Laminate flooring first known as “Pergo” was first invented in Sweden in 1977. It was in 1994 that it became available to the rest of the world. Due to its versatility, hygienic nature, ease of installation and maintenance, laminate flooring is a excellent low cost alternative to solid wooden floors, tiles and stone. Glueless laminate or the “floating floor” (planks of laminate locked together with no glue) was then invented in 1996 also in Sweden. However it was a Belgium company almost a year later that developed a system for holding floor panels together.

Since its invention the popularity of laminate flooring has increased and this is not all due to the low cost. Laminate floor designs are created from photographic images and easily replicate all types of wood, detailing a textured wood grain appearance and shape providing a convincing substitute for hardwood flooring. There are numerous types of wood to suit everyone’s style and design including but not limited to all colours of oak, cherry, mahogany, walnut, chestnut, hickory, maple, matai, kauri, ash, and pine. For those who want to have a laminate floor that duplicates other natural elements there are also stone options. Due to its construction laminate flooring can last much longer than other sturdier wood.

There are two types of laminate flooring available:

Direct Pressure: this type of laminate flooring is formed when the surface wear layer and the core material are fused under pressure of up to 300 to 500 psi around the decorative picture layer or design.

High Pressure: this laminate flooring is formed when several layers are bonded with heat and pressure of up to 1400 psi. With more layers and usually a water barrier bottom layer this is a tougher and more durable choice of laminate.

Laminate flooring has four basic layers:

1) The Balancing Layer, 2) The Core Layer, 3) The Pattern Layer, 4) The Wear Layer

Laminate Floors  are durable, inexpensive, and easy to maintain, they are a great choice for your new floor. If you are looking for a reasonably priced laminate floor in Auckland then contact Nufloors today and one of our floor specialists will come and talk with you.

Cost: When considering the cost of a laminate floor you also need to think about how it will be used, maintained and its overall value.

Life Cycle: Other than the cost of installing your new floor you need to consider how long it will last in its current environment (i.e is it high traffic such as a kitchen or low traffic such as a home office). The life span of Laminate flooring can range from 5 to 20 years. Laminate floors are a product that will wear down over time and eventually need to be replaced however it is relatively easy to remove. Unlike nailed or glued products, Laminate can generally be pulled or pried easily off the floor leaving the subfloor ready for further use.

Maintenance: A Laminate floor offers relatively simple maintenance to its users. A sweep, vacuum or dry mop on a regular basis is sufficient care. It is easy to sanitize as it has a protective layer that keeps dirt and debris off its surface. This can be completed with a very mild soap and water solution, however avoid puddles on the laminate floor surface for prolonged periods of times as it can cause damage.

Fortunate most laminate floors do come with a manufacturer warranty. It is important to check the terms of the warranty as often the warranty will specify how the laminate flooring materials need to be installed.