cheap laminate floors
In this article:
- The basics of cheap laminate floors
- Laminate floor ratings and more
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| Laminate floors snap together fast |
Finding beautiful flooring at an affordable price can be a problem for lots of people, even if you're a Cheap Floor Diva or not. That why millions of other folks – including me – are flocking to cheap laminate floors . It's like having the best of both world -- floors that look as good as any hardwood, tile or stone but on our pinto bean budgets. If you're wondering what exactly laminate flooring is and how you can jump on that cheap floor bandwagon, then keep reading.
There’s Layers and Layers to Know About Cheap Laminate Floors
You know that old saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words?" Well, laminate flooring is just a picture that says so much. First, you need to understand the structure of cheap laminate floors. It starts with a foundation, which in this case is the backing material. Many times this backing material is waterproof and can be used in high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms (a definite must have for cheap laminate flooring in my book). The next layer gives the floor its strength and is usually made up of high-density fiberboard and a synthetic material like melamine resin. The image layer is applied next and can simulate an incredible variety of surface types. Pick a wood type, no matter how exotic, and you can even find it in cheap laminate, not just the high end Pergo and Shaw brands. The same variety and style goes for tile or stone looks, too. (and I just saw a new Mohawk flooring that simulates stained concrete... how cool is that!). The final layer is a top coating that makes the surface so durable. These layers are then are laminated together to create a tough, hard-wearing floor.
Laminate Floor Ratings | Does Cheap Laminate Make the Grade?
Although laminate flooring is one of the most durable and easy-care floors you can find, they are not created equal and that's way there is a rating system (yeah, even cheap laminate floors have to meet the grade). Floors are scored for durability on something called an abrasion coefficient wear rating or AC for short. It’s a measurement that determines the thickness of the top coating and how strong it is. The higher the rating, the harder the coating and that means not even the kidlets and Fido can destroy it (at east under normal wear and tear). You’ll find ratings on the packagages from AC1 to AC5. The mid-range rating of AC3 should withstand most areas of a home that gets a lot of traffic, like the kitchen or hallways. AC4 and above would be terrific, but they’re usually for commercial-grade laminate flooring.
The Lowdown on Laying Laminate Floors
Laminate flooring generally snaps together and floats over a underlayment. If you have to glue it down, then it's probably a resilient flooring and that's an animal of a whole different breed (and we'll talk about those, too, at another time). The lay and click of cheap laminate floors is a do-it-yourselfer's dream. The laminate planks have tongue and groove edges that snap together and go down quickly. You need to leave a small gap around the edges for expansion, but the baseboard easily covers those. Depending on the type of floor you're laying the planks over, you may need a vapor barrier to hold back the moisture, like over a concrete floor. A foam layer is also usually laid between the floor and the planks, although it's sometimes incorporated onto the flooring (I just picked up some cheap laminate flooring for my bedroom).
Laminate flooring is a great alternative to expensive hardwood carpet and although it can be a much cheaper option (as in economical), it shouldn’t be treated as a cheap alternative (as in I-know-I’m-going-to-regret-this). Cheap laminate is more stylish than ever and always durable. And best yet, it can mimic the look of many high-end materials at a fraction of the cost.
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