Laminate Flooring Installation Lorain County Ohio
We know that the floor is as important as the walls and the roofs, so here at Professional Choice Floor, Tile & Epoxy Services of Lorain make sure that your floor can serve its purpose and beyond. Whether you are in Lorain County, Ohio or anywhere in Northeast Ohio, we are here to ensure that we are available when you call us to renovate or install your floors or deliver the materials you need to install your own floor.
There are tons of floor options available in the market today, and due to these hefty options, people may find it hard to spot the best floor to use in their facility, whether it is for their home or commercial space.
If you are unsure, we can help you decide and provide you options that would perfectly match your needs. Meanwhile, if you are on a budget and looking for an alternative for a natural wood floor, laminate floor is your perfect choice. Laminate floors give you a realistic image layer that is made to imitate the more expensive real wood planks. Apart from woods, laminate floors can also be an imitation of other materials such as tile, stone and even metal. Developed in 1977, laminate floors are known to be functional, inexpensive flooring alternatives. Due to technology and innovation, laminate floors even surpass the comfort and durability of floors they imitate. So, those who are living in Lorain County and nearby areas won’t feel disappointed if they choose laminate floors, more so if they allow us to install it for them. If you are now thinking of laminate floors, there are some factors you need to consider – construction, thickness, texture, width, edge type, and locking system. |
Construction
Laminates are built using 3 principal layers – the backing, the core and the decorative layer. The core layer of laminate is made of wood fibers (wood pulp) and they are compressed through a high-pressure process.
The compression process is responsible for making the floor resistant to localized impacts, such as falling objects and high-heeled shoes. So, expect that the higher the pressure, the more durable this type of floor can be.
Basically, this type of floor is produced in 2 ways – direct pressure and high pressure. When choosing which type of production and construction process to consider, it would be best if you choose based on the expected traffic on the area where the floor will be installed.
- High pressure laminate – is constructed using one thousand pounds of pressure. A perfect choice for high traffic areas.
- Direct pressure laminate - is constructed using three hundred to five hundred pounds of pressure. Although durable, this is a perfect choice for less foot traffic areas, like homes and small offices.
Thickness
Millimeters is the measurement used in laminate floor thickness, and one of the factors that differentiate one laminate floor to another. The most used thickness levels are 12mm, 10mm, 8mm and 7mm.
The more stable your subfloor is, the thinner the laminate floor you need. Slight unevenness, wood subfloor or anywhere sound is an important factor to consider are best to use thicker laminate floors.
The thickness of the floors are:
- 6mm – 1/4”
- 7mm – 9/32”
- 8mm – 5/26”
- 10mm – 7/16”
- 12mm – 1/2”
- 14mm – 9/16”
Texture
Aesthetics is one of the reasons why people choose laminate floors. Same as with the hardwood, laminate comes in different types. To achieve an authentic or rustic look, texture is used.
Below are some options of textures to choose from:
- Smooth/satin finish
This gives you a subtle and at the same time, a shiny finish.
- Matte finish
It imitates natural, hardwood flooring with a recognizable wood texture.
- Hand scraped finish
This is not literally hand scraped, instead, pressing is made to make it look like authentic hand pressed.
- Natural wood finish
This feels and looks a lot like natural wood.
- Soft scraped finish
If you want a timeworn and subtle finish, this is a good choice for you.
- Oiled wood finish
It imitates untreated, natural hardwood floor. It gives the look like the floor was treated using natural oils.
- Piano Finish
This offers an elegant, shiny look. A perfect option for modern interiors
- Oxide Surface finish
This type of laminate floor gives a metallic and shiny finish.
- Stone/Slate finish
This imitates stone or slate look and feel.
Width of boards
The width of the laminate plays a huge role in terms of determining the overall look of the space, where skinnier woods are for more traditional options and wider woods are for more modern appearance.
Edge type
The edge is responsible for the overall appearance of the floor.
- Square edge
It offers a seamless transition from one plank to the next.
