Laminate Kitchen Flooring Is It Right For You?

Laminate kitchen flooring is a great choice if you purchase the correct type of laminate. Laminate comes in different grades, core materials, and wear resistances. Laminates have come a long way and are more than adequate for kitchen installations.

Kitchens are often subjected to spills and high traffic. Laminate is available in different moisture resistant resin levels, the higher end laminates have better moisture resistance and higher resin amounts.

Laminate kitchen flooring is easily installed by anyone with basic knowledge of laminate flooring. Laminate flooring installation kits are very affordable, around $15, and are easily found at any flooring retailer.

Installing your own laminate kitchen flooring can save you a lot of money and if you decide to do it yourself I recommend buying a video that covers the basics of installation. A video is better than a book because you can actually see how certain things are done and in what order to do them. If you're interested in saving a lot of money, by installing a laminate floor yourself, Click Here! (Opens in new window)

Professional installation runs approximately $3 per square foot. $30 to $45 dollars of upfront tools and the cost of a video will save you more than enough, over the costs of a professional installation, to warrant you doing it yourself.

Plus you have the added benefit of installing it to your standards, and not depend on someone else you may never see again.

Most manufacturers have realized the fact that many people are looking for kitchen laminate flooring. Because of this demand, the quality of laminates has increased dramatically.

Armstrong, for example, has even approved some laminates for bathrooms, which are subjected to to more water than any laminate kitchen floor ever will. By using silicone sealants in the installation process the floor is totally sealed from moisture.

Silicone sealants applied to the tongues of the planks seals the weakest link in the moisture resistance. The top layers of laminates are totally impervious to water and sealing the tongues makes the entire floor waterproof.

The designs available are stone, tile, and wood. The designs are becoming very realistic, and some are hard to tell apart from the real thing. The technology is far better than in years past. Embossing the design layer adds even more realism to the surface.

The Benefits Of Laminate:

• Easy to install
• Attractive
• Many designs available
• Durable
• Excellent warranties
• Affordable

The Disadvantages:

• Can swell if water is left standing
• Subloor must be very flat
• Not easily fixed if damaged

The benefits of laminate flooring far outweigh the disadvantages. A laminate floor is a great option for every kitchen.

Laminate Floor Construction

What are the layers of laminate kitchen flooring?
There are four layers in laminate flooring. The layers are the stabilizing layer, the core, the design layer, and the protective layer.

• The stabilizing layer is the bottom layer of the laminate. This a smooth layer that helps to protect from moisture coming from underneath the flooring. This layer should be quite thick and feel smooth to the touch, a thinner layer melamine with feel rough and will not resist moisture well. This backing is made of resin saturated paper and protects the floor from warping.
• The core is made of high density fiberboard (HDF). The HDF is used most often because it's very stable and when water resistant resins are used is very resistant to water damage. The core is the most important part in the construction of laminates. It's not only the thickest part but also the basis on which the rest of the floor is built. A high quality core is a must. A high quality core will have a lot of melamine resin.
• The design layer is the part you see after installation. The design layer is applied to the core under high pressure. Newer laminates also have embossing to make the floor look more realistic. This layer is not real wood but a picture of wood.
• The wear layer is aluminum oxide and is very durable. Aluminum oxide is often used in sandpaper so that shows just how durable this layer is. This layer is made by combining clear melamine and the aluminum oxide together and then fusing it the core under high heat and pressure. When fused together this layer is very durable and also very dense.

A laminate floor is an excellent option in any kitchen. To ensure your new floor lasts for a long time, get the best floor your budget allows. Unfortunately the higher the quality, the higher the price.