Laminate flooring is a good alternative to hardwood flooring, as well as other flooring options, depending on factors like location and usage. Hardwood flooring will always be an attractive and useful finishing for your home, but it’s important to consider laminate flooring too when discussing your options. Understanding what this type of floor covering is, how it’s regulated, and its benefits are essential to making an educated decision about your home renovation. Here are the most important things to know about this product.

Laminate flooring, also referred to as floating wood tile, is a synthetic wood flooring product composed of different layers of material that are fused together with a lamination process. The under-layers are typically resin, fiber, and wood materials, while the top layer is a high definition photograph of wood, tile, or stone that’s covered with a clear protective layer. Essentially, laminate flooring is a durable layered flooring product that can look like wood, stone, and a variety of other finishes in a multitude of colors.

An organization called the North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA), founded in 1997, works to help the industry grow and ensure the continual provision of high-quality products. It’s comprised of industry leaders who volunteer to guarantee that consumers have information available to them about laminate flooring products. Since 2008, NALFA has been holding North American manufacturers to regulated testing standards for flooring and underlay products alike. These standards help ensure consumers can choose from NALFA certified high quality flooring products. Each certified product receives a NALFA certification seal that indicates it has passed rigorous testing standards. When purchasing affordable laminate flooring products from a high end company like Global Alliance Home Improvement Products, look for the NALFA seal to ensure you’re buying certified products of a high standard.

Compared to hardwood and other similar types of flooring, laminate flooring is a great-looking alternative that’s typically more affordable than other similar-looking options. Laminate flooring offers incredible bang for your buck when you want the look of hardwood, slate, or tile, without the outrageous price tag.

There are a number of reasons laminate is such a popular option when it comes time for homeowners to make flooring decisions.

●     Durability: The resilient top layer and resin coating on this product makes it stronger, scratch resistant, long-lasting, and more resilient to impact than most hardwood, vinyl, and other similar products. This product is specifically made to deal with day-to-day wear and tear.

●     Resistant To Almost Everything: While it’s not fire-proof, laminate flooring is resistant to a variety of elements that are known to ruin other types of flooring. Depending on the type you purchase, it’s typically stain resistant, fade resistant, moisture resistant, and depending on the manufacturer or retailer, it can come with a warranty.

●     Easily Maintained: When your laminate flooring is exposed to spills, dirt, dust, or any other sort of debris, rest assured that once you clean it up it will look the same as it did prior to the accident. By promptly cleaning up any normal messes with non-abrasive cleaning products, your laminate flooring will maintain its original look.

●     Easily Installed: Generally, this type of flooring doesn’t require any adhesive or fasteners to stay in place. It simply clicks or slides together and “floats” overtop of a subfloor. It’s as easy as putting together Lego, and may only require minimal hammering with a tapping block and rubber mallet to create tight connections. Laminate flooring is also much quicker and easier to install than just about every other type of available flooring.

●     Environmentally Friendly & Stylish: Laminate flooring is available in a variety of styles, multiple colors, many different finishes, and even a range of textures. It can be incorporated into an elegant, contemporary, or recreational room. All of these varying laminate flooring options are made from similar materials that don’t require the harvesting of rare or endangered trees, so your environmental conscience is clear.

Whether you’re a do-it-yourselfer or you need to hire a professional, laminate flooring is a great design and decorating solution that’s quick and easy to install. It’s durability, low-maintenance upkeep, and comparatively low cost makes it an attractive solution for lots of residential and commercial applications. Additionally, by purchasing laminate flooring you’re reducing the need to harvest trees, and some types are even made with recycled materials.

If you need assistance choosing laminate flooring, or need help finding the right NALFA certified product for your project talk to a flooring expert today. Professionals at companies like Global Alliance Home Improvement Products have the knowledge and experience to help you make the right choice for your application. Call for more information: 705-466-9997