If you've decided to install laminate flooring in your new home, you've made a great decision. Laminate flooring gives you the look of hardwood or natural stone, without the high cost. Laminate flooring is also easier to maintain than hardwood or natural stone flooring. If you're not sure how to choose your new laminate flooring, read the list below. Here are four things to consider for your new laminate flooring.
Know the Types of Laminate
If you're ready to install a laminate floor in your home, you need to know the different types of laminate products. There are two types of laminate flooring: engineered wood laminate and plastic laminate. Engineered wood laminate is made from layers of natural wood. Then, the surface level is a thin layer of wood that's coated with an acrylic finish. Plastic laminate is completely man-made. Plastic laminate contains layers of fiberboard. Then, a layer of wood print material is placed on the fiberboard. Finally, the finished product is sealed with clear plastic. One of the benefits of plastic laminate is that you can choose from a variety of prints for your flooring.
Install New Underlayment
If you're going to install laminate flooring, be sure to start with a layer of underlayment. Underlayment places a layer of protection between the subfloor and the laminate flooring. There are a couple of reasons to install a new underlayment with your laminate flooring. First, it makes the floor softer under your feet. Second, underlayment buffers your footsteps. Underlayment also stops the laminate planks from slipping.
Check Out the Subfloor
If you're ready to install a laminate floor in your new home, you'll want to choose the width of the planks. You can choose between narrow planks and wide planks. Before you choose the width, take a look at the subfloor. If the subfloor is uneven, you should choose narrow planks. Uneven subfloors can leave gaps in wide planks. Also, wide planks are harder to install on uneven subfloors. If you want wider planks for your laminate flooring, try applying a leveling compound. The leveling compound goes between the subfloor and the underlayment. Leveling compound can even out the subfloor enough to install wide plank laminate flooring.
Consider Your Lifestyle
If you've decided on laminate flooring for your new home, now's the time to consider your lifestyle. That's especially important where the finish is concerned. If your flooring isn't going to get a lot of foot traffic, you can choose a high-gloss finish. But, if you have children and pets, it's a good idea to choose a distressed or low-gloss finish. Low-gloss and distressed laminate finishes are easier to keep clean in high-traffic areas.
To learn more about laminate flooring, including Mohawk Boardwalk Collective laminate flooring, reach out to a flooring company near you.
This is a blog about flooring. And no, we won't tread lightly here. We will assume we have a really strong, structural floor under our feet — like one made from concrete or tile. From that position, we will dive into all sorts of deep topics, like the nature of various flooring materials, the pros and cons of different installation methods, and ways to fix an ailing floor. if you're ready to tread heavily with us, then we encourage you to dig in and start reading. You might be surprised how interesting the topic of flooring becomes when you approach it from so many angles.