With so many styles available at multiple price points, laminate flooring is the right pick for many indoor flooring projects. Navigating these choices can become a project itself. Here are some tips to help you find the laminate flooring that’s right for you.
Pros to Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is a great option for indoor spaces with low regular water and moisture exposure. Available in a nearly endless array of styles, shapes, textures, and materials, there is a laminate flooring option that matches any indoor design project. From low cost, low hardness flooring perfect for a seldom trafficked closet, to premium cost extra hard flooring designed to withstand even the heaviest of public space traffic, laminate flooring is available for any budget and project. Best of all, modern innovations in production and installation practices have resulted in ever easier options.
Styles of Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring can be crafted to match any interior design goals. Darker, wood-like laminate flooring captures the cozy feel of hardwood without the constant upkeep needs. As a much lighter flooring material with less installation requirements than traditional ceramic and stone flooring, laminate stone-look flooring options match the vast array of sizes, shapes, colors, textures, and hues of ceramic and stone tile as a cost-effective alternative.
Ratings of Laminate Flooring
An engineered and artificially produced flooring material, laminate flooring is produced to varied and specific design requirements. Low-cost laminate flooring options are made for low-traffic areas, while higher cost options are engineered to withstand higher use needs. Laminate flooring designed for installation above ground level have different parameters than flooring options designed for basements. Knowing what grade you need for your project goes a very long way towards finding the laminate flooring that’s right for you.
The Abrasion Class (or AC) of the laminate is a measure of how hard its surface is. This indicates how much traffic it can withstand without degradation. Laminate flooring can have an AC of 1-5 (AC1-AC5), with AC1 representing the softest surface material designed for low traffic areas. Options with an AC5 are designed for high traffic areas like public buildings.
Installation Method Considerations for Laminate Flooring
Modern innovations in production have led to three dominant installation methods for laminate flooring, glued fixed installation, glued floating installation, and glue-less floating installations. A fixed installation requires the most time and skill, and usually costs a little more. The glue-less floating installation offers the greatest ease with installation. Knowing how your laminate flooring will be installed ensures clear expectations for the project budget and timeline.
Come to Fred Callaghan Carpet & Flooring and see our large selection of laminate flooring and custom order options!