Laminate Guide

All you need to know about laminate flooring Laminate flooring is a multi-layer synthetic flooring product fused together with a lamination process. Laminate flooring simulates wood (or sometimes stone) with a photographic applique layer under a clear protective layer.

Overview

Laminate flooring is a multi-layer synthetic flooring product fused together with a lamination process. Laminate flooring simulates wood (or sometimes stone) with a photographic applique layer under a clear protective layer.

Construction
Laminate flooring has four layers: a wear layer, a design layer, an inner core layer and a backing layer. The wear layer protects the floor from stains and fading. Beneath that, the design layer is literally a photographic image of wood, stone or other natural visual. For structural strength, the inner core layer’s plastic resin keeps the laminate stable and flat. The backing creates a moisture barrier that protects the floor from warping. It’s this layered construction that makes laminate floors so remarkably durable.

Design

Look

Laminate gives you the look and feel of real wood, ceramic and stone at a fraction of the price.  The subtle color variations, the distinctive grain, the authentic texture makes it almost indistinguishable to the real thing.

Color
Available in an exciting palette of colors, you are guaranteed to find a laminate floor in the color you’re looking for.

Width
Laminate flooring comes in a wide variety of sizes, depending on the look you choose. Most wood look planks are 12cm or wider while ceramic tile looks range between 12 and 40cm. Keep in mind that the width of individual boards can have a dramatic influence on the look of a floor. Wide widths can complement a large room, but can sometimes overwhelm a small area. Select the look that harmonizes with the style and architecture of your home.

Lifestyle

Room

There are absolutely no restrictions to where laminate can be installed. From basements and bathrooms to dens and kitchens, laminate flooring works superbly in any area of your home. Whatever room(s) you choose, you can feel confident about laminate performance. It will retain its beauty even in high-traffic areas and through normal changes in temperature, light and humidity levels.

Kids, Pets and Durability
Its multilayer construction makes Laminate unsurpassed for wear and stain resistance, able to handle the heavy traffic of active children and pets.  Laminate is available in a range of performance levels, including some that are rated for commercial use.

Warranty
Laminate warranties range from 3 years to lifetime depending on the product you choose. Rest assured laminate is extremely durable and resists scratches, stains, and indentations better than most flooring types available.

Floor Care
Another great thing about laminate’s performance is that it looks great with very little maintenance. Just sweep and clean occasionally with an appropriate Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner and microfiber mop.

Budget

Product Costs

Laminate flooring ranges in cost from $28.00 to $40.00 per square metre. The quality of the design and embossing figure prominently in the price. Trust your eyes to choose a laminate that looks and feels realistic. Cost is also dependent on the thickness and durability of the product as measured in the warranty it offers. Some laminate floors also have underlayment attached to them adding $3.00 to $8.00 per square metre to their costs.

Underlayment
To install most Laminate you need to install an underlay first. Underlay provides a valuable barrier from any moisture in the sub-floor, plus it dampens sound and helps the flooring sound more like the real thing when you walk on it. Underlayment typically costs between $2.00 to $8.00 per square metre.

Floor Removal
Don’t forget to factor-in the cost of removing and disposing of your old floor.  Depending upon where you live, the floor you are removing and your installer, budget around AU$25.00 per square metre to have it removed and hauled away but it can be more or less depending on the floor type and labour costs in your area.

Installation

Installation Options

The installation options available to you will vary depending on the laminate floor you choose. Many laminate products feature a lockedge installation technology like Uniclic. Lockedge systems are the industry’s fastest and easiest installation system. Perfect for DIY installations, it requires no glue or nails - simply lock and fold.  Some laminate products we offer do require glue.

Installation Considerations
Laminate can install over almost any existing floor type, provided it is smooth, flat and dry. If you are thinking about a DIY laminate flooring  installation, read the installation instructions carefully before beginning.

Access to Installers
We know how important it is to get the best installation to not only make your flooring look great but to give it the best chance to last.  We also know how hard it is to find great quality installers,  that is why we have created a tool for so you can access our database of professional installers.

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