{"id":11102,"date":"2017-09-13T08:53:09","date_gmt":"2017-09-13T00:53:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.recomn.com\/blog\/?p=11102"},"modified":"2024-09-29T09:58:38","modified_gmt":"2024-09-29T01:58:38","slug":"what-is-laminate-flooring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.recommend.my\/blog\/what-is-laminate-flooring\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Laminate Flooring?"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are lots of options nowadays when it comes to flooring materials. In the past, houses used to come with either marble flooring, terrazzo, tiles, or parquet.<\/p>\n

But today, one option that is gaining popularity is laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is being used almost everywhere; in retail stores, cafes, gyms, badminton and squash courts, and even in bowling alleys.<\/p>\n

There are many reasons why laminates are so commonly used today. For starters, they are affordable, come in a huge range of designs, and are easy to install.<\/p>\n

To know whether laminate flooring is right for you, you need to understand the different properties that make it suitable for your home.<\/p>\n

Do you require reliable flooring contractors in Malaysia?<\/div>
Recommend.my is the best place to find the best flooring contractors in Malaysia for your home. To get a more accurate quote, you can send your requirements to Recommend.my<\/p>\n
Get Cost Estimates<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\n

Table of Contents<\/p>\n

  • What is laminate flooring made of?<\/a><\/li>
  • Is laminate flooring as strong as real wood?<\/a><\/li>
  • How thick are laminate flooring planks?<\/a><\/li>
  • What designs are available for laminate flooring?<\/a><\/li>
  • Will the design fade after a while?<\/a><\/li>
  • How long does laminate flooring last?<\/a><\/li>
  • Can I install laminate flooring in the kitchen or outdoors?<\/a><\/li>
  • How is laminate flooring installed?<\/a><\/li>
  • How to clean and maintain laminate flooring?<\/a><\/li>
  • How much does laminate flooring cost in Malaysia?<\/a><\/li>
  • Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n

    <\/span>What is laminate flooring made of?<\/span><\/h2>\n

    For starters, it’s not wood. It\u2019s actually several layers of synthetic materials that are pressed together into long planks.<\/p>\n

    Let\u2019s look at each layer, starting from the bottom:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • The balancing layer<\/strong> is the bottom surface of the laminate plank. This layer helps to resists moisture and provide stability during installation.<\/li>\n
    • The core layer<\/strong> makes up the bulk of the laminate flooring plank thickness, and is made of compressed wood fibres mixed with a resin to make it stronger.<\/li>\n
    • The pattern layer<\/strong> is what gives laminate flooring it\u2019s design. It\u2019s actually a printed picture of the material you want it to look like. It can be an image of wood, marble, stone; anything you like! Today\u2019s printing technology means that even experts can have a tough time telling whether a laminate floor is real wood.<\/li>\n
    • Finally, the wear layer<\/strong> is a very hard, clear protective layer at the surface of the laminate plank to protect it from scratches, damage and wear and tear. This is the layer that you step on, and put your furniture on.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Cheng Yew Hoong from Floor Culture, which carries the brand of laminate flooring called Tigerwood, says that laminate flooring layers are compressed with high pressure under high temperature. Once the sheets are pressed, they are cooled and fully cured to prevent any surface imperfections.<\/p>\n

      \"Laminate
      Laminate flooring showing layers. Source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      <\/span>Is laminate flooring as strong as real wood?<\/span><\/h2>\n

      Laminate flooring can be just as tough as a hardwood floor, if not tougher. That\u2019s because the inner core is made from high density fibreboard that has been compressed under extreme pressure. And the surface wear layer is coated with aluminium oxide, one of the toughest coatings available.<\/p>\n

      In fact, laminate floors are preferable in residential or commercial properties with lots of foot traffic. Unlike hardwood floors, they will not scuff or start to squeak after heavy use.<\/p>\n

      The toughness of laminate floors are graded based on its Abrasion Class (AC). They are ranked from AC1 (for moderate residential use including bedrooms and closets) to AC5 (for heavy commercial applications including department stores).<\/p>\n

      According to the World Floor Covering Association<\/a>, the European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF) developed the AC rating system based on a series of tests, including Taber Abrasion Test, impact resistance, stain resistance, burn resistance and swelling resistance.<\/p>\n