What is Laminate Flooring?
Laminate flooring is a synthetic material made to image wood, or tile. It is a laminate (melamine) surface that is adhered to a fiberboard core material and then another layer of laminate is adhered to the back of the board. Aluminum Oxide is used on top to give laminate flooring a very durable wear layer. Most laminate flooring is guaranteed not to wear, fade, or stain over the life of the floor. All laminate flooring must be installed using the “floating floor” method.
Laminate flooring has a layered construction: A) Wear layer: This easy-to-clean surface contains aluminum oxide which protects the floor from stains, fading and wear. Look for an abrasion classification (A/C) rating of at least 3 for adequate residential use protection. B) Image design layer: A photographic image of wood, stone, or virtually anything you can imagine. C) Inner core layer: The core provides the floors structural strength and stability. It is made from high-density fiberboard (HDF). The core is often impregnated with a plastic resin called melamine to increase the floors strength, stability and resistance to moisture. Products that have high levels of melamine do not require acclimation before installation. D) Backing layer: Found beneath the inner core, the backing is made with resin saturated paper. It creates a moisture barrier that protects the floor from warping. All laminate floor layers are fused together using one of two processes. DPL, or direct pressure laminate
Laminate flooring is a rigid floor covering with a surface layer consisting of one or more thin sheets of a fibrous material (usually paper), impregnated with aminoplastic thermosetting resins (usually melamine). These sheets are either pressed as such (HPL, CPL, Compact), and in the case of HPL or CPL bonded on a substrate, or in the case of DPL directly pressed on a substrate. The product is normally finished with a backing primarily used as a balancing material. Its performance values are set by the NALFA Standard.
Laminate flooring is a product made by using multi-layers of synthetic flooring, which go under lamination process. It simulates wood or stone and protected with a photographic layer. Laminate flooring looks elegant and beautiful. You can also browse wonderful collection of it at Centura Tile.
http://www.centura.ca/residential/laminate-flooring/
