The fastest growing flooring choice in North America is laminate flooring. Its European fame has made it spread quickly into North America due to popular companies like Kronotex. Laminate floors are known for their low cost, ease of installation, and great looking features.
Because of its layered construction laminate floor is much cheaper than its hardwood counterpart. The visible layer is the pattern layer and is protected by a thin layer of laminate, usually made of aluminum oxide, which is resistant to scratches, burns, chipping, dents, etc. and most importantly, suitable for foot traffic. The pattern layer is made from a screen that is created to replicate the look of real wood or tile floors. The core layer is created using High Density Fiber which is moisture resistant and durable. The HDF layer is very difficult to scratch or stain and houses the locking system which aids in the installation of the floor.
All laminate flooring is installed using the free-floating method which means the laminate flooring simply lies on top of the sub-floor. This makes it easy to install as well as uninstall on a wide variety of sub floors. While some brands still make glue together planks most have switched to a no glue locking system which allows the planks to snap together in no time. Since the majority of laminate floor choices are glue-less individual planks can be replaced when needed making it extremely affordable to maintain. Its glue-less floating installation also makes it easy to self install for the do-it-yourselfers out there.
For consumers shopping on a budget that are looking for a great looking floor that will last and is easy to maintain laminate is the choice for you.
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