- Micro-bevel
Perfect for modern homes
- V-groove
It gives an appearance like solid wood planks are used
- Rolled bevel
It gives every plank an authentic feel and look
- Painted bevel
Plank edges are painted in this option, giving your floor a more pronounced look
Locking system
Flooring lock system of this type of floor comes in 2 main groups:
- Tongue and groove
This is the more popular locking system. It keeps the floor firmly in place even after installation.
- Mechanical systems can also be considered. Mechanical locks are used to keep the planks together. The locks are placed underneath the planks.
Laminates are built using 3 principal layers – the backing, the core and the decorative layer. The core layer of laminate is made of wood fibers (wood pulp) and they are compressed through a high-pressure process.
The compression process is responsible for making the floor resistant to localized impacts, such as falling objects and high-heeled shoes. So, expect that the higher the pressure, the more durable this type of floor can be.
Basically, this type of floor is produced in 2 ways – direct pressure and high pressure. When choosing which type of production and construction process to consider, it would be best if you choose based on the expected traffic on the area where the floor will be installed.
- High pressure laminate – is constructed using one thousand pounds of pressure. A perfect choice for high traffic areas.
- Direct pressure laminate - is constructed using three hundred to five hundred pounds of pressure. Although durable, this is a perfect choice for less foot traffic areas, like homes and small offices.
Thickness
Millimeters is the measurement used in laminate floor thickness, and one of the factors that differentiate one laminate floor to another. The most used thickness levels are 12mm, 10mm, 8mm and 7mm.
The more stable your subfloor is, the thinner the laminate floor you need. Slight unevenness, wood subfloor or anywhere sound is an important factor to consider are best to use thicker laminate floors.
The thickness of the floors are:
- 6mm – 1/4”
- 7mm – 9/32”
- 8mm – 5/26”
- 10mm – 7/16”
- 12mm – 1/2”
- 14mm – 9/16”
Texture
Aesthetics is one of the reasons why people choose laminate floors. Same as with the hardwood, laminate comes in different types. To achieve an authentic or rustic look, texture is used.
Below are some options of textures to choose from:
- Smooth/satin finish
This gives you a subtle and at the same time, a shiny finish.
- Matte finish
It imitates natural, hardwood flooring with a recognizable wood texture.
- Hand scraped finish
This is not literally hand scraped, instead, pressing is made to make it look like authentic hand pressed.
- Natural wood finish
This feels and looks a lot like natural wood.
- Soft scraped finish
If you want a timeworn and subtle finish, this is a good choice for you.
- Oiled wood finish
It imitates untreated, natural hardwood floor. It gives the look like the floor was treated using natural oils.
- Piano Finish
This offers an elegant, shiny look. A perfect option for modern interiors
- Oxide Surface finish
This type of laminate floor gives a metallic and shiny finish.
- Stone/Slate finish
This imitates stone or slate look and feel.
Width of boards
The width of the laminate plays a huge role in terms of determining the overall look of the space, where skinnier woods are for more traditional options and wider woods are for more modern appearance.
Edge type
The edge is responsible for the overall appearance of the floor.
- Square edge
It offers a seamless transition from one plank to the next.
- Micro-bevel
Perfect for modern homes
- V-groove
It gives an appearance like solid wood planks are used
- Rolled bevel
It gives every plank an authentic feel and look
- Painted bevel
Plank edges are painted in this option, giving your floor a more pronounced look
Locking system
Flooring lock system of this type of floor comes in 2 main groups:
- Tongue and groove
This is the more popular locking system. It keeps the floor firmly in place even after installation.
- Mechanical systems can also be considered. Mechanical locks are used to keep the planks together. The locks are placed underneath the planks.
Benefits of Laminate Flooring
Why would you go for laminate flooring? There are many reasons why, and below are some of the reasons why would you go for this option:
Why would you go for laminate flooring? There are many reasons why, and below are some of the reasons why would you go for this option:
- Easy to clean
- Scratch resistant
- Relatively inexpensive