Facts & Informative Guide on Hardwood & Laminates Hardwood & Laminate
Sections:
Hardwood Floors
Solid vs Engineered Hardwood Floors
Popular Hardwood floor links:( Hardwood Brands )
Laminate Floors
Hardwood Floors:TOP
A floor of authentic, rich hardwood adds an unmistakable air of elegance and charm to a room. That’s why this choice of flooring for home interiors is extremely popular. As appropriate in an artist’s loft as it is in an elegant dining room, hardwood provides a unique combination of nature and sophistication that no other floor covering can impart. Both designers and homeowners love it.
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From the traditional to the exotic, hardwood floors come in a huge variety of species, colors, and finishes. Hardwood floors are also available in various widths. In addition, added interest can be created by laying hardwood floors in unique patterns. And of course, you need to decide between solid wood floors and engineered wood floors.
Solid vs Engineered Hardwood FloorsTOP
A solid hardwood floor is exactly that, solid wood. Each plank or strip is made of a single piece of wood. There are no veneers, no reinforcements, no anything.
An engineered hardwood floor, on the other hand, is created by layering 2, 3, 5 or more thin sheets or plies of wood that are laminated together to form one plank or strip.
The two floors look virtually identical. However, each option provides its own unique benefits.
Engineered hardwood floors offer improved stability, reduced chance of cupping, more sound absorption, reduced impact from moisture, and other benefits created by the strength of the multiple layers.
Solid hardwood floors offer greater flexibility in finishing and repairing because the floor can be repeatedly sanded, stained, and refinished. Plus, some people just want solid wood.
Popular Hardwood floor links:( Hardwood Brands )TOP
• Bruce Hardwood/
• Armstrong Hardwood/
• BR111 Floors/
• Hartco Flooring/
• Kahrs Hardwood Flooring/
• Mannington Residential Hardwood/
• Mirage Flooring/
• Shaw Hardwood/
• Lauzon Flooring/
• Preverco Products/
• Mullican Flooring/
• Pinnacle Flooring/
• Somerset Floors/
• Mohawk Flooring Hardwood/
Laminate Floors:TOP
For busy families whose floors need to stand up to kids and pets, laminate flooring is a good option.
Laminate flooring has been a fashionable option in Europe for more than 20 years, and it’s rapidly gaining popularity in the United States. The most common designs have a wood grain appearance; some are made to look like stone or marble. Laminates are designed to look good for many years with a minimum amount of maintenance.
Laminate flooring consists of four main components that are bonded together. A wear-resistant decorative surface made of resin-based melamine/aluminum oxide is bonded to a moisture resistant wood composition-based core. A balancing backing is bonded to the underside of the core. On the top is a clear cap sheet of aluminum oxide, which provides the protection and stain resistance. Since the resin-filled wear layer is so dense, it becomes extremely difficult to stain, scratch or burn.
Ease of installation is one factor that contributes to the popularity of laminate flooring. It uses a tongue and groove interlocking system, which can be installed over the top of an existing substrate. Plywood, concrete slab, sheet vinyl flooring, hardwood flooring or virtually any other basically flat hard surface is a suitable base for laminate.
Because installation is so simple, and because you can walk on your new floor immediately (no waiting for glue to dry), beautifying your home with new laminate flooring is truly a project you can do in a weekend.
Taking care of a laminate floor is even easier than installing it. To keep your floor looking like new and avoid scratches, simply vacuum or dust mop regularly to remove loose dirt or grit. Glides or cushioned bottom protectors under chairs and table legs also help prevent possible scratching, and floor mats at all outside doorways keep dirt from coming inside.