look realistic enough to be indiscernible from its counterpart.

Underlayment

All laminate floors require underlayment.
Underlayment will prevent the floors from clicking as you walk across it and makes it a bit softer.
Makes installation easier as it evens out any consistencies that may exist on the surface.

Laminate Options

For those with specific requirements, laminate flooring offers a wide variety of options:

Texture

Realistic graining, tactile textures, and varied coloring can look just like real wood or ceramic tile.
High-end options allow you to incorporate unavailable options such as exotic woods not sold domestically.
Manufacturers of laminate floors have been working to take realism to a new level, adding wormholes, cross saw marks and even hand-scraping to add to the realistic look.

Finish

Laminate comes in a range of refinished options ranging from glossy to matte coating, depending on what you’re looking for. The flooring will come in strips or planks that mimic wood, or tiles for a realistic stone appearance.

Safe and Non-Toxic Flooring

With the variety of laminate flooring options available, there are many eco-friendly and non-toxic laminates that are especially popular for kids’ rooms.

Benefits of Laminate Flooring

Not quite convinced? The benefits may surprise you!

Cost: Laminate wood flooring gives you the beautiful look of hardwood floors without the heavy hit to your budget.
Durability and ease of care: The top layer is virtually invulnerable to most spills, burns, stains and scratches. If you’re looking for water resistant or waterproof laminate, we offer a number of moisture-resistant options.
Customization: At Carpets in the Park, we offer a wide range of designs, sizes and colors – available in many different plank widths and tile sizes to help you get exactly what you’re looking for
Designs: Our designs range from realistic stone to tile and hardwood, giving you the perfect finish and professional authentic look.

Our experts at Carpets in the Park will help you find the perfect solution to your flooring needs, for any room in your home. As flooring professionals serving Chicagoland for over 30 years, we will expertly install your laminate floors, ensuring that your investment lasts you for years to come. Our installation services are backed by a 2-year guarantee against any problems, that’s how confident we are in our work.