Laminate flooring has always been a popular choice for homeowners and businesses alike, mostly due to its attractive appearance, durability, and affordability.

At Wall2Wall Carpets and Flooring, we offer a wide range of high quality laminate flooring options to complement the design of your home. However, with such a wide variety of options available, it’s only natural to have questions about it, from the process of installing laminate flooring to the benefits it can bring to your home to determine whether laminate flooring is the best choice for you.

Here, we’ll address some of the most asked questions about laminate flooring to help you make an informed decision for your next home renovation project.

 

What Is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is a multi-layer synthetic product designed to mimic the appearance of hardwood, stone, or other natural materials. It typically consists of four layers:

 

·      Wear Layer: This is a clear, protective layer that protects laminate flooring from any damage, such as scratches, stains, and fading.

·      Design Layer: This layer has a high-resolution image transferred on to the laminate flooring to give it the realistic and aesthetic appearance it’s so well known for.

·      Core Layer: For this layer, a high-density fibreboard (HDF) or medium-density fibreboard (MDF) is used to provide stability and resistance from the impact caused by walking.

·      Backing Layer: Finally, this is a moisture-resistant layer that adds further stability and helps protect the laminate flooring from damage.


What Are The Benefits Of Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is incredibly popular due to the high number of advantages it has for businesses and homeowners alike. Some of these advantages include the following:

·      Affordability: Laminate flooring is generally less expensive than hardwood flooring, for example, but offers the same pleasing aesthetic finish that is so widely desired.

·      Durability: Laminate flooring is known for its toughness. With a strong wear layer, laminate flooring is resistant to scratches, dents, and stains. This makes it suitable for high traffic areas which are common in commercial spaces as well as homeowners with children, pets – or both!

·      Ease of Installation: Most laminate floors are installed using a simple ‘click and lock’ design, which makes installation relatively easy without the need for many tools, such as glue or nails.

·      Variety of Designs: Laminate flooring comes in a wide range of styles, colours, and textures, giving you the choice to achieve the look you desire for your space. Here at Wall2Wall Carpets and Flooring, we offer many different options for laminate flooring to suit your every need.

·      Low Maintenance: Generally, laminate flooring is easy to clean and requires only minimal upkeep. This makes it perfect for those with busy lifestyles and those looking to reduce the time it takes to upkeep a beautiful space.


 


 

How Is Laminate Flooring Installed?

Laminate flooring is actually designed for easy installation, with many of the options for laminate flooring often using a ‘click and lock’ installation method. The general steps involved for installing laminate flooring are:

 

·      Preparation: Before beginning your installation, you should ensure that the subfloor is clean, dry, and level. You can remove any existing flooring, if necessary.

·      Underlay: Place an underlay to support the laminate flooring, if required. This will provide additional cushioning and sound absorption.

·      Laying the Planks: The best way to get started with your installation is to start in one corner of the room you’re working on. You can then proceed to lay down the first plank with the tongue side facing the wall. Spacers can be used to help maintain an expansion gap around the perimeter.

·      ‘Click and Lock’: Once you have laid some of your planks, you can go on to connect these by angling one into the other and pressing down until they simply click into place.

·      Cutting: One of the only tools you’ll need for installing laminate flooring is a sensible tool to cut the last plank in each row to fit the space. You should try to ensure that an expansion gap is maintained.

Frequently Asked Questions About Laminate Flooring

Can Laminate Flooring be Installed Over Existing Floors?

Yes, laminate flooring can often be installed over existing floors as long as the surface is smooth, clean, and level.

Laminate flooring can be laid over other flooring options, including hardwood, vinyl, and tile flooring. However, when doing so, you should check and follow the manufacturer's guidelines regarding underlayment and surface preparation of the specific flooring you already have installed to achieve the best look possible.

 

Is Laminate Flooring Waterproof?

Although laminate flooring is water-resistant, it is not fully waterproof.

The wear layer can withstand spills and moisture to some extent, but prolonged exposure to water can cause the core layer to swell and warp which is something to bear in mind.

It may be that if you’re looking for flooring for spaces which may experience more spillages than average, such as kitchens and bathrooms, an alternative type of flooring may be more appropriate to meet your needs.

Here at Wall2Wall Carpets and Flooring, many of our flooring options are waterproof to meet your needs in areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. Just check our handy product summaries on our website to see if your chosen design is waterproof!

 

How Do I Clean and Maintain Laminate Flooring?

Thankfully, maintaining laminate flooring is relatively straightforward and can be addressed in three easy steps:

·      Regular Cleaning: Simply sweep or vacuum regularly to remove any dirt, grit and debris that may scratch the surface of your laminate flooring.

·      Mopping: When mopping, you should use a damp mop with a mild cleaner specifically designed for laminate floors to maintain the look and upkeep of your laminate flooring. You should try to avoid using excessive water too, as this may cause long-term damage to your laminate flooring over time.

·      Stain Removal: For stubborn stains, use a soft cloth and a gentle cleaner. You should avoid abrasive cleaners and scrubbers as these may damage your laminate flooring.

How Long Does Laminate Flooring Last?

Laminate flooring can last for a substantial amount of time when cared for properly. When a high-quality laminate flooring is used, it can easily last between 15 and 25 years, if it has been properly cared for.

Of course, the general lifespan of laminate flooring will depend on the quality of the product. That’s why here at Wall2Wall Carpets and Flooring, we ensure that only the best products are sold to make sure that you always receive a high-quality product.

 

Can Laminate Flooring be Repaired?

Although laminate flooring is known for its durability, it can still suffer damage from things such as scratches, dents, or water exposure. Minor scratches can often be repaired using laminate floor repair kits which are usually very straightforward to use.

For more significant damage, you may be able to replace the individual planks which have been affected. As such, it’s always a good idea to keep extra planks from your original installation for any possible future repairs.

 

 

How Wall2Wall Carpets And Flooring Can Help      

If you decide that laminate flooring is the best option for your next flooring project, you can browse through our wide selection of stylish and high quality laminate flooring options which can be viewed here or in person at any of our branches in Bolton, Crawley, or Manchester.

We can even deliver your chosen laminate flooring straight to your home address to make sure your next renovation project is as easy as convenient as possible. If your order is over £250, we’ll even include free delivery too!

Whether you’re renovating a single room or updating your entire house, Wall2Wall Carpets and Flooring is here to help so if you need any assistance, please feel free to contact us by telephone today on 01204 303 333 (Bolton) or 0161 302 9440 (Manchester).