Laminate Flooring

The great aspect about laminate flooring is that it looks like regular wood but is much easier to install. It also has a longer shelf life. The striking similarity between hardwood and laminate flooring is confusing. You can notice a grain pattern similar to wood but this is décor paper placed under a highly protective cover. This is stuck onto a backing board of tough density. There is a multitude of effects such as ceramic and stone available in laminate flooring.

One of the biggest advantages about laminate flooring is that it is very durable, easy in installation and cheaper in price in comparison with hardwood. The other advantage is that laminate flooring is not stuck to the floor beneath. Only panels are stuck together. Thus, it facilitates installation in an easy manner. The tongue and grooves of the planks are placed together and clicked to adhere. The connection is thus tight.

There are various different finishes available in laminate flooring. There are two kinds of construction in such flooring namely the DPL or direct pressure laminate and the HPL or high-pressure laminate. The DPL comprises 4 layers while the HPL has 7 layers in its construction. Thus, due to more layers HPL represents a better choice. It is tougher, provides more stability and is resistant to scratches or dents.

Construction of HPL flooring

The durable high performance of layers not only protects the surface but also avoids fading, staining and scuffs. The special decorative sheets have beautiful designs and these are available in natural tile as well as wood grain finishes. The special Kraft sheets are treated with phenol materials. Hence, these layers are resistant to high impacts. In addition, these sheets also offer sound insulation. The treatment of an emulsion of hot oil wax and penetrating sealing of the seams helps insulate the HDF fibres from moisture. The high density of the fibreboard not only provides appropriate high quality structure but also resists moisture seeping into the fibres. The sheets of the HPL flooring are made of a balancing material, which is a similar material as the regular floor surface. Since this is comprised of a similar material as the actual flooring the panels level well with each other and installation is perfect.

Construction of DPL Flooring

The DPL or direct pressure flooring is comprised of a top layer, which is highly resistant to high impacts. Thus, this uppermost layer offers a high level of protection to the flooring. The designs are of high quality prints and these designs for DPL flooring are available in various textures, patterns and colours. The core of this DPL flooring is made of a fibreboard material. This material is of extremely high density. Thus, this material provides added protection and support for the flooring. The bottom-most layer of the DPL flooring helps neutralize excess pressure. In this manner, the board is able to maintain its straight shape and linear design. Thus, all the four layers of the DPL flooring offer proper structure and support as well as resistance to impacts.