How to Pick Laminate Flooring for Your Home (Simple Guide)
Laminate flooring is one of the most beautiful, affordable and unique flooring types. Since it comes in many styles and designs, laminate can be used with any type of home decor. Thanks to its versatility and affordability, demand for it is also increasing among both homeowners and builders.
This type of flooring consists mostly of wood; is resistant to burns, scratches, and heat; and is very easy to maintain.
If you are Googling “how to choose laminate flooring,” you have arrived at the right post. The topics we will be discussing in this post include:
- Installation Type
- Surface Type
- Plank Type
- Finish Style
- Material Imitation Style
- Floor Construction Type
- AC Rating Type
Before you pick your laminate flooring, go through these details to make an informed decision.
By Installation Type
First, settle on what kind of installation you want. Here are the different types.
By Installation Type
First, settle on what kind of installation you want. Here are the different types.
1. Glueless Click
This is one of the most popular laminate flooring types because it is easiest to install. Glue is not required in this method of installation because the laminate planks snap together. More than two-thirds of laminate flooring in homes is the glueless-click style. Some laminate floors come with a pre-attached underpad, making installation even quicker and easier.
2. Glued
For a long time, gluing the joints together was the only way to install laminate flooring. If you can look beyond the potential mess, glued laminate provides a hold so strong that it won’t budge. The downside of glued laminate is the high labour cost and time; the upside is that it is the strongest laminate flooring option.
3. Pre-Glued
Pre-glued laminate flooring offers the same durability as glued laminate, minus the mess because the glue is not applied separately. You simply peel off the back of the laminate flooring to install.
By Surface Type
Laminate flooring is meant to imitate real hardwood. With good laminate flooring, you can’t differentiate between it and actual hardwood.
1. Smooth
Smooth laminate flooring is ideal for a sleek and modern appearance. As it has no texture, it is one of the easiest surfaces to clean, either by broom or mop.
It is designed to resemble the look of polished wood, marble, or ceramic flooring. Sometimes you can choose between high, medium, and low gloss finishes.
2. Textured or Embossed
There are very few alternatives that can match embossed laminate flooring in terms of texture. Its vintage, retro look emulates the look and feel of pure wood. Unlike smooth laminate flooring, it comes with bumps, ridges, and grooves, making it one of a kind. It can also be paired with wooden furniture to give your house a farmhouse look. Although no real timber is involved in its manufacture, you can’t tell by looking at it. This makes it a more inexpensive and eco-friendly option.
3. Hand-scraped or Distressed
The hand-scraping process, which used to be only for solid or engineered hardwoods, is now available for laminate flooring as well. This adds an antique look to your laminate floor.
If you are an enthusiast of retro-inspired designs or utilize antique or vintage materials in your decor, this surface type could be the best match for that vibe. This style works well with both modern and antique aesthetics but pairs up incredibly well with all colour combinations. Its versatility and use of multiple colours make it stand out from the alternatives.
4. Embossed in Registration
The texture of this type of laminate flooring matches the grooves of the printed grain, giving your laminate flooring a realistic wooden texture.
By Plank Type
Here are some styles of laminate flooring planks from which you can pick.
1. Traditional
These planks are traditional width. This classic styleis something you often see in old homes and always looks great.
2. Thin Strips
For a more contemporary and sleekerlook, thin planks are a good option.
3. Wide
So-called ‘wide’ planks are actually wider than traditional ones. They give your home a retro look, like that of earlier building styles.
4. Herringbone or Chevron
These shorter planks allow you to create a zigzag pattern. If you want to add a little character and style to your room, this type of laminate flooring is a good option.
By Finish Style
When it comes to finishing, there are a few options that you can choose from. In the following we have mentioned a few of them.
1. High Gloss
Also known as fine finish, highgloss can adda feeling of life and luxury to a room. While it requires maintenance, the look is worth it.
2. Matte
Unlike a highgloss, a matte finish doesn’t reflect light, so it hides minor dentsand scratches along with dust particles. It doesn’t require as much maintenance as fine-finished laminate flooring.
3. Natural Wood Finish
It looks and feels a lot like natural wood flooring. If you are looking for authentic texture, go for natural wood finish.
4. Oiled Wood Finish
This finish has a traditional vibe but is very popular with today’s buyers. It mimics natural, untreated hardwood floors, giving the look that the floors were treated with natural oils.
5. Oxide Surface Finish
This oxide finish gives a small dose of shine. Its metallic finish is used often for modern, chic interiors.
By Material Imitation Style
Laminate is meant to imitate real materials. Here are three types of laminate flooring based on the materials it imitates.
1. Wood
Wood laminate flooring is the most popular but not the only one. Those who want the look of hardwood but in their budget often choose this style of laminate flooring. It is versatile enough to be found in all wood species and shades.
2. Stone
Laminate flooring can also imitate stonewithin your budget. You can find all sorts of textures and colours to match the richness of stone flooring.
3. Tiles
Tiles are beautiful but more expensive than laminate. Fortunately, you can achieve the same look for a lot less.
By Floor Construction Type
There are two main types of laminate floor construction.
1. Direct Pressure Laminate Flooring
DPL is the most common flooring process. Here, all four layers of laminate are pressed and bound together by heat. Since all materials are combined in a single step, DPL is usually a cheaper option.
2. High-Pressure Laminate Flooring
This is a two-step process so it is on the expensive side. First, several layers are glued together. Later, these layers are fused with other materials and then glued to the planks. It is more durable than DPL flooring.
By AC Rating Type
The AC rating represents laminate flooring’sresistance to wear. It is a deciding factor for buying laminate flooring and where to place each type. There are five AC ratings.
1. AC1
These can be used in residential spaces and are good for areas with light foot traffic like closets or bedrooms.
2. AC2
They are considered good for general residential areas. That makes them suitable for areas like dining rooms, living rooms, or other areas with moderate foot traffic.
3. AC3
Laminate flooring with an AC3 rating is suitable for heavy use so is also suitable for areas with much higher foot traffic like offices.
4. AC4
Laminates with AC4 ratings work well in heavy traffic areas of homes and commercial buildings.
5. AC5
These are meant for the heaviest commercial foot traffic.
Consider all these factors and types of laminate flooring to pick the best possible option for your home. You can also talk to a flooring expert about what kind of flooring you are looking for and where and what is your best option.